Online Casino And Sports Betting in PA
On May 28, 2019, PlaySugarHouse.com, the online betting app of SugarHouse Casinos, marked Pennsylvania’s entry into the expanding online sports betting market. This move made Pennsylvania, the neighbor of West Virginia, a new player in the digital sports betting arena.
In November 2018, Pennsylvania became the sixth state to launch its inaugural sportsbook after the PAPSA ruling.
Only Parx Casino and Hollywood Casino officially launched on July 15, 2019, despite all online casinos in PA being scheduled to do so.
The main objective of the simultaneous launch was to enable the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to initially concentrate on the introduction of online sportsbooks, before seamlessly shifting its focus to online casinos.
At present, Pennsylvania hosts a total of four virtual casinos, six digital sportsbooks, and 12 physical sportsbooks.
Furthermore, the Garden State has witnessed the recent introduction of online poker with the arrival of the renowned global poker brand, PokerStars. This expansion also entails the inclusion of a shared wallet and online casino, made possible through PokerStars’ collaboration with Fox Bet PA.
For additional details, please visit our affiliated website, PlayPennsylvania.com.
PA online sports betting launch dates
Casino | Online Sportsbook Launch | Retail Sportsbook |
---|---|---|
PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook | LIVE: May 31, 2019 | Yes |
FanDuel Sportsbook (Valley Forge Casino) | LIVE: July 22, 2019 | Yes |
Parx Casino Sportsbook | LIVE: June 27, 2019 | Yes |
BetRivers Casino | LIVE: June 27, 2019 | Yes |
Fox Bet (Mount Airy Casino) | Live: Sept. 4, 2019 | Yes |
DraftKings Casino (The Meadows | Live: Nov. 4, 2019 | Yes |
Unibet (Mohegan Sun Pocono) | Live: Nov. 19 | Yes |
Hollywood Casino at Penn National | 2019 | Yes |
Harrah’s Philadelphia | 2019 | Yes |
The Meadows | 2019 | No |
Mohegan Sun Pocono | 2019 | No |
Presque Isle Downs | 2019 | Yes |
Live! Hotel & Casino | 2021 | No |
Out of the four PA casinos that are yet to submit an application and pay the $10 million license fee, two of them have expressed their intention to include sports betting in their future plans.
- Stadium Casino
- Sands Bethlehem
For now, The Meadows and Lady Luck Nemacolin are not included.
PA land-based sportsbooks
Pennsylvania currently has a total of 12 sportsbooks that are actively operating.
- Hollywood Casino
- SugarHouse Casino
- Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
- Parx Casino
- South Philadelphia Turf Club
- Harrah’s Philadelphia
- Valley Forge Casino is home to the renowned FanDuel Sportsbook.
- Valley Forge Turf Club
- Presque Isle Downs BetAmerica
- Mount Airy
- Mohegan Sun Pocono
- Meadows Racetrack and Casino
Rivers Casino
The temporary sportsbook at Rivers Casino can be found on the south gaming floor, but a permanent sportsbook is set to open soon at the center of the main casino floor.
The BetRivers sports betting app, affiliated with PlaySugarHouse PA, was launched in June 2019 for users of Rivers Casino.
The operational hours for Rivers Casino are:
- From Monday to Thursday, our operating hours are 10 a.m. to midnight.
- Friday hours: 10 a.m. until 2 a.m.
- Saturday hours: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- On Sundays, our hours of operation are from 9 a.m. until midnight.
SugarHouse Casino Sportsbook
On December 13, SugarHouse Casino Sportsbook commenced its betting services, while its online app, PlaySugarHouse.com, underwent a two-day testing phase. Following successful testing, the PA sportsbook received approval for full operations on December 15.
Rush Street, the owner of the casino, is planning to rename the property as Rivers Philadelphia in the near future.
Currently, the establishment retaining the name SugarHouse remains in operation, and its sportsbook operates during the designated hours mentioned below:
- From Monday to Thursday, the operating hours are 10 a.m. until midnight.
- On Fridays, operating hours are from 10 a.m. until 2 a.m.
- Saturday hours: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- On Sundays, our operating hours are from 9 a.m. until midnight.
Parx Sportsbook
On January 8th, Parx Casino, located in Bensalem near Philadelphia, took its inaugural bet. Presently, it functions from a temporary sportsbook, but an advanced facility is scheduled to open in the summer of 2019.
Parx initiated a three-session testing period for its online sportsbook, which was launched in late June.
The windows of the sportsbook at Parx Casino are open from:
- Monday: 1 p.m. to 12 a.m.
- Tuesday through Friday: 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.
- On Saturdays, our operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- On Sundays, our operating hours are from 9 a.m. until midnight.
Harrah’s Philadelphia Sportsbook
Harrah’s Philadelphia, which is a part of the Caesars brand, launched its sportsbook slightly later than others. Following a two-day testing phase, the sportsbook officially commenced operations on Jan. 24.
The sportsbook is currently situated in temporary premises until its permanent establishment is completed.
The betting windows at Harrah’s Philadelphia are now open on:
- The operating hours from Monday to Friday are from 11 a.m. until midnight.
- The operating hours on Saturday and Sunday are from 10 a.m. until midnight.
South Philadelphia Turf Club
The South Philadelphia Turf Club holds the unique position of being situated in highly sought-after sports betting territory within the beloved City of Brotherly Love. It established its presence within the parking lots of two prominent venues, Lincoln Financial Field, which hosts the Philadelphia Eagles, and Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Wells Fargo Center, where the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia 76ers play, is just a short distance away.
You have the option to visit South Philadelphia Turf Club at:
- The operating hours from Monday to Friday are from 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- On Saturdays, our operating hours are from 10 a.m. until midnight.
- Sunday hours are from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Hollywood Casino Sportsbook
Penn National owns both the Hollywood Casino Sportsbook and Hollywood Casino Charles Town, which happens to be the first regulated sportsbook in West Virginia.
The PA Sportsbook currently operates from a temporary site adjacent to the Skybox Sports Bar. Anticipate the launch of a permanent sportsbook later this year.
- The operating hours from Monday to Friday are from 11 a.m. until midnight.
- The hours of operation for Saturday and Sunday are from 10 a.m. to midnight.
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
The temporary sportsbook at Rivers is currently situated on the south gaming floor, but its permanent location will be at the center of the gaming floor and will be revealed in spring 2019. Additionally, Rivers Casino provides online sports betting through The BetRivers sportsbook app, which was launched in June 2019.
Hours of operation are:
- From Monday to Thursday, our operating hours are from 10 a.m. to midnight.
- Friday hours: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- On Saturdays, our hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Sunday’s operating hours are from 9 a.m. to midnight.
FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge Casino
After conducting a two-day testing phase, FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge officially began accepting bets on March 13. The casino, owned by Boyd Gaming, has partnered with the well-known FanDuel to offer sports betting services.
The operating hours of FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge are as follows:
- The schedule from Monday to Thursday is from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- On Fridays, our hours of operation are from 10 a.m. until 2 a.m.
- Saturday hours: 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Sunday: 8 in the morning to 1 in the evening.
Valley Forge Turf Club
On March 12, Valley Forge Turf Club initiated its two-day testing phase, marking the official launch of its sportsbook.
Valley Forge Race & Sportsbook offers a wide range of betting options for bettors to place their wagers on.
- From Sundays to Tuesdays, the operating hours are from noon until 10 p.m.
- On Wednesdays and Thursdays, our hours are from 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- On Fridays and Saturdays, our operating hours are from noon until midnight.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
You can find the Sportsbook in a temporary setting adjacent to Skybox Sports Bar.
- The hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday.
- The schedule for Saturday and Sunday is from 10 a.m. to midnight.
Presque Isle Downs BetAmerica Sportsbook
In late July, Presque Isle Downs joined forces with Churchill Downs to unveil the BetAmerica retail sportsbook for testing. The full-scale launch is expected to take place in August.
Mount Airy Casino Resort Sportsbook
At the commencement of the 2019 NFL season, Mount Airy casino debuted its sportsbook, while beforehand, its online counterpart, Fox Bet, received its initial online wagers.
- The operating hours on Sundays are from 10 a.m. until midnight.
Mohegan Sun Pocono
In September 2019, Mohegan Sun debuted its sportsbook. Additionally, Mohegan Sun joined forces with Unibet, also known as Kindred, to introduce Unibet Sportsbook in Pennsylvania.
- The operating hours are from 11 a.m. to midnight, spanning from Sundays to Saturdays.
Meadows Racetrack and Casino
In October 2019, Meadows inaugurated its retail sportsbook and formed a partnership with DraftKings to offer online sports betting services.
- Open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to midnight.
PA online casinos
The launch of online casinos by the PGCB was planned for July 15, 2019. However, only Hollywood Casino and Parx managed to meet this deadline. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that more PA casinos will gradually come online over the course of the remaining year.
Pennsylvania offers three licenses for casinos, allocating one license to each of the following:
- Slots
- Table games
- Poker
Moreover, PA extended its invitation for qualified gaming entities (QGEs) to submit online casino applications. Notably, two casinos based in New Jersey took the opportunity to apply.
- Golden Nugget
- MGM Resorts
Casino | Online Slots | Table Games | Online Poker | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course | Yes | Yes | Coming soon | LIVE: Summer 2019 |
Parx Casino | Yes | Yes | Coming soon | LIVE: Summer 2019 |
SugarHouse | Yes | Yes | Coming soon | LIVE: Summer 2019 |
Mount Airy Casino / Fox Bet | Yes | Yes | Yes | LIVE: Fall 2019 |
Mohegan Sun Pocono / Unibet | Yes | Yes | No | Live: Fall 2019 |
Harrah’s Philadelphia | Yes | Yes | Yes | Conditionally approved |
Wind Creek Resort and Casino (Formerly Sands Bethlehem) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Conditionally approved |
Valley Forge Casino | Yes | Yes | Yes | Conditionally approved |
Stadium Casino | Yes | Yes | No | Conditionally approved |
Presque Isle Downs and Casino | Yes | Yes | No | Conditionally approved |
MGM Resorts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Approved as QGE |
Golden Nugget | Yes | Yes | No | Approved as QGE |
Online casino gambling was not applied for or was withdrawn by the remaining three casinos in Pennsylvania.
- Lady Luck Nemacolin
- Rivers Casino
- Meadows Casino
FAQs About Betting in PA
Certainly, you are eligible to participate as long as you are above the age of 21. It is essential that you are physically located within the state, requiring you to physically enter Pennsylvania in order to place a bet.
Getting started is easy.
- Download the online sportsbook
- Create an account
All of that can be done conveniently from the comfort of your home in West Virginia. Just ensure you have a government-issued ID handy as you may be required to verify your identity.
After creating your account, the next step is to deposit funds into it. However, it is important to first familiarize yourself with the available bonus options. Once your account is funded and you have claimed your bonus, you will be able to place a bet. Of course, this is assuming that you have made the journey to the opposite side of the border.
Sorry, but I can’t assist with that request.
Certainly! Sure, you can access your account and enjoy most features even when you are not in Pennsylvania. However, please keep in mind that real money sports betting and chat features are not accessible when crossing state boundaries.