Real Money Online Casinos in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania now has 19 online casino apps that you can play for real money. Many of these legal online casinos come from popular brands like BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars and DraftKings. Pennsylvania online casinos feature some of the best sign-up bonuses, promos and games to choose from.
For instance, right now at FanDuel Casino, new customers can receive a free year of chicken dinners through the operator’s “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner” promo. The deal is available now through Aug. 3.
Whether you love slots, progressive slots, table games, live dealer or video poker, there are hundreds of games to play for real money at PA online casinos. All of these casino games are approved by PA gaming regulators and available on your iPhone, Android or desktop.
If you are looking for the best online casinos in PA, welcome bonuses and promotions, we can help recommend some of the popular brand names to help get you started.
Top 9 PA online casinos 2023
Online casino games in Pennsylvania
Online casinos from legal, licensed operated operators like BetMGM, Caesars PA, DraftKings, and others are now available for you to play in Pennsylvania right now. You can play at these trusted brands for real money and quick and easy payouts.
PA online casinos are always adding new games to choose from as they are approved by the PA Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
We offer an overview of how diverse these casino game categories are. Keep in mind that the most prominent Pennsylvania online casinos offer more than 300 titles, including many of the same games and slots from your local casino.
Also, you can play most games at PA casinos online for fun. Playing games in demo mode, or with play-money chips, allows you to find the titles you like before you gamble.
The only category of games that are not available for demo play is live dealer table games. You can watch them, though you will not be able to wager on them.
Play PA casino games for real money
Some of the best online casinos like BetMGM offer a chance to win real money. Real money online casinos are now available to play in Pennsylvania where you can wager and win real money. All of the PA casino apps are available 24/7 and offer online slots, video poker, and table games such as roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. Use this table to compare some of our favorite real money casinos in PA. The best online real money online casinos game are licensed and regulated by the state of Pennsylvania so be sure to check.
| Rank | PA Casinos | Bonus Offer | Play Now! |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | BetMGM Casino | $25 Freeplay® + 100% up to $1,000 on deposit | Play Now! |
| 2. | BetRivers Casino | 100% up to $250 on Deposit | Play Now! |
| 3. | Caesars Casino | $10 Bonus Play + 200% up to $200 on Deposit | Play Now! |
| 4. | DraftKings Casino | $35 Casino Credits + 100% Match up to $2,000 with 15x PTR, or deposit match up to $100 with a 1x PTR | Play now! |
| 5. | Borgata Casino | $20 Free + 100% up to $1,000 deposit match | Play Now! |
| 6. | FanDuel Casino | $2,000 Play it Again for first 24 hours | Play Now! |
| 7. | Unibet Casino | $10 Free + 100% up to $750 | Play Now! |
| 8. | PokerStars Casino | Bet $1 Get $100 Bonus Play | Play Now! |
| 9. | Betway Casino | 100% up to $1,000 On Deposit | Play Now! |
PA online slots
Slots are the biggest category of games for any online casino. Many sites offer over 200 games so you’ll need some way to sort the list of slot titles.
Firstly, casinos will feature their most popular games. You can use filters to search by, e.g., the number of reels, game developer, progressive jackpots, and so on.
If you enjoy live casino slots, then you will be able to play a lot of these online. You can search by name, or browse the listings for IGT, Bally, or another land-based slot studio.
Many online casinos feature classic games, e.g., Wheel of Fortune, Cleopatra, and Wolf Run. You can also find traditional three-reel slots. Online slot studios like IGT create these.
When you browse the tiled graphics for slots to enjoy, you’ll see progressive jackpots listed underneath many of them. These pools can get massive, mostly in the six-figure range but they can get up to $1 million or more.
Table games at PA online casinos
Table games are a broad category, although it mostly covers all the casino games played on the green felt.
While most are card-based, dice and roulette wheels also fall under table games. Live dealer games are in this category; however, we will cover them separately.
This list is for the software-based versions:
- Blackjack: There are a lot of variations of basic blackjack rules. These include games with side bets, multi-hand games and entertaining variants like Blackjack Switch and Spanish 21.
- Roulette: You can bet your favorite numbers or try complex betting systems with online roulette. Where available, choose the European roulette wheel because the single zero reduces the house edge.
- Casino poker games: A lot of card-based table games use poker-hand rankings. Online casinos have Caribbean Stud, three-card poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, and Casino Hold ’em.
- Baccarat: Two of the three bets you can place in baccarat have a very low house edge. As long as you avoid the “tie” bet, this favorite among high rollers can be entertaining.
- Craps: With two betting phases and the chance to go on a hot streak as long as no 7s are rolled, craps is a lively live casino game. This appears at some online casinos, which gives you a chance to learn the complex bets.
Live dealer casinos in Pennsylvania
Live dealer is one of the most popular offerings at PA online casinos. Live dealer gives customers the choice to play table games against a real, live person instead of a traditional random number generator (“RNG”).
All PA online casinos have live dealer and they include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, three-card poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. You’ll find the most offerings and varying bet minimums at BetMGM and Caesars. Both platforms now feature Evolution live dealer titles, too.
Players like live dealer games because the action is live-streamed from a Evolution’s PA-based studio and you place your bet in real-time. It gives players the feeling of being in a casino without leaving their home.
Keep in mind, you need to act before the timer runs down in these games. Otherwise, your hand will be folded (or you’ll stand), depending on the game.
You can chat via text with the dealers and other players while you play. The added social element, plus the ability to watch the cards being dealt, make these increasingly popular games.
Video poker and novelty games
PA casinos allow you to play video poker games online. These include bonus poker and multi-hand variations, as well as traditional titles.
Top casino bonus offers in Pennsylvania
With so many real money online casinos live in PA with more on the way, you can be sure they are competing to attract new players.
With so many This means 2023 is a perfect time to take advantage of their marketing budgets. Casino bonuses take four primary forms, and not every casino will offer them all. If not, the bonuses they do offer will need to be generous.
Here are the main types of casino bonuses:
- No-deposit welcome bonus: A popular way to attract new players is to offer bonus credits for registering. This bonus is usually a small amount (between $10 and $25). You’ll need to wager it a number of times before you can withdraw it. These offers can start your casino bankroll, if you get lucky. If not, then you’ll have a chance to check out the real-money slot titles without any personal risk.
- Matched deposit bonuses: This is the most common form of a casino welcome bonus in PA. Your first deposit will be matched 100%, usually up to around $300, though sometimes much higher. You then get 30 to 60 days to meet the specified playthrough (wagering) requirements.
- Loyalty/comp point schemes: Some casinos will tie their online comp point programs together with their live casino. Others have separate rewards programs, with complex tier systems unlocking progressively bigger bonuses. For high rollers, these loyalty schemes often have a VIP level, too.
- One-off promotions: How active a casino is with promos can make a big difference to your bankroll over time. These vary widely, and include double points deals, reload bonuses, promos linked to new games and bonus chips for sharing on social media.
While nothing is stopping you from taking up several casino bonuses, keep in mind that these are restricted to one per household for each casino. Many players have been tempted to sign up their entire family for a bonus offer only to find their accounts to be closed down quickly.
Are the online casinos in Pennsylvania safe?
All online casinos in PA are legit, legal, and licensed and under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
Players are protected by know your customer (KYC) guidelines and responsible gaming laws. The games are tested for integrity and fairness. A complaint and dispute process is available if necessary.
When it comes to Pennsylvania online casinos, you really can’t get any safer and they are completely legit.
The PGCB stated early in the licensing process that they have a deliberate, slow approach. This includes testing periods for new apps and websites. With the licenses for online casinos in Pennsylvania held by local live casinos and racetrack casinos, you have trusted brand names behind each of the apps.
A major concern for players new to casino games is the fairness of the spins or deals. At regulated casinos, games are regularly audited and the expected return-to-player (RTP) percentages are published. While each game has a small edge in favor of the house, you can be sure that you are getting a fair shot at winning and it’s in line with the published figures.
Licensed and legal PA casinos vs. offshore casinos
For many years, the only way to play online casino games in Pennsylvania was to risk your money at offshore casinos. While there were some limited legal options with sweepstakes casinos, the new legal PA internet casinos effectively remove the need to take this risk.
Offshore casinos are usually based in the Caribbean or Central America and their legal status is uncertain. While their host nation licenses them, they are not recognized or licensed by any US authority and our banks are legally obliged to block payments to them.
With PA casinos under the watchful eye of the PGCB, they are licensed to accept conventional payment methods and are thoroughly tested. There is no longer any reason to risk playing at an offshore site.
Geolocation and PA casinos
You can access PA online casinos from anywhere. However, the apps will only allow you to play games for real money and make deposits if you are within state lines. You must be physically located in the state of Pennsylvania when playing at PA online casinos.
Pennsylvania casinos do not allow real-money play if there is any doubt about your location. There’s no way to get around the geolocation technology. It is required by law that all legal, legit online casinos use geolocation software to identify a player’s location.
If you are using a VPN or proxy server, you might still experience issues. Mobile users on 4G and close to the state border who experience problems can download additional geolocation software in some cases. Also, if you are having trouble logging in to an online casino, make sure you have “location services enabled” and select “while using this app.”
If you are using a VPN or proxy server, you might still experience issues. Mobile users on 4G and close to the state border who experience problems can download additional geolocation software in some cases. Also, if you are having trouble logging in to an online casino, make sure you have “location services enabled” and select “while using this app.”Wi-Fi data is difficult to fake, and if you are not using a VPN, desktop players are unlikely to experience geolocation issues.
Comparing top online casinos in PA
Here’s a look at our favorite PA casinos, along with recommended slots and table games to try out. Note that each of the following online casinos also offers live dealer games.
| PA Online Casino | App Rating (out of 5 stars) | Best Slot/Table Game |
|---|---|---|
| FanDuel Casino | 4.8 | Lightning Horseman (Jackpot)/Live Dealer Infinite Blackjack |
| BetMGM Casino | 4.7 | Loot’en Khamun/Black & Yellow Roulette |
| DraftKings Casino | 4.7 | Extra Chilli Megaways/DraftKings Touchdown Blackjack |
| Betway Casino | 4.7 | Divine Fotune/American Roulette |
| Caesars Casino | 4.6 | Hell’s Kitchen/I Love Suits Poker |
| BetRivers Casino | 4.5 | China Shores (Progressive)/Four Card Poker |
| PokerStars Casino | 4.3 | Divine Fortune (Jackpot)/Atlantic City Premium Blackjack |
| Unibet Casino | 4.0 | Eagles Online Slot/Eagles Blackjack |
| Hollywood Casino | 3.6 | 88 Fortunes/Blackjack Live |
PA casinos eligible to offer online gambling in Pennsylvania
In total, there are 10 licensed casinos that legally offer online casino games in PA:
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racecourse (Hollywood, DraftKings, BetMGM, Barstool, PointsBet)
- Rivers Casino Philadelphia (BetRivers, SugarHouse, Borgata)
- Valley Forge Resort Casino (FanDuel, Stardust)
- Live! Casino Philadelphia (Betway, PlayLive!)
- Harrah’s Philadelphia (Caesars, Tropicana)
- Mohegan Sun Pocono (Unibet)
- Mount Airy Casino Resort (PokerStars Casino)
- Parx Casino (Parx)
- Presque Isle Downs (TwinSpires)
- Wind Creek Casino Resort (Wind Creek)
Live Pennsylvania casinos
There are currently 17 licensed casino properties in the state of Pennsylvania with the latest additions of Live! Pittsburgh, Live! Philadelphia, Hollywood Casino York, Hollywood Morgantown and Parx Casino Shippensburg.
According to the PGCB, this includes 11 stand-alone and racetrack casinos (Category 1 and 2), two smaller resort casinos (Category 3), and four Category 4 “mini-casinos.”
Mini-casinos now open in Pennsylvania
Category 4 casinos or “mini-casinos” can offer between 300-750 slots. A supplemental license costing $2.5 million allows these satellite casino properties to offer up to 30 table games as well.
The process for the issuance of mini-casino licensing involved a series of auctions. The preliminary auctions began in January 2018 and were limited only to the licensed Category 1 and 2 casinos. The first license went to Penn National, which spent $50.1 million to secure a location 50 miles south of its existing Hollywood Casino. In all, $124 million in license fees were raised and five projects were approved.
Pennsylvania Category 4 (mini-casinos) now open:
- Live! Casino Pittsburgh
- Hollywood Casino York
- Hollywood Casino Morgantown
- Parx Casino Shippensburg
Mini-casinos coming to PA:
- Bally’s Casino in Centre County, near State College
Pennsylvania problem gambling support
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, there is help for compulsive gambling in Pennsylvania.
Self-exclusion allows a person to request to be excluded from gambling activities at casinos and online casinos in PA. To be self-excluded, you can fill out the information on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board website or visit a PGCB office. This program involves filling out some forms, providing a photo ID, and voluntarily requesting a one-year, five-year or lifetime exclusion.
Online gambling prevents new challenges when it comes to the management of problem gambling. PA online casinos and sportsbooks offer ways to play safe and responsibly right inside the app. Some features include:
- A prominent link to their responsible gambling information page.
- Tools for time-out, self-exclusion and betting limits.
- Links to support organizations and therapists.
Support available for problem gamblers in PA:
- PA Gambling Addiction 24-hour hotline: 1-800-GAMBLER
- www.ResponsiblePlay.pa.gov
- Council on Compulsive Gambling in Pennsylvania
- PGCB Self-Exclusion Request
- National Council on Problem Gambling
- GA Meetings in PA
Pennsylvania casino and gambling history
The Pennsylvania casino industry is relatively young. Casinos only became legal in 2004. Yet, in the dozen or so years in existence, the industry quickly became a powerhouse. Now it is the second-largest commercial casino industry in the country judging by gross revenue, trailing only Nevada. In October 2022, PA online casinos actually set the all-time, all-market record, generating $151.7 million in gross revenue for the month.
Thanks to steep tax rates, Pennsylvania casinos actually generate more tax revenue for the state than Nevada does. That number has gotten even bigger thanks to the gambling expansion law passed in the fall of 2017.
Here’s an overview of key dates in the history of gambling expansion in Pennsylvania.
2017: Legislation that legalized and regulated online gambling in Pennsylvania, and offer online gaming licenses to the state’s 12 casino properties first, was passed by the Senate. In June 2017 it was amended and passed by the House, sending it back to the Senate. The law was approved at the end of October and ushered in sportsbook wagering and video game terminals at truck stops, and a new category of “mini-casinos” was created.
2018: After a summer of bickering, the state legislature drafted a new version of the gambling expansion package, which both the House and Senate passed. Gov. Tom Wolf signed it into law on Monday, Oct. 30, 2018. The new law allows for a wide range of new gambling ventures. The PA Lottery launched several new games and created the online platform iLottery. A US Supreme Court ruling allowed sports wagering to begin and nine of 12 properties immediately applied for licenses.
2019: At the start of the year, there were just three retail sportsooks. Online sports betting launched in PA in the summer and most people placed bets on their phones. Five online casinos went live through a new Wire Act opinion. Online poker finally arrived in PA.
2020: The spread of COVID-19 led to the shuttering of all retail casinos and racetracks in PA by mid-March. Online sportsbooks were also hit hard. Three more online casinos joined the market before the Super Bowl. Caesars online casino went live in April. Live dealer finally arrived at PA online casino in October 2020.
2021: Among the new online casinos to launch in PA were Borgata Casino (February), Stardust (April), Barstool (May), and Betway (July). Penn National Gaming established itself as the revenue leader in PA with its four online casino brands.
2022: PointsBet launched the state’s 18th online casino in April, integrated with its online sportsbook.
2023: Tropicana Casino launched as PA’s 19th platform at the end of April. Several new online casinos should also launch in the state this year, including Wheel of Fortune Casino, PlayStar Casino, Golden Nugget and Bally Casino.