New online sportsbooks are still popping up from time to time in PA, bringing with them more options for bettors. Here, we lay out what to look for in new PA online sportsbooks, the value of choosing one over another, and how to take advantage of the competitive promotions available now.

If you want to bet at the newest PA online sportsbook, you’ll want to check out PointsBet Sportsbook. PointsBet launched in February 2022 and welcomes new customers with five second chance bet credits totaling up to $250.

Newest online sportsbooks to launch in Pennsylvania

The following is a rundown on the latest PA online sportsbooks to launch in PA. We break down what to expect including welcome bonuses, ongoing promotions and best features.

Best features of new PA sports betting apps

PointsBet best for NBA live betting, FanDuel for NFL player props

Signing up for new sportsbooks gives you more options for shopping around for the best odds, boosts and promos. If you are betting regularly, you will quickly notice the value in having accounts at multiple sportsbooks.

If you place your bets well in advance of game time, line shopping is essential for straight bets like spread, moneyline and over/under totals. But it can be even more important when you get into parlays and prop bets. You might be surprised just how much some PA sportsbooks can vary in betting lines on a particular game and especially on props and parlays.

If you are looking for a particular player prop, like the over on James Harden’s point total, you might find it at 22.5 at one book and 23.5 at another. Or the payouts vary from -125 to +110. These may not seem all that significant at first, but as you do more line shopping (and betting), you will soon see the benefit reflected in your sportsbook balance. Because the oddsmakers often get the lines so close to actual results, a difference in a point (or half a point) can mean the difference between a win and a loss (or a loss and a push).

It’s hard to beat the app interface and odds at DraftKings and FanDuel, but I like PointsBet better for the NBA live betting options. The Lightning Bet options give you the next basket and next one-minute or four-minute lines that you aren’t likely to see at the other apps. For MLB live betting, DraftKings is still my go-to as I have yet to see better in-game markets elsewhere.

For same-game parlays, it’s best to shop around because the payout odds can fluctuate a lot depending what teams or bets are on your ticket. As for prop betting, especially for NFL prop parlays, I haven’t seen anyone do it better than FanDuel. The updated player stats feature in the Active Bets tab lets you track your prop bets (current throwing or receiving yards, etc.) on the app as you enjoy the game.

What to look for in a new sportsbook or app

What to look for in a new betting app will depend on your betting interests, including what sports or teams you like to bet on the most.

Look for flexibility

For many, flexibility is key. New sportsbooks like PointsBet and Betway, for example, offer early and partial cash-out on existing bets. If you are new to betting on sports, this is a great feature that allows you to lock up a portion of winnings and minimize your risk before the final whistle blows.

Flexibility is also ideal when it comes to sign-up bonuses. PointsBet’s welcome offer is unique because it is broken up into five separate bonuses, allowing bettors multiple chances to try out the app. For each of five days, the customer’s first bet (up to $50) is returned in bet credits if it doesn’t win. This can make it easier to take full advantage of the bonus.

Find the best odds

Shopping for the best odds is another bankroll boosting tactic that new sports betting apps can help with. Because there is so much competition for your business in Pennsylvania, the books are looking for ways to attract more wagers. One way is to offer better payout odds.

Typically, you’ll find 50/50 bets have payout odds of -110, which means that ten percent of your bet is going to the house (the “vig”) and the rest will be matched 1:1 if the bet wins. Some new sportsbooks will offer better odds like -107 or -105 on certain games. It may not seem like much, but those extra percentages add up and make a big difference in the long run.

Each online sportsbook tries to minimize its exposure by encouraging equal action on both sides of a bet. Because the dollar amounts bet on each side will vary at different books, odds will also change depending on the betting app. So if one sportsbook is receiving an unequal amount on the Mets moneyline, you may find a better line on the Phillies to win: +130 instead of +120, for example. In this example, the difference comes down to an extra $1 potential win for each $10 bet.

Time your second chance bet

Another factor to consider is if you are looking to place a one-time larger bet on a team you like a lot in a specific game, a new sportsbook may be your best bet. The best welcome offers in PA generally come with some type of second chance first bet up to a certain amount.

You get the most value out of these deals if you plan to wager a bigger amount. That said, even a “second chance” or “no sweat” bet does come with some risk so just like any other sports bet you make, you have to know your limits. Never place a bet with money you aren’t willing to lose.

If you are looking to get your feet wet with a smaller first bet, you may want to opt for an offer like BetMGM’s bet $5, win $150 when that comes around.

How do you know you can trust a new sportsbook?

With new sports betting apps popping up all the time, it’s important to ensure that they are legal and regulated before you enter your personal information and banking details. The easiest way to tell is to look for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) logo at the bottom of the site or app. It will look something like this:

All PGCB-approved betting apps will also list their PA land-based betting partner on the app, and offer regular deposit and cashout options. If you see unregulated deposit options like cryptocurrency, chances are it is an offshore sportsbook, which is not approved or monitored by a state gaming regulatory agency. All the sites listed here are legal and safe betting options.

Advantages of new sportsbooks

New sportsbooks bring a number of benefits for seasoned or new bettors alike. Here are some of the advantages to signing up for a new sportsbook:

• Better odds: New sportsbooks often compete for business by reducing the house take (the vig) and offering more favorable odds on certain teams. This also takes the form of odds boosts for select games, prop bets or parlays. If you have your eye on a particular bet, look around some of the new online sportsbooks as you might just find better payout odds than what is offered at the more established books.
• Flexible sign-up bonuses: Every new PA sports betting app wants to attract customers, so the welcome offers are on par with the top sports betting brands. Many of the new sites also have a low playthrough requirement, so you can turn your bonus into withdrawable cash after playing through the bonus money one time. Some like PointsBet also offer more flexibility like the ability to claim multiple bonus bets.
• Ongoing promotions: In order to compete in a state like PA that already has double-digit betting app options, new sportsbooks have to get creative. The ongoing promos you’ll find at these new PA online sportsbooks are competitive with bet boosts, promos and bonus bet offers.
• New betting options: It can be fun to mix up your regular betting routines and try out different features like PointsBetting and “lightning bets.” Most of the new online sportsbooks offer a growing number of live betting options.
• Rewards programs: The newest online sportsbooks in PA come with rewards programs that allow bettors to build up points to earn bonus bets. PointsBet Rewards system allows customers to accumulate points for every bet they make and earn bet credits. There are no rollover requirements either, so you only need to play through a bonus bet once before you are allowed to cash out the funds. The BetMGM Rewards program also integrates sports betting, casino and poker, allowing customers to earn tier credits through both online and land-based play.

Should I use a new sportsbook or DraftKings and FanDuel?

At this point you might be wondering, should I sign up for a new sportsbook app if I am already happy with the one I use? Many sports bettors find a solid betting option like DraftKings, FanDuel or BetRivers and they stick with it. After all, these apps offer a great user experience, huge selection of markets and their fair share of ongoing promos.

While we are not recommending that you ditch your old book entirely, the truth is most bettors can benefit substantially from signing up for multiple sportsbook accounts. Besides the obvious new player sign-up bonuses, sometimes you can find new features, bet boosts or better odds on a wager you already plan on making.

Also, some sportsbooks are superior for a particular sport, team or bet type. If you are a Sixers fan and want to bet on them regularly, you would be wise to check out PointsBet and Betway. At Betway, you’ll find a large menu of alternate spread or game totals. PointsBet has a good selection of player props. Both offer lots of 76ers betting specials, boosts and same-game parlays, as do DraftKings and Fox Bet.

For NHL betting, you also may want to check out Betway and PointsBet, as well as BetRivers if you haven’t already. All these apps have partnerships with NHL teams in PA, so you’ll find some extra boosts and specials for the Flyers and Penguins.

DraftKings, Fox Bet and Unibet are all official Eagles partners and are great for NFL odds, parlays and boosts. However, new betting apps will also compete with their own promos around Steelers and Eagles games, and the welcome offers always ramp up ahead of the NFL season.

You will find some good specials on your favorite teams at the new sports betting apps. That said, if you want to get fancy with player prop bets or prop bet parlays, you might find the odds are better at one of the more established books like FanDuel, DraftKings or BetRivers. A quick comparison of odds will also show you that depending on the props you like, payouts can be quite different depending on the book. Overall, FanDuel offers some of the best odds we’ve seen on player props and parlays.

All in all, we recommend you try out new online sportsbooks in Pennsylvania to take advantage of the best odds and promotions, and to find out for yourself which apps suit you best.