If you have never played in any casino, this article will offer you some valuable tips on how to ace your game. The first form of gambling that was permitted in Pennsylvania was Horse Racing. The government legalized it after the Race Horse Industry Reform Act in 1959. Since then, several forms of gambling have been allowed in this state.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board governs casino gambling in Pennsylvania. Since its establishment in 2004, this Board oversees and monitors all the casinos in the state of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act legalized slot machines in 14 locations in 2006. This Act permitted the setting up of casinos, standalone casinos, and resort-based casinos. Since 2010, the authorities have also permitted table games. The newest form of gambling, satellite casinos allow casino operators to set up smaller, secondary casinos in other locations. To know more about Pennsylvania casinos, continue reading this article.
FAQ
What is the minimum age limit?
The minimum age limit of all online casino players is 21. You will need to share the last 4 digits of your social number to determine whether you can play online or not.
Who regulates the casinos in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board regulates casinos in the state. All of the casinos, whether online or offline, need to be approved by this body.
Do all casinos have online versions?
Not all the land-based casinos have online versions. While some of them have their online avatars, a few like Parx are still setting up their online products.
Can I live anywhere while gambling online in PA?
Yes and No. While you can live anywhere while playing your favorite game online, you need to stay in the state lines while placing your bet. If you don't, you will be blocked from playing further.
Which payment options can I choose?
You can choose any option that you like as long as it is approved by your casino. Some of the more popular ones are Mastercard, Neteller, Visa, and PayPal.
What do I do if I can't control my gambling impulses?
If you are experiencing difficulties controlling your gambling, you can call 1-800-gambler or go to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania
Top online casinos in Pennsylvania
While there are several casinos in this state that will catch your fancy, here is a ready reckoner of some of the more acclaimed online casinos in Pennsylvania. The number 1 on this list is the Mohegan Sun Pocono Casino. You can also check out the Sugarhouse Casino and Sportsbook. Another online casino that offers a great gaming experience to its players is Chester Harrah's. There are others too like FanDuel, Hollywood Casino, Mount Airy/Fox Bet, Presque Isle Downs, and others. Some of these are already operational while others are still setting their acts together.
- Mohegan Sun Pocono Online Casino
- Sugarhouse Casino and Sportsbook (online)
- Chester Harrah's Philadelphia Casino (online)
Mohegan is expected to start its online operations shortly. It will start its online sportsbook sometime in 2019 fall. Though this online player had received clearances to operate all the 3 kinds of online gambling, it failed to get its act together in time. Currently, Mohegan runs an online casino in New Jersey in collaboration with NYX that was later acquired by Scientific Gaming. Another online casino that has partnered with Scientific Gaming is Chester Harrah. This operator is expected to launch its first product in the second half of 2019. As of now, we don't know about Harrah's promos.
Sugarhouse is rapidly making a great name for itself in the Pennsylvania online game set-up. Its games are terrific and the gambling experience even better. Many players have played games for as low as one dime per spin and this makes Sugarhouse a clear favorite in PAG. Get your first deposit bonus (100%) all the way to $250 by typing out 250MATCH while making your first investment. You have several payment options to choose from; Visa, MasterCard, PayNearMe, and online banking. Lastly, SugarHouse Casino has a fantastic support function and its payouts are fast.
Pennsylvania Online Casinos and the applicable laws
The main body that oversees all kinds of gambling- offline or online- in Pennsylvania is the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board or PGCB. This organization monitors and regulates all forms of legalized gambling, makes laws and executes them. In addition to regulating horse racing, the PGCB also oversees harness racing, tavern games, and interstate simulcasts.
This body also regulates pari-mutuel wagering. The PGCB allows the operations of more than 25-year old slot machines. Gamblers need to be aware that poker and roulette are not considered legal forms of gambling. The PGCB authorities treat illegal gambling seriously.
In terms of casino revenues, Pennsylvania is the second largest state in the United States.
You would be surprised to know that most of Pennsylvania's casinos are attached with
racetracks. In addition, the state has 3 resort-style casinos but these have fewer slots than the regular ones. Many professional gamblers find this surprising because most of the casinos outside the state offer more amenities. Most Pennsylvania based casinos offer little amenities and conveniences apart from their main products; casino games. Pennsylvania Gaming Authorities require that each casino must have a dedicated area for smokers.
- Casinos were legalized in 2004
- Smokers have a dedicated area for themselves
- The minimum age for casino players is 21 years
In 1988, the state passed a law, The Pennsylvania Local Option Small Games of Chance Act which permitted limited gaming in non-profit entities, and for-profit taverns. These small games of chance include punchboards, raffles, weekly drawings, daily drawings, Race Night Games, pools, and 50/50 drawings.
Bingo games are allowed in the state per The Pennsylvania Bingo Law passed in 1981. Just in case things didn't stay the same, the Pennsylvania state legislature approved a bill in 2017 that allows gambling in airports, truck stops and online. This bill also legalized online gambling. This bill also allowed the setting up of satellite casinos.
Legal online gambling in Pennsylvania
You don't need to actually live in Pennsylvania while playing in any online casino. If you are a resident, you can play from anywhere you want to. To play online, you must open an account and give the following information;
- Your Name
- Your Address
- Date of Birth
- Email id
- The last 4 digits of your social security number.
Very important- you must also be at least 21 years of age at the time of opening your account. Please note that at the time of depositing or withdrawing your money you need to furnish information on your preferred method of payment.
An important point to note here is that online casinos use geolocation technology to determine your location. Using this high tech, casinos are able to locate your phone and computer. This is important because several non-state people try to access Pennsylvania based online casinos surreptitiously. While you are free to choose between an offline and online casino, the latter enjoys several distinct advantages. One, there is no limit on the number of people playing a particular game. In an offline casino, there can only be a certain number of players playing Blackjack at a given time.
If you are planning to jump headlong into the world of online gambling in Pennsylvania, make sure the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approves your casino. While most of the land-based casinos in the state have an online version, it's always great to check whether your casino is approved or not. Just in case you are wondering which online casinos have been approved by the Board, here is that list- Hannah's, Hollywood Casino, Mount Airy's, Parx, Sand's Bethlehem, Sugar House Casino, Valley Forge Casino, Stadium Casino Project, Mohegan Sun Pocono, and Presque Isle Dawns.
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
Getting started on online gambling
It's pretty easy to start gambling online in Pennsylvania. All you have to do is download the betting apps of these online casinos on your mobile device. Please note that as per iOS guidelines, these apps cannot be hosted on the Apple play store. Once you have installed the app, you will have to choose your payment options. After your options are approved, the app will ask for your essential details like your social security number. Through your number, it would immediately make out whether you meet the betting age requirements. Please note you don't have to visit your casino to get registered.
Check whether your preferred payment option is accepted by the app or not. Many online casino apps accept payments through branded SugarHouse prepaid cards, cash at the cage or just plain credit cards. As things progress, you can expect more payment options on the table such as PayPal, Bank Wire Transfers, PayNearMe, Checks, pre-paid cards, eCheck/ ACH, etc. Please note that certain credit card companies do not approve payments to online gambling sites. Very importantly, you must be within your state lines at the time of betting. This is a crucial piece of information and you must take note of it at all times.
Hollywood Online Casino
The Penn National Race Course at Granville, a staple for horse racing, was demolished in 2008 for giving way to the absolutely fabulous Hollywood Online Casino. With a 16-table poker room, 70 table games and 2,500 slots, this online casino remains a perennial favorite among online gamblers. At times, the Hollywood Online Casino offers a match bonus to all first-time players with their first deposit. For as low as $10, you can also get a matching bonus that can go up to $500. This bonus expires 60 days after you made your first deposit.
Please note that your match bonus will be held in your player account until you meet all your player requirements, which means wagering 20x the bonus amount. Your match bonus will be deposited in increments of 10. Additionally, Hollywood casino also gives out several promos like the $25 no deposit bonus. To avail of this bonus, you need to type out a special code while registering yourself. While promos and bonuses are important to catch the attention of the players, we also need to look at the gaming partners. Hollywood Casinos has done some great work here, it has partnered with NetEnt and IGT.
Rivers Casino Online
Rivers Online Casino offers up to $250 as the first deposit bonus so this is one very important reason why you should sign up here. You can play your favorite game on Windows, iPhone,and Android devices. No need to install your game; just launch it on your browser and you are all set. The wagering requirement is just 1x though you will need to be in Pennsylvania to play games at this online casino. This online casino has very good customer support. In terms of banking, there are several options that you can use.
You can play several games here- online slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, live games, baccarat, and bingo. In addition, you can lay online bets on your favorite teams in NHL, MLS, EPL, MMA, Boxing, eSports, and Racing. Rivers Online Casino works closely with Visa, Skrill, MasterCard, PayPal, and a few other payment options. Payouts are fast and reliable. This online casino has partnered with Kambi, one of the best operators in the online casino business. Rivers Online casino has an offline presence as well; the land-based casino is spread over 450,000 square feet property.
Parx Online Casino
Parx opened its online casino in July 2019. Its online sportsbook was launched on June 27, 2019. This Pennsylvania casino company paid $10million as license fees in order to get into the online tables games, peer-to-peer games and online slot play games businesses. At the time of its launch, Parx casino online encouraged its customers to load and lock their accounts. It also gave away a one-time match bonus of 100% up to a maximum limit of $500. If you are planning to try out Parx, you can use the bonus code PARX500. Note that this bonus is valid on 20x your play through.
If you are a member of Parx' land-based casino and sportsbook, you can earn credits based on the Xclub Loyalty program. Based on these credits, you can play some slots for free, get perks and on-site promotions, take part in sweepstakes, and get discounts in local businesses. Parx' online software is run by GAN which has earlier managed the former's social casino way back in 2015. GAN is a top player in the online software business and has also partnered with Betfair in New Jersey. The partnership between GAN and Parx is expected to give a superlative gaming experience to the players.
- Partnered with GAN
- A wide array of slots
- Loyalty Program
If you want to play one of its online games, you can do so by installing the Parx app. For this, you will have to visit the website of Parx; many iPhone users cannot download and install this app as of now. The same problem exists with Android users as well. But since the casino and sportsbook businesses are integrated, you can still play online by using the sportsbook app. Please note that in order to play on the Parx online app, you need to be within the state of Pennsylvania. Talk to customer support if you are facing any problems.
Land Based Casinos in Pennsylvania
River Casino Pittsburgh
- Address: 777 Casino Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, United States
- Website: riverscasino.com
- Phone: +1 412-231-7777
Harrah's Philadelphia Casino
- Address: 777 Harrah's Blvd, Chester, PA 19013, United States
- Website: caesars.com
- Phone: +1 484-490-1800
Rivers Casino Philadelphia
- Address: 1001 N Delaware Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125, United States
- Website: riverscasino.com
- Phone: +1 877-477-3715
Sugar House Casino Philadelphia
- Address: Delaware Expy, Philadelphia, PA 19125, United States
- Website: sugarhousecasino.com
- Phone: +1 215-847-1257
Meadows gaming
- Address: 210 Racetrack Rd, Washington, PA 15301, United States
- Website: meadowsgaming.com
- Phone: +1 724-503-1200
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin
- Address: 4067 National Pike, Farmington, PA 15437, United States
- Website: ladylucknemacolin.com
- Phone: +1 724-329-7500
Hollywood Casino PA
- Address: 777 Hollywood Blvd, Grantville, PA 17028, United States
- Website: hollywoodpnrc.com
- Phone:+1 717-469-2211
Mounty Airy Casino Resort
- Address: 312 Woodland Rd, Mt Pocono, PA 18344, United States
- Website: mountairycasino.com
- Phone: +1 877-682-4791
Mohegan Sun Pocono
- Address: 1280 PA-315, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702, United States
- Website: mohegansunpocono.com
- Phone: +1 570-831-2100
Wind Creek Bethlehem
- Address: 77 Wind Creek Blvd, Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States
- Website: windcreekbethlehem.com
- Phone: +1 484-777-7777
Valley Forge Casino Resort
- Address: 1160 1st Ave, King of Prussia, PA 19406, United States
- Website: vfcasino.com
- Phone: +1 610-354-8118
Parxc Casino
- Address: 2999 Street Rd, Bensalem, PA 19020, United States
- Website: parxcasino.com
- Phone: +1 888-588-7279
