Online Poker Real Money Pa

There's no better place to learn and play poker. Please note that real money play is only possible when physically located in the state of Pennsylvania. The best poker tournaments. PokerStars is home to the best online poker. With online poker legal in PA, many of the biggest names in online poker have returned. They include Party Poker, PokerStars and 888 (under the WSOP.com brand). Online poker has come a long way over. Pennsylvania was the fourth US state to officially legalize online poker. Real money online poker arrived in 2019 when PokerStars officially soft launched its PA online poker site on Nov. Since that launch.

It has been a long wait for poker to return to Pennsylvania. With online poker legal in PA, many of the biggest names in online poker have returned. They include Party Poker, PokerStars and 888 (under the WSOP.com brand).

Online poker has come a long way over the years. Poker sites now offer real money games on your iPhone or Android along with the traditional desktop format. These sites have released new variations including fast-fold poker, lottery sit and go’s, and progressive knockout tournaments.

This page offers everything you need to find the best PA poker games, bonuses and apps. We also provide you with a list of no deposit and welcome bonus offers, which will give you a legitimate shot at building your bankroll from scratch.

Play online poker in PA at PokerStars

Is online poker legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes, when Gov. Tom Wolf signed bill H 271 into law on Oct. 30, 2017, online gambling became legal in Pennsylvania. This bill includes poker, casino table games, slots, and sports betting. That made Pennsylvania the fourthstate to legalize online poker.

Seven of the 13 casino license holders in Pennsylvania applied for licenses to operate online poker sites.

The PGCB put together regulations to govern Pennsylvania online poker sites that include the followingrules:

• Players must be 21 years or older.
• Sites must verify the identification of all potential players.
• Players must be located inside state lines to play.
• Sites must verify all players’ location using geolocation software.

How online poker works in PA

If you want to play online poker in Pennsylvania right now, you’ll have one option – PokerStars. So, you will need to download the PokerStars client on your laptop or mobile phone / tablet.

Once your account is active, you can login and head to the lobby. Within this area, you can access games of almost every type and size under the sun.

One thing to note, however, is that every player you encounter will be physically inside Pennsylvania at the time. In fact, in order to play at PA online poker site, you will have to verify your location through geolocation software before you will be allowed to sit down at a table.

While that requirement might be a bit irritating, the good news is that the player pool you’re facing might not be only from Pennsylvania for long. Pennsylvania regulators have long hinted they are interested in joining the Multi-state Compact, which would allow players from New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware to come together on Pennsylvania poker sites. This means the player pool and traffic would increase significantly, allowing you more options for cash games and tournaments.

Online Poker Real Money Paytm

Best online poker sites in Pennsylvania

At least for the time being, the new PA poker rooms will only be for players in the Keystone State. Building a critical mass of players is important. The site(s) that get the most traction will be able to offer bigger tournaments, better promotions and a great choice of real money games.

Here are three poker sites we know that have or are expected to launch in 2020:

PokerStars PA: This was the first site to launch. PokerStars has amazing software covering both desktop and mobile devices. You will be able to play the new “spin and go” format, and try out the range of cash games, tournaments and sit and goes. PokerStars offers new players $30 in free play with just a small deposit. This includes spin and go tickets as well as cash. Alternatively, you can get a 100% matched bonus, up to $600. It is also well known for promotions, loyalty rewards and poker tournament events.

Party Poker: The original online poker site will soon be back in Pennsylvania. This partnership is with Valley Forge Casino. While a lot has changed, including brand-new software, the recreational feel to the play at this site remains in place. In other states, Party Poker has given away $25 completely free for new players to check out the games. New poker games include “Spins” and “Fast Forward Poker.” You will find plenty of action at the small stakes cash games, too.

WSOP.com Poker: This brand uses the smooth poker software produced by 888. It is part of the Caesars Entertainment “World Series of Poker” brand. It is licensed by Harrah’s Philadelphia. You can qualify for WSOP tournaments around the country online. New poker formats include Blast Poker and Snap (fast fold) poker. WSOP.com offers generous matched welcome bonuses in other regulated states. This includes a $10 no-deposit bonus, plus a matched deposit bonus up to $1,000.

Playing for free vs. real money at PA poker sites

You can choose to play real money poker games — or play for fun with free play options on the Pennsylvania poker sites. While the free poker games can be entertaining, you need to be aware that the skill gap between players at free and real money sites is massive.

If you jump to real cash games and employ the same strategy that play-money players use, you will be relieved of your bankroll quickly. Read up on some poker strategy, play fewer tables and take careful notes on your opponents in the real money cash games.

Online poker for real money attracts skilled players. If you are able to beat the $1/$2 game in your local casino, you might well struggle to beat the same size game online. Start small, making sure you can beat the regulars at each buy-in level before you move up.

When you jump from free poker to real money, taking advantage of the welcome bonus offers can give your bankroll a big boost. Some sites like Party Poker offer the chance to join special beginner tables for the first 30 days. This will keep you out of the crosshairs of the poker pros while you sharpen your online skills.

PA online poker games

There are four main types of games that you will find in Pennsylvania’s online poker sites. They are:

• Cash games – Cash games are available at any time in both real money and play money mode. Cash games have a fixed minimum and maximum buy-in limits, and play is available for almost any amount of money. Tables usually seat 6 or 9 players, although it is possible to play heads-up.
• Tournaments – Tournaments are scheduled around the clock in a variety of formats. You can expect rebuys, bounties and even fast-fold, where you can fold and move onto the next table without waiting for the current hand to play out. Prize pools range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. If you’re looking for the big guarantees, you’ll want to check out the weekend lineup. The buy-ins at PA poker rooms vary from a dollar up to a few hundred.
• Sit n’ Go Tournaments – SNG tournaments are perfect if you don’t have time to wait for an MTT. These events run when they reach a certain number of entrants and buy-ins. They also have predetermined prizepools and payouts, and tend to be smaller events than the scheduled tournaments. Some of these tournaments can come with a jackpot feature, which can give each player a chance at an outsized payout.
• Fast-fold games – These games are cash games at their core. However, as you play, you are switched to a new table immediately after folding the previous hand. Thus, you will end up playing with a larger group of people, but you will end up seeing far more hands than at a typical cash table.

Real money poker vs. free play

Real money poker sites in PA is limited to just one site. PokerStars was the first site in Pennsylvania to offer online poker.

Although you can play free online poker, the players on play money sites have no regard for playing wisely or skillfully. Since they can only lose faux currency, anyway, they figure that there’s no reason not to chase a draw, even if it’s a minute one.

However, real money PA sites are not equivalent to friendly games, or even live poker games in a casino. As a general rule, in fact, they require far more skill and focus to master than equivalent live games.

Most long-term successful players on real money sites keep detailed notes on their play, study the game all the time, and are always looking for ways to improve their return. Even breakeven players have to be more cautious, since the ratio of sharks is so much higher.

Many players on real money sites play multiple games at once, too. This practice can lead to higher profits for the very skillful, but please be careful not to overwhelm yourself.

Don’t misunderstand – real money poker sites are still fine to play. It’s just important that you know what you’re getting yourself into before you begin trying to win real cash.

Online poker apps vs. downloading the poker client

For most online poker games, using a mobile app is preferable since it’s easy and you can play anywhere. However, due to the nature of poker, players actually prefer to use their laptops or desktops to play.

There are a couple of reasons for this preference. For one thing, a laptop/desktop with a larger screen and mouse makes it that much easier play multiple games simultaneously. Multi-tabling three or four games on an app leaves room for error. It’s easy to click call when you meant to fold.

Another reason to prefer a land-based computer is that it might come with a more stable internet connection and setup than a mobile device. Losing a connection can result in a hand being lost, and depending on the situation, such an outcome could be disastrous.

Nevertheless, you can play online poker using either your laptop or your mobile device. PokerStars offers both options, including apps for both iPhones/iPads and Android users.

Please be aware that you will have to verify your location using a specialized app if you choose to use a personal computer for access. The apps will use your device’s GPS to determine your location automatically.

Online poker variations

Most of the action in the online poker market revolves around No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha. That said, some sites offer other poker variants.

Find yourself on the right site at the right time and there may be your favorite poker variant running, including RAZZ, HORSE, or 2-7 Triple Draw.

No-Limit Hold’em

The biggest cash game in real money poker is far and away No-Limit Hold’em. You’ll find stakes ranging from $0.01/$0.02 to $25/$50 with 6-max and full, 9-handed tables.

That said, most of the games are micro- and low-stakes action. Games beyond $1/$2 do not run regularly. Neither does the more pedestrian Limit Hold’em version of the game, where the stakes go as high as $100/$200, but the player pool is rather small.

Pot-Limit Omaha

You’ll find Pot-Limit Omaha at online poker sites, just not as many tables running as No-Limit Hold ’em. Stakes range from $0.01/$0.02 to $25/$50. However, there isn’t much action in the micros. Instead, it’s $0.50/$1 and $0.25/$0.50 tables running most days.

Other Omahavariants, like Hi-Lo, may be available on the sites, but again, the player pools are small to non-existent.

Stud

You might find poker sites that claim to offer stud games, even RAZZ. What you won’t find are the players to fill those games. Stakes will generally range from $0.50/$1 to $40/$80, but it’s $0/$0 with a nonexistent player pool most of the time.

HORSE, 2-7 Triple Draw, other variants

Poker is more than hold ’em and Omaha, but PA poker online isn’t really. Some of the more notable poker brands claim to offer games, including HORSE and 2-7 Triple Draw, but it usually applies to specializedtournaments.

Cash games for variants like this do not run regularly because the demand isn’t there. But never say never. After all, most sites’ clients support these formats, and if their popularity increases, you’ll perhaps find action.

Fast-fold games

Most online poker clients support some version of fast-fold games like PokerStars’ Zoom tables, though not at first. Once you fold your hand, you are instantly transported to a different table to start another one. This format requires a large player pool, so it will not always be running on the PA sites that eventually will have it.

Multi-table tournaments

All online poker clients offer a daily schedule of No-Limit Hold’em multi-table tournaments (MTT) with buy-ins ranging from $1 to $50. Some even come with prize pool guarantees.

There’s plenty of micro- and low-stakes action daily, but the bigger buy-in MTTs are usually reserved for Sundays. The high traffic PA online poker sites run Sunday majors with buy-ins from $50 to $500 and guaranteed prize pools of up to $50,000.

Sit & Go tournaments

Poker sites offer No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Sit & Go tournaments. Most have nine-handed, six-max, and heads-up formats. Buy-ins range from as low as $0.25 to $500. These games go off when the players are there, which is usually limited to peak prime-time hours.

Lottery Sit & Go tournaments

Lottery Sit & Go tournaments, like PokerStars’ Spin N’ Go tournaments, are three-handed Sit & Go tournaments with randomized prize pools, ranging anywhere from two buy-ins to 1,000 buy-ins.

The odds are slim that you’ll be playing for the max, but Lottery Sit & Go tourneys, from $1 to $25, should run regularly. This format has become more popular than standard Sit & Go tournaments themselves.

Poker bonuses and first deposit offers

The best poker sites offer a variety of no deposit and first deposit bonuses to try to attract new players. Also, they offer various rewards programs that are intended to help retain players.

Here’s a look at some of the larger poker sites, and the types of bonus offers and rewards programs they provide.

PokerStars PA

PokerStars PA is giving new players a choice of either one of two welcomes bonuses. Players can claim a $30 free package using the marketing code FREE30 on first deposits of $20 or more. It includes $20 in cash, $10 within 36 hours and the rest after seven days. It also includes five Spin N’ Go tickets valued at $10.

Meanwhile, another welcome package offers a 100% match of up to $600 on first deposits. Players can claim this one using the PokerStars PA bonus code STARS600. This bonus clears at a rate of $10 for every 100 VIP Player Points earned, which works out to 55% rakeback.

In addition, PokerStars runs a rewards program for players, which offers chests of valuable and varying rewards. In the end, it adds up to be about 55% rakeback as well.

How to get money on and off the sites

The goal of every PA poker site will be to make the process of moving your funds as easy as possible and for fast payouts.

That means each site will offer a variety of easy-to-use deposit and withdrawalmethods and are always on the lookout to add new ones. It usually will mean that whatever way you used to make a deposit, you can also use it to make a withdrawal. However, other options are available, too.

Here’s a list of all the poker deposit and withdrawal methods available:

Visa and Mastercard: You can use the most well-known credit card brands in the world at most PA online poker sites. However, some issuing banks may not authorize online gambling transactions, meaning another deposit method will need to be employed.

The following list of issuing banks decline online gambling transactions regularly:

• Bank of America
• Capital One
• Chase/JP Morgan
• Wells Fargo
• TD Bank
• Santander Bank
• Huntington Bank

Types of deposit options available

• Play+: This prepaid credit card acts like both a credit card and an e-wallet account, and several Pennsylvania online poker sites accept it. You can fund the Play+ prepaid card using a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card, or even a checking account.
• Prepaid Cards: Prepaid cards are a safe and convenient alternative method of depositing on Pennsylvania online poker sites. You can load money onto a prepaid card and then use it to deposit on a poker site. Several credit card companies offer prepaid credit cards, and some online poker sites have a branded-prepaid card.
• Cash at the casino cage: Legal, regulated online poker sites in Pennsylvania are all affiliated with a PA casino. Most will accept cash deposits at the cashier cages inside these casinos.
• PayPal: PayPal is the largest third-party payment processor in the world. PayPal allows you to funnel money to the sites from several sources, including your bank account.
• ACH e-checks: ACH allows you to write an electronic check to the online poker site of your choice. In other words, ACH helps you move funds between your bank account and that of an online poker site.
• PayNearMe: The convenience store 7-Eleven, CVSPharmacies, and financial services provider PayNearMe have created a financial services management app, which allows users to make bill payments. You can make payments to PA online poker sites with cash at these locations.
• Online banking: If you can make bill payments online, the chances are that you can deposit at an online poker site from your bank account as well.

PA online poker gears up for launches

Online poker in PA rolled out November 2020 through PokerStars via Mount Airy Casino. The online poker site attracted more players than PokerStars drew on its established site in NJ.

The primary poker games in Pennsylvania is Hold’em, followed by Omaha. Sunday tournaments at PokerStars are offering reasonable buy-ins and larger guarantees than their counterpart site in New Jersey.

Online poker in Pennsylvania began as a fenced-in market; however, at least a couple of sites should eventually join forces to create a PA-only network.

Right now, only WSOP.com and 888Poker sites do this.

Pennsylvania will eventually join the compact known as the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association compact, which gives sites in Delaware, Nevada, and NewJersey the right to share player pools with the Keystone State, boosting the pool.

Introductory promotions include several bonuses and freeroll offers, meant to lock down market share right out of the gate.

To retain players, online poker sites will also likely offer customers competitive rakeback or a loyalty rewardsprogram. PokerStars uses a randomized chest-base program with real money prizes.

PA poker and compacts

Online poker in PA is launching as a fenced-in market. That means only players inside PA can play, and also that sites in the state are not sharing player pools with others on the outside.

There’s no need for residency to play, but PA poker sites will use geolocation software to verify that you are within the state; there’s no getting around that.

Considering the population, online poker in PA is expected to quickly become the largest intrastate online poker market in the US.

The nature of the fenced-in market means PA poker sites won’t be sharing player pools with those in any other states, but that should happen eventually.

The state ultimately anticipated joining such agreements when it built provisions into its online poker legislation allowing for sharedliquidity.

This legislation gives the PGCB the authority to enter into these kinds of agreements with other states. Plus, it allows licensed operators to offer games to out-of-state players, and local players to participate in out-of-state networks.

PA could join shared liquidity compact

Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware launched the first licensed and regulated online poker sites in the US in November 2013.

At the time, all three states launched as fenced-in markets. Nevada and Delaware then signed an interstate compact known as the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association (MSIGA), allowing sites in each to start sharing player pools in 2015. New Jersey signed on to that interstate compact in October 2017.

WSOP.com and 888 Poker are the only operators with sites in all three states and were the first to apply to launch tri-state shared liquidity games.

The first-ever real money poker games featuring players in all three states launched on April 30, 2018. Since then, WSOP.com has been able to host multi-state online WSOP bracelet events in New Jersey and Nevada.

The hope is PA can make it a four-state market within the next year. The US shared liquidity online poker market could potentially double in size if PA comes aboard.

Poker partnerships

Below is a look at the PA casinos planning to launch online poker. It also includes which online poker operators they’re planning to partner with, when each license was approved, and when they expect to launch:

PA poker card rooms

Pennsylvania plays host to one of the most extensive live poker scenes in the US. Live poker became legal in 2010. Here’s a look at the 10 poker rooms in the Keystone State that have launched since then, their locations, and what they have to offer poker players.

Parx poker room

In 2018, Parx underwent a $50 million expansion, which included a 48-table, state-of-the-art poker room on the property.

The room features low- to mid-stakes No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha games, plus higher-stakes action most nights. The $15/$30 limit games also run with higher mixed games featuring variants you won’t find elsewhere, including games like Omaha 8-Or-Better, Big O, and SuperStud.

Parx is also well-known for its seasonal BigStax tournament series and nightly tournaments.

• Address: 2999 Street Rd, Bensalem
• Phone Number:+1 888-588-7279

Wind Creek Bethlehem poker room

Wind Creek inherited the second-highest-grossing poker room in the state when it took over Sands Bethlehem. There are $1/$2 and $2/$5 No-Limit Hold’em runs every day inside the 30-table card room. Higher-stakes action runs on most weekends when there are Omaha, Limit Hold’em, and stud games available.

There are nightly tournaments. However, we have yet to see what Wind Creek will do to replace the popular seasonal Sands DeepStack Extravaganza series.

• Address: 77 Wind Creek Blvd, Bethlehem
• Phone:(484) 777-7777

Rivers Casino Philadelphia poker room

The Poker Night in America poker room at Rivers Casino Philadelphia, the former SugarHouse Casino, is currently the only poker room in Philadelphia. However, Live! Philadelphia Casino is building a room that should open in the city before the end of next year.

Rivers has 28tables featuring low-stakes, No-Limit Hold’em, a daily tournament schedule and regular Rush Challenge events, which feature a $250 buy-in tournament with a $100,000 guarantee.

• Address: 1001 N Delaware Ave, Philadelphia
• Phone: (877) 477-3715

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh poker room

The Rivers Casino Pittsburgh 30-table poker room sits across a parking lot from Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. There’s 24/7 No-Limit Hold’em action with stakes running from $1/$2 to $10/$20. Pot-Limit Omaha and Limit Hold’em games also run occasionally.

The tournament schedule features two daily events six days a week, with the room running regular promotions.

• Address:777 Casino Dr, Pittsburgh
• Phone: (412) 231-7777

Harrah’s Philadelphia poker room

Harrah’s Philadelphia is actually on the Delaware River in Chester. The poker room features 28 tables spreading No-Limit Hold’em and some limit games. For the most part, it’s $1/$2 or $1/$3 No-Limit Hold ’em.

The tournament schedule features two daily events and satellites into the World Series of Poker Main Event in LasVegas.

• Address: 777 Harrah’s Blvd, Chester
• Phone:(484) 490-1800

Penn National Casino poker room

The 17-table poker room at Hollywood Casino at Penn National is pretty much a $1/$2 No-Limit Hold’em room. Although higher-stakes games, Pot-Limit Omaha, and Limit Hold’em sometimes run on the weekends.

There are tournaments six days a week and a Bad Beat Jackpot promotion.

• Address: 777 Hollywood Blvd, Grantville
• Phone:(717) 469-2211

Mohegan Sun Pocono poker room

The poker room at Mohegan Sun Pocono runs dailytournaments often featuring bounty structures. Promotions include a Bad Beat Jackpot for cash games and tourneys.

The atmosphere is relaxed with the action of the low-limit variety. There are sometimes 20 or so $1/$2 No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and Limit Hold’em games on weekends.

• Address: 1280 PA-315, Wilkes-Barre
• Phone:(570) 831-2100

The Meadows Racetrack & Casino poker room

The Meadows Racetrack & Casino is outside of Pittsburgh. The poker room includes 14 tables, all with a view of the live horse racing action. It hosts No-Limit Hold’em, Limit Hold’em, and Pot-Limit Omaha cash games. Plus, tournaments run twice daily, six days a week, and special events on Sundays.

The room is an annual stop on the Heartland Poker Tour.

• Address:210 Racetrack Rd, Washington
• Phone:(724) 503-1200

Mount Airy Casino Resort poker room

The poker room at Mount Airy Casino Resort features only nine tables that usually offer low-limit, No-Limit Hold’em. There’s a High Hand promotion.

• Address: 312 Woodland Rd, Mt Pocono
• Phone: (877) 682-4791

Presque Isle Downs poker room

Presque Isle Downs, in Erie, features the smallest poker room in the state with only seven tables.

However, it offers a tournamentschedule that runs six days a week with guaranteed prize pools.

• Address: 8199 Perry Hwy, Erie
• Phone Number:+1-866-374-3386

PA online casinos are up and running, and growing fast.

If you are 21 years or older and inside Pennsylvania state lines, you can now enjoy online slots, table games, and video poker from your desktop computer or mobile devices.

This page contains all the information you need to start playing at online casinos in PA.

Below is a guide to the games you can play for free and for realmoney at PA online casinos. After that, you’ll find information on apps, bonuses, safety, and geolocationtechnology.

Regulated casinos also include protection for problem gamblers, which we cover at the end of this page.

Best online casinos in Pennsylvania 2021

Real money and free online casino games in Pennsylvania

You can play most games at PA casinos online for fun. Playing games in demomode, or with play-money chips, allows you to find the titles you like before you gamble.

The only category of games that are notavailable for free play is live dealer table games. You can watch them, though you will not be able to wager on them – at least yet.

The current offerings on real money online casinos in PA are growing, and fast. Casino sites regularly add new games as they are approved by the PA Gaming Control Board (PGCB).

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.

Play PA online casino games for real money

The number of Pennsylvania online casinos is now in double-digits. All of the PA casino apps are available 24/7 and offer online slots, video poker, and table games such as roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. Use this table to compare the real money casinos in PA.

PA online slots

Slots are the biggest category of games for any online casino. You can expect to see over 200 games listed on some sites 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 WolfRun. You can also find traditional three-reel slots. Online slot studios like IGT created these.

When you browse the tiled graphics for slots to enjoy, you’ll see progressivejackpots listed underneath many of them. These pools can get massive, up to $1 million or more.

Table games at PA online casinos

Tablegames are a broad category, although it mostly covers all the casino games played on the greenfelt.

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. Otherwise, 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 PennsylvaniaGaming 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 real money online casinos opening in PA in quick succession, you can be sure they will be competing to attract new players.

This means 2021 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 sweepstakescasinos, 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 watchfuleye 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 fromanywhere. 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 “falsenegatives.” 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 proxyserver, you might still experience issues. Mobile users on 4G and close to the state border who experience problems can download additionalgeolocationsoftware 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.

PA casinos eligible to offer online gambling in Pennsylvania

In total, there are 13 licensed casinos that can legally offer online casino games, including slots and blackjack.

• Harrah’s Philadelphia
• Hollywood Casino
• Meadows Casino
• Mohegan Sun Pocono
• Mount Airy Casino Resort
• Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
• Parx Casino
• Presque Isle Downs
• Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
• Rivers Casino Philadelphia (formerly SugarHouse Casino)
• Wind Creek Casino Resort (formerly Sands Bethlehem)
• Valley Forge Resort Casino
• Live! Casino Philadelphia

In the first month of 2020, FanDuel Casino, BetAmerica, and BetRivers Casino launched just before the Super Bowl. The long-awaited Caesars Online Casino in partnership with Harrah’s Philadelphia followed in April.

Rivers Philadelphia (Formerly SugarHouse Casino) was 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.

On May 1, 2020, DraftKings Online Casino went live, becoming the second interactive gaming site under the Hollywood Casino license. Meadows, DraftKings’ land-based partner for online sports betting, does not hold an online casino license. But both Meadows and Hollywood are owned by Penn National Gaming, which has a market-access deal with DraftKings.

FanDuel and DraftKings originally launched online casinos that were integrated with their sportsbooks. Now, both have stand-alone online casino apps live in PA.

In late July 2020, Wind Creek Bethlehem dove into the online betting scene, launching the Wind Creek online casino through a partnership with Pala Interactive. PlayLive! online casino followed in August, and BetMGM online casino and sportsbooks debuted in PA in December 2020.

Borgata online casino went live in PA, the first market for the brand outside of NJ, in February 2021 in partnership with Rivers Philadelphia.

Live Pennsylvania casinos

There are currently 14 licensed gambling properties in the state of Pennsylvania with the latest additions of Live! Pittsburgh and Live! Philadelphia.

According to PGCB, this includes 11 stand-alone and racetrack casinos (Category 1 and 2), two smaller resort casinos (Category 3), and one Category 4 “mini-casino” – Live! Casino Pittsburgh. These gaming establishments employ approximately 18,000 people and generate close to $1.4 billion in tax revenue annually.

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 tenCategory 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 were 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, 2019 but there were no bidders. In Sept. 2020, the PGCB opened bidding for one license and Ira Lubertwon it for $10,000,101. He plans to build in Centre County, near State College, PA. In all, $124 million in license fees were raised.

Pennsylvania problem gambling support

A system for self-exclusion for problemgamblers 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.

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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 has gotten 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:

The year began on a high, but that soon changed as the spread of COVID-19 led to the shuttering of all retail casinos and racetracks in PA by mid-March. That meant furloughs for casino employees and falling casino stock prices.

Online sportsbooks were also hit hard, with most sports sidelined for a lengthy period of time.

On a positive note, three more online casinos joined the market before the Super Bowl. The FanDuel online casino made quite a splash, surging to highest handle and revenue earner after its first full month in February.

The long-awaited Caesars sportsbook went live on March 10 in partnership with Harrah’s Philadelphia, bringing the state’s online sports betting apps to a total of nine. The Caesars online casino followed on April 23, making it nine internet casinos too. An online poker room under the WSOP.com name is expected to follow.

On May 1, DraftKings added an online casino product to its established online sportbook. Its online casino product is under the Hollywood Casino license, while the DraftKings sportsbook partners with Penn’s other PA property, The Meadows. Both FanDuel and DraftKings later debuted standalone online casino apps in June and July, respectively.

Wind Creek launched its first online product with an online casino in late July, and Live! Casino brought PlayLive! online casino to PA in mid-August. Live! was the only casino to launch iGaming ahead of retail openings which followed in early 2021.

BetMGM also launched an online sportsbook and online casino in December 2020, the former in partnership with Hollywood Casino Morgantown and the latter under the Hollywood Casino at Penn National license.

Online wagering sparked and sportsbooks blossomed.

With sportsbooks, there were just three operations at the beginning of the year, and all were retail. By the end of the year, the Keystone State had 12 retail sportsbooks.

But eight online sportsbooks were also running by year’s end, with around 84% of all sports wagering done online. Taken together, sports betting took in more than a billion bucks in 2019.

Five online casino sites went live, the first ones launching in July, though a new Wire Act opinion likely slowed that market segment at the start.

And at long last, an online poker site finally launched. On Nov. 4, FOX Bet was joined by PokerStars Casino and PokerStars PA, making poker a reality in the Keystone State.

In October 2019, SugarHouse changed its name to Rivers Casino Philadelphia, but not before launching the first PA online sportsbook in May. PlaySugarHouse sportsbook and online casino still retain the SugarHouse name.

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, 2018. The new law allows for a wide range of new gambling ventures, including:

• Online casinos
• Video gambling terminals (VGTs)
• Daily fantasy sports (DFS)
• Satellite casinos
• Sports betting

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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.

New licensing fees brought in more than $311 million for the state.

The PA Lottery launched several new games and created the online platform iLottery.

A US Supreme Court ruling allowed sports wagering to begin and nine of 12 properties immediately applied for licenses.

Total gambling revenue topped $3.4 billion.

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.

The law was approved at the end of October.

The law ushered in sportsbook wagering and video game terminals at truck stops, and a new category of “mini-casinos” was created. As part of the expansion, horse racing money from casino slot revenue was encumbered in a trust fund. The slot money was originally set aside as part of the deal which led to the 2004 approval of casinos.

Casinos set a revenue record of $3.227 billion.

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.