Pennsylvania Sports Betting Apps
With each state possessing the autonomy to impart laws within the sports betting field, keeping abreast of developments across America can be a tricky process as legislations change from state to state.
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 three years later, many other states are following suit.
Situated on the East Coast, Pennsylvania was quick to embrace the sports betting revolution gripping Europe, and its residents have responded in number – with Pennsylvania becoming one of the biggest sports betting markets in America.
Having enjoyed a presence on the sports betting scene since 2018, Pennsylvania has no less than 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, whilst 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 product(s) it offers out 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 all the time, sports betting apps in Pennsylvania are developing continually.
Best Sports Betting Apps Pennsylvania
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 upon 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 permission to sportsbooks to offer sports betting services, both online and in-person, and Governor Tom Wolf was responsible for pushing the bill through in Pennsylvania.
It took until May 2018 for the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act to be ratified by a federal court, 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, with the Keystone State consistently in the top 10 when it comes to revenue developed by sports betting in American states.
Best Sports Betting Apps Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Online Sports Betting
Having launched in 2019, the online sports betting boom has gripped Pennsylvania, and whilst there are restrictions placed on punters, 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 benefitted, 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.
Best Sports Betting Apps Pennsylvania
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 constituency, 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 was a trendsetter back in 2018 by legalizing sports betting and, as such, has forged somewhat of a betting blueprint that other states are looking to follow.
Punters must be at least 21 years of age to legally place a sports bet in Pennsylvania, and all of the significant 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, where punters outside of the state cannot bet with a Pennsylvania-based account. With neighboring New York and New Jersey also on the sports betting scene, it does not make too much of an issue to 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 in order to bet there; the regulations work on the physical location of the gambler at the time a bet was placed.
Best Sports Betting Apps Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Online Betting Sites & Apps
In comparison to some states across America, Pennsylvania does charge sports betting apps a rather hefty sum in order to offer their sports betting 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
Best Sports Betting Apps Pennsylvania
What Sports Can You Bet on in Pennsylvania?
Sandwiched in 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 amongst two of 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, with the Pittsburgh Steelers an absolute pillar of the NFL, whilst 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 need. Still, as yet, Esports betting is currently prohibited.
Best Sports Betting Apps Pennsylvania
What Types of Sports Bets Can You Place in Pennsylvania?
Since launching the sports betting industry in Pennsylvania back in 2018, gambling institutions have always looked to offer the most diverse selection of sports betting markets available 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 to the action.
Straight-win bets continue to be the most popular gambling medium in the state, with a packed fixture list ideal for punters – whilst the influx of accumulator betting on football/soccer/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.