Pennsylvania Online Casinos – An Inside Look At The Keystone State’s Casino Gambling Industry
There are 16 casinos in Pennsylvania, three of which are small PA satellite casinos (aka mini-casinos), while the remainder are a mix of racetrack casinos (“racinos”) and standalone Pennsylvania casino resorts. Additionally, many of these venues operate online Pennsylvania casinos, which were legalized in 2017.
But there are limitations to gambling online at a casino in Pennsylvania when it’s hosted locally, making legit online casinos operating outside PA very compelling in comparison. To get more online casino games, the best casino bonuses, lower gambling age limits, and access to betting with Bitcoin/crypto, offshore PA casinos are your best bet.
★ Top Rated Online Casino for Pennsylvania Players In 2024
Bovada LV isn’t necessarily the Internet’s best casino in Pennsylvania, but it’s darn close. As the top-rated offshore online casino, Bovada boasts over 250 of the best electronic slots and table games made by Realtime Gaming and Rival Gaming. Additionally, Bovada is home to a live online casino powered by Visionary iGaming.
Of course, what really sets Bovada apart from domestic PA online casinos is that players only have to be 18 to sign up and play regardless of betting market. Bovada allows for 18+ PA casino action, 18+ Pennsylvania online poker, and 18+ Pennsylvania online sports betting and horse racing betting, all with a single Bovada login.
Bovada also supports Bitcoin and other cryptos, and new players can score the famous $3000 Bovada Casino Welcome Bonus just for signing up.
- Founded in 2011 (Costa Rica)
- 250+ online slots + table games
- 30+ online live casino games
- Credit/Debit + Bitcoin/crypto accepted
- Bovada MatchPay + Bovada Vouchers
- 1 account for Casino, Sports, Poker, Horses
- All Penn. Residents welcome at 18+
Is Online Casino Gambling Legal In Pennslyvania In 2024?
Yes! Online casinos in Pennsylvania were legalized with the passage of the omnibus Expanded Gaming Act of 2017 (aka Act 42). This gambling expansion authorized all forms of local PA online betting, including online PA casino games, online PA sports betting, and online PA poker. However, there are no Pennsylvania gambling laws in general (or PA casino laws in particular) that bar access of reputable offshore betting sites.
And while online casinos in the state are legal, the legit online casinos that serve PA residents from overseas have one major benefit: Whereas the legal Pennsylvania gambling age is set at 21 and up for local online casino games, international gambling sites allow PA residents to sign up and play at just 18 years old. A full three-year head start could mean tens of thousands of dollars – or more! – for your bottom line.
Are There Legal PA Online Casinos That Are Safe To Play At?
Yes! Any state-licensed casino in Pennsylvania is obviously safe for players. These venues are strictly overseen and regulated like top-level financial institutions, and the same goes for their online components. But players often aren’t as confident in joining an offshore online casino. After all, these venues aren’t state-regulated, and many players think that means they can’t be trusted.
Well, that’s not the case. It’s true that many online gambling sites don’ts pass muster and are basically scams (which are exactly the wrong kinds of “Erie” Pennsylvania casinos!), but these can be avoided by playing with only the most reliable, time-tested PA casino sites.
All the venues we feature here are as trustworthy as the best Pennsylvania online casinos found locally, with the added benefits that you can join at just 18, deposit and withdraw in crypto, and take advantage of the best possible PA online casino bonuses.
All our favorite PA gambling sites adhere to the following online gambling industry best practices to guarantee maximum player peace of mind:
Pennsylvania Mobile Casinos
While it’s lots of fun to visit a real brick-and-mortar casino in PA, the majority of residents are casual players who play over the Internet. Penn. casinos earn the Nittany lion’s share of their revenue through their Pennsylvania casino online products.
Of course, if you’re gambling in PA with a local online casino operator, you’ll need to download a dedicated Pennsylvania casino app. Then, you’ll have to prove your age (21+) and make a deposit using USD only. On top of all that, if you ever travel outside of PA, the app won’t work – you’ll be locked out! But there’s a solution: Online PA casino web apps!
To experience a better real money online casino, Pennsylvania residents just need to check out the casino web apps we recommend here. They boast a unique assortment of all the games you expect, along with several variants and standalone games you won’t find locally at any venue.
These web-based PA gambling apps also work with every make and model of smartphone and tablet right through your mobile browser. And, of course, there’s no geofencing, so you can play from literally anywhere in PA and the rest of the USA. That’s a real state of independence!
Online Casino Games In Pennsylvania
Whether you play online with domestic or international casinos in PA, it’s easy to pursue your happiness in the Quaker State. Of course, the offshore casinos we recommend generally have more PA casino games to choose from, with 100+ online Pennsylvania slots and dozens of electronic PA table games.
If blackjack’s your game, you’ll find all kinds of 21 variants on hand. If you want to play online keno in PA, you can. From craps and baccarat to bingo and roulette, Pennsylvania gamblers won’t run out of betting options any time soon with these sites.
All told, you can expect each of the following casino game categories to be well represented at any legit offshore PA casino:
- Online Slots (3-Reel, 5-Reel, 3D, iSlots)
- Online Progressive Slots
- Online Blackjack (Single-Deck, Double-Deck, 6-Deck, 8-Deck)
- Online Roulette (American and European)
- Online Baccarat
- Online Super 6 (aka Online Mini-Bac)
- Online Video Poker
- Online Keno
- Online Craps
- Online Bingo
- Online Lotteries
- Online Raffles
- Online Scratchers
- Online Live Casino Games
Pennsylvania Online Live-Dealer Casino Games
When most players consider legal PA online casinos, Pennsylvania brick-and-mortar casinos generally have one big advantage: live-dealer play. For years, online PA casinos couldn’t offer live casino games, as the streaming A/V technology and fast, accessible Internet speeds just weren’t there.
Today, though, all the most legit online casinos offer live-dealer tables covering all the classics, including live blackjack, live roulette, and live baccarat/mini-baccarat games. With real-time video and audio streams, you can watch every shuffle, deal, and spin of the wheel as it happens, and you can even chat with your site’s dealers, croupiers, and fellow players.
Most PA offshore casinos also allow their members to spectate live games, and they feature unlimited bet-behinds when the tables are full.
- Live Dealer Blackjack
- Live Dealer Roulette
- Live Dealer Baccarat
- Live Dealer Super 6
Note: PA live-dealer casinos are paid games only. You cannot play online casino games for free at your site’s live casino tables. However, most sites offer free online casino games via their RNG catalogs. Similarly, you typically won’t earn online casino bonus rollover credits for playing live games.
Brick-And-Mortar Casinos In Pennsylvania
Before 2017, state residents were more concerned with looking for casinos near Pennsylvania than casinos in Pennsylvania. However, with the recent PA gambling expansion, that’s no longer necessary.
So, when you want to close your PA casino app and use your phone for its intended purpose – to call up your friends for a night on the town at the Mohegan Sun casino in PA or that one casino in Bethlehem (or anywhere else) – it’s simple enough to organize a “field trip” to your local strip.
No matter where you are, your map of Pennsylvania casinos will always be full of options.
The Keystone State has no federally recognized tribal nations. As such, there are no Class II or Class III Indian casinos in Pennsylvania, nor are there any Indian bingo halls in PA. While this could change if local Indian groups achieve federal recognition from the US BIA, new Pennsylvania Indian casinos wouldn’t likely change the existing gaming landscape in the state.
Interestingly, however, two tribes – the Mohegan Tribe (Connecticut) and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (Alabama) – own and operate commercial casino venues in the state. The Mohegan Tribe runs the Mohegan Sun Pocono, while the Poarch Creek tribe runs the Wind Creek Bethlehem (formerly the Sands Bethlehem, purchased in 2019).
Gambling Resources For Pennsylvania Residents
For more information about Pennsylvania online casino laws (and PA gambling laws in general), the best place to start your research is with the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (PCS). We’ve also included links to other relevant legislative acts, agencies, etc.
- PCA Title 4 – “Amusements”; Covers gambling licensing, Pennsylvania Lottery laws, casino games, online gambling rules, PA gambling tax rules, Pennsylvania sports betting laws, PA horse racing betting, etc.
- PCA Title 18 §5513 et seq. – “Gambling devices, gambling, etc.”
- Expanded Gaming Act of 2017 (Act 42) – Legalized domestic PA online slot machines, PA online casino table games, and PA online poker tournaments. Automatically authorized legal PA sports betting upon the 2018 PASPA overturn.
- Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) – Official Pennsylvania gambling commission in charge of all domestic gaming markets in the state.
Gambling is for entertainment only. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, help is available at no cost through the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Council on Problem Gambling. Please play responsibly.