Pa online casinos slots
New casino sites to play real money
For many years, the only way to play online casino games in pennsylvania was to risk your money at offshore casinos. While there were some limited legal options with sweepstakes casinos, the new legal PA internet casinos effectively remove the need to take this risk. Below is a guide to the games you can play for free and for real money at PA online casinos. After that, you’ll find information on apps, bonuses, safety, and geolocation technology.
Online casinos in PA
The first state-regulated online casinos in pennsylvania are up and running as of july 15, 2019.
If you are 21 years or older and inside PA state lines, you can now enjoy slots, table games, and video poker from your desktop computer or mobile devices.
This page contains all the information you need to get started at pennsylvania online casinos.
Below is a guide to the games you can play for free and for real money at PA online casinos. After that, you’ll find information on apps, bonuses, safety, and geolocation technology.
Regulated casinos also include protection for problem gamblers, which we cover at the end of this page.
Best online casinos in pennsylvania 2020
There are now eight online casinos to choose from in pennsylvania:
All the casino apps are available 24/7.
Real money and free online casino games in pennsylvania
You can play most games at PA casinos online for fun. Playing games in demo mode, or with play-money chips, allows you to find the titles you like before you gamble.
The only category of games that are not available for free play is live dealer table games. You can watch them, though you will not be able to bet play-money chips. Parx has plans to add this offering soon though.
The current offerings on real money online casinos in PA are a bit limited, to begin with. Rest assured that the casino sites will add new games as quickly as the PA gaming control board (PGCB) will allow it.
We offer an overview of how diverse these casino game categories are. Keep in mind that the most prominent new jersey online casinos offer more than 600 titles.
PA online slots
Slots are the biggest category of games for any online casino. You can expect to see over 200 games listed and you’ll need some way to sort the list of slot titles.
Firstly, casinos will feature their most popular games. You can use filters to search by, e.G., the number of reels, game developer, progressive jackpots, and so on.
If you enjoy live casino slots, then you will be able to play a lot of these online. You can search by name, or browse the listings for IGT, bally, or another live slot studio.
Many online casinos feature classic games, e.G., wheel of fortune, cleopatra, and wolf run. You can locate traditional three-reel slots, many of which will be new to pennsylvania. Online slot studios like netent created these.
When you browse the tiled graphics for slots to enjoy, you’ll see progressive jackpots listed underneath many of them. These pools can get massive, up to $1 million or more.
Table games at PA online casinos
Table games are a broad category, although it mostly covers all the casino games played on the green felt.
While most are card-based, dice and roulette wheels also fall under table games. Live dealer games are in this category; however, we will cover them separately.
This list is for the software-based versions:
Blackjack: there are a lot of variations of basic blackjack rules. These include games with side bets, multi-hand games and entertaining variants like blackjack switch, free bet blackjack, and spanish 21.
Roulette: you can bet your favorite numbers or try complex betting systems with online roulette. Where available, choose the european roulette wheel because the single zero reduces the house edge.
Casino poker games: A lot of card-based table games use poker-hand rankings. Online casinos have caribbean stud, three-card poker, ultimate texas hold ’em, let it ride, pai gow poker, and casino hold ’em.
Baccarat: two of the three bets you can place in baccarat have a very low house edge. As long as you avoid the “tie” bet, this favorite among high rollers can be entertaining.
Craps: with two betting phases and the chance to go on a hot streak as long as no 7s are rolled, craps is a lively live casino game. This appears at some online casinos, which gives you a chance to learn the complex bets.
Live dealer casinos in pennsylvania
In other states, live dealer table games have become the go-to for many players and soon, they’ll be available in PA. With these, you’ll bet online although the action will be dealt in real-time from studios in PA live casinos. Bets will settle automatically.
Games available include blackjack (where you play on a seven-handed table), roulette, three-card poker, casino hold ’em, and baccarat.
Keep in mind, you need to act before the timer runs down in these games. Your hand will be folded (or you’ll stand) depending on the game.
You can chat via text with the dealers and other players while you play. The added social element, plus the ability to watch the cards being dealt, make these increasingly popular games.
Video poker and novelty games
PA casinos allow you to play video poker games online. These include bonus poker and multi-hand variations, as well as traditional titles.
Pennsylvania online casino apps
There are pros and cons to online casino apps compared to mobile-friendly websites.
With apps, you often find only a limited number of game titles, along with account and cashier functionality. Compared to the hundreds of games you can play on your browser, this is a significant drawback.
On the positive side, having the graphics stored on your phone helps the games initialize faster. If you have ever had to wait for a bonus game to load on your mobile device after you hit it on a slot, you know how frustrating this can be.
Are the online casinos in pennsylvania safe?
All online casinos in PA are licensed and under the jurisdiction of the pennsylvania gaming control board (PGCB).
Players are protected by know your customer (KYC) guidelines and responsible gaming laws. The games are tested for integrity and fairness. A complaint and dispute process is available if necessary.
When it comes to pennsylvania online casinos, you really can’t get any safer.
The PGCB stated early in the licensing process that they have a deliberate, slow approach. This includes testing periods for new apps and websites. With the licenses for online casinos in pennsylvania held by local live casinos and racetrack casinos, you’ll have trusted brand names behind each of the apps.
A major concern for players new to casino games is the fairness of the spins or deals. At regulated casinos, games are regularly audited and the expected return-to-player (RTP) percentages are published. While each game has a small edge in favor of the house, you can be sure that you are getting a fair shot at winning and it’s in line with the published figures.
Casino bonus offers in pennsylvania
With a lot of online casinos opening in PA in quick succession, you can be sure they will be competing to attract new players.
This means 2020 is a perfect time to take advantage of their marketing budgets. Casino bonuses take four primary forms, and not every casino will offer them all. If not, the bonuses they do offer will need to be generous.
Here are the main types of casino bonuses:
- No-deposit welcome bonus: A popular way to attract new players is to offer free play for registering. This bonus is usually a small amount (between $10 and $25). You’ll need to wager it a number of times before you can withdraw it. These offers can start your casino bankroll, if you get lucky. If not, then you’ll have a chance to check out the real-money slot titles without any personal risk.
- Matched deposit bonuses: this is the most common form of a casino welcome bonus in PA. Your first deposit will be matched 100%, usually up to around $300, though sometimes much higher. You then get 30 to 60 days to meet the specified playthrough (wagering) requirements.
- Loyalty/comp point schemes: some casinos will tie their online comp point schemes together with their live casino. Others have separate schemes, with complex tier systems unlocking progressively bigger bonuses. For high rollers, these loyalty schemes often have a VIP level, too.
- One-off promotions: how active a casino is with promos can make a big difference to your bankroll over time. These vary widely, and include double points deals, reload bonuses, promos linked to new games and free chips for sharing on social media.
While nothing is stopping you from taking up several casino bonuses, keep in mind that these are restricted to one per household for each casino. Many players have been tempted to sign up their entire family for a free-play offer only to find their accounts to be closed down quickly.
Licensed and legal PA casinos vs. Offshore casinos
For many years, the only way to play online casino games in pennsylvania was to risk your money at offshore casinos. While there were some limited legal options with sweepstakes casinos, the new legal PA internet casinos effectively remove the need to take this risk.
Offshore casinos are usually based in the caribbean or central america and their legal status is uncertain. While their host nation licenses them, they are not recognized or licensed by any US authority and our banks are legally obliged to block payments to them.
A greater concern is the lack of oversight and controls. Many offshore casinos have disappeared over the years, and many players have faced significant issues getting their winnings paid. If you have a dispute with an offshore casino, there is no industry body or organization to help you.
With PA casinos under the watchful eye of the PGCB, they are licensed to accept conventional payment methods and thoroughly tested. There is no longer any reason to risk playing at an offshore site.
Geolocation and PA casinos
You will be able to access the PA online casinos from anywhere. However, playing games for real money and making deposits can only be made within PA state lines.
Pennsylvania casinos will not allow real-money play if there is any doubt about your location. In new jersey, this led to a lot of “false negatives.” players who were on mobile devices near state borders were sometimes flagged as being outside of the state.
Fortunately, those initial problems were ironed out and geolocation technology is more reliable.
If you are using a VPN or proxy server, you might still experience issues. Mobile users on 4G and close to the state border who experience problems can download additional geolocation software in some cases.
Wi-fi data is difficult to fake, and if you are not using a VPN, desktop players are unlikely to experience geolocation issues.
Full list of PA online casinos and potential launch dates
| PA online casino | launch date |
|---|---|
| sugarhouse online casino PA | july 17, 2019 |
| hollywood casino | july 15, 2019 |
| parx casino PA | july 15, 2019 |
| pokerstars casino | nov. 4, 2019 |
| unibet via mohegan sun pocono | nov. 12, 2019 |
| fanduel casino via valley forge | jan. 24, 2020 |
| presque isle downs | 2020 |
| harrah's | 2020 |
| live! Casino & hotel | 2021 |
| wind creek casino | TBD |
| MGM | TBD |
| golden nugget NJ | TBD |
There have already been three launches in the first month of 2020 with fanduel casino, betamerica, and betrivers casino launching in january.
Formerly sugarhouse casino, rivers philadelphia has become the first brick-and-mortar casino to offer two different online casino skins under its casino license: playsugarhouse and betrivers. The latter is integrated with the rivers pittsburgh online sportsbook that carries the same betrivers name. Rivers casino pittsburgh did not obtain an online casino license.
Similarly, the options are open for harrah’s philadelphia. While it is possible the casino uses the harrah’s name for its online casino, it is also possible the property takes advantage of the better known caesars brand and launches a caesars online casino in pennsylvania.
List of live pennsylvania casinos
There are currently 12 casino gambling properties in the state of pennsylvania, with another casino in the works in philadelphia’s stadium park.
According to PGCB, this includes 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos and two smaller resort casinos. The former two are category 1 and 2 casinos, while the latter falls into category 3. These gaming establishments employ approximately 18,000 people and generate close to $1.4 billion in tax revenue annually.
Click on any of the casinos below to learn more about that property.
Mini-casinos: the next phase of pennsylvania casino development
As part of its gambling expansion law passed in october 2017, the state had the ability to issue up to ten category 4 licenses. These licenses allow for mini-casinos with 300-750 slots. A supplemental license costing $2.5 million allows these satellite casino properties to offer up to 30 table games as well.
The process for the issuance of mini-casino licensing involves a series of auctions. The preliminary auctions began in january 2018 and are limited only to the licensed category 1 and 2 casinos. The first license went to penn national, who spent $50.1 million to secure a location 50 miles south of its existing hollywood casino. During the first round of auctions, PGCB awarded five licenses.
The PGCB ran a second round of auctions on sept. 3 but there were no bidders this time around. As a result, the five remaining licenses will go unclaimed. In all, $114 million in license fees were raised.
Check out our dedicated mini casino tracking page to see which towns are getting satellite properties and how much each casino ponied up to get them.
Pennsylvania problem gambling support
A system for self-exclusion for problem gamblers is available at live casinos in pennsylvania.
This program involves filling out some forms, providing a photo ID, and voluntarily requesting one-year, five-year or lifetime exclusion.
A list of excluded people is distributed to all live casinos. Then it is the casinos’ responsibility is to prevent those people from entering gaming areas.
Removal from this list (for the shorter periods) does not happen automatically. After the period expires, individuals must request their removal personally.
Online gambling prevents new challenges when it comes to the management of problem gambling. For the majority to enjoy safe gambling online, support systems need to be in place for players who experience issues.
The pennsylvania gaming control commission manages this support program.
Here is what legal pennsylvania online casinos must provide:
- A prominentlink to their responsible gambling information page.
- Tools for time-out, self-exclusion and betting limits.
- A list of questions to assess whether you or someone you know has a gambling problem.
- Links to support organizations and therapists.
Support programs in the state include:
Overview of pennsylvania’s casino industry
The pennsylvania casino industry is relatively young. Casinos only became legal in 2004. Yet, in the dozen or so years in existence, the industry quickly became a powerhouse. Now it is the second-largest commercial casino industry in the country judging by gross revenue, trailing only nevada.
Thanks to steep tax rates, pennsylvania casinos actually generate more tax revenue for the state than nevada does. That number will get even bigger thanks to the gambling expansion law passed in the fall of 2017.
Here is a look at the history of the pennsylvania casino industry, starting with the latest news and moving back towards the casino industry’s more humble beginnings:
After a summer of bickering, the state legislature drafted a new version of the gambling expansion package, which both the house and senate passed. Gov. Tom wolf signed it into law on monday, oct. 30. The new law allows for a wide range of new gambling ventures, including:
It also offered a new class of license eliminating the amenity fee in place at valley forge and lady luck nemacolin. Valley forge paid the fee immediately after the bill became law.
This white paper gives you an idea of the scope of the new gambling policies and what kind of revenue it should generate going forward.
Legislation which would legalize and regulate online gambling in pennsylvania, and offer online gaming licenses to the state’s 12 casino properties first, was passed by the senate. In june 2017 it was amended and passed by the house, sending it back to the senate.
Lady luck casino nemacolin opened in july 2013.
Valley forge casino resort opened its doors in march 2012 becoming the first category 3 licensed casino in pennsylvania.
After several ownership changes and failed financing plans with no construction to date, the pennsylvania gaming control board voted to revoke the foxwoods casino philadelphia gaming license in december 2010.
Sugarhouse casino opened its first phase in philadelphia in september 2010.
Pennsylvania passed a law in january 2010, authorizing table game operations at the state’s licensed racino, casino, and resort casino properties. The law also clarified the size and scope of gaming and other operations at the state’s three different categories of gaming licensees, including:
- Allowing up to 250 table games and 5,000 slot machines at category 1 racino facilities
- Allowing 250 table games and 5,000 slot machines at category 2 stand-alone casinos. These properties were also authorized to operate amenities including restaurants, spas, and entertainment options, but not hotels.
- Allowing up to 600 slot machines and 50 table games at category 3 resort casinos. These gaming facilities can include attached hotels.
Parx casino standalone gaming facility opened its doors in december .
Rivers casino opened in pittsburgh, PA’s chateau neighborhood along the ohio river in september.
Sands casino resort bethlehem opened on the bethlehem works development site in bethlehem, pennsylvania in may 2009. Table games were added in july 2010. The property officially changed ownership to the poarch band of creek indians in june 2019. The casino is now known as wind creek bethlehem.
Hollywood casino opened at penn national racetrack in february 2008.
Mount airy casino resort officially opened in the poconos in november 2007, becoming the first pennsylvania casino with lodging.
The meadows casino began as a temporary casino adjacent to the racetrack in washington county, PA in june 2007. The permanent casino opened in 2009.
Presque isle downs casino and horse racing track near erie, pennsylvania opened in february 2007.
A slots parlor began operation at harrah’s philadelphia racetrack on the chester waterfront. Table games went live at the property in 2010.
Parx casino opened as a temporary gaming facility at the former philadelphia park racetrack in december 2006.
Foxwoods casino philadelphia is granted one of five stand-alone casino licenses for a soon-to-be-built property located along the delaware river in south philadelphia. The project fell apart, resulting in PGCB revoking the license in 2010.
Mohegan sun at pocono downs became the state’s first slot parlor after opening its doors in november 2006 at a harness track near wilkes-barre.
State lawmakers made a number of amendments to horse track security bill authorizing both the use of 61,000 slot machines at racetracks and other new casino locations across pennsylvania. Lawmakers rushed the bill through the house and senate over the fourth of july weekend, then quickly became law before any real opposition to casino gambling had a chance to oppose it.
The bill ultimately authorized the issue of three separate categories of slot machine licenses. These included:
- Category 1 for existing racetracks.
- Category 2 for designated tourist areas, including two in philadelphia and one in pittsburgh.
- Category 3 for resorts.
Former philadelphia mayor ed rendell runs for pennsylvania governor. He wins on a campaign that includes support for the idea of allowing slot machines at racetracks in an effort to lower property taxes.
Under then-governor tom ridge the state legislature came close to legalizing riverboat casinos. The state’s anti-gambling movement began to grow and gov. Ridge said he would veto any gambling bill not approved by referendum. Eventually the entire idea was scrapped.
A statewide survey found 48 percent of pennsylvania residents supported legalized riverboat gambling and just 38 percent were opposed. However, then-governor robert P. Casey claimed to be opposed to gambling and threatened to veto any gambling legislation passed in the state.
First developed under philadelphia mayor wilson goode, and championed by mayoral successor ed rendell, a proposal to allow riverboat gambling in philadelphia made it to the state legislature. The claim was it would create $25 million in new revenue for the city and 11,500 new jobs. However, the house of representatives voted against it in november by a margin of 118-81.
Resorts casino hotel opened in atlantic city, new jersey, becoming the first legal casino in atlantic city. Resorts and the rest of the atlantic city boardwalk is within 60 miles of philadelphia. It quickly become evident that pennsylvania residents are some of the budding atlantic city casino industry’s best customers.
Pennsylvania online gambling news
Top PA online casinos
Best online sportsbooks in PA
PA sports betting update
UPDATED: march 2, 2020
PA sports betting in january brought in a new record $348.4 million in handle with revenue at a record $22.8 million. Online betting continues to dominate with 89% of bets placed on mobile or desktop.
Fanduel continues to lead the market, taking in over $153.1 million in online wagers in january. But draftkings is growing quickly, collecting nearly $58.7 million in online bets.
March madness is nearly upon us, and villanova and penn state are two PA teams to watch for as PA sportsbooks continue to offer specials for NCAA basketball wagering.
In the NHL, the penguins and flyers also offer bettors opportunities in PA.
PA online casino update
UPDATED: march 2, 2020
Online casinos in PA have caught up to online sportsbooks. There are now eight with fanduel, betrivers and betamerica all joining the market within the last month.
Revenue numbers for online casino in january showed continued growth in the market, with a 31.4% revenue bump over the previous month. Of the total $11.8 million revenue from slots and table games, $2.7 million came from the new fanduel casino, which was open just eight days in january.
Pokerstars PA posted solid revenue numbers again in january, to the tune of nearly $2.2 million. Their bounty builder series just wrapped up on march 1, exceeding its $500k guarantee with over $668k being paid out over 32 events.
PA online gambling
| online sportsbook | bonus | visit site |
|---|---|---|
| draftkings sportsbook | $25 free | play now! |
| FOX bet sportsbook | $20 free | play now! |
| Fanduel sportsbook PA | up to $500 | play now! |
| Sugarhouse sportsbook | up to $250 | play now! |
| Betrivers sportsbook | up to $250 | play now! |
PA casino news
More change in the air at wind creek casino: new GM named
Fanduel rides sportsbook success to tops in online table games
New operators like fanduel supercharging PA online casino revenue growth
Unregulated gaming machines under fire in pennsylvania as opponents unite
PA sports news
Saudi cup results: maximum security wins the max in saudi arabia
Saudi cup preview: runners, odds, and how to bet horses in PA
PA gaming review: draftkings & fanduel grab headlines, horse fund woes continue
How draftkings rocketed up the ranks in pennsylvania sports betting
PA online poker news
Pokerstars PA wraps up strong bounty builder series, pays out $668K in prize pools
Pokerstars PA bounty builder series smashing guarantees with 16 events to go
Global poker social gaming site partners with poker central for live events
Pokerstars PA bounty builder series shuffles up and deals feb. 20
Online casino
Nine of the 13 PA casinos will offer some form of online casino gaming. The week of july 15, the first three sites launched. By super bowl, there were eight online casinos live, with more on the way.
Online lottery
As of january 2020, tickets for draw games can be purchased through the PA lotto online. They also offer several dozen online instant win games via browser or mobile app on the ilottery platform.
Online sports betting
The PA online sports betting scene is alive and well with eight sportsbooks live. Betting on phones is far more popular than retail sportsbooks and is still growing. With several apps to choose from, be sure to take advantage of the best promo offers as sites compete for market share.
Mini casino
This new category of casino, called mini-casinos or satellite casinos, can host up to 750 slots and up to 30 table games. There are five currently in development.
Online poker
There are currently eight PA casinos intent on launching online poker sites in the state, but only one is up and running. The era of PA online poker began on nov. 4 when pokerstars PA opened up for business.
Fantasy sports
The gambling expansion law cemented the legality of fantasy games and daily fantasy sports in PA. Now, popular sites like fanduel, draftkings, and yahoo are regulated by the state and PA residents can enjoy them without worry.
Can I play real money casino games online in pennsylvania?
Yes, but you need to do so on a regulated online gambling site in the state.
What remains off-limits are offshore gambling sites. These sites are not regulated by the states, so they do not offer important consumer protections. They should be avoided at all costs.
On july 15, the first crop of online casinos rolled out offering an array of online casino games, including:
The current list of live online casino sites stands at:
- Playsugarhouse PA
- Parx online casino
- Hollywood online casino
- Pokerstars casino
- Unibet casino
Most sites don’t offer the same game selection as you may find at new jersey online casinos. Game providers getting up and running in pennsylvania is taking quite a long time, as the providers need to set up new servers in PA before they can offer games.
How can I tell the difference between a legal and illegal online casino?
A legal pennsylvania online casino is licensed by the pennsylvania gaming control board (PGCB). All pennsylvania online casinos will have an overt and pronounced connection to a land-based pennsylvania casino.
What type of online gambling is legal in PA?
There are three types of PA online casino licenses:
- Online slot games
- Online table games
- Online peer-to-peer games, like poker
There are other types of online gambling available as well. The PA lottery offers online lottery games that play like scratch-off tickets. The fantasy sports industry is also allowed to offer online and mobile fantasy events.
As of november 2019, online sports betting is up and running for PA customers with six online sportsbooks. They are:
- Playsugarhouse
- Fanduel sportsbook PA
- Betrivers
- FOX bet
- Draftkings sportsbook PA
- Parx online sportsbook
In november, online poker also launched in pennsylvania when pokerstars PA started accepting customers on nov. 4.
What kind of online casino games can you play in pennsylvania?
You can expect most of the popular games you would find at a brick and mortar casino in pennsylvania. Most online casinos offer a wide range of slot titles, including many you have probably seen on the casino for.
As for table games, you can expect offerings such as:
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Craps
- Baccarat
- Three card poker
- Video poker
- Pai gow
- Let it ride
Launch began with a limited number of options, but expect online casinos to add more and more titles as they gain approval form PGCB.
What kind of online poker games are available in PA?
At online poker sites, the majority of the games are going to be texas hold’em. There will be a range of options for what kinds of hold’em games players can take part in.
Pokerstars, which is currently the online poker site up and running in PA, offers hold’em as well as some of the lesser-played games like stud.
Cash games offer a range of stakes, including much smaller stakes than you can find in a casino. Some stakes are as small as $.01/$.02, while the bigger end of the stakes tends to top off at $10/$20. Pokerstars offers stakes up to $25/$50 NLH, but those tables are rarely occupied.
There are also sit & gos, multi-table tournaments, and some novelty games unique to each poker site. For example, pokerstars offers spin & gos, which take the standard sit & go and add a gambling element where players can win a big jackpot.
How old do I have to be to play online in PA?
If you want to play online lottery games or fantasy sports, you need to be at least 18 years old. The sites use things like your social security number to verify your identity and age.
If you want to play at PA online casinos or take part in a PA online sportsbook, you will also need to have your age verified. And you will need to be at least 21 to play.
Do I need to be a pennsylvania resident to play online?
You do not. You do have to be physically located in the state to play, but residency is not required.
How do I deposit money on a PA casino site?
The specifics won’t be available until the casino sites actually launch. Generally, though, most online casino sites allow deposits via a range of options, such as:
- Credit cards including visa and mastercard
- Electronic checks (ACH deposits)
- Cash deposits at the partner land-based casino
- Online payment processors such as skrill or paypal
- Prepaid debit card
Resources
Online sportsbook options
PA lottery mobile app
The specifics won’t be available until the casino sites actually launch. Generally, though, most online casino sites allow deposits via a range of options, such as:
- Credit cards including visa and mastercard
- Electronic checks (ACH deposits)
- Cash deposits at the partner land-based casino
- Online payment processors such as skrill or paypal
- Prepaid debit card
Keno was the first element of gaming expansion to go live in pennsylvania. The numbers game, which is run by the pennsylvania lottery, launched at bars and taverns across the state in may and is quickly growing in popularity.
Off-track betting
Pennsylvania has had off-track betting parlors for years. With the advent of sports betting though, these facilities are also able to offer sports betting. Currently, both the south philadelphia turf club and the oaks offer a retail sportsook in addition to off-track betting options.
Video gambling terminals (VGT)
Video gambling terminals (vgts) bring many of the fun and games of a casino to a single machine at pennsylvania truck stops. These multi-game vgts are in the process of launching at qualifying truck stops across the state.
PA virtual sports
For those who want a sports betting-esque experience at any time, there are xpress sports from the PA lottery. These games simulate virtual (and fictional) football drives or car races and allow customers to bet on the outcome.
Pennsylvania slots and online slot machines
Slot machines have been legal at live casinos in pennsylvania since the casino bill passage in 2004.
When you add up the available games at the 12 live casinos in PA, there are 25,760 slot machines. Options range from classics to the latest multimedia specials.
Online slots now join live slot games. You can now play at regulated online casinos. You will find hundreds of live slot titles online as well as entertaining games specially developed for apps and websites.
This page covers everything you need to know to enjoy online slot machines in the keystone state.
Below, you will find tips on how to play free and real money slot games. Also, we discuss the many types of slots, including ones with progressive jackpots, and the ways to access them.
Best online casinos with slots in PA
Are slot machines legal in pennsylvania?
Slots are entirely legal at licensed casinos in PA. The state is home to 12 casinos and racetracks, with a 13th on the way. The biggest casino is parx casino, which offers 3,330 slots. The smallest is the lady luck casino nemacolin, which hosts 600 machines.
Anyone 21 years or older, who is not currently on pennsylvania’s gambling self-exclusion list, can play these games.
Online slots are also legal. In october 2017, gov. Tom wolf signed bill H 271 into law. This set up the process for licensing online casinos in pennsylvania.
Category 1-3 casinos all had an option to obtain an online slot license for $4 million or as part of a three license package costing $10 million. The first online casinos featuring slots appeared in july.
According to the pennsylvania gaming control board (PGCB), you must be at least 21 years old and located within PA state lines. You are not required to be a resident of pennsylvania.
Playing PA online slots for free
If you would like to enjoy slot machines without risking money, then online casinos have an option for you. Using the demo mode, you can access hundreds of titles for fun.
Demo games don’t save information on your “virtual” wins or losses, although they will let you check out all the features. These can include free spins bonuses, picks games, and expanding wilds (or even expanding reels) depending on the game.
Checking out the demo slot games for free is a great way to find out which online slot works best on your mobile device. Also, you get a chance to see how volatile the games are, and whether the bonus features are frequent or rare.
How to play real-money slots in pennsylvania
Many of the regulated-online casinos offer real cash bonuses without requiring a deposit.
This is a great opportunity to take a shot at winning money without risking your bankroll. These offers are smaller, in the $10-$25 range. You’ll need to wager your bonus and meet the play-through requirements before you can withdraw it.
While the no-deposit slot bonuses give you a chance to check out the casinos, matched deposit bonuses are much bigger. These are usually 100% matches, based on your first deposit.
Again, you’ll need to play through the bonuses before they are cleared into your real money balance. The number of times each bonus needs to be bet does vary widely between the casinos.
Moving to real-money slots has a lot of benefits, including being eligible for progressive jackpots.
These jackpots range from a few thousand dollars to life-changing sums, e.G., more than $1 million. There are plenty more ways to win big via line hits and bonus games. Playing slots for real money has an element of excitement that “fun play” can’t match.
Before you can play for real money, you’ll need to decide which banking options to use.
Pennsylvania online casinos take many mainstream deposit methods, with more getting added all the time. These include:
- ACH or bill pay bank transfers
- Debit or creditcards
- Cash via paynearme or the licensed casino’s cage.
If you are lucky enough to win big, then you can use many of these methods to withdraw your winnings. Although, if you can’t withdraw via the same method you deposited with, e.G., mastercard, then an ACH bank transfer or paper check are alternative options.
With so many real money slots to check out, bankroll management is important.
To enjoy playing slots longer, you should keep your spin amount small. Other tips are setting stop-losses and cashing out when you hit a big win.
List of real money slots in PA
Playing PA slots on mobile apps
At the moment, only android users can download apps, though you can take slots for a spin via responsive websites on both apple and android phones. The casino websites will automatically adjust to the size of your screen and input method.
While most slots work fine (especially when you flip your phone into landscape orientation), some are poorly adapted. You can initially play in demo mode to make sure they work well before putting real money on the line.
If you are using an android phone and want to download the app, you’ll need to visit the casino website. The google play store does now allow casino apps. You will need to click through the “unknown source” message, which appears for every app not downloaded via the app store.
Iphone and ipad users will need to wait for dedicated apps from PA slot casinos. Apple recently changed the app store requirements for new gambling apps. In the meantime, the responsive websites work well on your ios devices.
Progressive jackpots in pennsylvania
Progressive jackpots are prizes that accumulate as more money goes into a slot. Some are huge, with the biggest well over $1 million. Most are in the $1,000 to $20,000 range. You will find progressives slot games online, as well as at live casinos.
Some slots have multiple progressive jackpots. A standard format is to have a mini, minor, major, and grand prize. Some are won via wheel bonus games, and others by lining up symbols. Some pay entirely at random or via picks games.
Slots with progressives certainly add some excitement to your play. Keep in mind that the jackpot prizes come from the coins fed into each game. So, this means there is less money (as a percentage of bets) paid out in regular prizes.
Many slots, which do not include progressive jackpots, do have the potential for huge wins. Look for the biggest prizes, especially on slots where you can win over 50+ win lines from a single spin.
What types of slots are available in pennsylvania?
Slots come in many shapes, sizes, and denominations. New technology and designs mean new games appear on huge screens, and feature surround sound and multimedia special effects. Compared to the traditional three-reel mechanical slots, these are spectacular games.
Here are the main types of slot you’ll find both live and online:
- Three reel/traditional
- Three reel with bonus games (wheel of fortune or top dollar)
- Five reel mechanical games
- Five reel video slots (early second screen bonus games)
- Multimedia slots (expanding reels, special wilds, interactive bonuses)
All of these types can have themes, ranging from greek myths to popular TV shows. You will also find many with similar bonus games (hold and spin) or progressive jackpots.
Slots rewards schemes
Both live and online casinos have loyalty programs. If you enjoy playing slots, then enrolling in these schemes can have some significant benefits. Put another way, not taking advantage of these freebies is leaving money on the table.
Live casinos will issue cards that can be put into slots on the machines before you play. Whether you win or lose, it does not make any difference to the number of points you collect.
You can redeem points in many ways, depending on the casino. Some offer free-play bonuses, while others, including caesars, owners of harrah’s PA, let you use points to book hotel rooms at resorts around the country.
Online casinos in pennsylvania all have loyalty schemes. Some of these let you exchange your points for bonuses, while others are more complex. They have tiers, with progressively better bonuses and extras at each level.
Pennsylvania slot machine laws
There was little in the way of gambling in pennsylvania until 2004. An act allowed for the state lottery, horse racing and live casino slots. Table games came with the 2010 amendment. Then, in 2016, a new bill allowing daily fantasy sports was signed.
With no designated tribal casinos in PA (two tribes are owners of commercial casinos), all slots are class 1 machines.
The 2017 gambling expansion bill has transformed the options for fans of slots in PA. This was signed into law in october of 2017 by PA gov. Tom wolf.
Provisions included a new casino, smaller satellite casinos, online gambling (casinos, sports betting, and poker), video gaming terminals at truck stops and live and online sportsbooks.
Licensing and regulation are under the jurisdiction of the pennsylvania gambling control board (PGCB). It took a while for the framework and licensing process to be put into place. Following testing, the first wave of online casinos went live in july 2019.
Pennsylvania has a high licensing fee and a high tax rate for slot games. Combined licenses covering sports betting, casino and poker cost each operator $10 million. The tax for both live and online slots is a big 54% of net profit.
If you enjoy collecting slot games, then the PA laws accommodate this. These can only be for personal use, as offering them for gambling would require a license.
List of pennsylvania casinos with slot machines
Currently, there are 12 live casinos in PA. These are a mix of stand-alone casinos and racetracks. The 13th casino, live!, is under construction in philadelphia, along with six smaller satellite casinos in progress.
Our list will tell you what to expect from each casino in terms of slots, along with popular titles:
Harrah’s philadelphia casino & racetrack – 777 harrah’s blvd., chester, PA 19013
- Number of slots: 2,900
Located on the waterfront at chester, PA, harrah’s philadelphia casino & racetrack is operated by casino giant caesars entertainment. This is a big casino, with 10,000 square feet of gaming space and is home to 2,900 slots. According to harrah’s, it has paid more than $26 million in jackpots since its opening in 2007. As well as slots, you can enjoy table games, sports betting, live (harness) racing and simulcast betting, plus there’s an event center.
Hollywood casino at penn national race course – 777 hollywood blvd., grantville, PA 17026
- Number of slot machines: 2,480
Hollywood casino at penn national race course is home to thoroughbred racing. Big races include the grade II penn mile and the pennsylvania governor’s cup handicap. This venue, located close to grantville, PA, is also home to one of the biggest casinos in the keystone state. You’ll find 2,480 slots and 54 table games. The slots include the big jackpot titles and the classic mechanical reel slots. There is also a live sportsbook at hollywood casino.
Lady luck casino nemacolin – 4067 national pike, farmington, PA 15437
- Number of slot machines: 600
This venue is famous for having the biggest wine cellar in pennsylvania. Lady luck casino nemacolin forms part of the nemacolin woodlands resort. It hosts 600 slots, keno and video poker machines at its location in fayette county. New titles are being added to their casino floor all the time, including the latest additions money rain deluxe, super charged 7s, and jinse dao phoenix. You’ll find 27 table games, plus a high-limit gaming area.
The meadows racetrack & casino – 210 racetrack road, washington, PA 15301
- Number of slot machines: 3,300
The meadows racetrack & casino may no longer offer thoroughbred racing, but there are still a lot of reasons to visit this resort. Located only 25 miles outside of pittsburgh, this casino host 3,300 slot machines, including all the popular titles like lightning link games from aristocrat. You’ll find table games, poker, sports betting and simulcast horse race betting at meadows, too.
Mohegan sun pocono – 1280 PA-315, wilkes-barre, PA 18702
- Number of slot machines: 2,200
Mohegan sun pocono, a standardbred racino, opened in 2005. Its location close to wilkes-barre makes mohegan sun pocono the biggest casino in northwest pennsylvania. There are 2,200 slot and video poker terminals to enjoy. You will find new titles from aristocrat, bally, incredible technologies, and konami.
Mount airy casino resort – 312 woodland road, mt. Pocono, PA 18344
- Number of slot machines: 1,800
Mount airy casino resort, nestled in the pocono mountains, has a hotel, fine dining, and even an 18-hole golf course. Gambling is also available, with 1,800 slots. Unusually, mount airy casino lists their current titles on its website. You’ll find a lot of popular games including the wonder woman titles, dancing drums, quick hits, zeus, and 88 fortunes.
Parx casino and racing – 2999 street road, bensalem, PA 19020
- Number of slot machines: 3,330
Pennsylvania’s other thoroughbred racetrack, parx casino and racing, is located at bensalem township, which is northeast of philadelphia. Parx is a popular casino, with 3,330 slots making it the biggest selection in PA. There are also 180 table games, a poker room, live and simulcast horse race betting and a sportsbook. This is topped off with an event center, dining, and bars.
Presque isle downs & casino – 8199 perry hwy., erie, PA 16509
- Number of slot machines: 1,600
If the largest synthetic racetrack anywhere in the world does not impress you, then maybe the 1,600 slot titles will. Churchill downs, who owns the famous venue of the kentucky derby, operates presque isle downs & casino. Located next to lake erie, you’ll find a long list of traditional and recent slot games at presque isle. A listing on its website shows the location of each title on the casino floor.
Wind creek casino bethlehem – 77 wind creek blvd., bethlehem, PA 18015
- Number of slot machines: 3,000
This casino was recently sold and renamed from sands bethlehem to wind creek casino. Expansion plans include a hotel and, potentially, an indoor water park. There are 3,000 slots at wind creek, with 200 table games and a 30 table poker room. Slot denominations range from 1 cent to $100 and include progressive jackpots.
Rivers casino – 777 casino drive, pittsburgh, PA 15212
- Number of slot machines: 2,900
Opening in 2009, rivers casino was initially to be called majestic star. With 2,900 unique slots, this pittsburgh venue rivals the biggest operators in pennsylvania. Newly listed titles include animal house, game of thrones and seinfeld. Also, customers can enjoy table games and sports betting. Slot players should take advantage of the rush rewards program, which rewards players with free play and resort credit based on their level of play.
Sugarhouse casino – 1001 N. Delaware ave., philadelphia, PA 19125
Number of slot machines: 3,000
To make choosing which slot to play easier, sugarhouse casino has a listing, along with a short description of each game on its website. Titles include lightning link, wonder 4, 88 fortunes and stinkin’ rich. There are 3,000 slot machines to choose from, making it highly likely that you’ll find your favorite titles. Sugarhouse includes table games, sports betting, and a big resort and event center all under one roof.
Valley forge casino – 1160 first ave., king of prussia, PA 19406
- Number of slot machines: 850
Currently open in upper merion township, valley forge casino almost didn’t happen. Legal challenges (from rival casinos) delayed its opening, but the 850-slot venue went live in 2012. While this is a smaller venue than most PA casinos, it has the hottest and most popular slot machines, plus table games on offer. Valley forge is home to fanduel sportsbook.
Pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling in 2019
Introduction to pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling in 2019
Pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling consists of twelve casinos, including four standalone casinos, two casino resorts, and six racetrack racinos. Two more locations have state legislature approval, including a standalone casino and a racino, but neither have yet to open.
Pennsylvania law has both minimum and maximum theoretical payout return limits. Actual payout return statistics are available online at the state gaming commission.
This post continues the weekly series online resource: A state-by-state slot machine casino gambling series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambling enthusiasts to success. Each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. State, territory, or the federal district.
Keep reading … or listen instead!
This audio contains commentary not found anywhere else!
Subscribe to the professor slots podcast at apple podcasts | google podcasts | iheart radio | spotify | stitcher | pandora | tune-in | soundcloud | radiopublic | android | RSS and wherever else you find podcasts!
Relevant legal statutes on gambling in pennsylvania*
The minimum legal gambling age in pennsylvania depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-based casinos: 21
- Poker rooms: 21
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-mutuel wagering: 18
The pennsylvania race horse development and gaming act passed in 2004, legalizing slot machines at fourteen locations beginning in 2006. Of these, to date, one standalone casino and one racetrack racino have yet to open .
Since july 2010, casinos in pennsylvania can operate table games. In october 2017, the state legislature legalized casino gambling at truck stops, airports, and online. The bill also authorized ten new satellite casinos with some location restrictions .
Casino operators may operate a gambling parlor at any of pennsylvania’s international and regional airports, assuming successful agreements with the airport authority. No airport gaming parlors or satellite casinos have yet to open.
Satellite casinos of existing casino operators must be within 25 miles of their existing pennsylvania casino. Further, local municipalities may prohibit such a casino. These satellite casino licenses allow up to 750 slot machines and 50 table games .
The racinos and standalone casinos can have up to 5,000 slot machines and 250 table games, while casino resorts can have up to 600 slot machines and 50 table games. Truck stops approved by their county may have up to 5 slot machines.
To gamble within either casino resort, players must be a guest of that casino resort. Put another way, the gaming floors within the casino resorts are not open to the public.
*the purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws apply to various forms of gambling. This information is not intended to provide legal advice.
Slot machine private ownership in pennsylvania
It is legal to privately own a slot machine in the state of pennsylvania if it is 25 years old or older.
Gaming control board in pennsylvania
The pennsylvania gaming control board (PGCB) is the state gaming commission. The PGCB is responsible for overseeing slot machines and casino gambling in the state. Two other state gaming commissions are responsible for the state lottery and charitable gaming.
Casinos in pennsylvania
There are two casino resorts, four standalone casinos, and six racetrack racinos in pennsylvania .
The largest casino in pennsylvania is parx casino and racing having 3,300 gaming machines and 180 table games.
The second largest casino is sands casino resort bethlehem having 3,000 gaming machines and 200 table games.
List of casinos in pennsylvania
The two casino resorts in pennsylvania are:
- Lady luck nemacolin in farmington located 69 miles southeast of pittsburgh.
- Valley forge convention center casino in king of prussia located 21 miles northwest of philadelphia.
The four standalone casinos in pennsylvania are:
- Mount airy resort & casino in mount pocono located 31 miles southeast of scranton.
- Rivers casino in downtown pittsburgh.
- Sands casino resort bethlehem in bethlehem located 58 miles north of philadelphia.
- Sugar house casino located 3 miles northeast of downtown philadelphia.
The six pari-mutuel racetrack racinos in pennsylvania are:
- Harrah’s philadelphia casino & racetrack in chester located 18 miles southwest of philadelphia.
- Hollywood casino at penn national race course in grantville located 17 miles northeast of harrisburg.
- The meadows racetrack & casino in washington located 26 miles south-southwest of pittsburgh.
- Mohegan sun pocono in wilkes-barre located 15 miles southwest of scranton.
- Parx casino and racing in bensalem located 19 miles northeast of philadelphia.
- Presque isle downs & casino in erie located 126 miles north of pittsburgh.
List of tribal casinos in pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has no federally-recognized american indian tribes. During the 1700s, colonial expansion displaced the six original tribes of pennsylvania. Only the eastern lenape nation of pennsylvania remains .
American indian tribes once native to pennsylvania ended up on tribal reservations in oklahoma. Therefore, pennsylvania has no tribal casinos.
Other gambling establishments
As an alternative to enjoying pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Pennsylvania is bordered by:
Each of the links above will take you to my state-specific blog for that neighboring state to pennsylvania.
Payout returns in pennsylvania
Pennsylvania law requires gaming machines to return a minimum payout of 85% per state statute section 461a.7 on slot machine minimum design standards. Further, it states a maximum payout return limit which may not equal or exceed 100%. Both legal restrictions apply to any single play.
Monthly payout return statistics are publicly available for each gaming facility, although the player win% comes from dividing payouts by wagers.
For march 2019, the payout returns for slots only, from highest to lowest, are:
- Valley forge: 90.83%
- Parx: 90.58%
- Mount airy: 90.32%
- The meadows: 90.21%
- Sands bethlehem: 90.14%
- Rivers: 89.96%
- Sugar house: 89.88%
- Mohegan sun: 89.74%
- Harrah’s philadelphia: 89.73%
- Nemacolin: 89.39
- Penn national: 89.32%
- Presque isle: 89.27%
Our pennsylvania slots facebook group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in pennsylvania? If so, join our new pennsylvania slots community on facebook. All you’ll need is a facebook profile to freely join this closed facebook group.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in or near pennsylvania. Come join us!
Summary of pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling in 2019
Pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling consists of twelve casinos, including four standalone casinos, two casino resorts, and six racetrack racinos. Other locations soon to be available include casino gambling at truck stops, airports, satellite casinos, and online.
Pennsylvania law has an 85% minimum and a up to 100% maximum for theoretical payout return limits. Monthly payout return statistics for each casino are available online at the state gaming commission.
Annual progress in pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling
In the last year, a delayed opening occurred for the last of the standalone casinos approved in 2004. The live ! Hotel and casino philadelphia was to open in late 2018 with 2,000 slot machines and 125 table games. It’s expected in early 2020.
PA online casinos
Commercial content. Play responsibly. 21+
The keystone state is now home to pennsylvania online casinos as well as retail PA casinos in the near future. Laws were expanded in 2017 to allow a range of online gambling options for residents.
This expansion allows for online table games, slots, sports betting, poker, and the state lottery. Online betting sites have passed approval and are expected to be launched in july 2019.
Play online casino games from your computer or mobile device anywhere in PA with these great PA online casinos!
PA online casinos rules & regulations
Since online gambling has now been legalized, there are rules and regulations that have been put into place and all operators will have to abide by these. One is that they must make use of geolocation services to ensure that those playing real money games are in fact located in the state of pennsylvania. This will also apply to any mobile platform that casinos will be hosting. Every player must be of the gambling age to engage in real money gaming and the casinos must follow local gambling laws at all times. They will also have to pay a high tax rate to the state to operate and will have to maintain licenses and undergo routine testing to ensure fair play. The rules do not vary much from what is used in other states that already offer online gambling.
Even though many of the applications for licenses have been approved, there is no timeline as to when the first PA online casino will be up and running. Land casinos are still finalizing partnerships and working on technology to prepare for the launch of these new sites that will soon provide PA residents with amazing ways to gamble online and enjoy the thrills of top-rated casino games.
Best PA online casinos
Players who are looking for online gambling will soon enjoy a huge variety of games, including online slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker, and so much more. Just like NJ online casinos, it feels like there are more online casinos in pennsylvania every day.
The application process for casinos in PA started back in may and venues had just 90 days to apply for an online gaming package. Also, the package includes the license to offer online poker, an online slot license, and an online table games license.
This all came at a cost of $10 million per application. There have been 9 different PA casinos that have applied for licenses. The biggest include parx casino, harrah’s philadelphia, sugarhouse casino, hollywood casino, and stadium casino.
Online PA casinos bonuses
First deposit bonus may only be claimed once per person across all rivers and sugarhouse websites. The welcome bonus provides a 100% deposit match for new sugarhouse account holders on their first deposit up to $250. Further terms and conditions apply, must be 21+ in pennsylvania or new jersey to play. Please play responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Integrated casino & sportsbook
Android app (ios coming soon)
Right now, sign up with hollywood casino online in pennsylvania and get $25 FREE plus your first deposit matched 100% up to $500! Terms and conditions apply. Must be 21+, only in PA. Please play responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
$25 free + up to $500 match bonus
Unibet casino deposit welcome offer - receive a 100% deposit match up to $500 in bonus money upon first deposit. Minimum deposit $10. Promoction period: october 29th, 2019 - onward. In order to be eligible for this promotion, the plater needs to make a first deposit (of at least $10). In order to eligible for this promotion, the player must be 21 years or older and be physically in the state of pennslyvania.
By law, players must be 18 or older and be located within the state of pennsylvania to play PA ilottery games. Before allowing an account to be set up, we will perform electronic verification using an industry standard, electronic verification process to verify the identity and ages of all customers. Do not allow children to play PA ilottery games and do not leave a computer or mobile device unattended while logged into pailottery.Com.
PA casinos – full list
| casino name | location | year casino opened |
|---|---|---|
| presque isle downs & casino | summit township | 2007 |
| mohegan sun at pocono downs | wilkes-barre | 2010 |
| mount airy casino & resort | mount pocono | 2007 |
| sands casino | bethlehem | 2009 |
| parx casino | bensalem | 2009 |
| sugarhouse casino | philadelphia | 2010 |
| harrah’s philadelphia | chester | 2007 |
| valley forge casino | upper merion township | 2012 |
| hollywood casino | grantville | 2008 |
| the meadows casino | north strabane township | 2009 |
| rivers casino | pittsburgh | 2009 |
In the keystone state, there are a number of land-based casinos that you can visit. You have multiple choices a short drive away no matter where you live in the state. If you’re not to thrilled about a drive or it would just take too long for you to drive across PA to get your casino fix, there will be a number of online casinos to choose among too. See what we think about them by reading our reviews or checking our tables. Make your choice about what you think is the best online casino in PA.
Online casino bonuses & player incentives
One of the main benefits players will enjoy when the latest PA online casinos do open is the offering of exciting casino bonuses. At an online site, players can enjoy more promos than they would at land casinos and with some of the great names in the industry offering online gaming in the near future, members will have some outstanding bonus offers that will be presented. With casino bonuses, one can collect free cash and free spins that can be used to play some of the hottest games in the industry, generating more payouts and enhancing the online gambling experience.
Many of the best online casinos in PA will welcome new members with a no deposit bonus, which will instantly be credited to an account as soon as it is created. This type of bonus is a perfect way for players to get started with the excitement of PA online gambling and it is a risk-free and obligation-free way to start playing real money games. There will also be high paying welcome bonuses and packages for those that are adding funds to a new account.
The best online PA sites will also offer many ongoing bonuses and promotions that can be redeemed as they return to the site. With loyalty programs, reload bonuses, referral rewards, free spins, and so much more, there will always be great rewards that can be enjoyed by players who are engaging in online and mobile gambling action.
How to set up an account at PA online casinos
Creating an account at any of the PA online casinos should be a reasonably simple process. You will be able to sign up using the desktop site, or via mobile apps once they are released.
Your first task is to head to the online pennsylvania casino of your choice. For our example, we’ll use the sugarhouse online site.
Head to the site and hit the join now key. Your registration form will be displayed. Before you enter any information, make sure you read the t’s and c’s associated with opening an account.
Next, complete the form. You will need to provide your personal details, including full name, address and date of birth. Make sure all the information you provide is accurate. You will also need to enter a valid email address. Many PA online casinos will send you an email to validate your account.
At this stage, you may need to enter a promo code in order to claim a bonus.
Next, you will have the opportunity to make your first deposit. Once you’re done, you will be able to play any of the range of casino games and slots available!
PA casinos partner with top rated software providers
While it may be a few more months until online casinos are operational in PA, leading caissons have already partnered with some of the best software providers in the industry to plan game portfolios that will be offered to registered members. Harrah’s, which already operates WSOP.Com, has partnered with 888 software and will be presenting a massive collection of game titles. Hollywood casino and the meadows will be offering games from IGT. Some other well-known providers that have been chosen by potential PA online casinos include sbtech, GAN, netent, scientific games, and pokerstars.
How to choose the best casino games
We believe that most PA online casinos will offer a huge range of casino games. How can you choose which are the best to play? There are a number of aspects you should consider when choosing the right game. Let’s take a look at a few of these now.
We recommend you find the casino games that offer high RTP, or return to player, percentage. This is most important with online slots. The best slots will offer an RTP percentage of at least 97%.
This information will be listed alongside the rules of each game or slot machine on the casino site.
Stakes
No matter whether you’re new to online gambling or a seasoned bettor, always pay attention to minimum stake requirements. The best casino games will offer low stakes versions, or at least require little in the way of stake to join real-money tables.
Demo versions
A good way to discover whether a particular casino game is worth playing is to try out demo versions. This can give you a good idea on how particular games work, and which ones suit your betting style.
The best online sites will offer demo versions of their most popular games. Make sure you take advantage of these opportunities before you stake any funds.
PA licensed land-based casinos
There are a number of PA land-based casinos available in addition to the online ones. Residents of the keystone state and beyond can visit any of the 13 pennsylvania casinos we’ve listed below. A number of these also offer legal PA online casinos.
Let’s take a look at what’s available.
Meadows
Meadows casino, located in washington county, offers a range of casino games along with horse racing. What can you play here? Meadows offers a variety of poker options, including pai gow, three card poker and four card poker.
Other casino options include roulette, craps, baccarat and blackjack. Slots and video poker are also available here.
Thoroughbred racing is available all year round. In addition, bowling is also an option for customers at meadows, with a bowling alley that hosts regular leagues and tournaments.
Presque isle
Found in erie, presque isle downs and casino is open daily. Featuring thoroughbred horse racing, presque isle offers a range of promotions to new and existing customers.
Their casino offerings are also impressive. Customers here can choose from slots and video poker. In terms of table games, there’s plenty available. Take your pick from craps and blackjack, with baccarat also an option.
There’s a nice variety of poker available here too. In addition to the classic version, presque isle also offers pai gow, three card poker, four card poker, let it ride and mississippi stud.
Presque isle have partnered with golden nugget to launch an online version. Due to be introduced at some point this year, online customers will have the opportunity to bet online on both casino offerings and sport.
Wind creek
Previously known as sands bethlehem, wind creek offers plenty of casino options. Caribbean stud poker sits alongside three card, four card and pai gow varieties.
Big six war and sic bo are also available, along with traditional card games like blackjack, roulette and craps. The land-based casino also features a hotel, shopping mall and food court.
Currently, wind creek don’t have a confirmed online partner. However, online casino games are offered, along with online poker.
Stadium
Expected at some point in 2020, stadium casino is currently being built in south philadelphia. There are also plans to launch an online version of their land-based casino shortly after they open their doors.
Stadium casino is owned jointly by cornish companies, who run many live! Casinos across the states. They’re partnered by greenwood racing, who own the highly rated PA casino parx.
Harrah’s
One of the most famous in PA, harrah’s have plenty to offer fans of casino betting. Located in chester, harrah’s house a racetrack, offering live harness racing in addition to their array of casino games.
What can fans of casino betting expect? Harrah’s is home to a range of slot machines and video poker. You can also play table games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat and craps here.
At harrah’s, you’ll also find facilities such as shopping, entertainment and dining.
Harrah’s philadelphia are partnered with 888 to offer online options. Online casino, poker and sports betting are all available to you online.
Lady luck
Lady luck don’t yet offer any forms of online gambling. At their retail site, you can take part in a range of poker games, as well as blackjack, baccarat, craps and roulette.
In addition, you can also play video poker and slot machines. However, to make use of any of the casino games available at lady luck, you need to be a member, a resident of their hotel or have paid to use the extra facilities available here.
Mohegan sun
Mohegan sun features one of the largest casino floors of any PA casino. Filled with slot machines and online poker, mohegan sun also houses blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat tables.
There are also a variety of poker options for you at mohegan sun. Spanish 21, let it ride and mississippi stud is available, along with pai gow and three card.
In terms of online play, mohegan sun is partnered with kindred. Online casino, poker, and sports betting are available on the online site.
Sugarhouse
Another famous name with pennsylvania casinos, sugarhouse philadelphia features a casino floor housing slots and video poker. Also featured are a variety of table games, including favorites like blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat.
There are plenty of poker options available for you too. Spanish 21 and ultimate texas hold’em make up your poker opportunities, along with pai gow, three card and four card varieties.
Online betting is also a possibility with sugarhouse. Partnered with rush street interactive/kambi, you can play a variety of online casino games, alongside online poker and sports betting.
Valley forge
Located in montgomery county, valley forge is home to many casino games and slots. Casino members, hotel residents and those who have purchased relevant gift cards can enjoy blackjack, craps and roulette table games.
There are plenty of poker games here too. Pai gow, spanish 21 and texas hold’em are available here.
As for online play, IGT/GAN have partnered to offer online casino games, online poker, and sports betting.
Hollywood
Hollywood casino in grantville offers a great deal for all casino fans. Offering table games including blackjack, baccarat, roulette and craps, the casino floor also features a range of slots and video poker options.
Hollywood casino also offers thoroughbred horse racing all year round. In addition, hollywood also makes up part of the legal PA online casinos scene. Offering online casino games, poker, and sports betting, they are partnered with the renowned IGT.
One of the pennsylvania casinos that offer year-round thoroughbred horse racing, the range of casino games at parx is also impressive. Your poker options here include three card and four card versions, along with pai gow.
Slots and video poker are also available on the casino floor. Also featured are blackjack, baccarat, craps and roulette table games.
Parx has partnered with GAN to offer online casino games, online poker, and online sports betting.
Rivers
Located in pittsburgh, rivers casino is home to some fantastic casino options. Featured here are table games such as blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette. Poker fans can also join three card and four card games, along with mississippi stud and pai gow.
While there’s no betrivers casino just yet, play online casino games on their sister site, sugarhouse casino.
Mount airy
The mount airy resort & casino features one of the largest casino floors in PA. Housing video poker and slots, customers here can also take part in a variety of table games.
These include favorites like craps, blackjack, and roulette. Poker is also available, with pai gow, spanish 21 and let it ride varieties open to you.
Mount airy also features in the list of legal pennsylvania online casinos. Joining forces with 888 and pokerstars, the mount airy online site features casino games, poker, and sports betting.
Is online poker legal in PA?
As part of the law expansion we touched upon earlier, online poker is a possibility for residents of pennsylvania. FOX bet, through its partnership with pokerstars, is definitely the top choice.
PA poker sites
So, which sites are expected to launch online poker options? At this stage, nothing has been confirmed, but we can take an educated guess at which casinos will make online poker part of their repertoire.
Currently, partypoker, pokerstars, and WSOP were among the first to launch online poker sites in PA. The following casinos are likely to follow suit very shortly.
Online slots for PA residents
Players can play online slots at PA online casinos right now. These are usually the most popular games with players and since many PA residents will be new to nine gambling, slots provide a great and simple way to get started with real money games. As sites make use of the best software in the industry, one can expect to find some of the best titles, many of which can be found in local land casinos, so players may already be familiar with some games.
Online slots are easy to play and a number of the new sites that start operating will be offering some appealing welcome bonuses that can include free spins for those that have a love for slots. Players will be able to spin on three and five-reel games and will also have their chance to play for progressive jackpot payouts.
PA online casinos – the ultimate guide
Legal online gambling has arrived in pennsylvania! Online casino games, poker, sports betting, ilottery and daily fantasy sports were all part of an expanded gambling bill that passed the PA legislature in october 2017.
Best PA online casinos
- Plus 100% bonus up to $500
- Divine fortune jackpot slot
- Slots, blackjack, roulette, more
- ACH, credit/debit deposits
Only 1x wager applies, playable in PA only
- Juicy 1X play-through bonus
- Divine fortune jackpot slot
- Best-in-class loyalty program
- Active promo schedule
What’s new at PA online gambling sites february 2020
January kept bettors and sportsbooks busy with the NFL playoffs leading up to an exciting showdown in miami. The australian open, the first major tennis tournament of the year gave bettors non-stop action and college basketball season is in full swing, leading us up to what should be a very exciting february and march.
Bettors continue to choose online sports betting over retail as we have seen over 80% of all bets being placed over the internet. With promotional offers like draftkings $1000 sign up bonus offer and unibets $500 casino bonus, $20 in free bets and $250 risk-free bets, there has never been a better time to give it a try.
Perhaps the biggest news in online gambling in PA is that we now have online poker thanks to pokerstars PA launching on november 4th.
Lets take a look at what’s going on in sports betting and in PA online gambling markets:
- Pokerstars ran the football themed winter series leading up to the super bowl that featured over $675,000 in tournament guarantees. Be on the lookout for SCOOP, the spring championship of online poker coming soon.
- Fanduel, the number one online sportsbook in PA, added online casino games to their mobile app. Betrivers and betamerica also added casino games to their sites, bringing the total to 8 online casino options in pennsylvania.
- NBA bettors have can add plenty of value with exciting promos including fanduel’s 3rd quarter insurance, and daily odds boosts on select NBA games at playsugarhouse.
- With the NFL season coming to an end, there are still plenty of options for sports bettors in PA to get in on the action.
- Hollywood online casinocontinues to add new games every week. Check them out here and receive $25 free and up to a $500 deposit match.
News updates view all tracking PA online gambling
Sports betting now in allentown’s midst thanks to state’s 3rd OTB sportsbook
With the opening this week of a lehigh valley OTB sportsbook, area residents no longer have to travel nearly an hour to place a bet in person.
You can bet spring training baseball, with all the caveats, this year in PA
After singular caution last year about allowing MLB spring training wagers, PA regulators are now allowing them with certain restrictions.
PA gaming board improves its problem gambling guidance through new website
With a new website devoted to problem gambling, the PA gaming board is offering better guidance on identifying the problem and getting help.
PA sports betting: live now when and where can you bet on sports in PA?
PA brick-and-mortar sportsbooks began launching in the spring of 2018, with hollywood casino at penn national leading the charge and several others following right behind. Online sports betting websites and apps took a bit longer to get up and running, with play sugarhouse debuting in may 2019, followed over the next two months by betrivers, parx and fanduel.
As it stands now, 12 PA casinos have shelled out the $10 million required to purchase a sports betting license, meaning that you will have at least that many online sportsbooks to choose from in the near future. What’s more, you’ll be entitled to an array of lucrative welcome bonuses when you use our exclusive promo codes and links when signing up your accounts.
List of PA online sportsbooks
While nearly all PA casinos will be launching their own online sportsbooks in time, here are the ones where you can bet right now.
| Online sportsbook | BONUS | licensing casino | tech | launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sugarhouse sportsbook | get bonus | sugarhouse | kambi | may 31, 2019 |
| betrivers sportsbook | get bonus | rivers | kambi | june 27, 2019 |
| fanduel sportsbook | get bonus | valley forge | IGT/GAN | july 22, 2019 |
| FOX bet sportsbook | get bonus | mount airy | stars group | sept. 4, 2019 |
| draftkings sportsbook | get bonus | meadows | kambi | nov. 4, 2019 |
| unibet sportsbook | get bonus | mohegan sun | kambi | nov. 13, 2019 |
| parx sportsbook | - | parx | kambi | june 27, 2019 |
| betamerica | - | presque isle downs | CDI | dec. 16, 2019 |
| harrah's philadelphia | TBD | harrah's philadelphia | scientific games | coming soon |
| betmgm | TBD | independent license | GVC holdings | coming soon |
PA online casinos: live now virtual slots and table games are here
Pennsylvania’s much-anticipated online casino industry kicked off in july 2019, with parx, hollywood and sugarhouse casino launching gambling sites featuring a mix of slots and table games. Several more properties are still putting the finishing touches on their products, which should begin rolling out on a consistent basis throughout the year.
Unlike sportsbooks, PA casinos are allowed to partner with unlimited “skins” (online gambling brands), and since all but one casino has purchased a license to offer some form of igaming (along with outsiders golden nugget and MGM), your choices for betting online could be staggering! Casino players can also take advantage of hefty sign up and welcome bonuses using our exclusive casino promo codes and links.
List of PA online casinos now live
Several PA online casino sites are now open for business. While you might notice that game selection is relatively limited, keep checking back as sites are constantly adding new games once they are approved by the pennsylvania gaming control board.
| Site | bonus | licensing casino | tech | launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| unibet casino | get bonus | mohegan sun | kindred/SG digital | nov. 13, 2019 |
| hollywood casino | get bonus | penn national | IGT | july 15, 2019 |
| sugarhouse casino PA | get bonus | sugarhouse | rush street | july 17, 2019 |
| parx casino | - | parx | GAN | july 15, 2019 |
PA online poker sites: live now pokerstars is now live! Who is next?
Pennsylvania poker players patience finally paid off with the launch of pokerstars PA on november 4, 2019. Just over two years after a massive gaming expansion package was signed into law, the virtual cards finally hit the air. PA poker players immediately hit the felt in droves as pennsylvania became the fourth state with legal and regulated poker within their borders.
Despite the launch of pokerstars, there are still a ton of lingering questions for the state of online poker in pennsylvania. Who will be the next to go live? When will they go live? How many online poker rooms can PA handle? Will PA join the interstate compact with new jersey, nevada, and delaware?
With seven land-based casinos and MGM applying for an online poker license, we can take our best guess at who will be next. Big names such as WSOP.COM (partnered with harrahs philadelphia) and party poker (partnered with valley forge) are already live in new jersey and should be ready to go in the near future while sugarhouse, parx, and hollywood casino have online casinos up and running, but may be delayed in getting poker up and running as they have to build their online poker room from scratch.
The biggest question is when and if pennsylvania will join the already established interstate compact with delaware, nevada and new jersey. The short answer is yes, but not any time soon. The states online gaming industry is still in its infant stages, and sports betting and casinos are bigger priorities for the PGCB.
PA online casinos
PA online casinos took a huge step forward in 2018 when ten of pennsylvania’s thirteen casinos applied for online gambling licenses that cover online poker, online slots, and online table games.
Online sports betting and casino gambling has begun in the state as of july 2019. By years end, pennsylvanians will have a wide variety of online gaming sites to choose from, each competing for their business.
Full sportsbook and online casino with slots and table games!
List of PA online casinos
Last updated: january 3, 2020
Below is where each of the 13 PA casinos stands in regards to online gambling and sports betting in pennsylvania.
| Casino | online gambling status | online gaming products | sportsbetting (including online) |
|---|---|---|---|
| parx casino | LAUNCHED - july 15 2019 | online poker, table games, slots | LAUNCHED - january 8, 2019, philly turf club launched january 17, 2019; valley forge turf club launch march 14, 2019. ONLINE - live june 2019 |
| mount airy | LAUNCHED - november 4th, 2019 as pokerstars, pokerstars casino | online poker, table games, slots | LAUNCHED - september 4th, 2019 as foxbet |
| stadium casino | approved october 31st, 2018 and rescinded online poker application | table games, slots | |
| wind creek bethlehem (formerly sands bethlehem) | approved october 3rd, launch TBA | online poker, table games, slots | |
| rivers philadelphia (formerly sugarhouse casino) | LAUNCHED - july 15 2019 | online poker, table games, slots | LAUNCHED - december 13, 2018. ONLINE: live may, 2019 as playsugarhouse |
| rivers casino pittsburgh | rescinded application october 4th | N/A | LAUNCHED - december 13, 2018. ONLINE - live june, 2019 as betrivers |
| harrah's philadelphia | approved august 15th, launch TBA | online poker, table games, slots | LAUNCHED - january 24, 2019 |
| valley forge casino | approved october 3rd, launch TBA | online poker, table games, slots | LAUNCHED - march 13, 2019; ONLINE SPORTSBOOK - live july 2019 at fanduel |
| hollywood casino at penn national | LAUNCHED july 15 2019 | online poker, table games, slots | LAUNCHED - november 17, 2018 |
| the meadows casino | not applied | N/A | LAUNCHED - november 4, 2019 as draftkings |
| mohegan sun pocono | approved november 28th, launch TBA | online table games, slots | APPROVED: may 15, 2019 |
| presque isle downs and casino | approved october 31st, launch TBA | online table games, online slots | LAUNCHED - august 2019 |
| lady luck casino | not applied | N/A | |
| MGM | approved january 2019 as "qualified gaming entity" | online poker, table games, slots | |
| golden nugget | approved january 2019 as "qualified gaming entity" | table games, slots |
How we got here
The original ten casinos that submitted applications each applied for $10 million licenses that cover a suite of online gambling products: poker, table games and slots. The original deadline to apply for these licenses was july, 16th 2018.
The remaining PA casinos had until august 14th, 2018 to apply for licenses at a price of $4 million for individual product licenses (poker, table games, and slots). The pennsylvania gaming control board (PGCB) then decided to open up additional applications to outside qualified gaming entities for the remaining licenses.
Sports betting was the first to be added to PA casinos in late 2018. In 2019, online sports betting went live in the spring while online casinos started popping up in the summer of 2019.
Which will be the best PA online casinos?
The PA online casinos that launched in the summer of 2019 were given a jump start on the PA market with playsugarhouse, hollywood casino and parx casino first launching online casinos.
Ultimately, casinos will likely leverage their first-to-market status as well as their partner relationships with software providers to get a leg up on the competition. But we’ll know more when more than the original three begin offering casino games to players.
The frontrunners
Parx casino – the biggest casino in PA is one of the first online casinos to go live in PA and has an edge on the field by being one the most recognizable brands in the state. On top of this fact, parx has an established relationship with software provider GAN, who currently provides the software for the play money online casino and mobile app. Parx launched their online casino on july 15, 2019.
Playsugarhouse – using the license of sugarhouse (soon to be rivers casino philadelphia) rush street, the parent company of both sugarhouse and rivers casino pittsburgh operates under the playsugarhouse brand. Rush street has been running this online casino brand successfully in new jersey for the past few years. The rivers casino is the third largest casino in pennsylvania while sugarhouse is number eight. Playsugarhouse launched their online casino on july 17, 2019.
Hollywood casino at penn national – hollywood casino was the first to launch a legal retail sportsbook in PA and is clearly interested in being at the forefront of the online gaming market as well. They were officially the first online casino to launch in the state as well, opening their virtual doors at 11am ET, july 15, 2019.
Harrah’s philadelphia, owned by parent company caesars entertainment who currently run a successful online casino with online poker in both nevada and new jersey through a strong partnership with 888. The partnership should allow the brand to take advantage of merged liquidity agreements in other states when they become available. They are licensed for online gaming and expected to launch in the summer of 2019.
Mount airy, formed their partnership with pokerstars, which also makes them a good bet in pennsylvania. Shortly before their license was approved by the PGCB, mount airy announced a major partnership with pokerstars to offer an online casino and online poker room and with betstars to offer a sportsbook. The mount airy online sports book went live with foxbet after a rebrand from betstars in september 2019. This was followed by the launch of the first online poker room, pokerstars, as well as the pokerstars casino in early november. Pokerstars name recognition in the online poker world could help cement its position as a top online casino as well.
Other applicants
Sands bethlehem was somewhat of a surprise in the first round of pennsylvania license applications given that they were owned by staunch online gambling opponent sheldon adelson. But with a $1.3 billion takeover by wind creek hospitality and as one of pennsylvania’s top casinos, new ownership is eager to jump into the online gambling market with both feet.
Valley forge casino is licensed for online gaming and expected to launch sometime in 2019, especially after the successful launch of the fanduel online sportsbook.
Presque isle downs is licensed for online slots and table games (no online poker) and expected to launch sometime in the summer of 2019.
Mohegan sun pocono is also licensed for online slots and table games only (eschewing online poker). They are expected to launch sometime in 2019.
Stadium casino although their philadelphia site is still unbuilt, they are licensed for online gaming. It is expected that the stadium casino will first launch their brick and mortar casino in 2020 before following it up with the launch of their online product.
MGM and golden nugget are two out-of-state operators that have been tentatively approved to offer online casino gaming in pennsylvania under the qualified gaming entity provision of the PGCB. They are still working on their official licenses but are expected to enter the market soon.
The abstainers
Not all of pennsylvania’s 13 eligible casinos applied for online gaming licenses — the meadows casino, lady luck casino, and rivers casino pittsburgh are sitting on the sidelines. Rivers casino’s abstention makes sense. As mentioned above, parent company rush street will use sugarhouse’s license to reach the state’s online players. No need to pay twice. At the present time, the rivers casino has launched online sports betting as betrivers but looks to be avoiding an online casino with the playsugarhouse online casino serving rush street interactive’s online casino business.
Despite the fact that the meadows did not apply for a license they will likely use the license from penn national gaming, which also operates the hollywood casino and has already went live with games.
The other casinos must think either the taxes and fees are too high, or that their market share would be too low to attempt the venture.
When will PA online casinos launch?
The launch process has already begun. Three online casinos (hollywood, parx, and playsugarhouse) launched in july of 2019. Many more are expected by the end of 2019.
Pokerstars was the first online poker room in PA
Over four months after the first online casino, pokerstars PA became the first online poker room in pennsylvania. The player pool is limited to players from pennsylvania for now, but that did not stop pokerstars from attracting over 1,000 real money players in the early days of its launch. Pokerstars PA could eventually participate in a multi-state agreement that would allow it to merge player pools with new jersey and other states that legalize online poker.
What about sports betting?
In early 2018, sports betting wasn’t even legal in pennsylvania, but now it’s a new and exciting marketplace. In july of 2018, the PGCB opened up 13 sports betting licenses at a cost of $10 million per license and nearly all of PA casinos have applied to offer sports betting.
The first casinos were approved in early october while others were approved later that month. Hollywood casino launched the first sportsbook in november and other casinos have suit into 2019.
Online and mobile sports betting lagged behind, but eventually launched in may 2019 with the opening of the playsugarhouse sportsbook. Betrivers parx, fanduel and foxbet were the next to open, as sportsbooks were eager to launch online sportsbooks before the start of the 2019 NFL season. Draftkings PA, through a partnership with the meadows, opened up its virtual doors during the middle of the 2019 NFL season.
Other online gaming options in PA?
If none of these games strike your fancy, you can always play the PA online lottery, which went live in pennsylvania in may of 2018. New players can receive a $5 free bonus to try out the selection of engaging games.
Full sportsbook and online casino with slots and table games!
Playsugarhouse, parx and hollywood casino were the first to open up online casinos.
Bonuscodepa.Com is extremely excited to see the largest state yet bring online gambling to its citizens — and if you live in pennsylvania and like to play poker, gamble or sports bet you will be able to.
The dozen or more brands that will offer online poker or casinos are likely going to offer some pretty sweet deals to attract you to their new online poker rooms and casinos.
Bonuscodepa.Com helps you cut through the crap and keeps you up with the latest bonus codes to receive the best online poker and casino bonuses in pennsylvania.
A pennsylvania bonus code is entered to opt you into an advertised bonus, promotion or offer, available through the casino or poker room.
When do you typically enter a bonus code?
Bonus codes are typically entered during registration at a pennsylvania online casino or poker room. You’ll often be asked for the code on the same screen where you create your username or password, but you find it elsewhere in the registration process or rarely — when making a first deposit.
What does a bonus code do?
A bonus often allows you to get a particular welcome offer provided by the online casino or poker room. They are also used in online marketing so the poker room or casino knows where you found out about the casino.
Do I have to use a bonus code?
You do not always have to use a bonus code but it is recommended if a casino or poker room prompt you to fill out a code.
What happens if I forget to enter a PA bonus code?
If the casino or poker room offers a field for a bonus code, it’s better to enter the code when prompted. But even if you forget to enter the code, some casinos may still allow you the opportunity to take advantage of the offer. If you sign-up and forget to enter a bonus code,iit doesn’t hurt to contact customer service to make sure that you are eligible. Many online casinos don’t exactly want their first experience with their customer to be a negative one.
How do I know if I need to use a bonus code?
Our mission at bonuscodepa is keep you informed of the most up to date bonus codes offered for online casinos in pennsylvania. So if you are looking for a pennsylvania bonus you’ve come to the right place.
Check back often for announcements when PA poker rooms and casinos go live and be the first to know of new bonus codes.
A list of online casinos in pennsylvania
The pennsylvania gaming control board (PGCB) has announced that nine PA casinos have applied for an online gambling license that could allow them to offer games by the end of 2018 or early 2019.
Penn casinos that have been approved for online gambling are authorized to offer a variety of online gambling products, depending on their specific license — poker, table games, and slots.
Penn casinos that have applied to offer online gambling
Last verified: january 1, 2020
The following casinos applied for $10 million licenses to offer online poker, table games and slots:
- Parx casino, operated by greenwood gaming and entertainment – LAUNCHED july 15, 2019
- Mount airy, operated by mount airy LLC – APPROVED august 15th, 2018
- Sands casino resort bethlehem, operated by sands bethworks gaming LLC – APPROVED october 3rd, 2018
- Hollywood casino at penn nation race course, operated by mountainview thoroughbred racing association/penn national gaming – LAUNCHED july 15, 2019
- Valley forge casino, operated by valley forge convention center partners – APPROVED october 3rd, 2018
- Harrah’s philadelphia casino and racetrack, operated chester downs and marina, APPROVED august 15th, 2018
- Sugerhouse casino, operated by rush street interactive – LAUNCHED july 15, 2019
Some casinos choose not to apply for discounted licenses initially but instead can apply for online gambling licenses individually at $4 million per product license until august 14th.
- Presque isle downs and casino – APPROVED october 31st, 2018 for online table games and slots
- Live hotel and casino (yet to be built), operated by stadium casino LLC – approved on october 31st, 2018 for online table games and online slots while rescinding online poker application
- Mohegan sun pocono – applied on august 15th for three licenses at a total cost of $12 million
- The meadows casino – no application
- Lady luck casino – no application
- Rivers casino, operated by rush street interactive – CANCELED application october 4th
In mid-october, the pennsylvania gaming control board opened up applications to so-called “qualified gaming entities,” with two non-PA casinos applying for licenses:
- MGM – approved in january 2019 for online poker, table games and slots
- Golden nugget – approved in january 2019 for table games and slots
Sports betting applications to offer brick and mortar as well as online sports betting was opened up in july of 2018, while mobile sports betting following in may 2019.
- Hollywood casino at penn national – LAUNCHED november 17th, 2018
- Parx casino + philly turf club – LAUNCHED january 8, 2019; online sportsbook LAUNCHED june 2019
- Harrah’s philadelphia — LAUNCHED january 24th, 2019
- Sugar house casino/rivers philadelphia — LAUNCHED december 13, 2018; online sportsbook LAUNCHED may 2019
- Rivers casino pittsburgh — LAUNCHED october 31st, 2018; online sportsbook LAUNCHED june 2019
- Valley forge — LAUNCHED march 13, 2019; online sportsbook LAUNCHED july 2019
- Mohegan sun pocono — approved may 29, 2019
- Presque isle downs and casino — delayed
Frequently asked questions about penn online casinos
With many PA casinos approved for online gambling a launch coming within the next few months, it’s now only a matter of time before pennsylvanians can begin to play their favorite games online. Here are some frequently asked questions that players and industry observers are asking.
Who will be the best penn online casino?
It’s a bit early to tell who will come out ahead in pennsylvania. Casinos are putting $10 million behind a license that covers poker, table games, and slots. That’s a big commitment to make and anything can happen over the next few months and years.
With that said, if you had to pick a couple names, I like parx casino and harrah’s philadelphia. Parx casino looks good for their standing in pennsylvania as the number one casino in the state, while harrah’s philadelphia is owned by caesars entertainment and already has well-performing online poker room and casinos brands in nevada and new jersey.
Both parx and harrah’s — along with mount airy — were among the first three casinos to be approved for licenses by the PGCB board in august 2018. The hollywood casino and the sugarhouse are also a couple other casinos with momentum behind them.
What software providers will offer online casino games?
Some penn online casinos already have partnerships with well-known software providers. 888, GAN, scientific games/NYX, pokerstars and GVC and IGT appear to have a leg up to provide software to pennsylvania casinos. Many PA casinos will likely partner with multiple softare providers, especially for online casinos.
Who will offer online poker?
Eight casinos have been approved for licenses that will allow them to offer online poker. Presque isle downs and casino, as well as stadium casino, have been the outlier in applying and receiving a license for just online slots and online table games.
Look for pennsylvania online casinos to partner with established brands such as pokerstars, 888 and partypoker to offer online poker in the state. We will likely see — as we do in other states — a combination of existing brick and mortar brands and traditional online casinos. Any outside online gambling site will need to partner with an existing pennsylvania casino.
For the remaining ten licenses (5 poker, 3 table games, 3 slots), pennsylvania has opened up applications to qualified gaming entities, which interested parties announced by early november. MGM and golden nugget are among some of the outside entities that have shown interest.
When will games go live?
Pennsylvania casinos had until mid-august to apply for individual licenses at $4 million per license. After that, any license unclaimed could be offered by the pennsylvania gaming control board to other entities, either inside or outside of pennsylvania. Ten out of the thirteen PA casinos have applied for licenses.
Regulators have 90 days to decide to approve or deny applications so casinos and poker rooms may be eligible to launch by the end of the year. Whether they will be ready is another story. The PGCB board has already approved three operators — parx, harrah’s and mount airy, indicating they might be the first to go live with games. The PGCB must also approve partners of PA casinos, which could hold up a launch until early 2019.
What types of games will be available
For PA casinos that receive an online poker license, expect them to offer a “peer to peer” poker room similar to games popularized by pokerstars and partypoker. In addition, table games — think blackjack, baccarat, craps — as well as dozens of types of slots will be offered as part of the table games and slots portion of the pennsylvania online gambling license.
For a separate $10 million license, PA casinos can apply to offer a physical sportsbook as well an online sportsbook. So far, interest has been relatively lukewarm with some casinos hesitating over the 36% tax rates. Five casinos are attempting to overcome the high cost to enter the sportsbetting market in the state: hollywood casino, parx casino, sugar house, rivers casino and harrah’s philadelphia. Multiple sportsbook are likely to go live before the end of 2018 with online sportsbetting likely waiting until 2019.
Who can play at penn online casinos?
Players who are located within the state will be able to play at pennsylvania online casinos. The good news is that this means both residents and visitors will be able to play while located in the state.
If pennsylvania joins the liquidity agreement shared by delaware, new jersey and nevada, pennsylvanians could be playing online poker against players from three other states in addition to pennsylvania. This is expected but will probably not happen at launch.
When to sign-up to PA online casinos?
Since online casinos are not yet available to play in pennsylvania, you will have to wait to play until late 2018 or early 2019 to play.
Pennsylvanians can, however, play over a dozen games through the PA ilottery right now. Sign-up today and even receive a free $5 to play.
PA no deposit bonuses
In the world of online poker and online casinos, no deposit bonuses are just that – bonuses offered by the poker room or casino where no deposit is required.
This effectively means that you can play real money without putting any of your own money on the line. No deposit bonuses are an excellent way for players to dip their toes into online gambling with little or no risk. Think of no deposit bonuses as a free trial with a chance to win money or in some cases — never have to make a deposit.
Yes it’s not unheard of for a player to eventually turn a no deposit bonus into a large bankroll or a semi-professional player status.
Why will no deposit bonuses be available in pennsylvania?
Like the similar new jersey market — which launched in 2013 — we expect pennsylvania online gambling no deposit bonuses to eventually be available in the state. They might not be offered right away but likely some time after the games go live.
Not only are no deposit bonuses desirable to players, but online casinos and poker rooms find them appealing due to the fact they are a relatively cheap way — compared to some forms of advertising — for players to try out a poker room or casino. Plus, who doesn’t like things for free?
What are the requirements of a pennsylvania no deposit bonus?
Generally speaking, no deposit bonuses are available to new players joining a online gambling website for the first time. So if you are the type of player who like the idea of a no deposit bonus to start out, make sure to join a poker room or casino that offers one.
A no deposit bonus is usually awarded to a player shortly after signing up, either immediately or when making a request. Once the bonus has been credited to your account, you will often need to “play through” the bonus — meaning you will need to meet a certain level of activity before withdrawing the bonus.
Some additional restrictions may apply depending on the offer. Once the requirements have been met, you can usually withdraw the bonus, or at the very least, withdraw the proceeds from the bonus. There may be a time requirement to claim and/or complete the offer as well.
PA online casinos - news, reviews, and deals
PA online casino slot games
Slots take up more real estate in PA casinos than any other game because players love them.
Consequently, PA online casino sites begin going live starting on july 15, 2019, players will find more online slots available than anything else. In fact, players can expect to find the average PA online casino site hosting hundreds of different slot titles.
There will be everything from slots that are found exclusively online to online versions of the same slots you see at most PA land-based casinos.
The stakes will include everything from penny slots to high-limit slots.
Plus, you can expect to find online slots with fixed jackpots and others that offer the chance at some pretty big progressive jackpots that grow with every spin.
There will even be themed PA online slots based on hit music by legendary rockers, blockbuster movies, and some of your favorite TV shows.
The public can’t get enough of slots because they’re fun and often offer the opportunity to win big. The RTP isn’t as favorable as blackjack or video poker on most online slots, but the chance to strike it rich by winning a big jackpot is a real draw.
Playing online slots vs. Brick and mortar
There really isn’t that much of a difference between the slots you’ll find at PA casinos and those at PA online casinos. In fact, most of your favorite slots at PA land-based casinos will make the transition to the online casinos.
The games are pretty much the same, but there are several reasons why playing online slots at a PA online casino is better than going to PA casino to play:
- It takes infinitely less time to log in to PA online casino than it does to get out to PA brick and mortar casino.
- There’s a cost saving as you’ll spend less on gas, parking, and other associated travel expenses by playing online.
- Changing slots can be done with the click of a button online, so there’s no more wandering around the isles of a PA casino looking for one you want to play.
- Payouts are instantaneous at PA online casinos, no matter how big. Therefore, there’s no need to validate a ticket or wait for a hand pay.
- PA casinos certainly have a lot of slots to choose from, but PA online casinos have more.
- PA online casinos have online versions of almost all your favorite slots and allow you to play them from the privacy of your own home.
Can I play real money slots online?
You can definitely play real-money online slots in PA. PA online casinos will offer a huge variety of slots titles with demo versions that allow you to try them out. However, you can also play your favorites for real money any time you like.
Which PA casinos offer free slots?
All of the PA online gambling sites planning to launch in july 2019 have applied for and been granted slots licenses. This means they have plans in the works to offer a wide variety of online slots. Here’s a list of PA online casino operations already approved by the PGCB:
Progressive slots
If you’re looking for a big payday playing slots, look no further than progressive jackpot slots. These are the ones with jackpots that grow with each and every spin and are often the largest available.
People play slots for a variety of reasons. However, they play progressive jackpot slots for just one: the opportunity to win big.
The types of slot games with progressive jackpots vary, as does the size of each jackpot. And when it comes to progressive jackpot slots, size matters.
The jackpots on a progressive slot will increase by a small amount with every spin. Then, once the jackpot is hit, it’ll reset back to a designated amount and begin growing again.
If it has been a while since the jackpot has been hit, that jackpot can reach high six or even seven figures.
However, it’s important to remember that so much of your cash is being siphoned off into the growing jackpot, a progressive jackpot slots other payouts are usually pretty small and payout less frequently than other slots. That makes the RTP on most progressive jackpot slots on the low end. That said, you should be playing progressive slots chasing life-changing money, not RTP.
There are really three types of progressive jackpot slots: network-wide progressives, area progressives, and stand-alone progressives.
Network-wide progressives
Network-wide progressive slots are generally the ones advertising life-changing progressive jackpots. These slots are connected to others at casinos across the country. PA casinos monitor their own machines and get a share of the profits, but overall, these slots are run by a central network operator.
The progressive jackpots grow fast because there are so many players across the country feeding into it. However, that also means the chance of a local win is even smaller than usual.
Area progressives
Area progressives are similar to network-wide progressive slots in that the slots are run by a central network operator. However, the area where you’ll find the slots might be limited to PA only and is most certainly smaller than any network-wide progressive. A smaller area covered generally also means a smaller jackpot.
Stand-alone progressives
Stand-alone progressive slots offer progressive jackpots on that particular slot machine only. That means much slower growth for the jackpot, but also that it’s guaranteed to hit on that particular machine. A certain percentage of every bet is taken out and added to the jackpot that will ultimately be won by someone playing that slot.
Playing slots on a mobile app
When most PA online casinos open up in july 2019 they will do so with a mobile app attached. These apps are sure to offer access to a variety of online slots through mobile devices located inside state lines.
Coming soon to this section is a chart comparing each PA online casino, whether they offer a mobile app, and the number of games available via mobile.
Most popular slot machines in pennsylvania
1. Willy wonka series
The willy wonka series is a group of five-reel and 40-payline video slots designed by WMS slots based on the original willy wonka and the chocolate factory film starring gene wilder.
Find a golden ticket inside the bars and win up to 5,000 credits. The oompa loompas on the paylines offer free spins as do the bonus wonkavator elevators. One US player hit the slot for a $1.39 million network-wide progressive jackpot in 2014.
2. The walking dead series
The walking dead series is a group of six-reel, two-wheel, and 100-payline slots designed by aristocrat technologies and based on the popular zombie TV series the walking dead.
These are penny slots with a fixed $500,000 jackpot. The maximum $3 bet gives you a shot at the $500,000 jackpot. Game features include multipliers, bonus prizes, and video clips from the show.
3. Clue
Clue is a WMS slots designed five-reel and 40 payline slot based on the classic board game of the same name.
Game features include a free spins round, a jackpot game, and a couple of bonus rounds. There’s even a bonus game that involves solving a crime just like the board game.
Solve the crime by unveiling cards with various clues to a murder – like colonel mustard, in the dining room, with the candlestick – to unlock the game’s biggest prizes.
4. China shores
The konami-designed china shores is a five-reel and 30-payline slot featuring a chinese theme.
Pandas are wild and game features include action stacked symbols, 100-times your bet when you reveal five ying and yang bonus symbols and a free spins round. There’s also the choice of a balance of fortune awarding random cash amounts instead of free spins.
5. Zeus series
The zeus series is a group of five-reel and 30-payline slots designed by WMS featuring a greek mythology theme.
The lighting symbol is wild and zeus symbols are the highest paying. There’s also a bonus based on several winning combinations. Plus, there’s a free games feature offering up to one hundred free spins.
6. Quick hits series
The quick hit series is a group of bally technologies-designed five-reel and 30 payline slots. Bally’s has released a number games based on the same classic slot theme including quick hit pro, quick hit las vegas, and quick hit black gold.
The game features series of classic slot symbols with a max payout of 2,500 credits. There is also a series of increasingly large progressive jackpots available.
7. Wonder woman wild/gold
Wonder woman wild and wonder woman gold are 5×4-reel video slot machines with 40 paylines designed by bally technologies and based on the 1970’s wonder woman TV show starring lynda carter.
The nostalgic TV show theme is present throughout with video vignettes, various imagery, and the theme song from the original show. Game features include a free spins bonus round, wilds, mystery stacks, and a three-level progressive jackpot bonus.
Players win a progressive jackpot when progressive symbols are revealed. There’s no need to bet max to get there.
8. Johnny cash – ring of fire
The johnny cash slot is an ode to the legendary musician. It’s also a three-reel and ten-payline slot designed by WMS.
Features include a huge video board and wheel surrounded by a ring of fire. Plus, a soundtrack that includes some of cash’s biggest hits.
The golden wild is the highest paying symbol.
Special features include “I walk the line” making the second reel wild. Plus, two bonus rounds in the “ring of fire” feature offering free spins and the chance to win one of four progressive jackpots. If you manage to walk away with the grand jackpot, you’ll win a prize worth $2,500 or more.
9. Monopoly series
The monopoly series is a group of IGT-designed slots based on the classic board game that are a part of IGT’s mega jackpot series.
There are various versions of the monopoly slots, including movers & shakers, once around, advance to boardwalk, monopoly plus, and pass go.
Monopoly plus bears the closest resemblance to the board game.
All the slots include various bonus features and the chance to win the network wide progressive IGT mega jackpot.
10. Lightning link series
The lightning link series is a group of four aristocrat-designed slots that share features and a series of progressive jackpots.
The games include happy lantern, magic pearl, sahara gold, and high stakes. Each features five-reels and 50 paylines. Each also has two special features including a free spins bonus game and the pearl symbols where the four linked jackpots await.
Software & developers
Here’s a look at the top 5 software houses in the business:
Bally technologies
The story of bally technologies started over 85 years ago with a wooden pinball game called ballyhoo. Now it is a division of scientific games based enterprise, nevada that designs and manufacturers slot machines and other gaming technology.
Bally’s library includes popular slot titles like quick hit, blazing 7s, wonder woman, and michael jackson.
Konami
Konami is a japanese entertainment and gaming conglomerate that started out designing classic video games like frogger. It has since expanded to include a casino gaming business in paradise, nevada that designs and manufactures slots.
Popular titles include china shores, diamond point, and dungeons & dragons.
IGT is one of the largest designers and manufacturers of slots in the world. The company claims to be #1 in games and #1 in jackpots with over $6 billion in payouts to date.
Popular IGT network wide-area progressive slots include megabucks, wheel of fortune, and the blake shelton video slot. IGT is based in las vegas, nevada.
Netent
Netent is a digitally distributed gaming systems supplier that works with some of the world’s most successful online gaming operators.
It’s list of award-winning games includes the guns N’ roses video slot, planet of the apes, and jumanji.
High 5 gaming
High 5 games is one of the world’s leading content creators for the land-based, online, and social gaming markets.
Some of its most popular slot titles include davinci diamonds, mega hits golden goddess, and noah’s ark. The company has corporate offices in new york and new jersey.
High 5 games is one of the leading software suppliers to several of the new jersey market’s top online casino sites.
Types of slot machines
Classic 3-reel slots
Looking for a feeling of nostalgia? Classic 3-reel slots offer the real old-school gaming experience you’re after. Line up the cherries or the sevens for the classic payday.
Bonus video slots
Bonus video slots turn the classic 3-reel slots experience on its head. New technology allows these bonus video slots to combine classic slots with popular themes and additional bonus games that take slot play to the next level
Free spins
Many bonus video slots offer a free spins feature allowing you to play for free and increase your winnings exponentially. Some even allow you to win more free spins from a free spin.
Pick ‘em bonus
Bonus video slots often feature bonus games with big prizes. The pick ‘em bonus is one such game, allowing you to pick from a series of symbols revealing a prize underneath. Some of these prizes even include jackpots.
Buy a bonus
Several bonus video slots feature bonus games where the big prizes await. Some even include a buy a bonus feature allowing you to buy your way directly into the bonus game.
Stacked / cascading wilds
There are a number of bonus video slots that feature stacked or cascading wilds. This feature essentially spreads wild symbols across the reels increasing your chances of winning exponentially. This often leads to big wins and access to other bonus features as well.
Bonus wheels
Bonus video slots often feature bonus games with bonus wheels. This gives you the chance to spin a wheel for big prizes, which is quite often the path to triggering a progressive jackpot win.
Themed slots
Several bonus video slots feature themes based on popular TV shows, films and musicians. These themed slots often offer various video content, top quality soundtracks, and some of the bigger progressive jackpots.
Understanding the paylines
The object of a slot is almost always to line up the same symbols on the reels. The different ways you can do that depends on the number of paylines the slot includes. Plus, several slots allow you access to an increased number of paylines as you increase your bet.
Winning on a slot machine is always about luck, but the more paylines on offer, the more chances you have to win.
While the classic 3-reel slots have pretty straightforward paylines you can see for yourself, bonus video slots often feature hundreds that can be tough to find. However, most offer a chance to see how the paylines line up with the click of a button.
Understanding the RTP
RTP or a game’s return to player rate is the percentage of how much money a game takes in that it will ultimately pay back to players.
It doesn’t mean that RTP is guaranteed for each session. Or, that you’ll ever win playing that slot. It simply means that over time, for every $1 put into it, a slot will pay back that certain percentage to someone.
The opposite of RTP is the house edge the casino enjoys on a game.
For example, a slot may have an RTP of 95 percent. That means the house enjoys a five percent edge on that game and the casino will keep five percent of every bet over time.
It also means that 95 cents of every dollar put into a game will be paid back to players. If you lose $300 playing that slot, it’ll eventually pay back $285 dollars of it to players, but that doesn’t necessarily include you.
Let’s say someone wins a $10,000 jackpot playing that slot. That means someone, or a group of someones, is going to lose over $10,500 playing the game to make up for it.
Casinos have the ability to set the RTP on a slot. Players simply need to be on the right side of a games RTP at the right time to win. Other than that, the real RTP and house edge will be realized over time with the house enjoying the set edge over the long haul.
Pennsylvania slot machine laws
Pennsylvania legalized slot machines in 2006 granting one of now four types of licenses to casinos prescribing how many slots they can host:
- Category 1 licenses are for the state’s existing racetracks permitting each facility to host as many as 5,000 slots.
- The category 2 licenses are for stand-alone casino operations permitting each facility to host as many as 5,000 slots.
- Category 3 licenses are for resort casinos permitting each facility to host as many as 600 slot machines. Category 3 licensees can now also pay another $2.5 million to the state to add up to 250 more slot machines.
- The category 4 licenses are for mini-casinos permitting each facility to host as many as 750 slot machines.
PA law also ensures all slots in the state have an RTP of 85 percent or better.
Online casinos will launch in pennsylvania in july 2019 offering hundreds of different online slot titles. These online slots will also have to offer an RTP of 85 percent or better in accordance with state law.
Owning a slot machine in pennsylvania
You can buy an old classic slot and put it in your basement for fun in pennsylvania. However, you must be 25 years or older, the slot must be from 1941 or older, and you can’t exactly open up a casino down there.
The machine should be used for fun only. Buying a slot and then letting people gamble on it is against the law, even if it’s just your friends playing.
PA skill games vs. Slot machines
Skill games in PA look a lot like slots. However, the games are variations of tic-tac-toe and other games that require some type of skill to beat them.
You might find them in a gas station, convenience store, or sketchy skill game parlor as opposed to a casino.
The games reportedly involve some kind of actual skill whereas slot machines are based on luck alone. This is why some businesses in PA have been allowed to operate the games without a casino license.
Pennsylvania’s 2017 casino expansion laws tried to clarify the issue, but it remains unsolved.
Some pennsylvania courts have ruled in favor of allowing the games and other cases against operators are still pending. For now, it remains a gray area.
Slot machine FAQ
Can you win money playing slots online?
Starting july 15, 2019 at a variety of licensed PA online casinos you certainly can. Playing for real money on any other casinos site is illegal and you might have a tough time getting paid any money you might win.
Is it legal to play online slot machines?
Pennsylvania’s 2017 casino expansion laws made it legal for licensed operators to offer online slots to players inside the state. The pennsylvania gaming control board has set july 15, 2019 as the date when the casinos will officially launch and legal online slot play will begin.
Which PA online game has the best payout rate?
The house edge for PA casino blackjack under PGCB rules is only .40 percent. That means the game has a an RTP of 96.6 percent. In other words, $96.60 of every $100 bet on blackjack at a PA casino will be returned to players. If the same rules apply to online blackjack, it will be the PA online game with the best payout rate.
However, if any PA online casino offers single-deck blackjack, that’ll beat it. Single-deck blackjack has an RTP of 99.83 percent, better than any other casino game in the world.
Are the slot machines online in PA fair?
PA online slots are powered by the same system and overseen by the same government organization as the slots in land-based casinos. That means that PA online slots are vetted in much the same way and are just as safe to play.
That organization is the pennsylvania gaming control board and while they don’t remove the house edge on slots, they do ensure it’s set at 15 percent or less.
The PGCB also puts the online slots through a rigorous testing process to ensure that everything is fair and above board.
What happens if I win a jackpot?
If you win a jackpot playing slots at an online casino in PA you should see the money in your account immediately.
Go through the quick and easy withdrawal process to get your hands on the actual money, but make sure you set aside some for taxes.
You are on the honor system to report this as income to the IRS. However, your net gambling winnings are taxable at a rate of 25 percent, no matter how and where you won it.
Can I use my players reward card?
This is online casino dependent. However, it appears that most PA online casinos will allow you to earn and redeem points at both their land-based and online casino partners.
Pennsylvania online casino bonus codes
Pennsylvania online casinos offer exclusive bonus deals to first-time players. These offers include both a no-deposit bonus and a deposit bonus. Each of these offers come with a promo code players use to activate the offer.
No-deposit bonuses are especially intriguing because you don’t need to make a real-money deposit to receive this reward. All you must do to claim it is create an account.
A deposit bonus requires you to fund your account with the minimum deposit amount. The advantage to these deals is that they’re worth more than free play, with some bonuses offering up to $1,000 or more.
Pennsylvania online casinos are expected mid-2019, but it is safe to assume at least some of the operators will offer industry-standard bonuses of both the deposit and no-deposit variety.
Keep in mind, though, that PA online casinos aren’t handing you “free” cash once they start offering bonuses. Instead, you will earn the money by satisfying terms and conditions.
We discuss these terms in our pennsylvania online casino reviews. You can find exact bonus terms and conditions on the casinos’ websites. The pennsylvania gaming control board (PGCB) requires that every internet gaming operator list terms for bonuses and promotions.
Pennsylvania online lottery bonuses
Now, PA online casinos have not launched yet. But there is one promo you can take advantage of right now.
In june of 2018, the pennsylvania lottery launched its first wave of online lottery instant win games. These games work like scratch-off tickets. However, instead of using a coin, you can just click your mouse. The games are available on desktop and do not require any downloads.
If you want though, there is PA lottery app which also offers the games. The app, which is available for both apple and android also includes features like a ticket scanner, the latest keno numbers, and more. Apple users can find the app in the itunes store. Android users will need to download the app from the PA lottery website.
Currently, the PA online lottery is offering a free $5 when new players sign up for an account. The process is very easy. You can be online and ready to go in a matter of minutes.
How pennsylvania no-deposit bonuses work
Earning free-play bonuses at PA internet casinos begins with creating an account. This is a simple process that will likely involve entering your:
- Name
- Home address
- Username
- Password
- Relevant promo code
Once you’ve filled out the required fields, the casino will verify your account through automation. Key qualifications include being within pennsylvania state borders and not enrolled in the state’s gambling self-exclusion program.
You’ll receive your no-deposit bonus once your account is verified. You can then use it to play the casino’s real-money games.
Why do PA online casinos offer no-deposit bonuses?
Because no-deposit bonuses seem like free money, some players wonder why online casinos offer them. The reason is that online gambling is a competitive space. As such, casinos are in constant battle for attracting the attention of gamblers. No-deposit bonuses are the ultimate weapon.
Additionally, online casinos use no-deposit offers as an opportunity to obtain players’ email addresses. Collecting emails increases a casino’s reach when they send out promotional offers.
Many players are willing to give casinos their email in exchange for free money. If you don’t want to continue receiving offers, you can always unsubscribe.
What’s the catch in a no-deposit bonus?
Players don’t assume any financial risk when signing up for a no-deposit bonus. The only cost is the few moments that it requires to create an account and await verification.
The catch, though, is that you must satisfy terms and conditions before the money becomes yours to withdraw. Online casinos don’t just hand out $20 to new customers with no strings attached. You must earn the money by meeting the stated terms.
The following terms are generally the same across the board:
- New players — no-deposit offers are only open to new customers at each casino.
- Wagering requirements (a.K.A. Playthrough) — you must wager a specified amount before withdrawing the bonus.
- Claim the bonus — after creating your account, you must visit the bonus section or contact support staff to claim the bonus. However, this is not always required.
- Timeframe — you have to claim your bonus within the stated amount of time (e.G. Three days).
- Expiration date — once claimed, your bonus must be used within a certain number of days (e.G. Seven).
- Game restrictions — some no-deposit bonuses can only be used on specific games.
Earning your no-deposit bonus
Here’s an example to illustrate the process of unlocking a no-deposit bonus:
- You sign up at a PA online casino and use the appropriate bonus code.
- The casino emails you confirming that your account has been validated.
- You’re eligible for a $20 no-deposit bonus.
- Log into your account, visit the bonus section, and claim your free play.
- Wager the $20 bonus five times on slots before withdrawing it.
- You have seven days after claiming the bonus to meet the playthrough requirement.
No-deposit bonuses are usually significantly smaller than first deposit bonuses.
Free play bonuses
Free play bonuses are a subtype of no-deposit bonuses. The difference between the two is that free play bonuses cannot be withdrawn and can only be used to try out the casino’s real-money games for free. However, should the gambler win any money in the course of wagering their free play, those winnings may be eligible for withdrawal after meeting certain wagering requirements.
How PA online casino deposit bonuses work
Most pennsylvania casino sites offer match deposit bonuses. These deals give you a match percentage based on the size of your first deposit
- A casino is offering a 50 percent match bonus up to $400.
- This means that the maximum bonus you can receive is $400.
- You deposit $200, which makes you eligible for a $100 bonus.
“eligible” is the key word here, because the deposit bonus isn’t technically yours until you earn it. Casinos put the money into a bonus balance until you’ve satisfied specific terms and conditions. Once you earn the money, you can either withdraw it or use it to keep playing.
Meeting wagering requirements on PA deposit bonuses
Playthrough requirements on pennsylvania online casino deposit bonuses will probably be expressed through one of two ways:
- Multiple of the bonus
- Multiple of the bonus plus deposit amount
The multiple of the bonus allows you to do the math slightly quicker.
Here’s an example on calculating wagering requirements with a multiple of the bonus:
- You’re eligible for a $100 bonus
- Wagering requirements are 20x the bonus
- 100 x 20 = $2,000 must be wagered
Here’s an example on calculating a multiple of the bonus plus deposit:
- You’re eligible for a $50 bonus
- Wagering requirements are 10x the bonus plus deposit
- (50 + 50) x 10 = $1,000 must be wagered
Again, the method used to express online bonus wager terms doesn’t, in and of itself, affect the attractiveness of the offer. What matters more is the overall value of the bonus, which depends on its maximum size and the total playthrough requirement.
Here’s a comparison between two casinos that differ in terms of expressing playthrough requirements:
- You’re eligible for a $100 bonus at two different internet casinos
- The first casino features a playthrough of 10x the bonus.
- 100 x 10 = $1,000 must be wagered
- The second casino features wagering requirements of 20x the bonus
- 100 x 20 = $2,000 must be wagered
- The first gaming site offers the better deal
Keep in mind that it was the total wagering requirement that determined which deal was the better one, not the calculation method.
Pay attention to how many days you have to earn a deposit bonus
Most online casinos give you more time to earn deposit bonuses than they do to earn no deposit bonuses. The reason why is because the wagering requirements on the former are higher. But you should still pay close attention to how long you have to unlock your bonus.
The general time frame is anywhere between 30 and 90 days. Casinos that allow 90 days sometimes do this to make up for having higher playthrough requirements than competitors.
This leaves you deciding what’s more valuable: lower betting requirements or more time to release the bonus.
If you’re conflicted, run the math to decide if earning a bonus in 30 days is realistic. Here’s an example:
- You must wager $5,000 to unlock your bonus
- You have one month to do so
- 5,000 / 30 = 167.67
- Bet an average of $167.67 per day to meet the requirements
- Make slots spins worth $0.25 apiece
- Complete 500 spins per hour
- 500 x 0.25 = $125 wagered per hour
- 167.67 / 125 = 1.34 hours
- You need to play slots for an average of 1.34 hours per day to reach the requirements.
If playing slots for this long each day doesn’t fit into your schedule, then consider a bonus deal that offers a longer time frame. Another option includes making a smaller deposit so that the wagering requirements are easier to reach.
Check stipulations on games for each promo code
Another important aspect of terms and conditions is game stipulations. Internet casinos weigh games differently in regard to wagering requirements. The house edge is the main determinant in deciding this.
Online slots, keno, and scratch cards give casinos the biggest advantage. Therefore, these games have the lowest playthrough requirements.
Video poker and table games such as baccarat, blackjack, craps, and roulette have a lower house edge. The trade-off is that they also feature higher playthrough.
Don’t let high wagering requirements scare you, though, because this doesn’t always indicate a worse deal. The following example shows that slots and table games are comparable when unlocking deposit bonuses:
- You’re deciding whether to play slots or blackjack to earn a $50 bonus
- Slots carry 20x the bonus wagering requirements.
- 50 x 20 = $1,000 must be wagered
- You play a slot with 95 percent payback
- 1,000 x 0.05 = $50 theoretical loss
- Blackjack features 100x the bonus wagering requirements
- 50 x 100 = $5,000 must be wagered
- You’re playing a blackjack game with a 0.5 percent house edge (w/ perfect strategy)
- 5,000 x 0.005 = $25 theoretical loss
Despite having wagering requirements that are five times as high, blackjack helps you keep more bonus money in this example. This is why it’s important to compare playthrough between different games to determine which is the best approach mathematically.
Also, note that the exact games you choose have a big impact on your bonus earnings. Baccarat (as low as 1.06% house edge) and european roulette (2.70%) have the same playthrough requirements at many online casinos. But baccarat’s lower house advantage gives you a stronger chance to collect bonus profits.
What are good wagering requirements for PA online casino deposit bonuses?
The standard for slots playthrough is 20x the bonus amount. This is a fair deal that sees you theoretically break-even on slots with 95-percent payback and profit with anything above this amount.
You’ll find casinos that deviate from the norm by offering 5x or 30x requirements. The former is an exceptional offer and gives you a great chance to profit on slots with a return of 95 percent or higher. Meanwhile, 30x playthrough is as bad as it gets.
Here’s an example on how varying slots wagering requirements affect bonus winnings:
- You’re eligible for a $100 bonus at two PA internet casinos
- You play a slot with 96 percent payback at both sites
- One casino has 10x playthrough
- 100 x 10 = $1,000 must be wagered
- 1,000 x 0.04 = $40 theoretical loss
- The other casino has 30x playthrough
- 100 x 30 = $3,000 must be wagered
- 3,000 x 0.04 = $120 theoretical loss
The first casino sees you walk away with a $60 theoretical profit. The second casino sees you lose $20.
You should aim for table game playthrough of at least 100x the bonus. A 100x requirement on a one-percent house edge game offers the same chance to earn bonus profits as a slot with 95-percent payback and a 20x turnover.
The worst playthrough on the international online casino market is 200x. Here’s a comparison between this and the 100x requirements:
- You’re eligible for a $200 bonus at two casinos
- You play baccarat (1.06% house edge) at both sites
- The first casino has 100x wagering requirements
- 200 x 100 = $20,000 must be wagered
- 20,000 x 0.0106 = $212 theoretical loss
- $200 – $212 = -$12 net losses
- The other casino has 200x wagering requirements
- 200 x 200 = $40,000 must be wagered
- 40,000 x 0.0106 = $424 theoretical loss
- $200 – $424 = -$224 net losses
You’ll theoretically end up losing in both cases. But the first casino sees you lose $12 . Meanwhile, the second casino leaves you with $224 in theoretical losses.
How to evaluate PA online casino promo codes
Great bonuses are a general theme in the regulated US online gaming market. This is true in states such as delaware and new jersey.
You can really see the separation when comparing regulated sites to offshore casinos. An offshore casino operates in unregulated markets, which cover most of the US. These operations are usually housed in caribbean countries that have lax standards regarding internet gaming.
Their bonus deals are designed to guarantee the casino a profit over the average player. Standard wagering requirements on offshore bonuses are typically 40x, which is worse than anything seen in regulated states.
Here’s a comparison between playing for a $100 bonus at an offshore and a regulated casino:
- An offshore casino’s wagering requirements are 40x the bonus
- 40 x 100 = $4,000 must be wagered
- A pennsylvania casino’s wagering requirements are 20x the bonus.
- 20 x 100 = $2,000 must be wagered
- A player pursues both bonuses on a slot with 95-percent payback
- 4,000 x 0.05 = $200 theoretical loss at the offshore casino
- 2,000 x 0.05 = $100 theoretical loss at the PA casino
When accounting for the bonus, you’d theoretically break-even in this scenario at a US online casino. Meanwhile, you’d lose $100 when going for the same bonus at the offshore casino.
Bonus codes vs. Promo codes
You’ll see the terms bonus codes and promo codes used throughout internet gaming. This can lead players to wonder if there’s a big difference between the two.
For the most part, bonus and promo codes are used interchangeably to describe welcome bonuses. One casino may mention how you must use a bonus code to get their welcome bonus package, while another casino will describe it as a promo code. The two are the same in that you must enter them upon signing up to get the deal.
However, one key distinction is when promo codes are used to describe a temporary promotion. For example, a PA casino might email you about a 100-percent deposit bonus for existing members. And they’ll state that you must use a specific promo code when depositing. In this context, a promo code applies only to short-term promotions.
However, in most cases, the only thing you need to worry about is ensuring that you enter the correct code during registration or in the cashier.
Overview of pennsylvania’s casino market
Pennsylvania is one of the largest regulated gaming markets in the US. The state has over 12.8 million residents and 12 land-based gambling venues that can offer internet gaming.
10 of these casinos are resorts or racinos, while the other two are small slots parlors. Pennsylvania will feature another casino in 2020 when the south philadelphia sports complex is scheduled to complete their gaming venue.
Here’s the current list of PA land-based casinos:
Casinos must hold separate licensing to offer online slots, table games, and poker. Individual licenses cost $4 million, while a casino can purchase all three internet gaming licenses for $10 million. Considering these relatively high expenses, some smaller casinos are still pondering their entry into the market.
Given the large number of eligible casinos, competition is fierce in PA’s new internet gaming market.
So, let's see, what we have: complete list of online casinos in pennsylvania. Play live dealer games, online slots, blackjack, & more at legal online casino apps & sites in PA. At pa online casinos slots
No comments:
Post a Comment