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1. United States Online Gambling Sites
2. Best Online Gambling Sites
3. Top 10 Offshore Gambling Sites
4. Top 10 Sports Gambling Sites

With the digital revolution in full swing and the ease of government regulations on gambling, the sports betting industry is undergoing dynamic transformations over the last few years and consequently surging in popularity around the word, the revenues of many world’s leading sports betting companies are also growing significantly year on year. Today, sports betting has become one of the fastest growing industries across the world, offering immense potential for both bettors and sportsbooks. Some of the popular games for sports betting include horse racing, greyhounding, cricket, football, baseball, basketball and golf.

For the latest online gambling market size, sports betting market forecast, and top sports betting companies in the world, please see our report Global Sports Betting Market 2018-2022, or download your FREE Global Sports Betting Market Report Sample now!

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Global Sports Betting Market Analysis

Over the last few years, the world has opened immense opportunities for gamblers to take part in sports betting anywhere in the world through digital platforms, except in those nations where betting is banned. The global sports betting sector occupies the major market share in the overall online gambling industry accounting for more than 40 % of the worldwide gambling revenue generation. According to the Technavio’s market analysts, the sports betting market will grow at an impressive CAGR, with the global sports betting market revenue expected to reach nearly $370 billion by 2022.

Read more:How Is the Online Gambling Industry Making Room for the Next Unicorn Company?

Top 10 Sports Betting Companies in the Global Gambling Industry

888 Holdings

888 holdings is one of the most popular online gaming operators, which operates 888 sports, casino, poker, and bingo brands. Since its launch in 2008, 888 Sports has been successful in establishing a strong presence in the online sports betting market. The online betting site breaks away from the traditional bookies with exclusive customer deals, a range of new markets and an international appeal. Although the company exited US market long back owing to the strict government regulations, they have been keeping a close eye on regulatory developments in the US.

Today, 888 has already positioned itself in the market by partnering with the US-based companies. The potential for the sports betting sector in the US is significant and, as the only firm in all three regulated US states, 888 is all set to exploit the potential growth opportunities in the US market.

Read more:The Game is on! Here are the Top 15 Online Gaming Companies

GVC Holdings

GVC Holdings is one of the largest sports betting companies and gaming groups. With its unique proprietary technology platform, GVC offers casino, poker, bingo, and sports betting under some of the industry’s most popular online betting brands including partypoker, CasinoClub, Betboo, Bwin, Foxy Bingo, and Sportingbet. In a spell of acquisitions, GVC Holdings made a milestone €1.1 billion acquisition of online gaming brand bwin party in 2016 and acquired UK rival Ladbrokes Coral in March 2018.

Further, GVC Holdings also confirmed a $200 million joint venture deal with MGM Resorts recently that will see the former transfer its online sports betting know-how to the latter. This deal will soon lead to the launch of a wide range of sports betting sites in the US.

Kindred Group

The Stockholm-listed online gambling company, Kindred, continued their record-breaking financial performance in 2018, thanks to the all-time growth of their active customer-base and the 2018 FIFA world cup, that led to higher active users. Today, the company is regarded as one of the world’s leading online gambling brands within the sports betting arena. Kindred Group recently signed a 5+5-year agreement with Casino Atlantic City and Hard Rock Hotel in New Jersey. This move is Kindred’s first step into US gaming, with a view to offering online sports betting services to US customers.

Kindred’s major revenue comes from casino games and online sports betting. With these two segments which generated respective revenue of £104 million and £104.9 million during Q2, Kindred continues to witness significant online organic growth.

Read more : Why Sports Betting Accounts for the Largest Share of the Gambling Market

Paddy Power Betfair

Paddy Power Betfair was born following the merger of Paddy Power plc and Betfair Group in February 2016. Today, the business has four divisions: Online Australia, Irish Retail, UK Retail, and Telephone segments. The company’s Online Australia segment provides sports betting services and is the market leader in the Australian gambling industry. Its UK and Irish Retail segment operate 623 betting shops across Ireland and UK. It has a presence in Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland and across the world.

Paddy Power Betfair provides gaming and sports betting services through websites including betfair.com, paddypower.com, tvg.com, sportsbet.com.au, and us.betfair.com under the Betfair, Sportsbet, Paddy Power, and TVG brand names, and through a chain of licensed betting offices.

William Hill

Since 2012, when the UK-listed bookmaker merged three businesses to establish William Hill US, the company has grown consistently to achieve the market share of around 30 %, making it one of the largest sports betting companies in the UK and the US. William Hill is one of the early movers to reap the benefits from the legalization of sports betting in the US after the Supreme Court’s decision in May to strike out a federal ban passed in 1992. William Hill US is already the leading sports betting company in the US, operating more than 108 race and sports books in Nevada along with the state’s top mobile sports betting app.

The sports wagering giant signed sports betting agreements with a number of casinos in the US last month and is in talks with more operators. The company is ramping up hiring in Nevada for growing its US business. The company announced that it will offer mobile betting technology and sports betting risk management services to 11 casinos in Mississippi and West Virginia.

Download related report sample for free:Global Mobile Gambling Market 2017-2021

Bet365

Having added a vast range of betting options and products to their core over the past several years, Bet365 has grown to be one of the largest firms in the sports betting industry. Bet365 was one of the first sports betting company to start offering eSports to bet on. This British online gambling and sports betting company serves more than 23 million customers across the world by offering poker, casino, games, bingo, and sports betting, along with video streams on sporting events. The company recently inked a partnership with another sports betting company – Hard Rock Atlantic City casino to offer sports betting service

Stars Group

The ultimate owner of the most popular gaming brands such as PokerStars, BetStars, PokerStars Casino, and Full Tilt, Star Groups (formerly known as Amaya Gaming) recently announced that it has successfully acquired the Sky Betting and Gaming (SBG). This deal will turn the online poker giant into the largest sports-betting company in the world. Stars Group is one of the most licensed online gaming operators with its subsidiaries holding approvals and licenses in 19 jurisdictions across the world, including the Americas, Australia, and Europe. Star Group brands have millions of customers globally and are leaders in mobile and online betting, casino, poker, and other gaming-related offerings.

Download related report sample for free: Global Online Gambling Market 2018-2022

Draft Kings

DraftKings is one of the most popular daily fantasy sports content providers that allows users to enter fantasy sports-related contests based on team and individual player performance in five largest American sports (the NBA, MLB, the PGA, the NFL, and the NHL), NASCAR auto racing, Premier League and UEFA Champions League soccer, the Arena Football League, Canadian Football League, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Tennis. After the US Supreme Court cleared the way to legalize sports betting, DraftKings got to work immediately, as sports gambling will account for a major share of their business.

Betsson

Betsson is an award-winning sports betting website that has been around since 2006 and literally grew into a gambling empire. The company provides users from all over the world an option to play poker, casino, bingo games and place their bets on various sports events. Betsson is based in Malta and holds a betting license from the gambling commission in the same country as well as one from the United Kingdom as well. Today, its sports betting option is offered on various markets and more and more consumers choose it as a significant option for sports betting.

BetAmerica

BetAmerica made its name in online gambling industry through horse racing, which then branched out into fantasy sports with the launch of FanEx Sports. Today, BetAmerica.com is considered as one of the most legal and secure sports betting companies based in the US. With a wide range of fantasy leagues for MLB, NFL and NBA and more than 200 racing tracks to choose from, BetAmerica is all set to grab the major share in the sports betting industry.

To find out other major sports betting companies in North America, Europe and Asia, download your FREE Global Sports Betting Market Report Samplenow!

Global Sports Betting Market Trends

Online betting was brought into the sports industry in the late 1990s and has been growing significantly since then. With the emergence and high penetration of the digital platform, punters have the flexibility in placing bets on sports from any part of the world. Indeed, the digital revolution has given sportsbooks a platform to connect with new customers. Online gambling is one of the fastest growing sectors in the e-commerce industry and is a rapidly growing mode of gambling. The use of digital processes and the growing punter demand will propel the growth of the online gambling industry, while the major sports betting companies in the world are also expected to achieve higher revenues in the near future.

For more market intelligence in the global sports betting market, please check this following report:

With several types of online gambling available in Pennsylvania, picking a site can seem overwhelming. If you’re feeling unsure about where to go, you’ve come to the right place.

Below, you will find reviews for the best online casino and online sportsbook in Pennsylvania. We have carefully studied each site to determine what the strong suits are and, conversely, what things they need to improve.

We also discuss some of the challenges Pennsylvania’s online gambling market is facing.

With things changing almost daily, it can be challenging to keep up with online gambling news in the Keystone State. Hopefully, by reading through our information below, you can determine which sites best fit your online betting needs. Most importantly, you must be comfortable with the site and aren’t worried about anything beyond winning.

Best PA online gambling sites for 2021

Our best casino bonuses and offers

Online casinos offer bonuses to their patrons to promote loyalty for the site. This practice is especially true for new players; every online casino has an offer for those who register for the site.

Several online casinos are active in Pennsylvania. Here’s a rundown of what bonuses are available on the best sites right now:

Unibet Casino

Unibet online casino in PA is one of the top options in the state, with $10 free just for signing up and a 100% match of your deposit up to $500.

For the free money, use promo code UBCASINO10. For the deposit bonus, use promo code UBCASINO500.

The trusted brand from Europe is hoping to make a big splash in PA with the biggest library of games in the state.

Read ourUnibet PA online casino review

SugarHouse Casino

SugarHouse Casino offers new players a 100% deposit match on their first deposit. In other words, the site will match the player’s initial deposit dollar-for-dollar.

This bonus is good for up to $250. Best of all, PlaySugarHouse only requires a 1x playthrough on its bonus, so the money is quite easy to release. SugarHouse is the best PA casino when it comes to bonus offers.

All a new player needs to do is use promo code 250MATCH when he or she makes a deposit. This deposit bonus is likely the best available in Pennsylvania right now.

Read our Sugarhouse PA Casino review

Hollywood Casino

At first glance, Hollywood online casino’s bonus seems rather meager in comparison to the other two casinos. After all, $25 is not much compared to hundreds of dollars. However, this $25 does not require a deposit. It’s absolutely free.

All new players must do is register on the site. There’s no need to enter any promo code or other activity. As a result, the registrant will find $25 waiting for them.

Best of all, there’s only a 1x playthrough requirement. So, wager through the $25 once, and it’s ready for withdrawals.

Read our Hollywood Casino review

PA online casinos partnership tracker

The table below shows the Pennsylvania casinos that have applied for licenses. You can see their expected technology partners, and whether they have an additional online sports betting license.

Casino	Online partners	Online Casino launch projection
Hollywood (Penn National)	N/A	Launched July 2019
Parx	GAN	Launched July 2019
Rivers Philadelphia	Rush Street Interactive / Kambi	Launched July 2019 (PlaySugarHouse)
PokerStars Casino	888 / PokerStars	Launched Nov. 2019
Unibet	Kindred	Launched Nov. 2019
FanDuel Casino	IGT / GAN	Launched Jan. 2020
Presque Isle Downs	BetAmerica	Launched Jan. 2020
Rivers Philadelphia	Rush Street Interactive / Kambi	Launched Jan. 2020 (BetRivers)
Harrah's	Scientific Games / 888 (Caesars)	Launched April 2020
Wind Creek Casino	Pala Interactive	Launched July 2020
Live! Casino	GAN	Launched Aug. 2020
Barstool Casino	Penn National	2020
Hollywood (Penn National)	BetMGM	Launched Dec. 2020
Golden Nugget NJ	NYX	Application pending

Best sportsbook bonuses and offers

Online sports betting is a relatively new concept in Pennsylvania. Several betting sites have launched, and there’s a bit of an arms race underway.

Here’s a look at our welcome bonuses offers:

SugarHouse Sportsbook

SugarHouse Sportsbook was the first online sportsbook to open its doors in Pennsylvania. So, fittingly, the book has a great dollar-for-dollar welcome bonus.

New players at SugarHouse will receive a 100% match on their first deposit. All they have to do is enter promo code 250MATCH when entering their banking details.

Best of all, this match is good for deposits of up to $250. There’s only a 1x playthrough requirement, so it’s quite simple to release. Few bonuses are as good as this one in Pennsylvania right now.

Read our Sugarhouse Sportsbook review

BetRivers Sportsbook

BetRivers’ online sportsbook does have a bonus that rivals SugarHouse’s deposit match. In fact, it’s the same.

Thanks to its shared corporate ownership, BetRivers and SugarHouse are sister sites. So, the two books are going to function as mirrors in many cases, including bonus offers.

Naturally, that means that BetRivers players can also receive a 100% match on their first deposits. This match extends up to $250.

New players must use the promo code 250MATCH to activate the bonus when they make that first investment. The 1x playthrough requirement is about as minimal as those restrictions get, so it should be no problem to recover a significant portion of free money from BetRivers.

Read our BetRivers Sportsbook review

FanDuel Sportsbook

To casual fans, FanDuel might seem like a strange addition to the sports betting landscape. However, the daily fantasy sports giant has become quite a force in online sports betting in the past few years.

So, Pennsylvanians can get a taste of what all the fuss is. New accounts at FanDuel online sportsbook will receive a risk-free bet of up to $500.

New FanDuel players don’t need a promo code to activate this deal. They simply must join FanDuel here and make their first wager.

There is a 1x playthrough requirement on the bonus, which means players must make another bet of equal size to release the funds.

Essentially, players are receiving two bets for the price of one. Still, that’s a great deal for most, mainly if one of them happens to win.

As an added bonus, there is also a FanDuel Casino integrated within the PA FanDuel sports betting app.

Read our Fanduel PA Sportsbook review

Full list of sportsbooks and partnerships

Casino	Retail sportsbook launch	Online sportsbook	Online sportsbook launch
Rivers Casino Philadelphia	Dec. 15, 2018	PlaySugarHouse	Launched May 2019
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh	Dec. 15, 2018	BetRivers	Launched June 2019
Parx Casino Sportsbook	Jan. 10, 2019	Parx	Launched June 2019
Valley Forge Casino	March 13, 2019	FanDuel	Launched July 2019
Hollywood Casino at Penn National	Nov. 17, 2018	Barstool	Launched Sept. 2020
Harrah's Philadelphia	Jan. 24, 2019	Caesars	Launched March 2020
Presque Isle Downs Casino	July 26, 2019	BetAmerica	Launched Dec. 2019
Mount Airy	Sept. 12, 2019	Fox Bet	Launched Sept. 2019
Mohegan Sun Pocono	Sept. 24, 2019	Unibet	Launched Nov. 2019
The Meadows	Oct. 7, 2019	DraftKings	Launched Nov. 2019
Oaks Race & Sportsbook (Now Closed)	March 14, 2019 (permanently closed in July, 2020)	N/A	N/A
South Philadelphia Turf Club	Jan. 17, 2019	N/A	N/A
The Downs at Lehigh Valley	Jan. 2020 (Unibet Sportbook)	N/A	N/A
Wind Creek Casino	Nov. 18, 2020	Betfred	Launched Dec. 2020
Live! Casino Philadelphia (2021)	2021 (FanDuel Sportsbook)	N/A	N/A
Hollywood Casino Morgantown (2021)	2021 (BetMGM Sportsbook)	BetMGM	Launched Dec. 2020

Many of these online sports betting offerings will eventually be tied to a PA online casino site. For example, Harrah’s will likely roll everything into its single Caesars Online Casino product. PlaySugarHouse offers a shared account between casino and sports betting as well.

The lone exception is if you are an iPhone user. Changes to the Apple app store guidelines make these shared apps difficult, so you might see a sports betting app before you get a real-money online casino app in the lineup. And there is a chance they will remain separate.

What’s legal and illegal for online sports betting?

Few newly legalized activities come without rules and exceptions to their legality. Pennsylvania’s online sports betting is no different.

The good news is that Pennsylvania residents and visitors can wager on any professional, collegiate or international sporting events. The only requirements are:

• Be at least 21 years or older
• Be physically within Pennsylvania state lines
• Wager on an approved, regulated Pennsylvania site

However, the betting must occur on sporting events.

So, non-sports events, such as the Academy Awards or political elections, are not permitted for betting.

Finally, people who are intrinsically involved with a particular sport cannot wager upon it. So, players, officials, coaches, and other sports personnel cannot place bets on their own sports.

Concerning online casinos, most people can play without any restriction. Adults who are at least 21 years old are more than welcome to take part.

However, there is absolutely no online casino play allowed across state lines. The sites use geolocation software to monitor every player’s physical location. You must enable this function on your mobile device or you won’t be allowed to play.

The other exception is people who have placed themselves on the self-exclusion list. There is a separate self-exclusion list in Pennsylvania specifically for online play. Unfortunately, gambling addiction is a real problem, and online casinos are careful not to exacerbate the issue for people who are in recovery.

PA casino apps

With Pennsylvania moving into the online casino space, there are a few points about using these programs that bear mention.

First and foremost, it’s important to know that each casino app will figure out what device you’re using automatically. So, whether you use a laptop or a mobile device, the app will size the casino to fit your screen.

For the most part, every online casino has a browser version that will always work on desktops and some phones.

With that said, many casinos have a dedicated app specific to mobile use. If you are a mobile user, you may find the app to provide a smoother experience.

The mobile apps may also have greater functionality than the browser version. However, the game selection on the app can be smaller because some games don’t translate to mobile.

Finally, no matter which platform you use, you will have to go through some steps for the app to work.

Apple users should be aware all PA casinos or sportsbooks have a native iOS app.

Android users can play on all of the casinos in Pennsylvania but they will need to download the app from the casino website. The Google Play store does not support the distribution of gambling apps.

What online casino games are available in PA casinos?

Online casinos feature many of the same games that one might find in a land-based casino. Here are some of the types of games you may find at your favorite site.

Because of the laws requiring Pennsylvania-specific servers for any game providers to PA online casinos, the selection may not be what you are used to if you’ve ever played on a New Jersey online casino, for example.

Slots

The bread and butter for land-based casinos, slots, are the main focus for most online casinos too. An online slot is technically not a machine, but it functions identically otherwise.

United States Online Gambling Sites

A slot game will usually feature several rotating reels with various symbols drawn on them. The reels stop, and the player wins (or doesn’t) based upon the patterns the reels come to rest.

Many slots also feature bonus games or features that provide extra chances for players to win. Bonuses tend to be mini-games and have a higher chance of success than the slot game at large.

Each online casino in Pennsylvania offers a selection of games. That variety depends mostly on the deals each casino has with the game publishers.

So, the following is a list of the most popular slot developers and their games that are playable at the best PA online casinos:

NetEnt: At this time, all games on SugarHouse Casino are produced by NetEnt Games. NetEnt became an industry leader in the world of online slots by providing players with realistic games that replicated those in a Vegas casino. The list of games below includes the top games you will find at Pennsylvania online casinos.

• Blood Suckers II
• Dead or Alive
• Divine Fortune
• Drive: Multiplier Mayhem
• Gonzo’s Quest

Konami: Konami is a household name in the online casino industry. As of the time of writing, this slot developer is only available at select casinos and with only a handful of Konami slot games. Here is a list of games available at select PA casinos:

• African Diamond
• Ancient Dragon
• China Shores
• Full Moon Diamond
• Solstice Celebration

IGT: IGT is a massive global brand with more than 1,000 styles of slot machines in brick-and-mortar casinos and hundreds available online. But there is a limited number of IGT slots in Pennsylvania. This list includes the top games you’ll be able to find online.

• The Big Easy
• Cleopatra
• Crown of Egypt
• King of Atlantis
• Pixies of the Forest

Other game developers entering the Pennsylvania market include Incredible Technologies, Everi Gaming, GAN, H5G, and Slot Symphony.

Video poker

Video poker games are often lumped together with slots. The main difference is that players retain a certain measure of control over the way the game proceeds.

Video poker creates a virtual simulation of a typical five-card draw poker hand. The player receives five cards, can choose to hold as many as they like and then redraws.

The goal is to make a five-card hand that qualifies as a winner. Exactly which rank of hand is required to win varies from game to game.

Table games

Players who prefer a more tactile experience tend to stick to table games. These are games that use a virtual simulation of activities that involve playing cards, dice, balls, or prize wheels.

Blackjack

The most common table game is blackjack. This card game is a competition between the player and the dealer to see whose combination of cards can get closest to 21 in value.

The catch is that the player must act before the dealer and rely on incomplete information to do so. As a result, the casino retains a slight mathematical edge.

However, players can mitigate this edge by using basic strategy. Basic strategy is a widely published set of behaviors designed to play blackjack optimally.

Roulette

The second-most common table game is roulette.

This French version of the game is found in almost any casino with table games. In fact, PlaySugarHouse elected to launch three variants of roulette in its PA online casino before publishing any versions of blackjack.

Basically, roulette involves a randomly released ball falling into a spinning wheel with numbered slots. Players wager based upon which numbers they believe the ball will fall into.

When playing roulette, you will choose between European and American roulette. European roulette features only a single zero on the wheel and boasts better odds for the players. American roulette, on the other hand, features a 0 and a 00, worsening the odds for players.

There are a variety of choices and combinations of numbers that players can choose to bet. Roulette is a staple for casinos due to its pace of play and chance at incredible winnings. A correct bet on a single number will pay 35:1.

Craps

Craps seems to be a bit less likely to appear in PA online casinos. The game itself, which plays with dice rolls, a large tub-like pit, and myriad ways to wager, is likely a challenge for programmers to realize in a virtual setting.

Nonetheless, craps is a dice-based game, which involves players attempting to roll certain numbers on a pair of dice. Players wager based upon the likelihood of various combinations appearing on the dice.

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The probability of those combinations often determines the prescribed payout for various wagers on the board. The casinos generate their profit margin by ensuring that the payout odds are worse than the event odds.

For example, a particular number may only have one chance in three of occurring, but a successful wager will only payout 2:1.

Other table games

Several table games are available from time to time at online casinos. These games are less common and, frankly, have a bigger house edge to them.

Nevertheless, they can be a fun option for someone looking for a change of pace. Some other table games include:

• Casino Hold ’em
• Caribbean Stud
• EZ Baccarat
• Let It Ride
• Pai Gow Poker
• Three-card poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold ’em

Live dealer games at PA casinos

People often speak about the “next big thing.” For online gambling in the US, live dealer games are that thing.

This style of online casino game has been nothing short of a revolution. It has propelled casinos in New Jersey to great heights. Live dealer games will come to a Pennsylvania online casinos as soon as the operators can get it off the ground.

Essentially, live dealer games are games dealt in real-time and broadcast live across the site. Real dealers run the games in an interactive studio located in or near the actual land-based casino itself. In fact, there are a few games conducted on the casino floor itself.

Players can place their bets, interact with the dealers, or even interact with one another. Some versions of live dealer games have even expanded to allow players to have multiple views of the game in action.

So far, the following games are available in a live dealer setting in New Jersey. Hopefully, they will appear in Pennsylvania soon:

• Baccarat
• Blackjack
• Casino Hold ’em
• Roulette
• Three-card poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold ’em

Stay on top of things with your favorite online site. Live dealer games are not something to miss.

More about PA’s legal online gambling industry

Online poker, online casino table games, and slots became legal in Pennsylvania as a part of a comprehensive gambling expansionpackagepassed by state legislators in October 2017.

The PGCB is providing regulatory oversight for the local online gambling industry. Casinos could get all three types of interactive gaming licenses at once for a $10 million licensing fee. The cost was $4 million each individually for slots, table games, and peer-to-peer games like poker.

There is no limit on the number of skins, or alternatively branded online gambling operations, that can operate under each licensee. However, regulations designed by the board stipulate branding for the skins must clearly identify the licensee. Plus, players can only create one account per licensee, not per skin.

Potential PA online casinos

According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), there are 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos and two smaller resort casinos operating inside the state. Plus, a 13th casino, Live! Philadelphia, is coming to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex area, home of Philadelphia’s professional sports teams.

All of these PA casino operations could have applied for online gambling operator licenses in the state beginning April 16, 2018. The properties had until July 16 to turn in applications for a $10 million comprehensive interactive gaming license. With this license, casinos can offer online poker, online slots, and online table games.

There were nine casinos which applied:

• Harrah’s Philadelphia
• Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
• Mount Airy Casino Resort
• Parx Casino
• Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
• Wind Creek (formerly Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem)
• Rivers Philadelphia (formerly SugarHouse Casino)
• Valley Forge Resort Casino
• Live! Philadelphia Casino (under development)

After applying, Rivers Casino Pittsburg eventually rescinded its application, electing to punt on online gambling. Stadium Casino, now called Live! Philadelphia, did something similar, opting to forgo an online poker license.

Meanwhile, both Presque Isle Downs and Mohegan Sun Pocono applied for a la carte licenses. Presque Isle opted to skip poker. Mohegan surprisingly signed up for all three at a cost of $2 million more than its competitors. However, like Rivers and Live!, it too abandoned its online poker plans.

That left 12 unclaimed interactive licenses. PGCB opened up a process for qualified gambling entities (QGE) from outside of Pennsylvania to claim them.

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Only two groups applied. MGM Resorts has preliminary approval for all three categories of license. Golden Nugget Atlantic City can offer table games and slots, but no online poker.

These two major US gaming players will be among the last to launch online casino and sports betting products in PA. They will also be the only sites without a PA land-based casino partner.

Potential PA online poker sites

The first online poker site to go live in the state was PokerStars PA when it fully launched on Nov. 6, 2019. The global poker brand is offered in conjunction with its land-based counterpart Mount Airy Casino Resort.

Today, 10 of 12 Pennsylvania casinos have poker rooms. Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin and Valley Forge Casino Resort are the only casinos in the state that do not have poker rooms.

More than 220 live poker tables are operating across the state with the 10 rooms pulling in an average of $4 million in revenue every month.

Plans for Live! in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex area include opening a poker room when the facility opens its doors in early 2021.

In addition to Mount Airy, six more PA casinos plan to offer an online poker counterpart. Those that will launch an online poker room in Pennsylvania (MGM is applying as an out-of-state entity) include:

• Harrah’s Philadelphia
• Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
• Parx Casino
• Wind Creek Casino
• Rivers Casino Philadelphia
• Valley Forge Resort Casino
• MGM Resorts (QGE – no land-based partner)

Top 10 Sports Gambling Sites

PA online gambling site safety

PGCB will regulate all online gaming sites in the state. This is the same branch of the state government that regulates all land-based PA casinos.

Other important points regarding PA online gambling security

The regulations designed by PGCB will include several security measures specifically designed to:

• Ensure player balances are held in a separate account from operating funds
• Force sites to implement a rigorous player verification process
• Prevents minors from gaining access
• Deal with problem gamblers
• Force sites to implement geolocation software making sure all players are within the state
• All deposits and withdrawals are processed securely