Sports betting has been legal in Pennsylvania since Oct. 30, 2017, when the state’s Gaming Control Board granted licenses to its first operators. The market has since grown to 11 legal online sportsbooks, along with 12 retail sportsbook locations housed inside casinos across the state.
Betting was authorized under Act 42 of 2017. Retail sportsbooks began opening in late 2018, and mobile betting apps followed in May 2019. To place a wager, bettors must be at least 21 years old, have a verified account, and be physically located within Pennsylvania’s state lines.
Retail locations offer bettors the choice of self-service kiosks or placing wagers directly with staff.
College sports betting is also permitted in the state, though with restrictions. Bettors may wager on sides, totals, and spreads, as well as some props such as team totals and parlays. Betting on individual collegiate player props, however, is prohibited. Pennsylvania is among the states that allow wagering on in-state college programs, including futures bets on teams like Penn State and Pittsburgh.
The state’s professional sports franchises give bettors plenty of options across major leagues. The Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers anchor NFL betting interest, while the Phillies and Pirates represent Major League Baseball. The Flyers and Penguins compete in the NHL, and the Philadelphia 76ers offer NBA betting markets from October into as late as June.
New users at Pennsylvania sportsbooks are often offered welcome promotions, which commonly take the form of bonus bets, first-bet-match offers, or deposit matches. Bonus bets allow users to wager without risking real money, though only winnings can be collected. First-bet-match offers typically return the amount of an initial wager, often up to $100 per day, as a bonus. Deposit match promotions, which can run as high as $1,000 at some operators, provide bonus funds equal to a user’s initial deposit, though those funds are playable but not withdrawable.
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