Unlike before, players don't really have to drive all the way to town in order to wager on their favorite teams at a brick and mortar casino. Pennsylvania is famously known as the home of American sports and has consequently created a new frontier in online sports betting. Various laws that have been passed in the recent past, online betting is now perfectly legal in PA. Here, iGamers have a number of options to choose from.
One of the most notable stakeholders is SugarHouse Sportsbook. Since its inception in May 2019, this casino has dominated online iGaming circles by offering endless bonuses and promotions for players. For instance, you are awarded a 100% matching deposit bonus for all deposits up to $250.
Another notable face here is the FanDuel Sportsbook, an entity launched in July 2019. FanDuel also offers players a number of offers in terms of matching cash bonuses. Some other notable brands include Parx Sportsbook and BetRivers. There is still hope that more casinos will come up and exploit the huge iGaming potential in Pennsylvania.
PA Online Sports Betting
The foundation of PA sports betting was laid in 2015 when Nick Kotik, a Representative from Allegheny County, introduced a bill in the House of Representatives. In his bill, Kotik sought to legalize betting firms and also online casinos. Later that year, Robert Matzie put more emphasis on the legalization of sports betting in PA and other states in the US. In January 2016, the House Gaming Oversight Committee held a sitting and after wide consultations, the bill was passed unopposed. Consultations were done far and wide by more stakeholders including potential investors and lawmakers as well.
In 2017, Matzie hit the floor of the house again with more amendments to the already passed law. He introduced House Bill 519, as a follow up on Kotik's bill on betting. Since the inception of betting in PA, there has been tremendous growth in the online iGaming sector. The urge displayed by bettors to go digital has been overwhelming. As a matter of fact, more than 75% of gamers have been using Android devices, laptops, desktops, and Mac OS to place bets. Today, Pennsylvania online sports’ betting is one of the most outstanding iGaming activities in the United States.
- The Pennsylvania online sports betting is powered by a large number of both online and brick and mortar casinos.
- Most online casinos allow iGamers to bet using their mobile devices.
Online casinos in Pennsylvania are improving their features by the day. With technology evolving every single day, so are the casinos. For instance, most online casino platforms here are developed on the HTML5 platform. This simply translates to a better iGaming experience. Furthermore, you may not need to download any games, or platforms when playing at the casino. Most notably, online casinos will require you to update your browser to the latest version and preferably download and activate a Flash player for an optimal gaming experience. Casino apps available on app-store are small and don't take up a lot of space in your device.
How to Get Started with sport betting in PA
There must be a myriad of questions running through your head by now. Perhaps you are wondering how easy is it to get started. You also might be wondering the type of restrictions these casinos may impose on players. Firstly, you will need to create an account with the operator's online platform. Notably, there are requisites before your account is created. You may need to provide your legal name as it appears on your passport or other official documents. Every casino in Pennsylvania requires that you are of legal age and have a SSN number before your account can go live. Other requirements include:
- Your SSN Number
- Residential Address
- Email address
- Telephone number
Verification procedures may differ from one casino to another. For instance, some casinos may need a recent utility bill to authenticate your address. Others may need that you allow their mobile app to access your location to verify that you are in the United States and more so in PA. A debit or credit card may also be required as it is one of the ways by which you can deposit and withdraw winnings from the casino. Another aspect worth noting is that most online platforms are currently using geofencing technology to make sure that bettors are in PA when placing their bets.
Further to this, you also may be required to verify your identity. This means that the casino needs to ascertain if you are the real person signing up with them. While some casinos will require a photo of your verification documents, some are slightly a bit stringent and may ask for a “selfie photo” of yourself holding the document. Credit cards are verified by use of micro deposits. Usually, the casino may deposit a small amount to your account, say $1.04. You will then be required to verify the exact amount from your bank statement and fill in on your profile.
FAQs
What Are the Restrictions of Joining PA Online Sports Betting?
PA restricts persons under the age of 21 years to participate. Bets can only be taken on sports, not on events like elections. PA betting doesn't offer video games. Persons involved in specific sports are not allowed to take part in betting.
What is Pennsylvania Online Sports Betting?
Pennsylvania (PA) online sports betting may refer to a collection online sportsbooks/betting firms that are licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Most of them are online-based and may come with Brick and Mortar casinos as well.
How Do I Join PA Online Sports Betting?
If you are interested in joining PA online sports betting, all you need is to provide your personal basic information. That is; your name, email address, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and location. Once your details are verified, you'll be able to place online bets on your favorite sports, teams or even players.
How Do I Deposit Funds in My Account?
You can opt for VISA, eCheck / ACH, MasterCard, Transfer Bill, Paybill, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, PayNearMe, Casino Cage Payments, Wires Transfers, or even Money Orders.
How Do I Place My Bet?
To place your bet, all you need is to launch the PA sportsbooks that you choose and select the game that you want to bet on. You can place a single bet or select/ add several games to increase the number of games in your bet slip. Once you are satisfied with your bet slip, you can now enter the amount you want to bet on, then wait for the games to play.
I cant control my gambling, what do I do?
If you think you have a gambling problem, please call 1-800-gambler or go to Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania
What Is Legal and Illegal with PA sports betting
No one wants to rub the wrong side of the law by engaging in unlawful activities, as penalties can be painfully expensive. So, lets check on what is legal and illegal in online sports betting while you are in PA. Firstly, you can bet on almost all pro sports, international sporting events or even local games in your neighborhood. For instance, it's perfectly legal to place a bet on your favorite college NBL team or even on a top team in the European Football Leagues. One heavily stamped rule is the attainment of legal age. Here, legal age for betting is 21 years.
One good thing about Pennsylvanian betting rules is that you do not have to be a permanent resident here to bet. As long as your GPRS location reads that you are within the bounds of the state, you can confidently place your wagers. Notably, PA doesn't allow betting on elections and events like the Oscars. You are also not allowed to wager on eSports. If you are personnel in one of the sports leagues, you cannot bet on any of your participating teams too. Betting on horse racing is also available but is licensed separately.
There are some major issues that casino operators take seriously and that can lead you to having a brush with the law enforcement. Firstly, no casino allows players to use multiple accounts. If they note that you are operating two identical accounts from a similar IP address, they might need to seek an explanation. Furthermore, identity theft is highly prohibited here and can land you behind bars for some years. Be sure to avoid any automated betting, e.g by use of robots as your account may be permanently frozen. If you do you iGaming diligently, you simply will have a smooth ride.
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
- Address: Foster Plaza 10, 680 Andersen Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15220, United States
- Website:gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov
- Phone: +1 412-928-5737
Pennsylvania Gaming Control
- Address:303 Walnut St # 5, Harrisburg, PA 17101, United States
- Website:gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov
- Phone: +1 717-346-8300
Most Popular Sports to Bet on in Pennsylvania
Along with horse racing and golfing, there are a handful of other pro sports teams in Pennsylvania. If you are an avid follower of motorsports, you can always wager on your favorite team or driver. Soccer, tennis or even basketball top the list here. You can always try NFL betting in PA. Pittsburgh Steelers Philadelphia Eagles are some of the top teams here and meet every 4 years in regular seasons. Major League Basketball is another top avenue that you can use to wager both for fun or even to make a few extra bucks.
Horse betting in PA has been taking place for quite a long time. Indeed, even before the introduction of online sports betting, cowboys in the ranches did horse betting locally. PA features 6 racing tracks where 3 of them host 3 thoroughbred races while the other three support harness racing only. The good news is that you can bet on all races within PA through Simulcast at the tracks. You can also try your hand in (OTB) Off-Track Betting offices as well. Notably, new types of bets in horse racing have not been added to the online sportsbooks yet.
What Types of Bets Can I Make?
If you are already an old hand in this, you might have met the Moneyline bet. It is indeed one of the most common single bets. Basically, bookies offer you lines based on a $100 wager. Favorites are shown in a negative form while underdogs have a positive handicap. You can also bet on the Totals. For instance, you would wager on a certain basketball team making a total of 30 or more points in a single round. If it happens, you'll certainly smile all the way to the bank. Depending on the match, you can even wager on more than one team.
Another bet worth mentioning is the parlay bet. Here, one bet carries several other bets. A bet involves a minimum of 3 legs. Basically, you can have profits from one game being wagered are transferred to the next set. While the bet comes with a huge risk, it has a good return ratio if you are lucky enough to win all the games in the set. Futures are also a very common bet type here. You can place wagers on upcoming matches. Other types of bets available here include the Teasers, Round-Robin, and props.
Getting Around Sportbooks
Once you are registered and your account has been approved, you now can place your first bet. While different casinos may come with different menus, the designs typically follow the same principles. Here, you find three primary columns. The left column features a list of available sports you can wager on at the casino. Popular slots take lead on the top of the list. They may include pro leagues that are in season, popular European leagues and perhaps a link to stream the matches live. There is the middle column where upcoming games are listed.
If you select sports on the left, they appear in the middle column. You can also select specific sports on the left and have the matches appearing in the middle column. Here, you can also view a complete list of the bets you have made. The right column shows your bet slip. You can simply add more wagers from the mid-column to your bet slip and organize them separately later. In this section, you can also choose to place parlays or even singles and enter the amount you intend to wager. If the sportsbook offers cash out betting, it is placed on this column.
Common Payment Methods for sport betting
iGamers are always looking around for casinos that offer a wide array of payment methods. None of them is willing to get into the circles of trying out new payment methods. Ideally, this means that they look for an operator that they can deposit funds to their platforms easily and withdraw with similar ease as well. Casinos in PA are well aware of this fact and have instituted a number of the most common payment methods. Wire transfer is one of the most common cash deposit methods you can use with your casino account. Unfortunately, it may take up to 2 days to complete.
ACH is a payment method that almost looks like wire transfer but needs some pre-authorizations before your transfers can be completed. It's important to note that some banks may decline transfers to casinos unless you explicitly visit your local branch and as them to do so. Another common payment method here is the use of casino payment cages. For instance, huge market players like SugarHouse Casino have a payment cage in major hotels and casinos in town. You can always pop in and deposit funds to your online account. Some other common payment methods include:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Paypal
- Neteller
On the same note, you can use electronic wallets more conveniently and safely as compared to many other payment methods. Electronic wallets are a broad category and majorly include third party payment systems. Most importantly, iGamers seek the extra security offered by the wallets and in exchange, the wallets charge a small transaction fee. By use of e-wallets, you are able to separate your conventional banking accounts and betting activities aside. Skrill and PayPal are top on the list of most common e-wallets in PA. Both can be used for both deposits and withdrawals.
