Guide to the Best PA Betting Sites 2024: Legal PA Online Sports Betting
Known for cheesesteaks, birch beer, and Groundhog Day, Pennsylvania is one of the states spearheading the campaign for legal betting across the US. But what makes the state so attractive to gamblers? Our guide to PA betting sites explains everything, from the state’s gambling law to the best bonuses around.
| Best Betting Sites in The United States | Bonus Offers | Highlights | Rating | Secure Link | T&Cs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best PA Betting Sites
- 🥇BetRivers ✪ Best Online Betting Site
- 🥈BetMGM ✪ Best Welcome Bonus Offer
- 🥉Unibet ✪ Best Sports Selection
- ⭐ Betway ✪ Best For Basketball
- ⭐ DraftKings ✪ Best For Daily Fantasy
Using our years of gambling industry experience, we developed a method for discovering, evaluating and ranking the best PA betting sites. We factored in everything from operator safety measures to the quality of a sportsbook’s live betting platform to come up with a list of the state’s top betting sites.
| 🏆 Best Betting Site in PA | BetRivers |
| 🔍Top New Site in PA | BetRivers |
| 🎁 Best for Bonuses | BetMGM |
| 📱 Top App | Unibet |
| 📺 Best for Live Betting | BetMGM |
| 📈 Highest Payout Betting Site | Unibet |
| 💳 Best Payment Options | Betway |
| 🛡️ Safest Sportsbook | DraftKings |
| 🏈 Best NFL Betting Website | Unibet |
| ✨ Top for Extra Features | DraftKings |
Each of the PA online sports betting operators listed here has its strengths and weaknesses when compared to the competition. Furthermore, we only list fully licensed and legal operators on our site, so you can feel comfortable and confident every time you place a wager.
PA Online Betting Sites List: All Legal PA Online Sportsbooks
After finding the legal online sportsbooks in PA, we tested them all against our judging criteria. We included all the PA betting sites with licenses in the following table. You can also check the validity of their licenses, which we cover in the law section of this article.
- Rush Street Interactive PA. LLC – (BetRivers) – License No 110298
- MGM Resorts International – (BetMGM) – License No 115293
- Unibet Interactive Inc. – (Unibet) – License No 117021-2
- Digital Gaming Corporation US LLC – (Betway) – License No 129662-2
- Washington Trotting Association, LLC – (DraftKings) – License No 117645-2
- DraftKings Sportsbook & Casino – (DraftKings) – License No 117645-1
Checking operators’ credentials before you sign up with a new betting site saves you a lot of potential headaches down the road. Not only does it help you avoid trouble with the IRS and the law, but it also protects you from scams set up to steal your money.
The best online PA sportsbooks always display their license number in the footer of their websites, along with the company owner’s information. Using this one simple check does a lot to protect you from bad actors.
How to Start Betting Online in PA
Getting started with PA betting sites is fairly straightforward. First, you need to register your account using your email or PayPal information. Then, follow the directions and open your account. Here is an overview of the steps you need to take to open your account:
Create an account at one of the PA betting sites on our list using your email address and provide any identification documentation the site requires.
Once you open your account, you can deposit money using one of the sportsbook’s accepted payment processors. Check out our preferred payment methods for some suggestions.
Claim your bonus and begin playing. Be sure to check for expiration limits and playthrough requirements to ensure you can cash in on your welcome bonus.
After you open your account, remember to claim your new player bonus when you deposit for the first time. In many cases, once you’ve deposited money you lose your chance to cash in on your bonus because you’re no longer considered a new player.
How We Pick the Best PA Betting Sites
To carry out our tests, we used comparison criteria we’ve developed throughout our years of gambling experience. We benchmarked all the PA betting sites on safety, bonuses, and other aspects important to bettors. For details about specific criteria, click on the links in the table to go there directly.
Ranking sportsbooks using this method means we get consistent and repeatable results. Our thorough analysis helps us aggregate all the benchmarks into a final rating to come up with the best online PA betting sites and top betting sites by category, allowing you some flexibility in finding your ideal operator.
Staying Safe at PA Online Casinos
Your safety is our number one priority, which is why we emphasize legal sites and data security in our tests. There are several legal PA betting sites to choose from, but regrettably, some offshore bookmakers skirt the rules, or worse, try to scam you out of your money.
During our evaluation of PA online sportsbooks, we focused on some specific safety measures bettors frequently overlook. For example, the encryption levels and IT security certificates used by the sites. Since you’re dealing with sensitive identity and financial information, it’s worth taking some extra steps to protect yourself.
The best way is to check for a padlock at the top left corner of your browser’s address bar; clicking on it shows the site’s web security certificate and certification company. If you don’t see this feature, the operator’s neither licensed nor legitimate, and you should navigate away immediately.
PA Gambling Law & Licensure
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) oversees all the legal betting sites in PA. It’s in charge of regulating operators in the state and issues licenses, law enforcement. Additionally, it oversees all horse and harness racing.
All operators must display their licenses in the footers of their websites. You can check the validity of their licenses by visiting the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s (PGCB) license verification site.
We suggest checking any new sportsbooks you find against the PGCB’s database of licenses PA betting sites. This ensures you’re gambling with legal sportsbooks, and protects you from scams. On the other hand, you have no legal recourse when you do so with an offshore bookie.
Lastly, all sportsbooks PA players can legally wager at must display the PGCB’s logo in the footer of their websites. The images should link directly to the PGCB’s website, which contains information about all the legal PA sports betting sites.
PA Gambling Taxes
Uncle Sam always gets his cut, and that’s why all the best PA betting sites require you to register with your SSN. All gambling winnings in the US over $600 are taxable income. Each year, operators send you a W2-G form when you exceed this threshold.
The state also gets a portion of your winnings. Luckily, the state taxes at a flat 3.07% rate on all forms of income, which includes gambling winnings. Therefore, paying gambling taxes in Pennsylvania isn’t as complex as it can be in other states.
PA online sports betting sites also have to pay their share, and it can be quite substantial. All sportsbooks pay 36% tax on revenue, plus a $10 million licensing fee to have sports betting. Even with this hefty cost, the state remains quite profitable for operators.
Keeping Your Data Secure
The encryption a sportsbook uses plays a crucial role in keeping your finances and identity secure. Good encryption encodes your data so only authorized parties can read it. This prevents scammers and hackers from stealing your data.
In the gambling industry, the standard encryption level is 128-bit, but the best PA betting sites online have 256-bit. In general, the higher the encryption level, the more secure your data. To learn more about how an operator protects your data, you can read through its privacy policy.
Minimum Age
The age requirement for gambling in Pennsylvania is 21. All online sportsbooks PA licenses have intensive measures in place to prevent underage gambling. According to PA law, sportsbooks are liable for failing to protect minors and face serious consequences for neglecting to do so.
All legal PA sportsbooks have a “21+” watermark in the footer to display compliance with this law. If you see any other ages or failing to display the watermark, then you’re probably betting with an illegal offshore bookie.
Responsible Gambling Programs
The best PA sports betting sites also promote responsible gambling initiatives. The PCGB has a self-exclusion list it maintains, and accepting wagers from excluded players is illegal on the sportsbook’s behalf.
Plus, many sportsbooks sponsor other programs like The Problem Gambler’s Hotline (also known as 1-800-GAMBLER). The best PA betting sites, though, feature responsible gambling sections outlining the signs and symptoms of problem gambling.
PCGB also runs The Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania. Its purpose is to educate people about compulsive gambling and provide workshops and seminars about treatment and resources. It also runs a helpline and refers individuals to clinicians or Gambler’s Anonymous and Gam-Anon meetings.
If you ever feel like your gambling is becoming a problem, reach out to customer support. Sportsbook support teams are happy to assist you with getting the help you need and can refer you to the proper programs and help you register for the self-exclusion list.
Certificates
Certification authorities, which are third-party IT companies, are responsible for verifying the identity of PA sportsbook online ownership groups. Once the IT security firm does this, it issues the web host a certificate listing the encryption level, date of expiration, and the website’s owner.
Here are examples of trusted certification authorities and responsible gambling initiatives with certificates of support:
- Trustwave – Security
- Gamblers Anonymous – Responsible Gaming
- US Suicide Prevention Organization – Responsible Gaming
- National Council on Problem Gambling – Responsible Gaming
- Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania – Responsible Gambling
- Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling – Responsible Gambling
- Cloudflare – Security
Verifying the site you’re betting at has these certificates does a lot for your safety and security. If you end up at an online sportsbook without an HTTPS certificate we recommend leaving the site right away to protect your data and hardware.
Bonus & Offers
One of the biggest selling points sportsbooks use to attract visitors are welcome bonuses. These frequently come in two varieties: the deposit match and the 2nd chance bet. Each has its strengths, though which one is best is up for you to decide.
We listed the best betting sites PA players can wager with and ranked them in order of their offers’ quality. You can also see the additional conditions and make sure the deals are within your budget. Here are the bonuses at the best betting sites the PGCB licenses:
| PA Betting Site | Welcome Bonus | Deposit Features | Rating | Secure Link | T&C’s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetRivers | $500 2nd Chance Bet | 1x, 30 days,-200 or higher | 5.0/5 Score | Visit Site! | Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 21+ Make your first-time deposit with code SPORTS and place your first sports wager with real money. If your first wager loses, receive a 2nd Chance Bet, equal to your stake, up to a maximum of $500 ($100 max in NY). 2nd Chance Bet will be awarded within 24 Hours of your qualifying wager settling as a loss and expire 14 days after issuance. |
| MGM | Up to $1,000 First Bet Offer | 1x, 7 days,-200 or higher | 4.9/5 Score | Visit Site! | T&Cs Apply. New customer offer. Always gamble responsibly. 21+ |
| Unibet | Up to $500 First Bet Offer | 1x, 30 days,-300 or higher | 4.8/5 Score | Visit Site! | T&Cs Apply. New customer offer. Always gamble responsibly. 21+ |
We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to read the terms and conditions of all the deals you consider accepting. While promotions are great for an initial boost to your bankroll, you should also factor in other things like the betting site’s average odds, markets, and features.
Odds and Payouts at PA Sportbooks
Payouts are extremely important to your long-term success. Sportsbooks set odds for outcomes based on their perceived probability of receiving an equal amount of money wagered on them. This process is called balancing the book and is vital to a betting site’s bottom line.
The best online PA betting sites take lower commissions in comparison to other betting sites. They aren’t interested in being overly greedy like many sportsbooks, meaning you get fair payouts on all your winning bets.
As shown in the following list, all the PA betting sites we rated have payout rates over 95%, meaning you get exceptional value regardless of the one you choose.
- BetRivers – 95.39% Payout Rate
- BetMGM – 95.39% Payout Rate
- Unibet – 95.48% Payout Rate
Even though the average payouts are similar, you won’t necessarily find the same odds for each event at each sportsbook. To take advantage of this, we think you should open an account at all of the best sportsbooks in PA and shop around for the highest odds every time you gamble.
Live Betting Sites
Live betting is fast becoming a popular way to gamble on sports. Fast internet connections and instant results let you take part in the action as it unfolds. The technology is now so advanced that some PA betting sites provide live game summaries in their live betting suites.
Some operators even offer live betting bonuses valid only in their in-play wagering platforms. The promotions take all shapes and sizes, from no-sweat bets to profit boosts, to money back on losses and everything in between. Here’s an example of a live bonus at one of the best PA sportbooks:
Best Live Betting Bonus
- Bonus Code: SPORTS
- Minimum Odds: -200 or longer
- Wagering requirement: 1x
- Validity: 30 days
Welcome Bonus
Ongoing Offers Major League Baseball Profit Boost
Live Promotions 20% Profit Boost
-
Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 21+ Make your first-time deposit with code SPORTS and place your first sports wager with real money. If your first wager loses, receive a 2nd Chance Bet, equal to your stake, up to a maximum of $500 ($100 max in NY). 2nd Chance Bet will be awarded within 24 Hours of your qualifying wager settling as a loss and expire 14 days after issuance.
As with all bonuses, it pays to read through the terms and conditions ahead of time. While we only listed betting sites Pennsylvania players can trust, failing to take the time to do this can often leave a bad taste in your mouth.
We should also note that there’s no obligation to accept the offers you’re not comfortable with. Examples of offers worth declining are ones you don’t have the time or money for regarding expiration dates and playthrough requirements.
Payments
Payment methods are another super important part of the online sportsbook experience. After all, how can you gamble if you can’t deposit your money? Luckily, we have our own criteria we use for whittling down our top picks for payment processors.
While looking at the most popular payment methods, we considered what their limits are and whether they accept withdrawals from the top PA betting sites online today. While betting sites advertise the absence of fees, some payment providers charge fees for processing gambling transactions.
| Payment Method | Type | Deposit Limits | Deposit/Withdrawal | Payment Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACH | Bank Transfer | $10 – $500 | Available for Deposits / Available for Withdrawals | No Fees |
| PayPal | eWallet | $10 – Unlimited | Available for Deposits / Available for Withdrawals | No Fees |
| Play+ | eWallet | $10 – Unlimited | Available for Deposits / Available for Withdrawals | No Fees |
| Visa | Debit Card | $10 – Unlimited | Available for Deposits / Not Available for Withdrawals | No Fees |
| Mastercard | Debit Card | $10 – Unlimited | Available for Deposits / Not Available for Withdrawals | No Fees |
| Discover | Debit Card | $10 – Unlimited | Available for Deposits / Not Available for Withdrawals | No Fees |
| Bank Transfer | Bank Transfer | $10 – Unlimited | Available for Deposits / Not Available for Withdrawals | No Fees |
| Skrill | eWallet | $10 – Unlimited | Available for Deposits / Available for Withdrawals | No Fees |
As you can see in the table, sometimes there is a minimum deposit amount at sportsbooks NJ bettors must meet for a single transaction. You should also keep an eye out; some PA sports betting sites’ bonuses aren’t redeemable with certain deposit options.
Lastly, some online sportsbooks in PA require you to place a deposit within the last 180 days to use a payment method for withdrawals. We suggest consulting the sportsbook’s help page or customer support for payment information to find a method that works for you.
Best Payment Method
We also compared payment methods available at the best PA sportsbooks. With so many options, it’s often hard narrowing them down, but PayPal is by far the most convenient. You can check out our list of PayPal sportsbooks for a full list of gambling options.
We chose this option because it’s available at most of the best online betting sites PA has to offer. Because bonus terms and conditions change often, frequently without notice, it’s a good idea to give the betting site’s policy a once over before finalizing your transaction.
Betting Apps
The rise of smartphones gives bettors a whole new avenue of gambling to explore – betting apps. Betting from anywhere in the state is a convenient feature, but poorly built apps can be a pain. Here’s the best PA sports betting app we found during our tests:
Sometimes sportsbooks offer promotions for their iOS and Android betting apps. These are advantageous when you plan on wagering exclusively with your smartphone or tablet. The best PA betting sites have dedicated teams responsible for updating, maintaining and developing apps.
The best PA sports betting apps have the same capabilities as their desktop counterparts. While it can be trickier executing bets quickly simply because of the smaller interface, it’s nice having it all at your fingertips when you’re betting on the go.
Customer Service
It’s never anyone’s favorite part of gambling, but solid customer service is a must-have to make our list of the best Pennsylvania betting sites. Sportsbook support teams should be fast, easily reached, friendly and helpful.
The top betting sites PA has to offer all have one thing in common – 24/7 live chat. This is our favorite form of communication because someone helps you right away instead of putting you on hold or trying to explain a complex procedure via email.
However, many of the other options are still available at most sites. Ultimately, you want to find a betting site that can provide an experience for online sports betting PA’s lawmakers had in mind when they voted to legalize online gambling.
New PA Online Sports Betting Sites
The legalization of online betting in the Keystone state is very recent. Therefore many new betting sites in Pennsylvania appeared over the past few years. One of the perks of gambling at new betting sites is the sizeable welcome bonus operators use to attract new players.
| New PA Betting Site | Bonus Offer | Active from | Rating | Secure Link | T&C’s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetRivers | $500 2nd Chance Bet | 2012 | Visit Site! | Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 21+ Make your first-time deposit with code SPORTS and place your first sports wager with real money. If your first wager loses, receive a 2nd Chance Bet, equal to your stake, up to a maximum of $500 ($100 max in NY). 2nd Chance Bet will be awarded within 24 Hours of your qualifying wager settling as a loss and expire 14 days after issuance. |
|
| MGM | Up to $1,000 First Bet Offer | 2018 | Visit Site! | T&Cs Apply. New customer offer. Always gamble responsibly. 21+ | |
| Unibet | Up to $500 First Bet Offer | 1997 | Visit Site! | T&Cs Apply. New customer offer. Always gamble responsibly. 21+ |
Given the legislation is so recent, we don’t see the influx of new PA betting sites slowing down any time soon. Experienced bonus hunters know you can use this to your advantage by cashing in on the various welcome packages.
Be sure to come back to this page often because we will update our lists as more PA betting sites come online. In the meantime, check out some of the best New Jersey betting sites for some nearby options.
Remember, you only need to be present in a state to gamble online, so driving to Delaware or New Jersey is a quick alternative.
Illegal Betting Sites in Pennsylvania
For every legal sportsbook, there seem to be many more illegal ones. Though they may frame themselves as legal betting sites in Pennsylvania, many offshore operators do not have the required license. Here is a list of known black market sportsbooks in PA:
- ⛔ Riverbet
- ⛔ Premiumbull
- ⛔ digiBet
- ⛔ Bigbetworld
- ⛔ All Horse Racing
- ⛔ Gamebet
- ⛔ 21Bet
- ⛔ 1xBet
- ⛔ 12BET
There are many reasons for avoiding offshore operators, but the primary one is to prevent identity and bank account theft. By only wagering at legal sites you protect yourself from scammers and gain legal recourse in case disputes arise.
The PA Gambling Industry
There was a multitude of reasons the state of Pennsylvania wanted to legalize online gambling. Having a large financial deficit, it needed a way to generate highly taxable revenue to contribute to its budget. The first step was establishing the PA state lottery in 1971.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, there were pushes for gambling’s legalization in the state as a direct result of the lottery’s establishment. Each time, legislation failed due to public and legal perceptions. A final push in 1999 was approved in the statehouse but failed to make a referendum ballot.
However, in 2004 the state passed Act 71, establishing the PGCB, and legalizing land-based casinos and racetracks. After the horse racing industry created thousands of jobs and millions in revenue, greater public acceptance led to a more open stance on other forms of gambling.
In 2017, the state’s legislature passed bills allowing gambling at truck stops, airports, and online. They were signed into law later that year and authorized ten new satellite casinos that can have up to 750 slot machines and 30 table games.
The 2017 bill’s passage means PA was the fourth state to legalize online gambling after Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware. It also authorized sports betting at casinos pending a ruling on the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which was deemed unconstitutional. Sports betting was in PA to stay.
FAQ
While we try to make all our guides as comprehensive as possible, occasionally our readers have more specific queries, which we answer below. If you have any comments or concerns, reach out to us at contact@bestbettingsites.com.
🥇 What is the best betting site in Pennsylvania?
We ranked the best PA betting sites at the top of this page, so you can see which sportsbook took our number one spot. All the sportsbooks we listed are licensed and legal in Pennsylvania, which means they meet the criteria set forth by the state government in terms of player protection, data encryption, and age verification.
🔎 Are there any new betting sites in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Since legislation is so new in the state, loads of new betting sites in Pennsylvania open frequently. Check out our list of new PA online sportsbooks for a list of options.
📜 Is there a list of the Pennsylvania betting sites?
Yes, there are a few. You can see our list of PA sportbooks for an overview of the top sportsbooks in the state, along with its owner and licensing information.
🛡️ Are Pennsylvania betting sites safe?
Yes, licensed Pennsylvania betting sites are safe. You can read our section on safety at PA online betting sites for a complete breakdown of security, encryption and verification measures operators use to keep your information protected.
💵 How does PA make money from betting sites?
The PA gambling tax laws put the burden on both the operators and players. The operators are subject to a 36% tax on all sportsbook related revenue, while players pay 3.07% of all income, including gambling income, to the state. This is on top of any taxes Uncle Sam says you must pay.
⚖️ Is online betting in PA also legal?
Yes, online betting in Pennsylvania is 100% legal, provided the site has a PGCB license. See our legal breakdown for a fully detailed look at PA gambling law.
👮 How can I solve a dispute with a Pennsylvania online sportsbook?
You can solve disputes by contacting customer support teams, and then filing a complaint with the PGCB should you need to escalate your dispute to the legal realm. You can read more about customer support responsibilities for an overview of the services they provide.
Conclusion
Given the laws in the state, it’s easy for the best PA betting sites to provide a full online gambling experience. Easy access to live and mobile wagering with high payouts means it’s one of the top online gambling states in the country.
The outlook in the state means websites for online sports betting PA players can wager at continue to open regularly. Since the only barrier to entry is the $10 million license fee, we expect the rate of openings for online sportsbooks to continue at a high rate.
If you want to see what’s offered in other states, feel free to check out our US betting sites page for an overview of the laws, taxes, and gambling landscape across the country.