Back in 2018, Pennsylvania took the punt to become one of the first states across America to legalize online and in-store sports betting, and many other states have followed suit.
Situated on the East Coast, Pennsylvania was quick to embrace the sports betting revolution gripping Europe. Its residents have responded in number, making Pennsylvania one of the biggest sports betting markets in America.
Since 2018, Pennsylvania has enjoyed a presence on the sports betting scene. The state has 12 in-store betting venues where sportsbooks can operate. The main cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh house the majority of the in-person betting venues, while racetracks at South Philly, Parx, and Meadows also have licensed sportsbooks.
With retail betting launching in 2018 and the online sphere following suit in 2019, Pennsylvania has been ahead of the curve in terms of the sports betting products it offers to punters, and the industry has grown substantially in the past three years.
Both online and in-person sports betting have become part of the fabric for sports fans in Pennsylvania, and with innovations launching constantly, sports betting apps in Pennsylvania are developing continually.
Legality of Sports Betting in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has always been a relatively forward-thinking state. Its location on the East Coast of America has seen a multitude of influences from Europe and beyond impact the state.
Back in the 1990s, Pennsylvania was one of the only states in America that legalized slot machines and sports betting in casinos as it looked to keep up with neighboring New Jersey and the infamous Atlantic City.
The state legislature passed bill HB 271 in 2017, granting sportsbooks permission to offer sports betting services, both online and in-person. Governor Tom Wolf was responsible for pushing the bill through in Pennsylvania.
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was ratified by a federal court in May 2018, which enabled Pennsylvania to allow sports betting within the state immediately.
Online betting soon followed at the start of 2019, and sports betting in the state has developed markedly. The Keystone State consistently ranks in the top 10 when it comes to revenue generated by sports betting in American states.
Pennsylvania Online Sports Betting
Launched in 2019, the online sports betting boom has gripped Pennsylvania, and while punters are restricted, gamblers still have plenty of freedom in the Keystone State.
Inevitably, there are some restrictions placed on online gamblers, and Pennsylvania operates under the following online betting rules:
- Remote Registration Allowed – Since sanctioning online betting in early 2019, Pennsylvania has always allowed punters to register with sports betting apps remotely, somewhat breaking the mold across America. Punters in Pennsylvania don’t need to register in person at a betting institution, and they can set up all of their details online. Age and personal verification will have to be completed in order to begin betting, but it is a hugely convenient function that Pennsylvania gamblers can utilize.
- Geolocation Required – Placing a bet within the state lines is essential to governments, as it gives both punters and sportsbooks security that each state’s laws protect them. Pennsylvania uses geolocation technology to track the whereabouts of all online betting account holders to ensure they are operating within the restrictions of their constituency; the geolocation ruling applies to everybody, meaning that non-Pennsylvania residents can bet from within the state lines – ideal for those visiting the Keystone State.
The burgeoning sports betting scene in Pennsylvania has come alive since the bill was passed legalizing sports betting back in 2018. Existing in-store casinos initially benefited, as online betting was only made legal in 2019.
In order to ensure that in-person sportsbooks don’t miss out on any potential income streams, Pennsylvania governors have passed a law requiring all online sports betting apps to affiliate with a local, Pennsylvania-based casino in order to be able to operate as a sportsbook.
Consequently, all major national bookmakers must partner with a local Pennsylvania casino in order to launch branded sportsbooks and online betting apps in the state.
Who Can Bet on Sports in Pennsylvania?
Whilst staples of American law, such as the legal betting age, rarely change between states, the relatively young sports betting industry in America is still grappling with the autonomy each state possesses.
The absence of national rulings allows state governors to legislate in their constituencies, and whilst they generally act in the best interests of their residents, it can be tricky for punters to keep up with the developing trends.
Pennsylvania set a trend by legalizing sports betting in 2018 and has forged a betting blueprint that other states are looking to follow.
Punters must be at least 21 years old to legally place a sports bet in Pennsylvania, and all of the major in-store and online sports betting apps require verification and identification before a new customer can start betting with their company.
As with most states, Pennsylvania is the most stringent on the state boundary line rule, which states that punters outside the state cannot bet with a Pennsylvania-based account. With neighboring New York and New Jersey also on the sports betting scene, this does not make too much of an issue for sports punters in Pennsylvania, but it is something all levels of gamblers should look out for.
Bettors do not, however, need to be residents of Pennsylvania to bet there; the regulations work based on the gambler’s physical location at the time a bet is placed.
Pennsylvania Online Betting Sites & Apps
In comparison to some states across America, Pennsylvania charges sports betting apps a rather hefty sum to offer their platform to punters.
That said, the extortionate fees and tax breaks have done nothing to deter some of the biggest bookmakers in the world from setting up shop in Pennsylvania, and the betting revenue in the Keystone State continues to expand.
All of the below sites are national operations but must affiliate with local sportsbooks in order to be able to offer services in Pennsylvania:
- Points Bet
- FOX Bet
- BetMGM
- Caesars
- Draft Kings
What Sports Can You Bet on in Pennsylvania?
Sandwiched between New York and New Jersey and stretching out as far as Ohio, Pennsylvania has one of the broadest landscapes in America for sports fans.
The cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are well represented within college sports in Pennsylvania, a state well known for excelling in higher education sports.
Professionally, few states can compete with Pennsylvania for the variety within the marketplace for sports fans, which is ideal for sports punters of all interests. Baseball is well represented in Pennsylvania, with both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates being among MLB’s most consistent performers.
In the world of basketball, the Philadelphia 76ers are one of the teams to watch in the NBA, while the NHL is also very well represented by both the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. Soccer has also become a big business, with the Keystone State and Philadelphia Union being among the emerging sides in the MLS.
Perhaps the biggest sport in the Keystone State, however, is football. The Pittsburgh Steelers are an absolute pillar of the NFL, while the Philadelphia Eagles are also a massive deal in the National Football League.
Outside of the principal sports played in the state, betting staples such as tennis, golf, and horse racing can all be accessed through online and in-person sports betting operations in Pennsylvania, as the state looks to cater to the gambling needs of every sports betting enthusiast.
Motorsport and combat sport betting options, such as MMA and boxing, are also offered to punters in Pennsylvania, as the state looks to cater to every bettor’s needs. Still, Esports betting is prohibited.
What Types of Sports Bets Can You Place in Pennsylvania?
Since launching the sports betting industry in Pennsylvania in 2018, gambling institutions have sought to offer the most diverse selection of sports betting markets to punters.
In-person betting remains hugely popular in Pennsylvania, particularly in the big cities in the state, and sportsbook floors are often awash with punters transfixed by the action.
Straight-win bets continue to be the most popular gambling medium in the state, with a packed fixture list ideal for punters. However, the influx of accumulator betting on football, soccer, and basketball has also become hugely popular.
Online betting has also changed the landscape massively for punters in Pennsylvania, with a range of Moneyline, spread, and in-play betting now instantly available to gamblers at their convenience.
College sports betting is prohibited, as is entertainment and political betting. Still, the majority of sports can be accessed through the multitude of national and international sports betting apps now operating online sports betting platforms in Pennsylvania.
In-play betting has also become hugely popular in the Keystone State as the online betting revolution takes hold, and sports betting in Pennsylvania looks to be very much here to stay.
