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Pennsylvania Online Casinos
PA Online Casino Industry Summary
| Status | Legal since 2017 |
| Legal Pennsylvania Gambling Age | 21 |
| Online Payment Methods | ACH/bank transfer, debit/credit cards, Play+, PayPal, PayNearMe, wire transfer, Neteller, e-check, cash at casino cage |
| Gambling Regulator | Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board |
| Tax rates | 22% federal tax + 3.07% state tax |
The Expanded Gaming Act of 2017 made online gambling legal in Pennsylvania. This means that now PA gambling sites are able to provide players with casino services. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) regulates all land-based and online gambling in this state.
All gambling websites must be licensed by the PGCB to operate in Pennsylvania state. No offshore casinos are licensed by the PGCB as all Pennsylvania online casino sites must be partnered with a land-based casino from the state.
Offshore casinos have a weird legal status as most of them are licensed by the nation where they reside, but they are not recognized by a US authority. As there is no gambling industry body or organization in charge, in case something goes wrong, no one will help you.
Also, banking systems refuse to work with them so it would be a hassle to use them even in the event that they aren’t shady and will pay you your winnings.
As PA casinos online are regulated and thoroughly and constantly tested, they are obviously the better solution to your online gambling needs and you don’t need to risk playing at offshore sites.
The PGCB has a slow licensing process as they test and deliberate to make sure that all the PA casino sites they license are fair and safe.
The games available at Pennsylvania online casino sites are regularly audited so players know that the RNG is indeed random and the expected RTP percentages are published.
Players can only access and play at new PA online casino sites while they are within state lines. Keep in mind that online casino Pennsylvania sites use geolocation technology to check your location.
SlotsCalendar Advice: Those using VPNs or proxy servers might have issues and so can mobile users using 4G who are close to state borders. The solution is to download additional geolocation software. And to make sure that you have enabled location services while using the casino app.
Currently, there are 16 licensed Pennsylvania casino sites. This includes 11 standalone casinos, two smaller resort-type casinos and three mini-casinos. In case you didn’t know, mini-casinos are those that can offer between 300 and 750 slots, and for an additional $2.5 million also up to 30 table games. They are licensed through several auctions.
Taxes at PA Online Casino Sites
Taxes might seem a little bit daunting when you first start playing at legal online casino Pennsylvania sites, but once you understand how they work, it shouldn’t be hard to navigate them.
Casinos shall withhold 25% of your winnings if you provide a Social Security number, if you do not, then 28% will be withheld. Since 2017, all winnings over $5000 from sweepstakes, pari mutuel pools, jai alai, lotteries and wagering pools is 24% (down from 25%).
Among all states that have a flat tax, Pennsylvania’s income tax is the lowest at 3.07% and it will apply to all taxable income, including winnings from gambling and lottery.
The PA online casino sites are responsible for sending the winners Form W-2G. This form will report the winnings to you and the IRS as well. The PA casino sites only have to send the form if the player goes over these thresholds:
- Winnings, not reduced by wager, from bingo or slots, are $1200 or more
- Winnings, not reduced by wager, from keno are $1500 or more
- Winnings, reduced by the wager or buy-in, from a poker tournament are more than $5,000
- Winnings, except those from bingo, slots, keno, and poker tournaments, reduced by the wager, are $600 or more, and at least 300x the amount of your wager.
Even if you win during a trip to another state or country, you are still required to report your winnings to the IRS.
SlotsCalendar Advice: Gambling losses can be deducted (if they are itemized on line 28 of Schedule A, Form 1040). You can’t deduct more than your winnings. You must keep a record of the date & type of each bet, the name and location of said bet, the amount won or lost, wagering tickets, cancelled checks and credit card records.
Legal Gambling Age at Online Casino Pennsylvania Sites
The legal gambling age at Pennsylvania online casino sites is 21 years old. All people under 21 will be forbidden from playing. In order to verify your identity and make sure that you are over 21, the PA online
casino websites will require you to go through verification.
You must send a copy of a form of ID like a passport or driver’s license as well as a utility bill with your name on it for proof of address. This way, the PA casinos online will know that you are who you said you are and are allowed to gamble. This will also speed up the withdrawal verification so you should get it done as soon as possible after making an account.
The legal gambling age is 21 in all US states where online gambling is legal: New Jersey, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut and Delaware.
History of Gambling in Pennsylvania
In 2004, legislators passed Act 71, making progress towards legalizing gambling. The Pennsylvania Racehorse Development and Gaming Act established the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and also legalized casinos and racetracks.
Gambling soon flourished and the state became the second-largest commercial casino industry in the USA by gross revenue, after Nevada.
Pennsylvania online casino sites and offline establishments generate more tax revenue for the state than Nevada. And the revenue actually increased thanks to the expansion law passed in 2017. As for online betting:
- 2017 – The Senate passed legislation that legalised and regulated online gambling in the state, and also offered 12 casino properties an online gaming license. In June, it was amended and passed by the House and sent back to the Senate. In October, the law was approved with sportsbook betting, video game terminals from truck stops and mini-casinos all added.
- 2018 – A new version of the gambling expansion package was drafted which both the House and Senate passed. Governor Tom Wolf signed it into law. More gambling games were added, including new lottery games and the iLottery platform as well as sports wagering. 9 out of 12 PA gambling sites applied for licenses right away.
- 2019 – Online poker was added to the list of legal games.
- 2020 – Pennsylvania online casino sites took a hit from the pandemic of COVID-19, but more casinos were launched and live dealer games were allowed.
Things to Consider about the Best Online Casinos PA
Before you start playing at a real money online casino Pennsylvania site you should take some things into consideration. While we always discuss all these items in our reviews, you should also pay attention to them and think about the specifics that interest you.
Safety & Security
On SlotsCalendar we only ever recommend PA casino sites that are licensed and regulated. You should look for the license at any casino you wish to try and stay away if it doesn’t have one.
While the PGCB is the best license for your jurisdiction, you may also play at offshore sites that accept PA players but you will have to be extra careful and make sure that it’s 100% safe and only has positive reviews from other players.
You should also keep an eye on SSL encryptions so that you know that your personal and financial data is secured. Furthermore, a nonstop support team would be best.
Bonus Offers
Bonuses of all kinds could be helpful but you need to do your due diligence and read the terms and conditions thoroughly before claiming any offers. While welcome bonuses and reload bonuses are quite common, it’s harder to find no deposit bonuses, either with free spins or free cash.
Keep an eye on new PA online casino sites that have just been launched as these ones are more likely to offer no deposit bonuses.
You can easily claim Pennsylvania online casino bonuses on SlotsCalendar and we update our pages constantly so you will never miss out on the best promotions.
Mobile Options
Right now it’s imperative that the best online casino PA sites have a mobile version. In fact, all the thousands of casinos that you’ll find on SlotsCalendar are available on all devices.
But it also matters how well it’s optimized and functions. It’s also a plus if the site comes with a casino app as well so that players can enjoy themselves exactly how they prefer.
Payment Methods
You shouldn’t have to worry that the Pennsylvania online casino site you wish to play at doesn’t have your payment method of choice and you need to look for another option and create yet another account.
Having a wide range of banking methods from classic debit and credit cards to PayNearMe, e-wallets and more is a must.
Games Available
The most important part at all PA casino sites and all gambling websites in general is the game selection. You must be able to play hundreds if not more of titles and games from every genre. Slots, table games, live dealer games, progresive jackpots, bingo, lotteries, sports betting should all be available.
PA Online Casino Apps
Many PA casinos online nowadays also have a dedicated mobile app. As more and more people turn to apps instead of their website counterparts, Pennsylvania online casino sites have taken this opportunity to make things easier for players.
The interesting thing in the state is that most websites that offer casino apps choose to only make them for Android. While there are, of course, those that make them for iOS or both, there are fewer of them.
SlotsCalendar Advice: Android does not allow gambling apps in the store so the only way to download and install casino apps is by downloading them directly from the PA casinos online you’re interested in. The Apple store allows PA online casino apps.
Whether you choose an app or stick to no download instant-play formats through a browser, you will still be able to do anything you want. This means playing games, making deposits and withdrawals and even claiming special mobile casino bonuses.
Play Responsibly at Online Casino PA Sites
All licensed PA casino sites must help players practice responsible gambling and not develop a gambling problem. For this reason, the Council on Compulsive Gambling exists, so that players can get both information and help.
Self-exclusion is available on all PA casinos online. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board website holds the updated list and is also the place where you may apply for self-exclusion. You will have to fill out forms, provide a photo ID, and request to be excluded for a year, five or a lifetime.
Players are protected by the classic KYC guidelines, by independent testing for fairness, as well as the option to complain and dispute. You can also request time-outs or set betting limits.
There are several support options available:
- 1-800-GAMBLER
- www.ResponsiblePlay.pa.gov
- National Council on Problem Gambling
- Gambler Anonymous Meetings in PA
Games Diversity
As all types of on-line gambling are now legal in the state, PA players have access to any game they could possibly wish to play:
- Slot games – There is a wide range of online slots PA at your disposal. You may try classic slots with fruits or sevens, video slots with great graphics, slots with intricate bonus features, progressive jackpot slots and any type you are able to think of.
- Table games – all table games are also available which means you may enjoy poker, roulette, baccarat, craps, blackjack and more.
- Live dealer games – all table games have been given a spin and transformed into live casino online pa games so that players can enjoy themselves from the comfort of their homes but feel like they are in a brick-and-mortar establishment.
- Novelty games – video poker, Slingo, scratchcards, keno, virtual sports, lotteries, no game is off limits at the best PA casinos online.
Pennsylvania Online Casino Bonuses
- Signup offers – At most Pennsylvania casino sites you’ll get a signup bonus as they are all quite new and still trying to make their way to the top. This means that you can enjoy a PA online casino sign up bonus or a no deposit free spins offer just for creating an account and going through the verification process.
- Welcome bonuses – The welcome bonus is the most common and effective offer of all casino bonuses. All casinos offer it as it is their way of welcoming a new player and showing him/her what it can offer and why they should stick around. It’s generally a percentage match offer and can go from 100% to 500%.
- Reload bonuses – Many promotions are for new players, but there are also PA online casino promo codes for existing users. These are commonly called reload bonuses and are offered to existing customers whenever they make a subsequent deposit.
- VIP promotions – loyal customers will be rewarded with VIP deals and special treatment. This can include better bonuses, faster withdrawals, a dedicated support manager and even other perks like invitations to events, cars, phones, trips etc.
Real Money Online Casino Pennsylvania
- Play+ – A prepaid debit card created especially for gambling. At many PA casinos online you can sign up for a casino Play+ card after you register. You may fund the Play+ card with a credit or debit card and withdraw from ATMs with a physical card.
- PayPal – An insanely popular e-wallet which allows you to transfer funds from a PayPal account to a gambling website instantly. You can fund it with a credit card and make deposits without the need to reveal any banking information.
- ACH/bank transfer/wire transfer – They have higher deposit and withdrawal limits but they will take a lot more time than other payment methods, up to 10 days.
- PayNearMe – This banking method only works for deposits and you won’t need a bank account. You make payments in cash at partner stores like 7-Eleven, CVS Pharmacy and Family Dollar.
- Debit/credit cards – Debit and credit cards are a convenient and common payment option. Visa and MasterCard are the most frequently used, but you may also use American Express and Discover at some operators.
- Neteller – It works similar to PayPal as it is another e-wallet. You create a Neteller account and add funds to it. Then you use the Neteller account to fund the casino account. Withdrawals with Neteller are exceptionally fast.
- Check – Personal checks can be sent to the address of the casino website. Both deposits and withdrawals will take quite some time.
- Cash at Casino Cage – If you like paying in cash, you may go to the cashier’s cage at the land-based casino that is partnered with your PA online casino.
PA Casinos Takeaways
- There are currently 16 PA casinos online.
- The economic impact of the gambling industry is $6.34 Billion, with $2.48 in taxes and over 33000 jobs created.
- The gross gaming revenue in 2021 is $4.83 Billion.
- Pennsylvania online casino sites have been completely legal since 2017, while land-based ones have been legally operating since 2004.
- All types of games are available to players
- Online gambling is licensed and regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.