Legal Sports Betting For Pennsylvania Residents
Legal sports betting for Pennsylvania residents can be done in a multitude of ways. There are numerous casinos and racino locations that now have licensed sportsbooks for patrons to visit. Even so, many bettors prefer a more convenient way to wager, and this is where the internet comes in. On top of the online sportsbooks we often suggest on this site, Pennsylvania also has state-regulated sports betting sites available. That means there are many online sportsbooks that allow for legal Pennsylvania sports betting. This gives players in the state the ability to wager real money on any number of sporting events. This is the best way to flexibly bet on sports legally in Pennsylvania.
On this page, we are going to give you our list of the best legal Pennsylvania sports betting sites we know of. We also answer any questions you might have on the matter, like what federal sports betting laws are still applicable to legal sports betting in Pennsylvania. In addition, we go over questions you have about legal sports betting sites in Pennsylvania. Everything you need to know about legal sports betting sites in Pennsylvania is right on this page.
Is It Now Legal To Bet On Sports In Pennsylvania?
Yes, it is now completely legal to bet on sports in Pennsylvania. Once the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) was overturned, Pennsylvania was one of the first in line to legalize single-game wagering after Nevada had a monopoly on the market for decades. Pennsylvania lawmakers passed sports betting in law in 2017 but had to wait until the May 14th, 2018 Supreme Court decision in order for it to go into effect. Now, residents can choose from state-licensed online, mobile, and land-based sports betting in addition to offshore books. All of these options are now available for people in Pennsylvania. Compared to the state-based options, sites like Bovada and BetOnline continue to accept PA sports bettors and provide the best odds around.
Online sports betting is legal in Pennsylvania so long as you are doing it at the right locations. In the state, residents can use state-licensed or offshore sportsbooks. All of these options are available, but we suggest that you stick with offshore sportsbooks. The reason we recommend overseas betting sites is that they often have better odds and a greater variety of betting options, making them a safe and legal sports betting alternative in Pennsylvania. Plus, the offshore sites we recommend have many more years of experience than Pennsylvania’s state-based sites. That experience matters.
Residents of Pennsylvania can place wagers at online sportsbooks or casinos safely, just as they can easily travel to nearby gaming venues. Pennsylvania players continue to choose online sportsbooks because of the convenience of betting on sports online and the fact that online sports gambling is completely legal. If you live in the Liberty Bell State and enjoy casino gambling or betting on sports, consider placing bets at online sportsbooks and casinos instead of traveling to a land-based casino, paying for gas, and having to get dressed up. Online books don’t care how you look since you’re playing via your computer and they won’t see you anyway. Plus, online bets don’t require you to fill your gas tank.
Considering that all forms of sports betting are now available and legal, it is basically impossible for you to go to jail for sports betting in Pennsylvania. Land-based and online sportsbooks are completely legal in the state. The websites that we have recommended throughout this page and website have been legal for people in Pennsylvania to use for decades now and they continue to be legal. If you are worried about going to jail for sports betting in Pennsylvania, then let us be the first to assure you that it is not going to happen.
Safety is guaranteed when using the sportsbook located at Bovada. Having been around for 15 years, they definitely know what they are doing. Bovada gives their users a solid set of betting odds, giving all players a way to wager on any sport out there. They place a heavy emphasis on football, both college and professional, making this one of the better options for betting the Sox or the Pats. A 100% to $250 match bonus awaits new players, and this can be collected with any of their major deposit options. But for a limited time, there is an exclusive bonus going on for football season. Until October 1, you can get a 50% bonus for your first deposit for up to $1,000! Just use the promo code BVNFL1000 for NFL bets or the NCAAF bonus code BVNCAAF1000. Bitcoin, VISA and wire transfers can all be used to deposit into Bovada, making this one of the easier books to access.
BetOnline provides a fluid betting experience that is not mired in complications. BetOnline offers easy access by way of multiple deposit methods, including VISA, e-checks, wire transfers, and prepaid cards. With each of the options we have found, we can tell you that funding your account is not a challenge. BetOnline gives their users one of the best bonuses around, a 50% match up to $1,000 when making the first deposit with code BOL1000. BetOnline is one of the easiest gambling sites to use, and they allow you to wager on everything from football to politics. Major professional sports, collegiate sports and more can all be found through BetOnline's sportsbook, making it one of your better options for diversity.
This state is the state that is known for all the sports teams and they are always competing for titles. The Philadelphia Eagles and The Pittsburgh Steelers are the main football teams here that most players pay attention to and Mybookie has all the games that players want to bet on during the season. These games will have plenty of the bets that players want to check out also with bonuses that will help players earn other rewards and money. The features that they also have is mobile betting and live betting options that show many bets as well. Check it out!
Teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and the Philadelphia Phillies are big-time pro teams that Pennsylvania sports fans take a glance at all the time. These are the teams that players like to bet on and Sportsbetting has all the games for these teams as betting options. The fact is that players know once they log on to their Sportbetting account, a lot of prop bets, moneyline, and parlay bets for these teams and other sports teams will be here. There are also banking methods for players to sign up for and bonuses like a 5% bitcoin boost will be offered to players soon as they pick which method is best for them. The amount that players can deposit is pretty high as well as the withdraw amount as well. These are just a few things that stick out for Sportsbetting.
The sports betting laws in Pennsylvania are relatively easy to understand. PA H 271 legalizes all forms of sports gambling in the state. The bill amended several titles of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes in order to regulate land-based and interactive gaming. You will find that there are licensure, taxation, and fee requirements established within the law. The bill was signed and approved by the governor on October 30, 2017, and went into effect after the federal ban on sports betting was revoked. Sportsbooks then launched in the state starting on November 16, 2018.
How Federal Laws Impact Pennsylvania Sports Betting
There are three federal sports betting laws that have impacted Pennsylvania sports gambling. The first one you need to know has been repealed, but it affected the industry for decades. It is called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). This law prevented sports betting from being regulated in 46 states, basically eradicating any stateside sponsored sports betting. The four states that were exempt included Delaware, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon. It was not until 2018 in Murphy vs. NCAA that the law was struck down. The Supreme Court ruled that PASPA was unconstitutional and the federal ban was lifted. The repeal of the law allowed PA HB 271 to take effect, legalizing sports gambling in Pennsylvania.
The second sports betting law that affects Pennsylvania residents is called the Wire Act. This law prevents people from accepting wagers over a line of communication. So, someone in Nevada can’t take a bet from someone in Pennsylvania. The Wire Act does not prevent actual sports betting. Instead, it just limits how and where you can bet on sports. The Wire Act does not have the authority to prevent the use of online, offshore sportsbooks. Furthermore, it is not applicable to state-licensed sports betting sites. So long as you use a Pennsylvania licensed online sportsbook or one of our recommended websites, you will be fine.
The third federal sports betting law in the US is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Now, this law sounds like it would make sports betting online unlawful, right? But it doesn’t. The UIGEA is just a really scary sounding banking regulation. The verbiage in this law states that companies cannot accept wagers or process transactions from US bettors to online gambling sites.
But US law does not have jurisdiction over companies that are based in other countries, so it can’t prevent these companies from accepting wagers from US bettors. What the UIGEA can do is prevent deposits from going through to these online companies. So banks are allowed to decline payments made to online gambling accounts. Fortunately, Legal Pennsylvania sports betting sites offer alternative deposit methods that are not affected by the UIGEA. Plus, online sports betting is completely legal in Pennsylvania. This further weakens the effect that the UIGEA has on the state.
The legal betting age in Pennsylvania is 21. While most online sportsbooks will allow you to join at the age of 18, we recommend waiting. This is simply to comply with gambling age restrictions set forth by your state so that there are no grounds for your winnings to be confiscated. Whether you bet online or at a local PA sportsbook, you will need identification to verify your age.
In Pennsylvania, legal mobile sports betting can be accessed through your phone’s browser. If you are a fan of one of the land-based sportsbooks, check to see if they have an online option available. If they do, you can use their mobile sports betting app to place bets on your favorite teams without leaving home. You also have the option to use offshore sportsbooks. The online, offshore sports betting sites we recommend all have mobile sites that are designed to work on smartphones and tablets. So, if you’re in Pennsylvania and can’t make it home before the game starts, just log onto your account from your phone.
How Can I Tell if an Online Sportsbook is Legal for Pennsylvania Residents?
It’s actually very simple to determine if a site provides legal sports betting for Pennsylvania residents. If the site accepts American players, you’re using a legal sportsbook. Legal Pennsylvania sports betting can be done at any of the sites we recommend here on this page. We also recommend checking for licensing as well, which can be found on the home page. You can also see if an online book only accepts Pennsylvania players. If they do, then check if they are associated with one of the casinos that has a sportsbook. That will be a good indication that they are legal for Pennsylvania residents.
How Can I Open An Account At An Online Sportsbook?
All it takes is an email and a few minutes of your time to open a legal Pennsylvania sports betting account. Simply set up a username and password, verify your email, and voila, you’ve got yourself an account. Deposits are just as simple.
What Are The Best Deposit Methods At Legal Pennsylvania Sports Betting Sites?
The best deposit methods for Pennsylvania residents are those that are fast, easy to use and provide safe transactions. We recommend prepaid cards or Bitcoin. Both methods take only minutes to fund your account. Neither will get flagged by the UIGEA, so you don’t have to worry about a declined transaction. And there are no fees to worry about. If you are using a state-licensed sportsbook, Bitcoin will not be available. In that case, you can use PayPal or use your credit and debit cards.
What Are The Best Withdrawal Methods Available To Pennsylvania Residents?
The best withdrawal methods available to Pennsylvania residents are those that have minimal fees and fast delivery times. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies are typically the fastest. Most legal Pennsylvania sports betting sites will provide at least one free payout per month, which means the fees will be waived. So after that, it comes down to speed. All of the methods offered are guaranteed and secure, so you never have to worry about that. But as we have mentioned, cryptocurrencies are not available for use on state-licensed sportsbooks. PayPal will likely be your best option to withdraw your winnings.
How Long Should It Take For The Sportsbook To Payout?
It depends on the withdrawal method you’ve chosen from the online sportsbook. If you choose something digital, like Bitcoin or Litecoin, payouts take only a few hours. But if you choose a paper check in the mail or even a wire transfer, it can take a few business days, and sometimes up to a week. Offshore sites that provide legal sports betting in Pennsylvania are located in other countries, so it can take time for physical payment to reach you. For state-licensed sportsbooks, it will usually take about 72 hours to review and approve your withdrawal. Afterward, it depends on what method you choose to take. At most, it will take 14 business days if you ask for a check by mail. But if you use PayPal, it will take 30 minutes after approval.
When Will Pennsylvania Open State-Sponsored Sports Betting Sites?
State-sponsored sports betting sites are available right now in Pennsylvania. State-sponsored sports betting sites will offer the same betting options like those offered at the brick and mortar sportsbook. If you have a favorite land-based sportsbook that you like, check if they have a mobile option available. But we will continue to suggest online offshore sportsbooks. Offshore online sportsbooks will typically have better odds because there are not as many overhead costs as a physical location.
Professional:
- Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)
- Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)
- Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
- Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
- Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB)
- Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)
College:
- Penn State
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Pittsburgh
- Villanova
- Temple
- Lehigh