Quick Legal Status
| Field | Status |
|---|---|
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Online Casino Games | Legal — licensed and regulated |
| Online Sports Betting | Legal — retail and mobile |
| Online Poker | Legal — MSIGA shared player pool |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | Legal |
| State Lottery | Yes — includes iLottery (online games) |
| Minimum Gambling Age | 21 for casino, iGaming, and sports betting / 18 for lottery |
| Regulatory Body | Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) |
| Last Legal Update | 2025 — Pennsylvania joined MSIGA interstate poker compact |
Legal Overview
Pennsylvania is one of the most comprehensive legal gambling markets in the United States. The state legalized land-based casino gambling in 2004, expanded to online casino games, online poker, and sports betting through the Gaming Expansion Act of 2017, and joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) in 2025. As of 2026, Pennsylvania residents have access to a full suite of licensed, state-regulated online gambling options — and Pennsylvania is the only state that offers both regulated online casino gaming and an online lottery (iLottery).
What’s Legal
Online casino games (iGaming) are fully legal in Pennsylvania. Governor Tom Wolf signed the Gaming Expansion Act (Act 42 of 2017, HB 271) on October 30, 2017. The regulated iGaming market launched in July 2019. Online casino sites must be licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) and affiliated with a licensed land-based Pennsylvania casino. Approximately 20 or more licensed platforms are currently operating.
Online poker is legal in Pennsylvania as part of the same 2017 expansion. The online poker market launched in November 2019. Pennsylvania is a member of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), enabling licensed PA poker platforms to share player pools with Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, and West Virginia. Pennsylvania joined MSIGA in 2025, becoming the sixth member state and significantly expanding the shared player pool.
Online sports betting became legal on November 15, 2018, when Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course accepted the first legal retail sports wager. Mobile sports betting launched in May 2019. Act 42 of 2017 authorized sports wagering contingent on the repeal of the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which the U.S. Supreme Court struck down on May 14, 2018.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) are legal in Pennsylvania and regulated by the PGCB.
The Pennsylvania Lottery has operated since 1972 under Act 91 of 1971. Revenue benefits programs for older Pennsylvanians (seniors 65 and older), including property tax relief and prescription assistance. The PA Lottery launched iLottery in 2018, offering online instant-win games, draw game purchases, and Keno (drawings every 4 minutes). Players must be 18 or older.
What’s Not Legal
There is no category of mainstream gambling that Pennsylvania has not legalized. Pennsylvania does not have tribal casinos — the state’s gaming market is entirely state-regulated through the PGCB licensing framework.
Key Legislation
| Year | Law / Event | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Act 71 (Race Horse Development and Gaming Act) | Established PGCB; authorized slots at racetracks and stand-alone casinos |
| 2010 | Act 1 (Table games expansion) | Added table games to existing casinos |
| 2017 | Act 42 (Gaming Expansion Act, HB 271) | Legalized iGaming, online poker, sports betting, satellite casinos, DFS, VGTs |
| 2018 | PASPA overturned (May 14) | Federal law cleared for sports betting |
| 2018 | First retail sportsbook (Nov 15) | Hollywood Casino at Penn National accepts first legal sports wager |
| 2018 | iLottery launch | PA Lottery begins offering online games; Keno launched May 1, 2018 |
| 2019 | iGaming market launches (July) | Online casino games go live across licensed platforms |
| 2019 | Online poker launches (November) | PokerStars PA among the first licensed online poker rooms |
| 2019 | Mobile sports betting launches (May) | Multiple licensed sportsbook apps become available |
| 2025 | Pennsylvania joins MSIGA (April) | PA becomes 6th state in interstate poker compact |
Launch dates for iGaming (July 2019), online poker (November 2019), and mobile sports betting (May 2019) are reported at month-level precision based on multiple secondary sources. The PGCB press archive was unavailable during research verification.
Regulatory Structure
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) is the primary regulator for all forms of licensed gambling in Pennsylvania, including land-based casinos, online casino gaming (iGaming), online poker, sports wagering, video gaming terminals, and fantasy sports. The PGCB is an independent state agency, self-funded from gaming revenues and operating at no taxpayer expense.
The PGCB has seven voting board members — three appointed by the Governor and four appointed by the leadership of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Three additional non-voting ex officio members serve: the State Treasurer, the Secretary of Revenue, and the Secretary of Agriculture. The current Chair is Denise J. Smyler.
The Pennsylvania Lottery is overseen separately by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
| Authority | Jurisdiction | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) | Casino, iGaming, poker, sports betting, VGTs, fantasy sports | gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov |
| PGCB Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling | Responsible gambling, self-exclusion | responsibleplay.pa.gov |
| Pennsylvania Lottery | State lottery (including iLottery) | palottery.pa.gov |
Licensed Online Platforms
Online Casino (iGaming)
Pennsylvania has approximately 20 or more licensed online casino platforms as of 2026, making it one of the largest regulated iGaming markets in the United States. All operators must hold a PGCB interactive gaming certificate and must be affiliated with a licensed Pennsylvania land-based casino.
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| Platform | Casino Partner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BetMGM Casino PA | Hollywood Casino | Major national operator |
| DraftKings Casino PA | Hollywood Casino | Large game library; also operates sportsbook |
| FanDuel Casino PA | Valley Forge Casino Resort | Slots, table games, live dealer |
| Caesars Palace Online Casino PA | Harrah’s Philadelphia | Full casino and sportsbook |
| BetRivers Casino PA | Rivers Casino Philadelphia | PlaySugarHouse sister platform |
| BetParx Casino PA | Parx Casino | Parx-branded online platform |
| Borgata Casino PA | Rivers Casino Philadelphia | BetMGM network |
| Hollywood Casino Online PA | Hollywood Casino at Penn National | Flagship Penn Entertainment brand |
| PokerStars Casino PA | Mount Airy Casino Resort | Strong casino + poker product |
| Unibet Casino PA | Mohegan Pennsylvania | European operator brand |
This is a representative list, not a complete operator directory. For a current list of all licensed operators, visit gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov and look for the PGCB Internet Logo.
Player requirements: You must be 21 or older and physically located within Pennsylvania state lines. Geolocation software verifies your location before each session.
Online Poker
Pennsylvania’s regulated online poker market now operates within the MSIGA multi-state shared player pool. Pennsylvania joined MSIGA in 2025, becoming the sixth member state. As of 2026, seven platforms are licensed to offer online poker in Pennsylvania:
| Platform | MSIGA Pool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PokerStars PA | Yes | Shares tables with DE, MI, NV, NJ, WV |
| WSOP.com PA | Yes | Confirmed in 4-state pool (NV, NJ, MI, PA) |
| BetMGM Poker PA | Yes | Shares tables with DE, MI, NV, NJ, WV |
| BetRivers Poker PA | Yes | — |
| Borgata Poker PA | Yes | BetMGM network |
| DraftKings Poker PA | Yes | — |
| PlaySugarHouse Poker PA | Yes | BetRivers sister platform |
WSOP.com participation in the 4-state MSIGA shared pool (NV, NJ, MI, PA) has been confirmed from multiple sources. Participation status for other licensed PA platforms may vary pending technical integration; check individual operators for current shared-pool availability.
Pennsylvania’s population of approximately 13 million residents significantly expands the MSIGA player pool. As of 2026, MSIGA has six member states: Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting is legal in Pennsylvania through multiple licensed platforms. Operators must hold a PGCB sports wagering license. Pennsylvania’s sports betting tax rate is 36% on gross sports gaming revenue — among the highest in the nation.
As of 2026, eleven sportsbooks are licensed to offer online sports wagering in Pennsylvania:
| Platform | Notes |
|---|---|
| FanDuel Sportsbook | — |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | — |
| BetMGM Sportsbook | — |
| Caesars Sportsbook | — |
| BetRivers Sportsbook | — |
| BetParx Sportsbook | Parx Casino brand |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | — |
| Bet365 | International brand |
| Hollywood Casino Sportsbook | Penn Entertainment |
| PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook | BetRivers sister platform |
| Mohegan PA Sportsbook | Mohegan Tribal Gaming |
Players must be 21 or older and physically located within Pennsylvania.
Offshore Online Casinos
Because Pennsylvania has a fully licensed, regulated online casino market, MobileCasinoParty strongly recommends that Pennsylvania residents use only state-licensed operators. Licensed PA casinos offer verified fairness, consumer protections, dispute resolution through the PGCB, responsible gambling tools required by state law, and compliant winnings reporting.
The PGCB actively promotes its “Look for the Logo” campaign, encouraging players to verify the PGCB Internet Logo on all licensed operators’ websites. Unlicensed offshore operators do not carry PGCB logos and are not subject to Pennsylvania regulation.
MobileCasinoParty earns commissions from casino referrals through affiliate partnerships. This does not affect our ratings or reviews. Read our full Terms of Use for details.
Offshore Operators and Pennsylvania
Unlike New Jersey, Pennsylvania does not employ ISP-level blocking of offshore gambling sites. Most offshore operators reviewed on this site appear to accept Pennsylvania players. However, these platforms operate entirely outside Pennsylvania regulation and offer none of the consumer protections available through PGCB-licensed operators.
| Operator | PA Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bovada | Generally accepts PA players | Not PGCB-licensed; no PA consumer protections |
| Wild Casino | Status unconfirmed | Not independently verified for PA |
| Ignition Casino | Generally accepts PA players | Same group as Bovada |
| Cafe Casino | Generally accepts PA players | Same ownership group |
| Slots.LV | Generally accepts PA players | Same ownership group |
For Pennsylvania residents, we recommend using a licensed PA operator. Licensed PA operators provide PGCB-backed consumer protections, verified game fairness, and access to the statewide self-exclusion program — protections that offshore platforms cannot offer. Offshore access status can change without notice; always verify against an operator’s current Terms of Service.
Pennsylvania Lottery
The Pennsylvania Lottery has operated since 1972 under Act 91 of 1971. Unlike most state lotteries, Pennsylvania Lottery revenue is directed specifically to programs benefiting older Pennsylvanians (seniors 65 and older), including property tax and rent rebates, free and reduced-fare transportation, prescription assistance, and senior care services.
Pennsylvania is the only state that offers both regulated online casino gaming (iGaming) and online lottery games (iLottery).
| Product Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Multi-state jackpot games | Powerball, Mega Millions |
| In-state draw games | Pick 2, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, Treasure Hunt, Cash 5, Match 6 |
| iLottery (online) | Online instant-win games, draw game purchases, Keno (every 4 min) |
| Scratch-off tickets | Various price points and prize tiers |
| New game (2026) | Millionaire For Life (replaced Cash4Life, which retired February 21, 2026) |
Players must be 18 or older for all lottery products, including iLottery. Tickets are available at retail locations statewide and online at palottery.pa.gov.
Land-Based Casinos
Pennsylvania has 17 licensed casino properties across four categories established by the Gaming Act and its expansions. Pennsylvania has the second-largest casino market in the United States by gaming revenue, after Nevada.
Category 1 — Racinos (Racetrack Casinos)
| Casino | Location |
|---|---|
| Harrah’s Philadelphia | Chester, Delaware County |
| Hollywood Casino at Penn National | Grantville, Dauphin County |
| Hollywood Casino at The Meadows | North Strabane Twp., Washington County |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania | Plains Twp., Luzerne County |
| Parx Casino | Bensalem, Bucks County |
| Presque Isle Downs & Casino | Summit Twp., Erie County |
Category 2 — Stand-Alone Casinos
| Casino | Location |
|---|---|
| Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia | Philadelphia |
| Rivers Casino Philadelphia | Philadelphia |
| Rivers Casino Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh |
| Wind Creek Bethlehem | Bethlehem, Northampton County |
| Mount Airy Casino Resort | Mount Pocono, Monroe County |
Category 3 — Resort Casinos
| Casino | Location |
|---|---|
| The Casino at Nemacolin | Farmington, Fayette County |
| Valley Forge Casino Resort | King of Prussia, Montgomery County |
Category 4 — Satellite (Mini) Casinos
Act 42 of 2017 authorized up to 10 Category 4 satellite casino licenses. These smaller venues are limited to 750 slot machines and 30 table games and must be located at least 25 miles from any existing casino. Five licenses were sold at auction; as of 2026, several satellite locations have opened or are in development.
Tax rates: Pennsylvania’s gaming tax rates are among the highest in the nation: 54% on slot machine revenue (the highest rate in the United States), 16% on table game revenue, and 36% on sports betting revenue.
Recent Legal Changes
| Date | Change | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| April 2025 | Pennsylvania joins MSIGA | PA becomes 6th state in interstate online poker compact; shared player pool with DE, MI, NV, NJ, WV |
| 2024–2025 | Category 4 satellite casino openings | Additional satellite casino locations opening under Act 42 framework |
| February 21, 2026 | Cash4Life lottery retirement | Replaced by Millionaire For Life game |
Pending Developments
No major gambling legislation changes have been enacted in Pennsylvania’s 2025–2026 legislative session beyond MSIGA membership. The PGCB continues to oversee the expansion of video gaming terminals (VGTs) at truck stops and other venues under the Act 42 framework.
MobileCasinoParty does not predict whether or when pending legislation will pass. The information above reflects the status as of March 2026.
Responsible Gambling Resources
Pennsylvania-Specific Resources
Pennsylvania Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
Available 24/7 by phone, text, or online chat. Text “800GAM” for text-based support. Online chat available at responsibleplay.pa.gov. The PGCB Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling oversees problem gambling services in Pennsylvania.
Self-Exclusion Program
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Program | PGCB Self-Exclusion |
| Coverage Categories | (1) Casinos and offsite venues, (2) Interactive gambling (iGaming/online), (3) Video gaming terminals, (4) Fantasy sports |
| How to Enroll | Online at gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/SelfExclusion |
| Enrollment Guide | Video guide available on enrollment page |
| Effect | Enrolled individuals are prohibited from collecting winnings, recovering losses, or accepting comps from any licensee |
| PlayPause Tool | Pennsylvania was the first state to partner with PlayPause (December 2020) — a self-exclusion tool available through licensed operators |
Important: Self-exclusion is a voluntary, legally binding commitment. If you believe you have a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER before enrolling for support and guidance.
National Resources
| Organization | Contact | Services |
|---|---|---|
| National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) | Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) or visit ncpgambling.org | 24/7 helpline; treatment referrals |
| National Problem Gambling Helpline | Text “GAMBLER” to 800-426 | Text-based support |
| SAMHSA National Helpline | 1-800-662-4357 | Substance use and mental health referrals; 24/7 |
| 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | Call or text 988 | Crisis support; 24/7 |
| Gamblers Anonymous | gamblersanonymous.org | 12-step program; meeting finder |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is online gambling legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Online casino games, online poker, and online sports betting are all legal and regulated in Pennsylvania. iGaming launched in July 2019, online poker in November 2019, and sports betting in November 2018 (retail) / May 2019 (mobile). All operators must be licensed by the PGCB.
How many online casinos are licensed in Pennsylvania?
Approximately 20 or more online casino platforms are licensed by the PGCB as of 2026. All must partner with a licensed PA land-based casino. Look for the PGCB Internet Logo on operator websites.
Is online poker legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Online poker has been legal since November 2019. Pennsylvania is a MSIGA member, allowing shared player pools with Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, and West Virginia. Seven platforms are licensed.
Is sports betting legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Legal since November 15, 2018. Eleven sportsbooks are licensed for online sports wagering, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars.
What is the minimum gambling age in Pennsylvania?
21 for casino gambling, iGaming, online poker, and sports betting. 18 for the Pennsylvania Lottery (including iLottery) and pari-mutuel wagering.
Does Pennsylvania have a self-exclusion program?
Yes. The PGCB’s self-exclusion program covers four categories: casinos, interactive gambling, VGTs, and fantasy sports. Enroll online at gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/SelfExclusion. Pennsylvania was the first state to partner with PlayPause (December 2020).
What is the Pennsylvania problem gambling helpline?
1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537), 24/7 by phone, text (“800GAM”), and online chat at responsibleplay.pa.gov. National: 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) — NCPG.
Related Guides
- Responsible Gambling Policy — Support resources and helplines
- Casino Review Process — How we evaluate and rate casinos
- USA Online Casinos — Full state-by-state guide hub
- New Jersey Gambling Guide — MSIGA member; legal iGaming since 2013
- Nevada Gambling Guide — MSIGA member; online poker and sports betting
- Ohio Gambling Guide — Sports betting legal, online casino not legal
- Florida Gambling Guide — Sports betting (Seminole exclusive), no online casino
- Michigan Gambling Guide — MSIGA member; legal iGaming
- Delaware Gambling Guide — MSIGA member; legal iGaming
- West Virginia Gambling Guide — MSIGA member; neighboring state
Note: State guide pages for Michigan, Delaware, and West Virginia may contain older content that predates the current rebuild cycle. Links are included to establish the cross-reference scaffold.
Last verified: 2026-03-24
