Most online casinos feature match bonuses, which offer free money based on a percentage of your deposit. For example, let’s assume that an online casino offers a 100 percent match bonus up to $500. If you were to deposit $200 under this deal, you’d be eligible for a matching $200 bonus. The bonus funds are separated from the deposit money. Bonus codes for free spins on registration are a common welcome gift at many online casinos, but free spins for existing players are out there too. Some free spins are awarded for making a deposit.

  • Free Chip Casino Bonus Codes These are the best free chip bonuses that can be redeemed at the online casinos. Sign-up as a new player at these online casinos, and use the free chip bonus code to redeem the bonus within the casino cashier. Make sure to check the wagering and betting requirements before redeeming these bonuses.
  • Online casino bonuses act as free credit that gambling operators deposit into a player's account once they meet the terms of the promotion. Generally, online casino bonuses can be split into two camps.

Michigan Online Casinos Live Now!

The Michigan Gaming Control Board officially launched online casinos on January 22, 2021. Additional casinos have launched since and there are currently a dozen mobile online casino apps launched in Michigan as of May 2021.

These are our editor’s 5 favorite casino apps in Michigan, along with why our editors love them

  • Golden Nugget >> Best No Deposit Offer ($30 Free) + Largest selection of online slots
  • FanDuel Casino>> Best for Sports Fans (Excellent casino and sportsbook)
  • BetMGM Casino >> Best for MGM players (Deposit/withdrawal at MGM Detroit)
  • WynnBET Casino >> Best for Free Spins (200 Free spins)
  • BetRivers Casino >> Best for Deposit Bonus (1x playthrough)

Best For Michigan Online Casinos For May 2021

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The FanDuel Casino app is one of the highest-rated apps for good reason due to its stability and user-friendly interface. Although the game depth isn’t as extensive as some of the other casinos in Michigan, FanDuel’s strong reputation in sports betting means a seamless betting experience for casino bettors and sports fans.

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MGM is one of the top names in casino gaming and offers one of the strongest casino apps. Michigan marks its fourth state with legal online casino gaming where they offer one of the widest varieties of online slots and table games in the state.

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WynnBET is from the same company that operates the Las Vegas casinos Wynn and Encore. It is the only Michigan casino app that offers free spins.

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BetRivers Casino Michigan

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BetRivers offers one of the top bonus offers for new bettors, particularly for casual players. Their bonus offer is a 100% deposit match bonus up to $250. In addition to the strong bonus offer, the BetRivers Casino app offers a good variety of both online slots and table games. They are set to be one of the top casino apps in Michigan.

Terms and Conditions Apply. 21+

List of Online Casinos In Michigan

Here is the full list of the online casino apps that have launched in Michigan.

  • TwinSpires
  • Barstool Casino
  • Four Winds Casino

Legalization Of Online Casinos In Michigan

Michigan legalized online gambling at the end of 2019. It took time, though, for state legislators to finalize rules and regulations and to audit casino apps before they were able to debut in the state. After the law passed, the Michigan Gaming Control Board issued a timeline that anticipated the process would take more than a year. That meant that legal online casino apps wouldn’t launch until sometime in 2021.

Seeing an opportunity to increase state revenue before the close of the year and to make up for lost revenue due to COVID-19 related casino closures, legislators did their best to speed up this process. In 2020, Richard Kalm, the director of the MGCB, said the state was making significant progress and launch was imminent. Unfortunately, they were unable to speed up the process to launch before the end of 2020.

On January 19, the MGCB officially announced that 8 online casino apps were ready to launch on Friday, January 22, 2021. Michigan players greeted the news with eager anticipation. More casinos launched in the weeks that followed.

Launch Of Michigan Online Casino Timeline:

  • December 20, 2019: Online gaming legalized
  • March 11, 2020: Retail sportsbooks launch in MI
  • March 6-August 5, 2020: Detroit’s commercial casinos closed due to COVID-19
  • September 23, 2020: MGCB held public hearings
  • End of October 2020: Final economic impact statement expected
  • November 2020: MGCB hoped to launch in November but gambling rules still need to be approved by legislators who canceled their November session because of Covid-19.
  • December 2020: The Michigan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules met on December 1, 2020, to move things forward. The MGCB had to cancel its December meeting due to COVID, meaning the next meeting was not scheduled until January 12, 2021.
  • January 19, 2021: The MGCB announced that online gaming apps would launch on January 22, 2021.
  • January 22, 2021: The first 8 online casino apps launched in Michigan.
  • January 29, 2021: The MGCB announced two more casino apps would launch along with online poker.
  • February 16, 2021: The MGCB announced the launch of the Four Winds App, the first Michigan app branded under the name of a Michigan tribal casino.

Included below are the casino apps that led the way in Michigan as well as additional casino partnerships that were announced during 2020. It is unclear when these additional apps will launch. A few other online casino brands may also launch at some point in Michigan.

MI Online Casino Gambling Sites & Apps

Golden Nugget is a well-established name in gambling, with an iconic Las Vegas casino and the most successful online casino in New Jersey. Now, Golden Nugget is in Michigan, thanks to a partnership with Ojibwa Casino, which is owned and operated by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.

Golden Nugget’s Michigan access granted through the partnership allowed the brand to ramp up its online gambling and sports betting business in Michigan.

See our full Guide To Golden Nugget Michigan Online Casino.

FanDuel Michigan Casino

FanDuel may be known for its sportsbook, but it also has an online casino. FanDuel’s online casino is available through its existing sportsbook app, and MotorCity Casino Hotel’s partnership gives FanDuel access to Michigan’s online gaming market.

The online casino was only available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, making Michigan its third state.

In New Jersey, bettors will see FanDuel’s online casino under the Betfair brand name. It has blackjack, roulette, and baccarat games ready to entice new bettors. For bettors who want a more realistic experience, Betfair’s (read: FanDuel’s) online casino has a thriving live betting section available for all sorts of table games.

Finally, this online casino is filled to the brim with slot games. Whatever brightly colored theme bettors are attracted to, their taste is catered to in this wide selection of games.

WynnBet Casino Michigan

The WynnBet Casino Michigan app is available for iOS and Android devices and offers around 150 different games. The same platform also offers sports betting, so you can do both using the same account.

You can find some of the most popular slots at WynnBet Casino, including Monopoly Megaways and Divine Fortune. The full selection consists of the following games:

  • Classic and Video Slots
  • Progressive Slots
  • Casino Poker (Digital and Live Dealer)
  • Blackjack (Digital and Live Dealer)
  • Roulette (Digital and Live Dealer)
  • Live Dealer Baccarat
  • Live Dealer Dream Catcher

New players at WynnBet Casino in Michigan can receive up to 200 free spins on the Divine Fortune slot machine along with a deposit bonus of up to $1,000 dollars. Each free spin is worth $0.20, so it’s an exciting welcome bonus that you won’t find anywhere else in Michigan.

Really, the WynnBet Casino is an extra feature to complement the WynnBet Sportsbook. But for an add-on, there’s a lot to enjoy.

BetRivers Michigan

Little River Casino Resort in Manistee Michigan is partnering with Scientific Games and Rush Street Interactive to launch its BetRivers Online Casino.

The agreement, announced in June 2020, brings Rush Street Interactive, parent company to the BetRivers online gaming brand, to Michigan. Little River Casino Resort’s partnership with Rush Street Interactive also includes retail sports betting.

The big names backing the BetRivers Casino means some of the top online slots are now in Michigan. And BetRivers has a massive library of slots, including progressive slot jackpots. They also are offering blackjack, several varieties of roulette, and baccarat.

BetMGM Michigan

Roar Digital is currently providing a sportsbook to the MGM Grand in Detroit, but it has an online casino, too. It has several apps, including BetMGM and PartyCasino.

Bettors will find familiar table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. They’ll also find live dealers available who will deal cards and call wins and losses in real-time, just like a regular table. Roar Digital also has countless slot games that are just as colorful as anything on the Strip.

DraftKings is also known mostly for its sportsbook but is quickly gaining a reputation for a strong online casino in a handful of states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

DraftKings Sportsbook and Draftkings Casinolaunched in the state as a license partner of Bay Mills Resort & Casino.

William Hill Casino

William Hill is a world-renowned sportsbook based in the UK and available in several US states. And the launch of the William Hill Casino Michigan means this brand has an exciting opportunity to reinvent itself, which can only be a good thing for players.

Michigan is expected to be one of the most competitive online betting markets in the US, so you can look forward to a wide range of promotions at William Hill Casino. From the initial welcome offer to ongoing bonuses, both new and established members will have a lot of opportunities to win for free.

TwinSpires Casino Michigan

With over 400 different games, TwinSpires Michigan Casino has something for almost everyone. This includes progressive slots with over $1 million jackpots, digital table games, and Live Dealer rooms.

For those in Michigan, you can switch from your TwinSpires Casino account to the sportsbook or horse racing section, all through the same account. This makes it a true all-in-one online betting site and app.

The TwinSpires Casino Michigan welcome bonus is risk-free betting for the first seven days up to $500. That means if you win more than you lose, you can simply withdraw your winnings or keep playing. But if you lose more than you win, they’ll credit the difference back into your account.

You can also try out all the digital games for free in practice mode before you sign up as well, offering great transparency to those considering joining TwinSpires Casino Michigan.

Stars Casino

Thanks to a partnership with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian Gaming Authority, The Stars Group is in two casinos:

  • Odawa Casino, Mackinaw
  • Odawa Casino, Petoskey

The Stars Group is probably not as well recognized a brand in the online gaming group as its branded apps are. Stars Group operates FOX Bet Sportsbook, PokerStars, and the Stars Casino, which all launched in Michigan at the end of January 2021.

Barstool Casino

Barstool is most known for its Barstool Sportsbook app and its dedicated group of sports fans. On February 1, 2021, though, Barstool launched Barstool Casino in Michigan in partnership with Greektown Casino in Detroit. Barstool Sportsbook was one of the first sports betting apps to launch in Michigan, with the casino app launching just days later.

The Barstool Casino app is supported by casino gaming brand Penn National Gaming, which players might be familiar with through its Hollywood Casino brand in Pennsylvania. It will be interesting to see how online gamblers find the Barstool Casino app, or if it will mostly attract traditional sports bettors.

Four Winds Casino App

Poker, roulette, and of course blackjack are available on the Four Winds Casino App, now available on web browsers, Android devices, and iOS devices. The Four Winds app provides access to both online sports betting and casino gaming from one app.

New to online casino gambling? Four Winds gives you new member specials, like a $20 free bet and a 200% deposit bonus.

Michigan Online Casinos Announced

In addition to the casinos that launched on January 22, 2021, there are several additional casino brands that announced partnerships with local casinos. It is unclear when these apps will launch.

PointsBet

PointsBet joins forces with the Lac Vieux Desert Public Enterprise and Finance Commission (LVD) to offer online casino gaming and sports betting under the license of Northern Waters Casino Resort.

The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians owns Northern Waters Casino Resort. Per the agreement, it appears that both the online sports betting and casino products under this license will function as a collaboration between PointsBet and LVD.

FireKeepers Casino

Scientific Games is currently providing its technology to power the live sportsbook at FireKeepers Casino and Hotel. A FireKeepers online casino is slated to launch in Michigan, also in collaboration with Scientific Games.

Online casino sites powered by Scientific Games technology in other states include blackjack, slots, roulette, and baccarat. There are also live dealers available for bettors looking for a realistic casino experience.

Scientific Games offers so many different games because of its content aggregation service. It uses its vast web of partnerships to provide access to many different games. When online casinos come to Michigan, BetRivers will have a massive selection of games to offer their customers.

Online Casinos That Could Come To Michigan

Unibet

Unibet does business as a well-established international gaming brand that’s beginning to expand into the legal US sports betting and online casino industry. Unibet started its US business plan with online gaming platforms in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Indiana.

Unibet has an agreement with Caesars Entertainment (now owned by Eldorado Resorts) to launch online gaming in states with Caesars-owned properties. Caesars/Eldorado Resorts doesn’t own any casinos in Michigan, however.

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The Pennsylvania and New Jersey versions of the Unibet platform operate in agreements outside of the Caesars partnership, however. A similar arrangement could bring Unibet online casino to Michigan.

Caesars Online Casino

With the success of Caesar’s online casino app in New Jersey and Michigan, we anticipate that they will launch in Michigan as well. If not in partnership with Unibet, they could seek a partnership with a local Michigan casino to launch in 2021.

Commerical Casino Partnerships

Michigan’s casino industry includes three Detroit-area commercial casinos, as well as 23 tribal casinos located throughout the state. Online partnerships for the three commercial casinos are as follows:

SiteCommercial CasinoLive Dealer Available?Launch Date
FanDuel CasinoMotorCity Casino HotelTBD1/22/21
BetMGMMGM Grand - DetroitTBD1/22/21
Barstool CasinoGreekTown CasinoTBD2/1/21

Tribal Casino Partnerships

In a situation unique to Michigan, both tribal and commercial casinos can partner with technology companies to offer legal online casino gaming. Several of the state’s tribal casinos already announced agreements to launch online sports betting, and those partnerships are as follows:

SiteTribal CasinoLive Dealer Available?Launch Date
Golden NuggetOjibwa Casino, Baraga & MarquetteYes1/22/21
BetRivers CasinoLittle River Casino ResortYes1/22/21
DraftKings CasinoBay Mills Resort & CasinosYes1/22/21
William HillGrand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (Turtle Creek & Leelanau Sands Casinos)Yes1/22/21
Wynn CasinosKewadin Casino (Christmas, Hessel, Manistique, Sault Sainte Marie, St. Ignace)Yes1/22/21
TwinSpires (formerly BetAmerica)Island Resort & Casino Bark RiverN/A1/22/21
Stars CasinoOdawa Casino Resort, Petoskey & MackinawYes1/29/21
Four WindsFour Winds Dowagiac, Hartford & New BuffaloN/A2/15/21
FireKeepersFireKeepers Casino & Hotel, Battle CreekYes
Parx CasinoGun Lake Casino, WaylandN/A
PointsBetNorthern Waters Casino Resort, WatersmeetN/A
N/AKings Club Casino, BrimleyN/A
N/ASaganing Eagles Landing Casino, StandishN/A
N/ASoaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Mt. PleasantN/A

What Are Online Casinos And What Do They Offer?

Online casinos are apps and websites that offer casino games from the comfort of players’ homes. Some of them involve real money, while others are free-to-play social games. They offer the kinds of card games bettors would expect to find at a casino, including blackjack, roulette, and on some websites, baccarat. But there are also slot games and games with live dealers available for those who want a real casino experience.

Even better, many of these online casinos offer bonuses to new bettors.

Online Casino Bonuses

One of the ways that online casinos–and most online gaming products–entice new bettors is by offering bonuses on the first few bets. There are two major types of bonuses. The first is a welcome bonus that puts money in a bettor’s account (with strings attached). The second offers risk-free bets, which act more like insurance than truly free bets.

Welcome Bonuses

Welcome bonuses are what they sound like. When bettors sign up and verify their accounts, online casinos will deposit a little extra money. Some bonuses arrive in customer accounts upon sign up and verification, like this $25 deposit from Hollywoodcasino.com. These are called no-deposit bets, because bettors don’t have to deposit their own money to earn a bonus. They also tend to be small amounts.

Deposit bets on the other hand require bettors to put money into their account before getting anything back. Take this $500 bonus from Hollywoodcasino.com that matches deposits up to $500. That means for every dollar a new bettor deposits into his account, Hollywood.com will add one dollar, until it pays out $500.

This matching makes it easier for bettors to pour money into their accounts and make larger bets. Online casinos want bettors to make multiple wagers and learn to enjoy them. Based on how widespread welcome bonuses are, this tactic seems to work quite effectively.

Risk-Free Bets

Despite the name, risk-free bets do require bettors to risk some money before receiving a free bet. This Golden Nugget Casino welcome offer spells the deal out pretty clearly. Bettors must place a wager, then get up to $100 back if they lose. It’s more of a refund for a lost bet than a risk-free bet. Some bettors may not think much of a small refund for a losing bet, but it can make anxious new bettors willing to give online casinos a try.

What’s The Difference Between Legal And Illegal Online Casinos?

Like online sportsbooks, online casinos have tell-tale signs that indicate their legitimacy. There are a few signs that bettors can watch for when they’re looking for legitimate online casinos in Michigan next year.

First, all online gambling websites must display the compulsive gambling hotline on their websites. It’s required by law in Michigan, and bettors will be hard-pressed to find any legitimate online gambling websites without it.

However, Michiganders will have a particularly easy time identifying legitimate websites. All online casinos must be partnered with eligible land-based casinos. These sites must also display proof of their license reasonably clearly.

These are important signs of quality to watch for. Missing them could lead bettors to risk funneling money into an account that will never pay out.

How Online Casinos Are Regulated

Commercial online casinos must be licensed by their state gaming boards before they’re allowed to go live in any given state. Michigan’s online casinos will be regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board–pending written regulations, of course.

However, tribal casinos have their own regulatory body. The National Indian Gaming Commission writes and enforces regulations on tribal casinos across the country. Tribes run casinos themselves, but the National Indian Gaming Commission must review and approve each tribe’s gaming compacts.

And to top it all off, all these regulatory bodies require casinos to pay bettors their winnings. Legitimate online casinos will not only pay winnings, but they will also have processes to resolve customer disputes. The same cannot be said for offshore scam sites accountable to no one.

How Bettors Collect Their Winnings From Online Casinos

Bettors get paid from online casinos by withdrawing from their gaming accounts. For example, FanDuel will process withdrawals through:

  • PayPal
  • Bank Transfer
  • Check in the mail

It’s just a matter of bettors checking the option to withdraw in their online accounts. Remember though, non-cash bonuses don’t count toward cash withdrawals. A “free spin” worth $100 isn’t a free $100. Unless it’s hard-won cash, it doesn’t count toward a bettor’s withdrawals.

Everything Else Bettors Need To Know About Online Casinos In Michigan

Online casinos are already in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and a few other states. They offer familiar staples like:

  • Roulette
  • Baccarat (albeit not universally)

Many, but not all, online casinos also offer live dealers for many of these games.

Although online gaming is legal, the regulations governing licensing and online operations still need to be written. Those regulations won’t be ready until 2021, but that hasn’t stopped Michigan’s casinos from preparing.

Every Michigan casino with a sportsbook deal has partnered with a company that also offers an online casino. PointsBet is the only sportsbook operator without an online casino, but its partnership with Penn National Gaming could give its partner casino access to online casino products in 2021.

As industrious Michiganders explore the online casino landscape, they should watch for signs that the online casino they’re browsing is legitimate. State-licensed online casinos will:

  • Partner with licensed land-based Michigan casinos
  • Display the compulsive gambling hotline number on its website
  • Show clear evidence of its license per Michigan state law

The online casino landscape is dense, but it’s part of the ongoing evolution of the gaming industry. It began with sports betting legalization, but the wave of innovation sweeping the country’s gaming industry will bring online casinos to Michigan next.

Michigan Online Casinos

There’s a lot to digest about the impending arrival of online casinos to Michigan. Here are a few questions that either come up often from new bettors or which may need clarification on their own.

Who Can Apply For An Online Gaming License In Michigan?

There are only two entities that can apply for an online gaming license:

-Casino licenses holders.
-Eligible tribal casinos.

Michigan is keeping tight control over its gaming industry by only allowing online gaming to come from licensed casinos. It’s a way for Michigan to stave off scam sites that accept bets but never pay out winnings. It’s also probably how lawmakers appealed to gambling opponents to assure them that gambling would be a respectable industry in Michigan.

Who’s Eligible To Participate In Online Gaming In Michigan?

Only people 21 and older and who are not in the online casino’s self-exclusion database. The age requirement is straightforward, but the self-exclusion database may not be.

The self-exclusion database is a voluntary measure to protect problem gamblers from themselves. Bettors can register themselves so gambling outlets will refuse to let them gamble. Unless a bettor struggles with a gambling problem, it’s not a list that most bettors have to worry about.

What’s The Tax Rate For Online Casinos In Michigan?

Anywhere from 20% to 28%, depeding on how much revenue the casino produces. It’s on page nine of the bill legalizing internet gambling in Michigan.

Will DraftKings’ Online Casino Be Available In Michigan?

DraftKings announced a partnership with Bay Mills Resort & Casios to operate its online sportsbook as well as its online casino. Both apps launched on January 22, 2021.

FanDuel was one of the first online casino apps to launch in Michigan. They opened their retail sportsbook at Motor City Hotel & Casino in Detroit in 2020. FanDuel launched its online casino and sportsbook as well for Michigan bettors.

Are Sportsbooks And Online Casinos The Same Thing?

No. Sportsbooks are specifically for betting on sports games. Online casinos offer casino games. The reason sportsbooks came up so often in this article is that the Michigan Gaming Control Board created rules governing sportsbooks first. Retail sportsbooks started opening in Michigan in early 2020 whereas online casinos and online sportsbooks have not yet launched.

Online casinos launched in Pennsylvania in July 2019. This made Pennsylvania just the third US state to offer state-regulated, legal online casinos.

As of March 2021 Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Michigan, and West Virginia are the only five states where online casinos are live.

All of Pennsylvania’s online casinos operate in partnership with the state’s land-based casinos. Of the state’s 12 retail casinos, more than half currently offer online casino platforms.

Best Pennsylvania Online Casinos

  • FanDuel Casino
  • BetRivers Casino
  • BetMGM Casino
  • Borgata Casino
  • DraftKings Casino
  • Unibet Casino

Legal Online Casinos In Pennsylvania

FanDuel Casino

Launched in January 2020, FanDuel Casino became an instant contender for the title of top-earning online casino in Pennsylvania. In its first full month of operation, FanDuel Casino eclipsed all other state-regulated mobile casinos in revenue.

Licensed under Valley Forge Casino Resort, FanDuel Casino operates as part of a hybrid online sportsbook and casino. FanDuel Casino emerged as a favorite for Pennsylvania players immediately upon launch. It looks poised to be a major part of the state’s online gambling market.

BetMGM Casino

One of the most recent online casinos to launch in Pennsylvania, BetMGM is another industry-leading choice with an excellent welcome bonus.

BetMGM Casino officially went to market in December 2020 in partnership with Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. BetMGM’s sportsbook, which is also accessible as part of the all-in-one app, is the official sports betting partner for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Borgata Casino

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Roar Digital already entered the PA casino market with both BetMGM Casino and the Bet MGM Sportsbook app in 2020. They continued their expansion into Pennsylvania by launching the Borgata Casino app in February 2021. All apps operate as licensed partners of Penn National Gaming.

Players may recognize the Borgata name as one of Atlantic City’s premier casinos. The Pennsylvania launch is the second for the Borgata online casino brand. They launched in New Jersey prior.

DraftKings Casino

DraftKings Casino launched in Pennsylvania in May 2020. Much like FanDuel Casino, DraftKings Casino is a major player in the Pennsylvania online casino industry.

DraftKings Casino operates under the Hollywood Casino license. Players can find the casino through a link on the DraftKings Sportsbook platform.

BetRivers

BetRivers, like SugarHouse Online Casino, operates under the Rivers Philadelphia license. BetRivers debuted in the Pennsylvania market in January 2020.

In the first year of Pennsylvania’s legal online casino industry, Rivers Philadelphia emerged as the state leader in revenue by operator. The BetRivers platform offers a $250 deposit match bonus for new players.

Rivers Philadelphia is a top performer in the Pennsylvania market, showing excellent revenue throughout 2020 and leading the iGaming space in the state.

SugarHouse Online Casino

SugarHouse Online Casino debuted among the first wave of online casinos to launch in Pennsylvania. The platform went live in July 2019, two days after Hollywood and Parx launched their mobile casino sites.

One of two online casinos licensed under the Rivers Philadelphia interactive gaming license, the SugarHouse brand is the first to operate mobile casinos in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Rivers Philadelphia leads Pennsylvania in online casino operation revenue.

Unibet Casino

The US expansion of Unibet continued with the launch of Unibet Casino in Pennsylvania. The international gaming powerhouse went live in Pennsylvania with the hybrid online casino and sportsbook in November 2019.

Operating as a license partner of Mohegan Sun, Unibet Casino is the second mobile casino platform to debut in the US from the brand. The New Jersey version of Unibet Casino went live in June 2019.

Caesars Online Casino

The legendary Caesars brand went live with an online casino in Pennsylvania in April 2020. Licensed under Harrah’s Philadelphia, Caesars Online Casino is integrated with Caesars Sportsbook on mobile apps. On the desktop, the casino operates as a standalone site.

The Pennsylvania platform launched with a small selection of games, but with the Caesars name on the product and some time to mature in the market, that library has already expanded.

Hollywood Casino

Hollywood Casino went live in Pennsylvania in July 2019. The launch made the platform the first state-regulated, legal online casino available to Pennsylvania players.

The Hollywood Casino online platform operates under the interactive gaming license of its parent company, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

For its first foray into online casino gaming, Hollywood Casino partnered with International Gaming Technology (IGT), a well-known brand in gaming technology.

PokerStars Casino

The launch of PokerStars Casino in Pennsylvania marked a significant moment in the history of online gambling in the US. The hybrid mobile casino and poker site is the first to offer online poker outside of Nevada, New Jersey, or Delaware.

PokerStars Casino debuted in November 2019, under the Mount Airy Casino Resort license. In addition to poker, the platform offers a full slate of casino games.

FOX Bet Casino

FOX Bet is a joint venture between FOX Sports and The Stars Group (operator of PokerStars). The FOX Bet online casino is available to Pennsylvania players thanks to a partnership with Mount Airy Casino.

By leveraging the reach of FOX Sports and the industry knowledge of The Stars Group, FOX Bet stands to be a strong competitor in Pennsylvania.

TwinSpires (formerly BetAmerica)

Owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated, the TwinSpires iGaming brand (formerly known as BetAmerica) launched its Pennsylvania online casino in November 2019. The platform operates as a hybrid mobile casino and sportsbook site.

Presque Isle Downs is the interactive gaming license partner for TwinSpires’s Pennsylvania platform.

Parx Online Casino

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The land-based version of Parx Casino is the biggest-grossing retail casino in Pennsylvania. Parx Online Casino is licensed to its parent company.

Parx Online Casino launched in Pennsylvania just hours after Hollywood Casino in July 2019. The debut made Parx Online Casino the second legal mobile casino to go live in the state.

Much like its retail counterpart, Parx Online Casino offers one of the biggest selections of games among Pennsylvania’s online casino platforms.

Stadium Casino, Live!

Pennsylvania’s 13th retail casino plans to open its doors sometime in 2021, with an online platform expected sometime after that.

The land-based Stadium Casino (formerly known as Live! Hotel And Casino) is expected to begin welcoming guests to its Philadelphia property by 2021.

The state-approved Stadium Casino for an internet gaming license, with the launch of its iGaming platform pending.

Top 3 PA Online Casinos By Gross Revenue

Top Performing Online CasinosJan 2021 iGaming Revenue
Penn National (DraftKings Casino, Hollywood Casino, BetMGM)$27,591,016
Rivers Philadelphia (SugarHouse, BetRivers)$20,990,798
Valley Forge (FanDuel)$14,747,594

Coming Soon To Pennsylvania

888 Casino

888 Casino is expected to launch in Pennsylvania by summer 2021. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved the Mount Airy Casino Resort to license 888 Casino.

The 888 brand is an international gaming giant and a big player in the US online gambling scene. 888 operates an online casino, poker, and sports betting hybrid platform in New Jersey. The brand also operates Delaware’s integrated online poker and casino network of sites.

Golden Nugget Online Casino

Golden Nugget is a huge online casino competition in New Jersey. The operator is gearing up for a launch in Pennsylvania, which should happen in 2021.

Golden Nugget has a strong industry reputation, and its online casino boasts an impressive game library. Once it launches in Pennsylvania, Golden Nugget will certainly be a competitor to keep an eye on.

Bonuses Available At Pennsylvania Online Casinos

PA Casino AppFree Money OfferDeposit Offer
FanDuel Casino PA$200 risk-free dayNone
BetRivers PANone100% match up to $250
SugarHouse PANone100% match up to $250
BetMGM$25 free-play100% match up to $1,000
Borgata PA$20 free on sign-up100% deposit match up to $1,000
DraftKings Casino PA$10 site credit100% match up to $1,500
Unibet PA$10 free on sign-up100% match up to $500
PokerStars Casino PANone100% match up to $500 on first three deposits ($1,500 total)
Hollywood Casino$10 free on sign-up$502 deposit bonus (100% match on first two deposits of up to $251 each)
FOX Bet CasinoNone100% match up to $500

Free Sign-Up Bonus

Several of Pennsylvania’s online casinos offer a small bonus just for signing up, with no deposit required. Players just have to register an account, with proof of identity and age, and the casino puts money on the player’s balance.

These no-deposit bonuses usually range anywhere from $10-$35. Platforms like DraftKings, Unibet Casino, and FOX Bet Casino offer a free sign-up bonus, among others. Borgata offers $20 free on sign-up using code SHARP.

Risk-Free Day

New players can take advantage of risk-free day bonuses at some Pennsylvania online casinos. This kind of bonus offers a rebate on losses, up to a certain amount, in the first 24 hours after deposit.

FanDuel Casino gives new players a $200 risk-free day bonus upon initial deposit. On deposit amounts up to $200, these casinos will refund losses incurred within a 24-hour period after the deposit.

If that same player deposits $200 and ends the initial 24-hour period with $125, the casino will refund $75. If a player records a net win at the end of the 24-hour period, no refund is awarded.

Deposit Match Bonuses

Many of the US-facing legal online casinos offer deposit match bonuses for new players. Upon first deposit, the casino awards an amount of bonus money that matches some or all of the deposit.

For example, Unibet Casino offers a 100% match bonus on deposits up to $500. With that offer, players can earn up to $500 in bonus money if they initially deposit $500.

Deposit match bonuses generally require players to wager a certain amount to unlock the bonus.

Pennsylvania’s Biggest Online Casinos By Earnings

Rivers Philadelphia emerged as Pennsylvania’s top revenue-earning operator in the early months of the industry’s launch. With a pair of popular platforms under its license, that position comes as no surprise.

SugarHouse Online Casino and BetRivers both operate under the Rivers Philadelphia license. Pennsylvania’s online casino industry went live in July 2019. In January 2020, Rivers Philadelphia became the first state operator to add a second platform with the introduction of the BetRivers skin.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) reports online casino revenue by operator, making it impossible to know how each of the Rivers Philadelphia skins performs individually. The combined revenue of SugarHouse Online Casino and BetRivers, however, puts Rivers Philadelphia in the lead in terms of revenue by operator.

The latest reports show that rivers Casino has held onto its leading position. In September 2020, the operator brought in more than $16 million in online casino revenue. It leads the market by nearly $6 million.

DraftKings’ entry to the market through a new competitor into the mix. Penn National saw more than $10 million in online casino revenue via its DraftKings partnership, catapulting the operator to second-highest revenue for September 2020.

As a license partner of Valley Forge Casino Resort, FanDuel Casino continues to make an impact. September saw the platform bring in just over $9 million, making it the third-highest online casino revenue earner for the period.

Best Game Selection At Pennsylvania’s Online Casinos

Pennsylvania’s online casino industry debuted in July 2019. The first year of the new industry saw no less than 10 different mobile casinos launch in the state.

With the industry still in its infancy, Pennsylvania’s online casinos don’t yet offer the same number of games as some of the online casinos operating in New Jersey. Many of New Jersey’s mobile casinos offer several hundred different games, as legal online casino gaming launched in 2013 in the state.

Most of Pennsylvania’s online casinos offer around 100 games each, with game libraries expanding every month. Like other retail and online casinos, slots dominate the catalogs of each Pennsylvania mobile casino.

Number Of Casino Games Offered

Parx Casino leads the pack in terms of the overall number of games. Powered by a catalog of more than 100 slot variants, Parx Online Casino is living up to the reputation of its parent company. Parx Casino is the biggest and highest-earning retail casino in Pennsylvania.

The other mobile casino platforms available to Pennsylvania players aren’t far behind with their game selections.

Hollywood Casino, Unibet Casino, and SugarHouse Online Casino all have a similar number of games available. Unibet Casino has the biggest video poker selection, while PokerStars Casino tops the field in the number of table games offered.

Are Live Dealer Games Available At Pennsylvania’s Online Casinos?

Live dealer games are a popular option in the well-established online casino markets of New Jersey and Delaware. Combining the best of both live and online gaming, live dealer games allow online players to interact with a live dealer and other players.

These games allow online players to look in on a live casino table via live stream. There are a real-life dealer and physical table located in a secure studio. These games are starting to become available at Pennsylvania’s online casinos.

Live dealer games include:

Blackjack

Live dealer blackjack gives players the thrill of the live experience and the comfort of playing from a desktop or mobile device.

Baccarat

Another favorite from the live casino world, live dealer baccarat offers the social experience of the live game, but with the convenience of playing from anywhere within the state.

Roulette

Another ideal game for the live dealer format, multiple versions of live dealer roulette are going live at Pennsylvania’s online casinos.

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Casino Table Games

Games like Casino Hold’em and Three-Card Poker are available as live dealer games at some Pennsylvania online casinos.

Progressive Jackpots At Pennsylvania Online Casinos

Slots rule the landscape at retail and online casinos. As such, Pennsylvania’s mobile casino platforms offer more slot variants than any other game.

Online Gambling With Free Bonus

Much like their retail counterparts, the biggest jackpots to be won at online casinos come from progressive jackpot slots. Some of these grand prizes can reach six figures and beyond.

Divine Fortune

Much like in the New Jersey online casino industry, the Divine Fortune progressive slot finds a home on multiple platforms in the Pennsylvania market.

Divine Fortune resides at Hollywood Casino, SugarHouse Online Casino, FanDuel Casino, Unibet Casino, and others. The slot’s progressive grand prize, the Mega Jackpot, can yield jackpots of $375,000 or more.

Mercy Of The Gods

The progressive slot sequel to Divine Fortune, Mercy of the Gods offers big jackpots up into six-figure totals. Like Divine Fortune, Mercy of the Gods offers these grand prizes at several online casinos in Pennsylvania.

BetRivers, FanDuel Casino, and Hollywood Casino are all mobile platforms that host the Mercy of the Gods progressive slot.

PA Online Gambling Options

Game options in Pennsylvania include hundreds of different varieties of slots. This includes online versions of popular classic and progressive jackpot slots that are often seen in retail casinos.

Other games on the online casino platforms include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, video poker, and casino card games like Caribbean Stud and Pai Gow Poker. Live dealer table games, in which online players interact with a live dealer and other players, will be introduced in the future as well.

Players 21 and over can access Pennsylvania’s legal online casinos from anywhere in the state. All of these platforms use geolocation software to determine a user’s location.

With this geolocation technology in place, players can enjoy the casino gaming experience from anywhere in the state.

Online casino gaming offers Pennsylvania players the ease and convenience of playing, depositing, and withdrawing from any mobile device or desktop. Many of the games enjoyed by players on a physical casino floor are found on these legal casino apps.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) regulates all of Pennsylvania’s online casinos, like their retail counterparts.

Pennsylvania’s Online Gambling Industry

Some of the biggest players in Pennsylvania’s online casino industry include FanDuel Casino (operated in partnership with Valley Forge Casino), SugarHouse Casino (Rivers Casino), PokerStars Casino (Mount Airy Casino), Parx Casino, and Hollywood Casino.

FanDuel Casino surged to the top of the market immediately after it launched in January 2020. Rivers’ online casinos, however, have recently drawn the most revenue. Still, with online casinos and sportsbooks live, operators have multiple areas where they must compete.

The PGCB breakdown of overall revenue from the state’s online casinos can be read here.

Pennsylvania’s Online Gambling Options: The Breakdown

Online Casinos

Pennsylvania’s online casinos have already made a major impact on the state’s overall gambling revenue. The launch of FanDuel Casino in January 2020 sparked the biggest month yet for online casinos.

In February 2020, FanDuel Casino’s first full month in operation, saw the state’s online casinos (excluding online poker) bring in more than $17.6 million in revenue. That number represents a nearly 50 percent increase for the industry over January, in which overall revenue from online casinos totaled just over $11.8 million.

More platforms are set to launch in 2020 and 2021, as Pennsylvania’s online casino industry appears slated for more growth. With New Jersey and Delaware as the only other US states offering legal online casinos (for now), Pennsylvania is poised to be a big part of the overall US online casino market.

Online Sports Betting In Pennsylvania

In October 2017, Pennsylvania State House Bill 271 legalized online gambling options. The state first launched mobile sports betting.

The state legalized both retail and online sports wagering with the house bill in October 2017. The state’s casinos couldn’t begin to launch sports betting operations, though, until the fall of the federal mandate, PASPA, in May 2018.

See our full Guide To Online Sports Betting In Pennsylvania.

The Fall Of PASPA

Since 1992, PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) banned states from regulating sports betting. In May 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned PASPA. This cleared the way for states to establish their own rules as it pertains to sports betting.

The PASPA Supreme Court ruling was the catalyst for a new era of sports betting in the US. Pennsylvania’s sports betting legislation was already in place after the passage of HB 271 in October 2017 The first of the state’s retail sportsbooks went live late in 2018.

Mobile sports betting officially launched in May 2019. As of early 2021, Pennsylvania bettors have numerous online sports betting platforms to choose from.

The state’s land-based casinos, in partnership with companies like DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and FOX Bet (owned by the Stars Group) operate Pennsylvania’s online sportsbooks.

PA Online Poker

The legislature passed in Pennsylvania in October 2017 outlined a significant gambling expansion for the Keystone State. Online poker was among the forms of mobile gambling legalized in the package of bills.

Pennsylvania became the first US state outside of Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware with state-regulated online poker in November 2019. PokerStars PA debuted in the state operating as a license partner of Mount Airy Casino Resort.

The launch of PokerStars PA could be just the start of a burgeoning online poker market in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has approved seven retail casinos are approved to operate online poker in the state.

PokerStars PA is limited to an in-state player pool, as players on the site can only compete against other Pennsylvania players. Even with that provision, however, Pennsylvania’s population of 13 million could make the state a major hub for legal online poker in the US.

Learn more about playing Online Poker In Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Online Horse Race Betting

Pennsylvania is home to a long-standing tradition of horse racing. Many of the state’s retail casinos began as horse racetracks that expanded to eventually incorporate full-scale casino operations.

Federal laws like the 1961 Wire Act and the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) stalled the online gambling industry in the US Horse race wagering, though, was exempt from those mandates. As such, online horse race betting has been around for decades.

In 1983, Call-A-Bet introduced online horse race betting in Pennsylvania. It still exists today under the Xpressbet name.

Several options are available for online horse race betting in Pennsylvania, including PABets. PABets is a mobile platform operated by industry leader TVG.

Other platforms include BetAmerica and TwinSpires, both owned and operated by Churchill Downs.

Jumba Bet Casino

See our comprehensive Guide To Online Horse Betting In The US.

Pennsylvania Online Lottery

The Pennsylvania Lottery started in 1972. In 2017, HB 271 authorized online lottery in the state.

When first implemented, Pennsylvania’s online lottery options were limited to purchases of instant win tickets. Players now have more than 50 instant win games to choose from. They are available for purchase at all times.

Pennsylvania online lottery options recently expanded to include the ability to purchase tickets for draw games. These draw games include in-state drawings, as well as multi-state games like MegaMillions and Powerball.

The expanded list of online lottery games can be seen at pailottery.com. Players 18 and over can play these online lottery games from anywhere within the state.

See our full guide to the Pennsylvania Online Lottery or use our Lottery Numbers Generator to choose tickets for online lotteries.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) sites are available to players in about 40 US states. DFS is explicitly legalized in about half of those states. This includes Pennsylvania.

House Bill 271 started regulating DFS in 2017. Before that, though, DFS sites like FanDuel and DraftKings were already popular in the state.

Pennsylvania’s 12.8-million population, as well as its history as a major sports market, makes the Keystone State host to one of the most successful DFS markets in the US.

The fiscal year 2018-2019 numbers show DFS sites bringing in more than $23.5 million in revenue. Like most of the US, DraftKings and FanDuel are the overwhelming leaders in the market. They bring in more than 95 percent of the state’s DFS revenue.

Sweepstakes Casinos

Online gambling sites that operate as sweepstakes casinos include sites like Chumba Casino, the biggest of the sweepstakes casinos, and LuckyLand Slots. Sweepstakes sites are available to players in most states, including Pennsylvania.

Players can purchase “Gold Coins” for use in play money games on Chumba Casino. With the purchase of Gold Coins players also receive “Sweepstakes Cash,” aka “Sweeps Coins.” Players use Sweeps Coins to play in sweepstakes games, separate from the Gold Coins play money games.

Sweeps Coins are redeemed for cash prizes on Chumba Casino. These Sweeps Coins games at Chumba Casino legally operate as mini-sweepstakes games.

Blackjack, roulette, slots, video poker, and an array of other classic casino games are available at Chumba Casino.

Sweepstakes Poker Sites

VGW Malta Limited, the same company that owns Chumba Casino, also operates sweepstakes poker room Global Poker.

The sweepstakes casino model is the same for both Chumba Casino and Global Poker. Players purchase “Gold Coins” for play money games and they come with a corresponding amount of “Sweeps Coins.”

Players use Sweeps Coins in sweepstakes to play in sweepstakes poker games. They are redeemed for cash prizes. Sweeps Coins on Global Poker cannot be purchased directly and come as a gift to players with the purchase of Gold Coins.

Both Chumba Casino and Global Poker are available to Pennsylvania players.

Global Poker runs tournaments and cash games at a variety of stakes around the clock. They have, by far, the highest traffic of any US-facing poker site that uses the sweepstakes model.

Pennsylvania’s History Of Online Gaming

Pennsylvania put big plans for gambling expansion in motion in October 2017. Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 271 into law. The bill laid out the legislature’s plans for Pennsylvania to potentially become one of the biggest online gambling economies in the US.

House Bill 271 legalized sports betting (both land-based and online), online casinos, and online poker. It also formally legalized Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS).

Pennsylvania is one of five states (along with New Jersey, Delaware, Michigan, and West Virginia) to legalize all three verticals of online sports betting, casinos, and poker. As of November 2020, Michigan is the only one still awaiting launch, though it’s expected to go live in early 2021.

Overturning PASPA

The state legislation for online sports betting went into place in October 2017, with one hurdle still left to clear. That final obstacle was overcome in May 2018, when PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) was overturned.

PASPA, originally put into law in 1992, was a federal ban on sports wagering. With the exception of Nevada and sports lotteries in a handful of other states, PASPA mandated that sports betting was illegal in the US.

In May 2018, however, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that PASPA was unconstitutional. This gave states the power to legalize sports betting on an individual basis.

The Launch Of PA Online Gambling

The first of Pennsylvania’s online sportsbooks went live in May 2019, when PlaySugarHouse Pennsylvania launched. As of early 2021, Pennsylvania bettors have 11 different mobile sports betting platforms to choose from, with more to come.

Online casinos are up and running in Pennsylvania as well. Hollywood Casino and Parx Casino both debuted their mobile products in July 2019.

November 4, 2019, was a landmark day in the history of online poker in the US, as PokerStars PA debuted. PokerStars PA is the first US online poker network to launch outside of Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Pennsylvania’s Live Gambling Industry History

Of the 50 states, Pennsylvania is second in casino revenue, trailing only Nevada. Legalized horse racing started in Pennsylvania in 1959. And the PA State Lottery started operations in 1971.

In 2004, the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act established legal casino gambling in the state.

The legislation allowed for legalized slot machines at five of the state’s racetracks. It also permitted the development of five stand-alone casinos and two resort casinos. The state legalized table games in 2010.

The state’s 12 land-based commercial casinos brought in $3.4 billion in revenue in 2019, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal.

State legislators introduced a plan for massive gambling expansion in the state with House Bill 217. This bill, passed in October 2017, legalized online casinos, sports betting (both live and online), and online poker. It also officially legalized Daily Fantasy Sports.

Pennsylvania Gambling At A Glance

FAQAnswer
Is lottery legal in Pennsylvania?Yes; the Pennsylvania Lottery has been operating since 1972. Multi-state lottery tickets like Powerball and MegaMillions are also available for purchase in PA. HB 217 legalized online lottery ticket sales in 2017.
Does Pennsylvania have casinos?Yes; Pennsylvania is host to 12 land-based casinos, with a 13th slated to open sometime in 2020.
Does Pennsylvania have racetracks?Yes; Pennsylvania is host to six horse race tracks. The state’s current live casino industry evolved from its horse racing industry, as many of PA’s casinos began as horse race facilities.
Where else can you gamble in Pennsylvania?Pennsylvania offers online casinos, sports betting and poker, as well as daily fantasy sports. All of these mobile gaming variants can be played from anywhere within the state.
What is the minimum gambling age?21 (18 for horse race betting and lottery)
Who regulates gambling?Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB)

Retail Casinos

Of Pennsylvania’s 12 casinos, seven are near the eastern coast of the state. Four of these venues are in the greater Philadelphia area, including Parx Casino. This is the largest-grossing casino in Pennsylvania. Hollywood Casino at Penn Racetrack is located about 120 miles west of Philadelphia.

The state’s other four casinos are all located in western Pennsylvania. Two of these (Rivers Casino and The Meadows Racetrack & Casino) are in the Pittsburgh area.

Pennsylvania Casinos At A Glance

Casino NameLocation
Parx Casino and RacingBensalem (Philadelphia area)
Rivers Casino PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia
Valley Forge Casino ResortKing of Prussia
Wind Creek BethlehemBethlehem
Harrah’s PhiladelphiaChester (Philadelphia area)
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race CourseGrantville
Lady Luck Casino NemacolinFarmington
The Meadows Racetrack and CasinoNorth Strabane Township (Pittsburgh area)
Mohegan Sun PoconoPlains Township
Mount Airy Casino ResortMount Pocono
Presque Isle Downs & CasinoErie
Rivers Casino PittsburghPittsburgh

The origins of Pennsylvania’s land-based casinos go back to the state’s long-standing horse racing industry.

The 2004 Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act authorized seven of the state’s horse racing venues to install slot machines. It also authorized licenses for up to five more stand-alone casinos and two resort casinos.

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From those original expansion plans, the Pennsylvania gaming industry evolved into the current 12 land-based casinos.

The Pennsylvania Casinos

Parx Casino is the largest and most popular casino in the state. Located just northeast of Philadelphia in Bensalem Township, Parx Casino was one of the original seven horse racing venues to expand into casino gaming after the state passed the 2004 legislation.

Then known as Philadelphia Park Racetrack and Casino, the property grew into the state’s highest-earning casino property, with $639 million in revenue in 2019.

According to 2019 figures from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), Wind Creek Bethlehem ($522 million), Rivers Casino Pittsburgh ($392 million), and Rivers Casino Philadelphia ($339 million) follow Parx Casino with the highest revenues for 2019.

Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment, Inc., owns Parx Casino. Wind Creek Hospitality owns Wind Creek Bethlehem, the state’s second highest-earning property. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians operates Wind Creek.

Rush Street is the parent company to Rivers Casino Philadelphia and Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, in addition to two additional Rivers Casino properties outside of Pennsylvania.

Gaming and Leisure Properties is another company operating multiple Pennsylvania casinos. They operate Meadows Racetrack and Casino and Hollywood Casino. Caesars Entertainment is another player in the PA casino industry. They operate Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Due to PGCB regulations, a maximum of 14 land-based casinos can operate within the state. Currently, 12 are in operation. A thirteenth casino, Live! Hotel and Casino Philadelphia is slated to open in early 2021.

Other Gambling In Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Lottery

The Pennsylvania Lottery started in 1971, with the first state lottery tickets sold in 1972. The state first established the lottery to provide tax breaks for the state’s seniors. To this day the program applies all proceeds to programs that assist the state’s elderly population.

The state lottery began with a weekly drawing game that cost 50 cents. It awarded a grand prize of $1 million.

In the nearly half a century since then, the Pennsylvania Lottery evolved to include a massive selection of draw, scratch-off instant win, fast-play, and Xpress Sports games.

The 2018-2019 fiscal year saw the state lottery sell more than $4.5 billion in games and produce $1.14 billion in revenue. All of those proceeds went to programs to benefit Pennsylvania’s senior population. This makes the PA lottery the only of its kind.

Pennsylvania also participates in multi-state lottery games like Powerball and MegaMillions.

The passage of HB 217 in October 2017 legalized online lottery sales in the state. As of January 2020, the Pennsylvania iLottery platform allows players to play numerous in-state games. They can also purchase tickets for Powerball and MegaMillions.

Horse Racing In Pennsylvania

Horse racing is another longtime tradition in Pennsylvania. As of 2021, at least six tracks remain active. All of these tracks actively run events and take wagers.

Because Pennsylvania’s earliest land-based casinos evolved from horse race venues, all six major racetracks are on casino grounds. This makes them one-stop-shops for all forms of gambling.

In addition to these racetracks, no less than seven off-track betting (OTB) facilities operate in the state.

Legal Pennsylvania Online Casinos Versus Illegal Online Casinos

As one of just a handful of states with legal online casinos, Pennsylvania offers access to a growing number of mobile gambling platforms. Each of these casinos expands its game libraries every month, which allows Pennsylvania players to enjoy the best of mobile casino gaming.

State-Regulated And Secure Online Casinos

Pennsylvania’s land-based casinos own all of the state’s online casinos, in partnership with approved technology partners. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) oversees and regulates all of the state’s online gambling sites.

The PGCB, a government agency, also regulates Pennsylvania’s retail casino industry. Playing on a legal, state-regulated online casino platform in Pennsylvania ensures the same level of safety as playing at one of the state’s retail casinos.

Legal retail and online casinos in Pennsylvania operate with a vested interest in providing fair games and prompt payouts. These platforms also provide the highest level of encryption to protect personal information.

Risks From Offshore Gambling Sites

Offshore gambling sites can’t guarantee this same level of fairness, transparency, and personal protection. Playing from Pennsylvania on any gambling site not regulated by the PGCB doesn’t have the same oversight as the state’s legal casinos.

Offshore gambling sites in the US are also operating illegally, possibly exposing players to criminal penalties.

Looking for more information on online gaming in PA? Check out our comprehensive Guide To Online Gambling In Pennsylvania.

More On Pennsylvania Gambling

Pennsylvania Gambling FAQ

Yes. Pennsylvania legalized retail casino gambling in 2004. As of 2021, the state is home to 12 land-based casinos.

The Pennsylvania casino industry is one of the most prolific in the U.S. And Pennsylvania is second only to Nevada in annual casino revenue among the 50 states.

What taxes, if any, do I have to pay on gambling winnings in Pennsylvania?

The state taxes gambling winnings at 3.07 percent. For state residents and non-residents alike, the state taxes gambling winnings from in-state gambling institutions and the lottery at the state personal income tax rate of 3.07 percent.

This tax rate applies to all gambling winnings, except non-cash prizes won in the state lottery. All gambling winnings, from retail or PA online gambling platforms, must be reported. You can find more about PA gambling tax lawshere.

Players must be 21 for most forms of gambling. To legally play any game at a retail casino, or play at an online casino, sportsbook, or poker room, players must be age 21 or over.

Exceptions to this law are lottery and horse racing, both of which carry a minimum age of 18.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, which itself is a government-regulated agency, regulates all legalized gambling in Pennsylvania.

State casinos must adhere to fairness of play regulations set forth by the PGCB. For slot machines, state laws dictate that all slots must payback at least 85 percent to players.

Casinos violating these payback laws, or in any way colluding to rig games or deceive players about the rules of a game, are subject to penalty by law.

Yes. Passed in 2017, HB 417 legalized online sports betting, casino games, and poker. These Pennslyvania online gambling platforms can be accessed from anywhere within state borders.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) regulates all legal online gambling platforms. All games must display the PGCB seal on the site.

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Do I have to be 21 to gamble online in Pennsylvania?

Yes. The minimum age requirements to play on Pennsylvania’s regulated online gambling sites are the same as they are at retail casinos.

You must be 21 to play at an online casino, sportsbook, or poker room. The minimum age for online horse race betting and online lottery is 18.

Yes. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), a government agency, regulates all Pennsylvania’s online gambling platforms.

The state’s land-based casinos own and operate all of the online gambling platforms. Playing online comes with the same level of safety as gaming at a legal land-based casino.

Is it legal to place an online sports bet in Pennsylvania?

Yes. The state legalized both retail and online sports betting in Pennsylvania in October 2017.

All of these legal online sportsbooks are available to bettors 21 and over, as long as they’re located within state borders when playing.

Is my personal information safe on a Pennsylvania online gambling site?

Yes. Pennsylvania’s state-regulated online gambling sites operate on secure https connections. All of these platforms use high-level encryption to protect customer’s personal information.

Protecting customer information is the highest of priorities for Pennsylvania gaming sites. State-regulated online gaming sites use encryption technology on par with that of banks and major retail vendors, like Amazon for example.

What happens in the event of a dispute with an online casino?

Per the PGCB, disputes that involve an online casino are directly filed with the operator of that casino.

The PGCB website has aseries of formsfor use when filing a complaint or dispute. Should a dispute with an online casino need to be resolved by the PGCB, the requisite form will need to have a complaint number from the original filing with the casino.

Yes. DraftKings Casino is one of Pennsylvania’s legal, state-regulated online casino platforms. It launched in May 2020.

DraftKings Casino operates as a technology partner of Hollywood Casino. The casino is integrated into the DraftKings Sportsbook Pennsylvania site. It’s available to players anywhere within Pennsylvania borders.

A variety of slots and table games, as well as blackjack, roulette, craps, and other casino table games, reside on the DraftKings Casino platform.

Yes. FanDuel Casino went live in Pennsylvania in January 2020 and is licensed to Valley Forge Casino Resort.

Upon launch, FanDuel Casino immediately took a place as one of the most popular mobile casino platforms in the state. The platform is found as part of the hybrid sports betting and casino site at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Players 21 and over can access FanDuel Casino from anywhere in Pennsylvania.