Between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a sports-heavy state. Pennsylvania hosts eight teams from five major sports leagues, all of which are available for online sports betting for Pennsylvania sports fans. With this guide, created specifically for Pennsylvania residents, you can educate yourself on the state and federal restrictions surrounding online sports betting. You’ll also learn about which Pennsylvania teams are worth betting on and the most trusted licensed sports betting sites accepting Pennsylvania residents.

1. Is Online Sports Gambling Legal In Maryland

Is Sports Gambling Legal In Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania doesn’t have any state laws that specifically ban online sports betting. However, there are some federal laws in place that have to do with sports betting. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) all attempt to regulate sports betting in some way, but these laws only apply to US-based sports betting. The offshore sportsbooks that we recommend are all legally sanctioned and allow Pennsylvania residents to bet both legally and safely. So to answer the question, yes, it is legal for PA residents to bet on sports as long as the destination at which they are betting is a legally licensed and regulated sportsbook located offshore.

Most Reputable Pennsylvania Online Sportsbooks

The way to stay on the legal side of sports betting in Pennsylvania is to be highly selective as to where you place your bets. It is imperative that you restrict your betting action to only those betting sites that are operating legitimately within the industry. This means that they will be legally licensed, subject to strict regulatory oversight and hold verified compliance certifications. The sportsbooks we include in this guide have all been extensively evaluated to ensure their legitimacy and quality are the best that the industry has to offer.

Legislation was passed in June to allow sports gambling, though in-state collegiate games will be off-limits under the new law. It will make gambling lawful in a variety of locations both in-person.

The law allowed the state to regulate and legalize these activities, but the law does not mean that every online casino site or sports betting app is suddenly legal in Pennsylvania. Only sites vetted, approved, and overseen by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) are legal. Pennsylvania doesn’t have any state laws that specifically ban online sports betting. However, there are some federal laws in place that have to do with sports betting. Pennsylvania is benefitting greatly from the increased revenue that online sports gambling is bringing to the state. The next step is continued growth of revenue, sports books and gambling options. There are some large sportsbooks that have still not entered the state such as William Hill and MGM Sportsbook.

How State and Federal Laws Regulate Sports Betting in Pennsylvania

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, also known as PASPA, was issued back in 1992. PASPA’s aim was to buffer the spread of legalized sports betting in the US. Before its passing, there were already four states operating legalized sports betting—Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon. These states were allowed to continue with their sports betting operations, though Nevada and Delaware are the only two that still offer some type of state licensed sportsbook gambling option.

The Federal Wire Act was originally perceived as regulating online betting for all forms of gambling, however thanks to a Formal Opinion issued by the Department of Justice, it was narrowed down to only restrict sports betting through US-based online sportsbooks. This means that it is not legal to place bets with an online sportsbook within the United States. PASPA and the Federal Wire Act combine to effectively prohibit US based sports betting activities both online and offline.

The UIGEA monitors banks and how they process transactions related to sports betting and other forms of gambling. It doesn’t affect individual bettors but more so aims to clean up any illegal transactions. The important point to clarify is that the UIGEA, along with the other two federal laws, only deal with US-based sports betting. Therefore any sportsbooks that operate outside of the US are unaffected, opening the door for Pennsylvania residents to safely and legally place bets through one of the online sportsbooks that we’ve suggested.

Popular Sports Teams To Bet On In Pennsylvania

All of the major sports teams in Pennsylvania are split between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Philadelphia hosts the Phillies in the MLB, the 76ers in the NBA, the Eagles in the NFL, the Flyers in the NHL and the Union in the MLS. Pittsburgh has the Pirates in the MLB, the Steelers in the NFL and the Penguins in the NHL. All of these teams make for some quality sports betting action that you can get a piece of using this guide.

NFL Teams in PA

NBA Teams in PA

MLB Teams in PA

NHL Teams in PA

MLS Teams in PA

FAQs About Betting On Sports

Can I Bet On Multiple Teams?

Sure thing. You can place as many bets as you want so long as you have the bankroll to back them. In addition, these sportsbooks offer what are called parlay bets, which involve betting on multiple outcomes on one ticket. For example, you could bet on the Pirates, Steelers and Penguins to win, but you only get the winnings if all three teams get a victory.

What Other Types of Bets do these Sportsbooks offer?

These sportsbooks offer all types of bets. You can bet on the usual point spreads (for example, you could bet on the Steelers to win their game by six points or more), prop bets (will the Phillies score a home run in the top of the sixth?) or even future bets (who will win Super Bowl LI?). Most of these sportsbooks even offer bets on things like racing, boxing, MMA, politics, entertainment and more.

Are These Offshore Betting Sites Legitimate?

Certainly. We only recommend sportsbooks that have been in business for at least a decade and have worked to build up a solid reputation of reliability and customer service. These sites deal with a lot of clients and money, so you can rest assured that your personal and financial information will be kept secure. These sportsbooks also operate outside the jurisdiction of PASPA, the Federal Wire Act and the UIGEA, so Pennsylvania residents can place bets without breaking the law.

How Do I Start Betting?

Once you sign up for an account you’ll have to deposit money into that account so you have some bankroll to bet with. You can do this in several ways. Most sportsbooks allow you to deposit funds using a credit/debit card, money transfer, money orders, cashier’s checks and more. Online currencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin are also options for depositing money.

How Do I Receive My Winnings?

Once you are ready to withdraw your winnings, all you have to do is go to your account on the site. Once there, you’ll be prompted to select the withdrawal method of your choosing. It’s important to note that some sportsbooks restrict your withdrawal method to the same deposit method, however the sportsbooks reserve the right to use alternative payout methods if necessary. The usual withdrawal methods available are check, Bitcoin, wire transfer, etc.

Do These Sportsbooks Offer Any Type of Promotions?

Yes. These sportsbooks that we’ve recommended for Pennsylvania residents offer a variety of bonuses throughout the year. These bonuses offer bettors additional funds to place bets with. For example, once you make a deposit with your Bovada account you are instantly granted a 50% bonus up to $250. There are other bonuses available, such as seasonal promotions and bonuses for referring a friend to the site. Since there are so many bonuses available to bettors throughout the year, it’s important to stay up to date with the sportsbook so you don’t miss out on any free money.

Are There Any Sports Teams in Pennsylvania That Have A Shot At Winning A National Title in 2017/2018?

The Pittsburgh Steelers just lost out on a chance at the Super Bowl thanks to the New England Patriots, but it’s safe to assume they’ll be one of the dominant teams in the AFC next season and look to redeem their loss in the AFC Championship game. The Eagles aren’t having the same success as their state counterparts, so their next season is a little more up in the air. The 76ers are undergoing a bit of a rebuild process and have been for some time now. They still need a few more pieces before they can be legitimate title contenders. The Penguins currently sit 3^rd in their division while the Flyers sit in 5^th, so both teams could still fight it out for a playoff berth. The MLB season isn’t set to start for a while, so the World Series might be a bit too far off to predict. The MLS season is about to start its preseason matches, so keep an eye on the Union to see if they’ll be contenders during the regular season.

Pennsylvania was one of the first states to pass sports betting legislation ahead of the federal ban on sports betting being lifted. When the Supreme Court issued its ruling on the New Jersey sports betting case, it struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act that had limited sports wagering to just four states. With the passage of PA Act 42 , it is only a matter of time before residents can visit land-based sportsbooks in Pennsylvania. The law enables the PA Gaming Control Board to create further regulations regarding the sports betting industry in the state. It also mentions mobile and online sports betting, which make sports betting in PA even more convenient.

The Board will need to establish more ground rules before a full rollout of state-licensed sports betting, but it will be coming to the state in the near future. In the meantime, residents can continue to use the online sportsbooks that accept PA residents.

Land-based casino games have been legalized for a little over a decade now in Pennsylvania. You can find the exact wording in Title 18, Section 5513 of Pennsylvania state code. Slot Machines were approved in 2004 when Pennsylvania state government formed a Gaming Control Board to regulate casino gaming. In 2010, table games became available to residents as well. Pennsylvania currently has a dozen casino locations, most of which are also race tracks or attached to a hotel or resort. While these land-based facilities are available to Pennsylvania residents, they are limited in what they can offer, especially when it comes to certain table games.

Land-based casinos are good for a night out every once in a while, but if you want to play games on a more regular basis, it can become a huge hassle. Finding a babysitter for the kids, traveling to the actual location of a casino that has the games you want to play, dealing with the crowds and the smoke of such an establishment. Not to mention the dress code for a nicer place means you have to ditch those jeans for a much less comfortable set of clothes. For Pennsylvania residents looking for a legal way to play casino games for money, check out an online gambling site.

Online casino gaming sites allow you to play for money from the comfort of your own home. You can access them from your computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet – and there’s no download necessary. There are no state laws that prohibit the use of these sites, so residents need not worry. In fact, PA is one of the only states that has legalized online gambling (PA Act 42). These sites are reliable, convenient, and allow you to access every single game you’d want to play whenever you want, wherever you want. The best thing is that it’s free to sign up.

Go To: Legal Sports Betting Sites For Pennsylvania Bettors

Land-based casino games have been legalized for a little over a decade now in Pennsylvania. You can find the exact wording in Title 18, Section 5513 of Pennsylvania state code. Slot Machines were approved in 2004 when Pennsylvania state government formed a Gaming Control Board to regulate casino gaming. In 2010, table games became available to residents as well. Pennsylvania currently has a dozen casino locations, most of which are also race tracks or attached to a hotel or resort. While these land-based facilities are available to Pennsylvania residents, they are limited in what they can offer, especially when it comes to certain table games.

Land-based casinos are good for a night out every once in a while, but if you want to play games on a more regular basis, it can become a huge hassle. Finding a babysitter for the kids, traveling to the actual location of a casino that has the games you want to play, dealing with the crowds and the smoke of such an establishment. Not to mention the dress code for a nicer place means you have to ditch those jeans for a much less comfortable set of clothes. For Pennsylvania residents looking for a legal way to play casino games for money, check out an online gambling site.

Online casino gaming sites allow you to play for money from the comfort of your own home. You can access them from your computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet – and there’s no download necessary. There are no state laws that prohibit the use of these sites, so residents need not worry. These sites are reliable, convenient, and allow you to access every single game you’d want to play whenever you want, wherever you want. The best thing is that it’s free to sign up.

Go To: Legal Online Casinos For Pennsylvania Residents

Poker has always been a game that draws quite a bit of controversy, especially over whether or not it should be legalized. Fortunately for residents, It is legal to play poker in Pennsylvania at a licensed establishment. Most casinos in the state have at least one poker table hosting Texas Hold ’em, or 3-,5-, or 7-card stud. Unfortunately, there are only a few casinos that have poker rooms. Most are limited to table games and slot machines. Traveling to a casino and finding out that it doesn’t have a poker table, or worse, has a poker table but doesn’t have your game, can be a huge disappointment as well as a waste of a trip.

Fortunately for residents, there is another legal and more convenient way to play poker in Pennsylvania. Online casino gaming sites usually have a separate poker room attached to their site. These poker rooms allow you access to all of the perks of a live table – including live dealers – but also come with none of the hassles. You can access these rooms the same way you access an online casino – from you smartphone, tablet, or computer.

These sites are perfectly legal to use, as you will have noted from the sections above. Poker falls under the category of casino games, and as such, was legalized when Title 18, Section 5513 repealed the sanctions against gambling within the state. With the passage of PA Act 42, online poker rooms are legal as well as convenient.

Go To: Legal Poker Sites For Pennsylvania Players

There are hundreds of online gambling sites that are legal for Pennsylvania residents, but only a few that can do it all. Below, we’ve reviewed a site called BetOnline. Not only is it an online sportsbook, it’s also an online casino and poker room. BetOnline has been operational for nearly two decades, providing its players with an excellent gambling experience while providing wonderful customer service, speedy payouts, and incredible special features for legal Pennsylvania gambling.

Located in Panama City, Panama, BetOnline has been providing Pennsylvania residents with quality gaming since the late 90’s. This site is most famous for its sportsbook, which provides the earliest lines on a wide majority of the world’s most popular sporting events. They also have futures and props on political happenings, as well as celebrity entertainment and events. In addition to this, though, BetOnline has one of the best online casinos available to US residents. Here, you’ll be able to play all of your usual table games and slots, while also adding a ton of new favorites to your rotation. And for all you Poker aficionados out there, BetOnline’s poker room has more poker tables available to its players than any other online gambling site.

Is Online Sports Gambling Legal In Maryland

In addition to being a one-stop shop for all of your online gambling needs, BetOnline also sweetens the pot by offering more player bonuses than any other site. Not only do they provide a lifetime guarantee bonus to their sportsbook users, they offer a 100% poker bonus, which fully matches the first deposit you make to the poker room, as well as myriad different casino bonuses for every day of the week. No matter what you’re using BetOnline for, be it their poker room, sportsbook, or casino, you will always be provided with quick and efficient customer service. You have over a dozen payout methods to choose from and each one comes with one free withdrawal per month. BetOnline really is the best place for any Pennsylvania resident looking to gamble online.