By the end of this page, you will discover the ins and outs of the best PA online casinos, the top offers, legalities, games and more. Our expert review team spent hours examining the intricacies of each site to provide an accurate, detailed guide of the best Pennsylvania online casinos to play at in 2024.
Table of contents
Three of the hottest online casinos in PA
In this section, we are going to highlight three of the hottest online casinos in Pennsylvania that we recommend trying:
![Fanduel Casino PA](http://pennlive.sidelines.io/sl-assets/uploads/2024/06/Fanduel-Casino-PA.webp)
FanDuel online casino: Hottest new casino to try
One of the hottest online casinos to try in the state of Pennsylvania is FanDuel. This apparel brand turned online gaming platform has the best of both worlds with both a sportsbook and an online casino.
Right now, FanDuel Casino is offering players over 600 games to try, including slots, table games, and a live dealer section. In addition, new players are currently being awarded $20 in site credit with the option to play it again for $1000, with their first $10 deposit.
![Caesars Palace Casino PA](http://pennlive.sidelines.io/sl-assets/uploads/2024/06/Caesars-Palace-Casino-PA.webp)
Caesars Palace online casino: Highest average RTP%
The Pennsylvania online casino with the highest average return to player percentage (RTP%) is Caesars Palace Online Casino, at 97.63%. So, you can potentially get back $97.63 when betting $100 on average. But, again, your experience could wind up being significantly different.
You can take a look at our casino comparison further down the page for the RTP% of each PA online casino.
BetMGM online casino: Best current welcome bonus
It is BetMGM that offers the best welcome bonus of any PA online casino on the current market. New signees can register in Pennsylvania and receive a 100% deposit match up to $1,000, as well as $25 on the house.
![BetMGM Casino PA](http://pennlive.sidelines.io/sl-assets/uploads/2024/06/BetMGM-Casino-PA.webp)
This two-part offer from BetMGM features an extremely high maximum dollar amount, but it’s the $25 on the house which really takes this promotion to the next level. In fact, first-time users will receive that $25 registration bonus immediately after signing up.
We particularly find this BetMGM welcome bonus advantageous because the $25 registration bonus possesses a user-friendly 1x play-through requirement, which you have seven days to satisfy. So, you need to wager $25 before your $25 bonus funds become withdrawable.
Now, the deposit match bonus funds up to $1,000 possess a 15x play-through requirement, but BetMGM gives you 14 days to complete it.
How to register to an online casino in PA
Anyone who is physically located in Pennsylvania and over the age of 21 is allowed to sign up for an online casino. In fact, registering for one of the best PA online casinos only takes those who are eligible a few minutes.
- Click out from Pennlive.com using the preferred casino’s link
- Select ‘Join Now’, ‘Sign Up’, ‘Register’, etc.
- Sign up with email or other available method
- Enter full name, birthdate, address, mobile number
- Provide last four digits of your social security number
- Create a username and password
- Agree to the terms and conditions
Upon completing those steps, which took our team an average of three minutes depending on the site — BetMGM being the fastest and Bally being the slowest in our experience — your identity and location will need to be verified before you can begin playing. Luckily, this only took a few seconds in our experience.
After the information that you provided is successfully verified, you will be all set to make your initial deposit and start playing.
Expert tip: Consider the online casino’s welcome offer when making your first deposit
Do online casinos offer a chance for real winnings?
They most certainly do. Actually, you are always playing for a chance at real cash winnings at these online casinos in Pennsylvania, unless you are testing a game in “Demo Mode”.
It’s important to understand what the phrase “average return to player percentage” means, as every online casino game possesses its own RTP%.
This figure is key because it refers to the amount that you can expect to get back when playing games at a certain casino or on a particular game. Put simply, if an RTP is 97.56% like at BetMGM, the site pays back $97.56 for every $100 bet on average.
Now, your personal gaming experience at a specific site or certain game when betting $100 can vastly differ from the average return to player percentage.
Pennsylvania online casinos utilize RNGs, which stands for random number generators. Meaning, RNGs ensure complete randomness in chance-based digital games like online slots. Essentially, RNGs guarantee that rigging of games is strictly prohibited.
Pennsylvania casino bonuses
You are going to come across all sorts of bonuses when playing at Pennsylvania online casinos, including welcome bonuses, daily promotional offers, bet and get promos, deposit matches, referral programs, and more. We have detailed the most common types below:
Each and every one of the online casinos in PA welcomes its new players with a promotional offer. Some come in the form of deposit matches and some are ‘play it again’ offers, while others are ‘Bet & Get’ promos.
The best welcome bonuses allow you to risk a little to gain a lot, like the current DraftKings Casino offer, where new customers can play just $5 to get $50 in Casino Credits instantly.
Expert tip: Remember to carefully read over the terms and conditions of the welcome bonus. This includes reading the details of the promo’s wagering requirements, deposit limits, expiration dates, etc. All online casino bonuses have a terms and conditions section providing this important information.
Daily bonus offers come in many different shapes and sizes as well. You could get rewarded for simply logging into your account. Or, you could receive a daily spin on a promotional wheel of prizes. These kinds of offers don’t require you to take any action(s) aside from logging into your account. No wagering requirements necessary.
An example of a daily bonus offer can be found at Stars Casino, with their Spin of the Day promotion. You can get one free spin on the Prize Wheel every 24 hours. Each spin earns you one token to fill in a row of your Spin of the Day scorecard en route to prizes.
Sometimes, an online casino might offer a ‘Happy Hour’ period each day, like at BetRivers Casino, where you can receive double the casino loyalty points each day from 5-9 p.m. ET. You can find a site’s daily bonus offers on the ‘Promotions’ tab.
A ‘Bet & Get’ promotion is actually pretty self-explanatory. You bet in order to get, plain and simple. Like at BetMGM Casino, for example, where you can often bet $10 on a new or exclusive slot game and earn a $5 Casino Bonus for doing so.
Deposit matches are the most popular kind of welcome bonus, but they can sometimes be offered to returning players also. Take Caesars Palace Online Casino as an example, where existing patrons can often deposit $40 to receive a $20 Casino Bonus in what they refer to as their ‘Flash Offer’.
No Pennsylvania online casino is hiding the fact that they want you to get your friends and acquaintances to sign up for their product. Thus, you have refer-a-friend promotions. You will be able to send your friend(s) a unique referral link that they must use to sign up. Then, they will need to complete specified requirements before you earn rewards.
At DraftKings Casino, your friend must register using your referral link and deposit a minimum of $25 into their new account. You will receive the amount that your friend deposits (up to $100) in Casino Credits.
Online casinos comparison
Here, you will find out how these PA online casinos stack up against one another in several key categories:
Casino | Welcome bonus | Promo code | Total # of games | Avg. RTP% | Software providers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bally | Money back guarantee up to $100 in Bonus Money | None required | 400+ | 96.98% | SG Digital, IGT, NetEnt, Scientific Games |
BetMGM | 100% deposit match up to $1,000 + $25 on the house | None required | 1,500+ | 97.56% | IGT, Inspired Gaming, Microgaming, NetEnt |
BetRivers | Get up to $250 Bonus Money on your first deposit | PACASINO250 | 250+ | 96.96% | Big Time Gaming, IGT, Konami, NetEnt |
Borgata | 100% deposit match up to $1,000 + $20 on sign-up | None required | 1,000+ | 96.47% | IGT, NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger |
Caesars Palace Online Casino | 100% deposit match up to $2,500 | SLPENN2500 | 1,000+ | 97.63% | Big Time Gaming, IGT, Inspired Gaming, NetEnt |
DraftKings | Play $5, get $50 in Casino Credits instantly | None required | 700+ | 97.05% | Microgaming, NetEnt, Red Tiger, The Games Provider |
FanDuel | Deposit $10, Get $20 In Site Credit & Play It Again $1000 |
None required | 200+ | 96.27% | IGT, NetEnt, Red Tiger |
Golden Nugget | Deposit $5, get $50 in Casino Credits | None required | 700+ | 96.56% | Big Time Gaming, IGT, NetEnt, ReelPlay |
betPARX | Bonus back up to $1,000 | None required | 200+ | N/a | IGT, Konami, NetEnt, Playtech |
Stars | $150 in Bonus Bets When You Bet $1 |
None required | 1,000+ | 97.43% | Playtech, Pragmatic Play, The Stars Group |
Expert tip: Set limits for yourself when gambling, and stick to them. Never chase your losses.
Every type of game that you will come across at an in-person casino can be played at these Pennsylvania online casinos. Normally, the game variety is divided into three main sections: Slots, table games and live dealer.
Slots make up the vast majority of games at PA online casinos, and they can come in many different forms. The most common kinds of slots are:
- Traditional: These are non-jackpot slots that contain key features such as wilds and scatters.
- Progressive Jackpots: All bets contribute towards a single, growing jackpot giving players a chance at turning small bets into big wins.
- Hold and Spins: Accumulate a specific set of symbols to trigger a bonus round. Then, bonus symbols are ‘held’ in their spots, and the remaining reels ‘spin’.
- Megaways: These kinds of slots offer anywhere from 243 all the way up to 117,649 ways to win. Moreover, the number of pay lines changes on every round of the game.
Table games are always offered at online casinos in Pennsylvania, and there are five main types of table games available to play.
- Baccarat: Players bet on whether the dealer or the player will have the hand closest to nine, or if they will tie.
- Blackjack: Players attempt to beat the dealer with a hand value that’s closer to 21 without exceeding it, or if the dealer’s hand exceeds 21.
- Craps: Players bet that the dice will land on a 7 or an 11 (pass the line) or on a 2, 3, or 12 (don’t pass). Any other numbers the dice lands on establishes that number as the ‘point’. Gameplay continues until either a 7 is rolled or the point number is rolled again.
- Roulette: Players bet on which color (red or black) and/or number (00-36) that the ball will land on. Then, the wheel is spun.
- Video Poker: Players receive cards (their hand). Then, the first cards are drawn, and you can select which of your cards you’d like to hold and which you’d like to exchange. Second set of cards are drawn. Your goal is to have the strongest set of cards (hand) possible.
Live dealer gaming has become immensely popular within the online casino industry, and all of the best Pennsylvania online casinos have a dedicated section for live dealer lobbies.
You will find some combination of the following table games and their popular variations:
- Baccarat: Traditional, Dragon Tiger, European, Speed.
- Blackjack: Traditional, American, European, Speed, Spanish 21, Lightning, Infinite
- Craps: Traditional
- Roulette: Traditional, American, European, French, Lightning, Power, Speed, Auto
- Video Poker: Five Card Draw, Ultimate Hold’em, Jacks or Better, 3 Card Stud, 10 Play Draw
There are dozens of prominent providers who develop the software for the games at PA online casinos. The most popular software developers and some of their best slots are below:
- Pragmatic Play: Big Bass Bonanza, Gates of Olympus, Wolf Gold
- NetEnt: Blood Suckers, Divine Fortune, Starburst
- IGT: Cleopatra, Da Vinci Diamonds, Siberian Storm
- Microgaming: Game of Thrones, Jurassic Park, Mega Moolah
- Playtech: Age of Egypt, Buffalo Blitz, Gladiator Jackpot
Live dealer sections, meanwhile, are usually powered by Evolution Gaming, Vivo Gaming, or Ezugi. From our personal testing, each of the three main live dealer gaming providers offer a top-tier user experience.
Payment methods and security at online casinos
It was clear over the course of our reviews of these Pennsylvania online casinos that there are some aspects of banking that are constant throughout each site.
Every PA online casino offers some combination of credit/debit cards, e-wallets, and transfers to handle both deposits and withdrawals. In addition to that, each site has a minimum transaction limit, which is usually set at $5 or $10.
You can rest assured that the real-money online casinos in Pennsylvania that are licensed and regulated keep your banking information secure.
When it comes to taxes, know that all of your winnings from playing at Pennsylvania online casinos are subject to a gambling tax. Take a look at how your winnings are taxed at both the state and federal levels below:
Game(s) | State tax | Winnings threshold for federal tax | Federal tax |
---|---|---|---|
Slots and Bingo | 3.07% | $1,200 | 24% |
Keno | 3.07% | $1,500 | 24% |
Poker | 3.07% | $5,000 | 24% |
So, all of your gambling winnings from online casinos in Pennsylvania will be taxed at a 3.04% rate, no matter how much you won and no matter what game(s) you won money playing.
But, there is a minimum amount in which you must win to be taxed at the federal level. For slots, as an example, you must win at least $1,200 before the 24% federal tax will be applied to your winnings.
Trusted online casinos in Pennsylvania
Your interest as a player at the reputable Pennsylvania online casinos discussed throughout this page is protected by The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
After Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed HB 271 into law, granting up to 13 online casino operators to acquire licenseship, the industry’s biggest brand began submitting their applications to The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
This independent agency is tasked with reviewing and either accepting or denying these applications. Moreover, the agency makes sure that operators adhere to strict regulations so that your personal data and information is completely secure.
Not only that, but these Pennsylvania online casinos use advanced encryption technology to safeguard all of your information. Unauthorized entities will not have access to any of your personal information submitted to these online casinos due to this encryption technology.
Following our thorough examination of each online casino’s licenses, digital encryption technology, and random number generators, we found all of PA online casinos presented on pennlive.com to be completely safe to use.
Legal online gambling in PA
- Oct. 26, 2017: The House passes HB 271 to legalize online gambling
- Oct. 30, 2017: Governor Tom Wolf signs HB 271 into law
- July 2019: betPARX Casino launches in PA
- Nov. 2019: Stars Casino launches in PA through partnership with Mount Airy Casino
- Jan. 2020: BetRivers Casino launches in PA through partnership with Rivers Philadelphia
- Jan. 2020: FanDuel Casino launches in PA through partnership with Valley Forge Casino
- April 2020: Caesars Online Casino launches in PA through partnership with Harrah’s Philadelphia
- May 2020: DraftKings Casino launches in PA through partnership with Hollywood Casino
- June 2020: Bally Casino launches in PA
- Dec. 2020: BetMGM Online Casino launches in PA through partnership with Hollywood Casino
- Feb. 2021: Borgata Online Casino launches in PA through partnership with Rivers Casino Philadelphia
- Aug. 2023: Golden Nugget Online Casino launches in PA
- Jan. 2024: Fanatics Casino launches in PA through partnership with Hollywood Casino (York)
Responsible gambling is something that we always stress because it’s the most important aspect of gambling, by far.
The state of Pennsylvania also emphasizes safe gambling practices, and they have set up a very helpful resource for anyone in search of assistance. This resource is known as the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania, Inc.
You can get in contact with one of their representatives via:
- Call: 215-643-4542
- Website: www.pacouncil.com
Responsible gambling has taken the national spotlight as well, with the help of several great resources, one of which being the National Problem Gambling Helpline.
- Call: 1-800-GAMBLER
- Text: 800GAM
- Chat: 1800gamblerchat.org
All best legal online casinos in PA
Reasons to play at online casinos in Pennsylvania
Playing at online casinos in Pennsylvania is like having a full-scale casino in the palm of your hand. Every type of game that you would find at a brick-and-mortar casino can be played in online form at these sites.
Here are our top four reasons to play at a PA online casino:
- Ability to play slots, table games, and live dealer games
- Access to exclusive promotions only available at online casinos
- Potential to play casino games at home and on-the-go
- Readily available information on games (e.g., RTP%, max payout, etc.)
All in all, the ability to play thousands of casino games whenever and wherever you want is what makes playing at online casinos in Pennsylvania worth it.
Pennlive.com features a group of experts within the online casino gaming field who are dedicated to providing the most thorough and precise evaluation of Pennsylvania’s iGaming market.
We make it a point to promote online casinos that are reliable, reputable and trustworthy. Moreover, all of the operators detailed across our site are legally licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.
At Pennlive.com, we supply elaborate reviews and comparisons of everything that the state’s online casino operators offer. This includes each site’s game selections, promotional offerings, banking options, key features, and much more.
How we evaluate the best Pennsylvania online casinos
There are all kinds of important factors to consider when evaluating the best Pennsylvania online casinos. We break each brand into five key criterias to evaluate these online casinos as accurately as possible. Every brand is rated from 1-5 stars in each section so it’s clear how the online casino fares as a whole.
First, we look at the online casino’s welcome offer. Is it easy to claim? Are the terms and conditions clear? How much value does it possess? All of the answers to these questions are important. Then, we peruse the site to see what other promotions they offer for returning players. The more, the better.
- 1-2 star: Subpar welcome offer, zero ongoing offers for existing players
- 3-4 stars: Average welcome offer, less than two ongoing offers for existing players
- 5-6 stars: Good welcome offer, 3-4 ongoing offers for existing players
- 7-8 stars: Good welcome offer, 4+ ongoing offers for existing players
- 9-10 stars: Great welcome offer, 4+ ongoing offers for existing players
Whenever money is involved, it’s serious. The last thing you want is to run into issues while making transactions at a PA online casino. This is why we examine each site’s banking, which includes both deposits and withdrawals. Methods offered, fees, processing speeds, and minimum/maximum limits are all reviewed.
- 1-2 star: Very limited (<2) deposit and withdrawal methods, slow payout speeds, high minimum limits
- 3-4 stars: Range of deposit methods (3-4), limited withdrawal methods, slow-moderate payout speeds, high minimum limits
- 5-6 stars: Range of deposit and withdrawal methods, slow-moderate payout speeds, low minimum limits
- 7-8 stars: Many deposit (4+) and withdrawal methods, moderate payout speeds, low minimum limits
- 9-10 stars: Many deposit and withdrawal methods, fast payout speeds, low minimum limits
Both the amount and variety of games are thoroughly sifted through. It’s crucial that an online casino offers slots, table games, and a live dealer section. Additionally, how many games are available across the site? Again, the more, the merrier.
- 1-2 star: Less than 100 games, no live dealer section, limited software variety
- 3-4 stars: Less than 200 games, no live dealer section, limited software variety
- 5-6 stars: Less than 500 games, limited table game and live dealer sections
- 7-8 stars: Over 500 games, extensive live dealer section, array (12+) of software providers
- 9-10 stars: Over 700 games, extensive live dealer section, array of software providers
First and foremost, all of the online casinos reviewed throughout this page are safe and secure to use. We know this because our team has tested each site to confirm their trustworthiness. Only use online casinos that are regulated for security and for fair play.
- 1-2 star: Unsafe, unregulated site that shouldn’t be used
- 3-4 stars: Unsafe, unregulated site that shouldn’t be used
- 5-6 stars: Regulated site that has less than average reviews from players
- 7-8 stars: Regulated, safe site that utilizes the best encryption technology
- 9-10 stars: Regulated, safe site that utilizes the best encryption technology and has rave reviews from players
A Pennsylvania online casino’s user experience can be defined in a variety of ways, but really, it comes down to how enjoyable the site is to play at. A premier user experience provides a top-notch mobile app, excellent gameplay, a well-designed interface, and helpful customer support.
- 1-2 stars: Very poor usability, lack of uniqueness
- 3-4 stars: Many problems using the site, several features don’t work as expected
- 5-6 stars: Aspects of the site’s design are confusing, slow loading speeds
- 7-8 stars: User-friendly site design, features perform well
- 9-10 stars: Site is fully user-intuitive, designed flawlessly, and all features work as expected
Have fun at PA online casinos – and play responsibly!
Remember that the goal of playing at PA online casinos is to have fun. It’s about entertainment, not necessarily about making money. The team at Pennlive.com strongly encourages everyone to gamble responsibly. Set strict financial and time limits for yourself. Anyone who has a gambling problem should seek assistance from one of the helpful resources available.
Yes, Pennsylvania is one of just six states that permit online casinos to operate. You must be 21 years of age or older to play.
No online casino pays out more money than another, but the Pennsylvania online casino with the highest average return to player percentage is Caesars Palace Online Casino, at 97.63%.
You must be over the age of 21 to sign up and play casino games in the state of Pennsylvania.
The best Pennsylvania online casinos that are currently legal are: Bally, BetMGM, betPARX, BetRivers, Borgata, Caesars Palace Online Casino, DraftKings, Fanatics, Fanduel, Golden Nugget, and Stars.
The methods available to make deposits differ depending on the online casino. Normally, you will find some combination of the following deposit options: Credit/debit, e-wallets, and online banking, but you will often come across additional methods.
No, all of the Pennsylvania online casinos detailed throughout this page are fully regulated by federal and state governing bodies to ensure fair play.