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Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Pennsylvania?
May 2019 was a historic day for Pennsylvania sports betting. After House Bill 271 was passed into law, the state went ahead and legalized online sports betting including online poker, daily fantasy sports and online casinos. The Pennsylvania online sports betting bill capitalized on the United States gambling laws, making the state the 4th state in the country to have licensed online sports betting. 2019 has seen the launch of numerous online sports betting sites throughout Pennsylvania.
Amid Pennsylvania`s booming sports betting expansion in October 2017, the state’s first sportsbook began operations in late 2018 while the first online sports betting site launched in May 2018. A few regulations were put in place to regulate Pennsylvania sports betting. As per the state`s gambling laws, gambling should have three elements which are consideration, reward and element of chance. `Consideration’ is termed as a `benefit which should be negotiated between parties’ or in betting terms, the payout on a bet.
Pennsylvania also has a responsible gambling policy, which states that betting establishments, online ones included, should legally police their property and rolls for people who have self-excluded. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) avails a self-exclusion for in areas that host betting, so that people can use it to bar themselves from gaming establishments and casinos in that area.
What are the Best Sports Betting Sites in Pennsylvania?
Fox Bet Sportsbook
First launched in New Jersey under the name BetStars before re-branding to Fox Bet in mid-2019, this sports betting site made its way to Pennsylvania and launched its site in September 2019. Regulated and licensed by Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, citizens and visitors of the state can now try out Fox Bet sportsbook.
The registration process on the site is not at all time consuming but can be more streamlined. Fox Bet also offers bonuses to its Pennsylvania users. The welcome offer comes in two parts. The first one is the signup offer and then a deposit match. Simply for signing up, a user receives $20 for free. Next is the deposit match which is up to $100. Fox Bet also allows custom betting.
Pros
- Easy welcome bonus new bettors
- Excellent mobile app
- Custom bet option
Cons
- Requires a more streamlined registration process
Rivers Sportsbook
Rivers Casino was among the first casinos to establish an online sportsbook in Pennsylvania, which is known as Rivers Sportsbook. The site shares a similar interface with SugarHouse as they are both a part of the Rush Street Family.
The site is up and running and offering its Pennsylvania users an experience like no other. There is a massive list of betting markets. Within each sport, the site includes the major leagues, international fixtures, college leagues, all the way down to period betting, individual matches which are coupled with spreads, regular money line and totals. Add futures bets for numerous leagues and sport-specific wagers, and you have an extensive selection of gambling opportunities for players of just about any sport available. The welcome bonus on this betting site is straight and to the point. It is a match deposit of up to $250.
Pros
- Excellent welcome bonus
- Jackpot parlay
- Numerous betting options
Cons
- Too similar to other Rush sites
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings acquired its Pennsylvania license from the Gaming Control Board and launched its site on November 4, 2019. No matter what sports or games you are into, you can find plenty of markets and leagues at DraftKings Sportsbook.
The site features sports like cycling, baseball, Aussie rules football, motorsports, rugby, tennis, darts and many more. Some available markets on this site include futures, parlay totals, money line, round-robin, teaser and spreads. Coming to DraftKings Pennsylvania, you`ll receive a welcome bonus in two parts. One is a free bet and a deposit match. With the free bet offering, you can receive any amount up to $200, but you need to wager $200 or less first. For the deposit match, it’s not straight to the point. You receive a 20% match up to $500.
Pros
- Elite platform functionality
- Numerous leagues and markets
- PayPal offering
Cons
- Offers a mixed bag of odds sometimes
Pennsylvania Sports Betting Apps
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel is continuously expanding its growing empire with its whiz-gang sports betting mobile app in Pennsylvania. This giant sportsbook is solidifying its spot as a force to be reckoned in the Pennsylvania sports betting market each passing day. The sportsbook looks to achieve this through a simple concept on its app – speed. FanDuel Sportsbook app technology is lightning quick and runs more smoothly than most betting apps can. This allows FanDuel to use a format unique to online sportsbook app in PA.
The sportsbook utilizes a tab system as its underlying interface instead of trying to include everything into a single screen. This use of tabs makes it easy for users to navigate between the vast array of sports, lines and the bet slip.
The FanDuel is simple and easy to use and boasts a similar experience on mobile compared to its website. From download, sign up and up to the betting process, users can make a bet in minutes.
BetRivers Online Sportsbook
The BetRivers Pennsylvania sports betting app is another feature-rich and user-friendly mobile app for bettors in PA. The app was brought to the market by the same company behind the PlaySugarHouse Pennsylvania sports betting app. Apart from branding, the apps are almost identical.
The BetRivers Android and iOS mobile apps feature basic single-game wagering futures, in-game betting and parlays. Also, it has the same promotional betting like in the SugarHiuse app, including cash-out betting and jackpot parlays. Overall, the BetRivers app is as modern as any other sports betting app on the market today. Besides, the mobile experience has no significant difference from what desktop computer users enjoy when accessing the sportsbook via the website.
The app has a great selection of lines for players to select their favorites. There are excellent options for wagering on every game and each sport. Many of these options will happen in-game. The app has a well-developed in-game betting system that produces many wagers on the fly.
DraftKings Sportsbook App
DraftKings sportsbook entered the sports betting market with a bang when its online sports betting app launched in New Jersey in 2018. Now, the same app has made its debut in Pennsylvania. It is a single app for bettors in all states where DraftKing takes bets. This sports betting app is unique in the sense that it provides users with a custom betting carousel suggesting betting options for each bettor based upon previous betting patterns and identified preferences.
There are also great betting options, with everything from standard betting lines to a wide variety of in-game options available for each sport imaginable. The app also offers users an alternative to cash out a running bet before a game is over. The wagering process is user-friendly and straightforward and only needs a few clicks, and you`re done. So, players can guard against late fails if their bets happen to be winning.
SugarHouse Sportsbook App
PlaySugarHouse app is also another feature-rich app for bettors in Pennsylvania. The app features an extensive variety of betting lines for all major sports in the US and a couple of others from around the world. The app has everything from futures and live betting to basic single-game wagering. Additionally, the SugarHouse app also has promotional betting that includes cash-out and jackpot parlays betting. The app is sleek, modern and has everything that you would find when accessing the sportsbook on the website version.
Thankfully, PlaySugarHouse has a fully integrated app with its online casino. So, bettors who use the app can easily navigate to SugarHouse Online Casino if they would want to try those games. Both the app and the casino share wallets, so everything is interlinked.
One of the reasons why SugarHouse offers numerous options to wager is that it has an extensive in-game betting system. So, if a wager on a pre-game goes awry, a user will still have dozens of ways to win again as the game continues.
Parx Sportsbook App
Parx Online Sportsbook was launched the same day as BetRivers. The Parx app features all the major US colleges and pro sports for most standard bets. Parx app users are met with a series of quick links that help navigate to the sports available in that season. If a player cannot find a particular sport or game, a capable search function is provided to help out.
The Parx app also offers users a good in-game betting section. The app hums along and provides some unusual entries to the list of options. This wide array of betting options is probably the best feature of the Parx app.
Fox Bet Sportsbook App
The Fox Bet app might look and feel familiar to some people because it’s a re-brand of the BetStars product from New Jersey. The app offers standard sports bets and in-game betting options. One awesome hint for Fox Bet users is the #CustomerBet feature. Players can tweet any bets to the Fox Bet twitter handle to get added to the betting board. The app offers $20 no-deposit bonus just for signing up. Then there is a deposit match bonus of up to $100.
Unibet Sportsbook App
Unibet Sportsbook brand is not so popular in the US or Pennsylvania, but things are bound to change. The brand launched in November 2019, and its app has outstanding offer for new bettors, whether they deposit or not.
Users can get $20 free without any deposit. If you deposit, you can receive up to $250 risk-free bet. Daily odds boosts are also offered on the Unibet app where players get improved odds on particular betting markets.
Pennsylvania Sportsbook List
- SugarHouse Sportsbook
- Rivers Sportsbook
- Valley Forge Casino
- Fanduel Sportsbook
- Harrah’s
- Hollywood Casino Sportsbook
- Oaks Race and Sportsbook
- Presque Isle Downs and Casino
Pennsylvania Sports Betting News
After a full month of NFL football action in September, Pennsylvania`s betting handle rose to over 78% and saw income from wagers get to $195 million from $109 million in August.
According to a report by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control board, online sports betting contributed a total of 81% of the wagers. Fanduel Sportsbook had a robust performance, which saw it contribute $85 million in bets to become the market leader. The sportsbook also led all sports betting sites with $4.7 million.
FAQs
What sports can I bet on via mobile in Pennsylvania?
Betting markets vary according to the casinos and their software providers. Some sportsbooks have partnered with more robust third-party providers, which has given them the option of spreading numerous games across more sports.
What bets can I make in Pennsylvania?
The same bet types offered at online sports betting sites will still be offered on the mobile app. They include, but not limited to, round robins, prop bets, in-game wagers, parlays, straight wagers and teasers.
How can a sportsbook know if I`m in Pennsylvania?
Modern mobile devices come equipped with GPS technology, which sends data about a user`s location to the app so as to verify that they are within the Keystone State.
Are legal sports gambling options live in Pennsylvania?
Yes, a variety of land-based casinos in PA now allow wagers.
Who is allowed to wager on sports in Pennsylvania?
Anyone who is at least 21 years of age except people who have placed themselves on a self-exclusion list is eligible.
Is online sports betting available in Pennsylvania?
Yes, the state currently has a handful of online sportsbooks. Upon successful signup, players can place a real-money wager from anywhere within the state, excluding land-based casinos.
Is cash-out betting supported at Pennsylvania`s betting sites?
Some online sportsbooks in PA offer the option to redeem bets before a game ends, and others don`t.