Pennsylvania Casinos

Sports betting and casinos are 100% legal and regulated in the state of Pennsylvania – and there is more than 30 venues (including 16 casinos) in the state offering gambling such as sports-betting, casino games, slots, poker and more.

Online casino gamblers are well catered for too – as PA is one of just six US with a regulated online casino industry (the others are Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey & West Virginia). There is no shortage of companies offering safe, fair and regulated real-money online casino games to residents of PA.

Gambling In PA

• In 1967 the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission allowed pari-mutual wagers and racing events in PA. Later in 1971 following the acceptance of Act 91 the Pennsylvania State Lottery was made legal. The first draw was held in 1972.
• In 1991 Chapter 901 of Pennsylvania State Law was updated, to allow charity bingo, raffles other limited forms of gambling for “good causes” and charity.
• In 2004, casinos were made legal in PA, and laws were updated to cater for sports-betting. In subsequent years Senate Bill 711 was passed – allowing table games at licensed casinos. In 2017 sports-betting was legalized in all licensed casinos in Pennsylvania.
• in December 2022 Wind Creek Hospitality and Betfred USA Sports announced today the launch of their online sports betting platform in Pennsylvania just a month after The Sportsbook at Wind Creek Bethlehem opened the retail location in the space formerly occupied by Buddy V’s Ristorante.

Poker in PA

Live Poker

Top picks:

• Parx Poker Room‘s card-room is huge – host to 48 tables – perfect for running large poker tournaments. The card room is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Games on offer include $1/$3, $2/$5 No limit Texas hold’em, PLO, Omaha Hi/Lo, stud, with some higher stakes fixed limit hold’em and mixed games available.
• Hollywood Casino at the Meadows Poker Room – is equipped with 14 poker tables, and opens daily at 11 AM – closing at midnight during the week and 2 AM on weekends. No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) games are available with blinds at $1/$3 & $2/$5.
• Live! Casino Philadelphia Poker Room -With around 30 tables and open 24/7 this card room is good for cash-game and tournament players. For cash players the casino runs runs $1/$3 and $2/$5 No limit and Limit Texas Hold’em, with some PLO games running depending on demand. For tournament players the casino runs 10 poker tournaments each week, with at least 1 running each day.

Online Poker

Poker players can play legal online poker within the state of Pennsylvania via a number of regulated poker sites including wsop.com (which is already licensed and legal for poker players in Nevada and New Jersey)

Pennsylvania Gambling Revenues & Taxes

in 2022 Pennsylvania’s 16 casinos generated a record-breaking $5.2 billion in revenue – a huge increase on the previous 2021 high of $4.7 billion according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. It was also was a record-breaking year for gambling-tax revenues which totaled $2.1 billion in 2022, or nearly $191.8 million more than the $1.9 billion netted the previous year.

Smoking in PA Casinos

In 2008, a weak statewide smoke-free law went into effect in Pennsylvania that only applies to non-hospitality workplaces. Thousands of workers (and visitors) continue to be exposed to unwanted secondhand smoke in the over 2,000 exempted venues including areas of restaurants, bars, private clubs, and casinos.

The legal age for gambling in casinos in Pennsylvania is 21. Read our USA Gambling Ages guide

Legal Gambling Age in Pennsylvania

Gambling Activity	Legal Age
Casinos	21
Poker	21
Bingo	18
Lottery Games	18
Horse-Racing / Dog racing	18
Pari-Mutuel betting	18

Who regulates Gambling in Pennsylvania?

Gambling in Pennsylvania is regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

Casinos in Pennsylvania

There are 33 Casinos, sportsbooks, cardrooms, race-tracks or cruise ships in Pennsylvania.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are online casinos legal and available in Pennsylvania?

Yes - PA is one of a handful of US states with a legal and regulated casino industry. Other states with online casinos include : Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey and West Virginia.