Best PA Sportsbooks | Guide to PA Sports Betting 2024

Pennsylvania sports betting sites are highly regulated and, therefore, extremely secure. No matter how much you want to deposit or the processor you intend to use, licensed online sports betting sites keep you and your money safe. Indeed, through a combination of SSL encryption software and reputable payment processors, you can bet on sports in Pennsylvania without putting your bankroll in danger.

Deposits and Withdrawals

Pennsylvania online sports betting sites have their own systems in place for deposits and withdrawals. However, there are similarities between the leading sportsbooks. Firstly, the minimum deposit is almost always $10.

Secondly, deposits will be processed instantly while it takes between 24 and 48 hours to processed withdrawal requests. Finally, you’ll need to be located in Pennsylvania and provide proof of your identity before your first withdrawal is processed.

You can see the popular payment methods used for sports betting in Pennsylvania in the list below. However, before you scroll down, here’s how to make a deposit at a licensed Pennsylvania sports betting site:

• Read our Pennsylvania sportsbook reviews to find a site you like.
• Use our secure registration links to create an account with a recommended PA sportsbook.
• Head to the cashier page and select a valid payment method.
• Input an amount that’s equal to or greater than the minimum but doesn’t exceed the maximum deposit. The minimum deposit will typically be $10.
• Wait a few seconds for the transaction to be processed and start betting.

Play+:

A prepaid debit card that allows immediate deposits and the ability to withdraw winnings. It’s one of the best payment options, and many PA online betting sites allow you to apply from your account page with no fees once you have signed up for an online account. Fund your Play+ account with a credit or debit card or from your banking account You can access winnings from ATMs and the card can be used where Discover is accepted.

PayPal:

The well-known e-wallet allows you to transfer funds from a PayPal account to your PA online betting account. Set up and fund and your PayPal account with a credit or debit card.

ACH/bank transfer:

The equivalent of an instant e-check, with the online sportsbook establishing a direct connection to a player’s checking account. Also makes it easy to reload your account if needed. A popular option among VIPs and high rollers because of its higher limits. One downside: It takes a little longer to access winnings.

PayNearMe:

Allows for a deposit without using a bank account. Players can fund their online account with cash in person at thousands of Pennsylvania 7-Eleven, CVS Pharmacy or Family Dollar stores using vouchers.

Wire transfer:

Can be executed through your bank or a specialized money store.

Check:

Cashier and personal checks can be used to fund an online sportsbook account. Send to the address of the sportsbook site or go to the casino cage at a partner land-based casino.

Neteller:

Another e-wallet option. Simply set up a Neteller account and fund it any way you wish, then fund your Neteller sportsbook account.

Debit/credit cards:

Visa and MasterCard are the most accepted options at PA online sportsbooks, though some credit card companies and financial institutions have yet to catch up to legal sports betting in the US. and may reject your deposit request. Success rate is about 50 percent.

That’s why having a backup plan, such as using Play+, which can be funded via credit card, is strongly recommended. Note that some credit cards treat these transactions as a cash advance and charge fees.

In-Person Payments:

Pennsylvania sports betting laws make it possible for companies to offer online and retail services. This means you can make in-person deposits and withdrawals at retail outlets affiliated to online operators. For example, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course partnered with William Hill. Although they’ve yet to launch an online sportsbook, the plan is to offer in-person payments at Penn National Race Course. This means Will Hill customers can add funds to their account or collect their winnings by submitting a request online and then visiting the race course.

The Super Bowl is the No. 1 sporting event for wagering. The PA sports betting market totalled $53.6 million on Super Bowl LV in 2021. Aside form this, there’s also the:

• NCAA college basketball tournaments
• World Series
• NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals
• PGA Tour majors. Oakmont, located in suburban Pittsburgh, has hosted the US Open nine times, the most of any course, and will do so again in 2025.
• College football season and playoffs.

More Opportunities for betting in PA

The top-rated Pennsylvania sports betting sites don’t just cover the biggest events in America. FanDuel Pennsylvania, DraftKings PA, and all the other leading brands have an international outlook. This means their oddsmakers offer pre-event and in-play markets for a variety of sports, including:

• Football
• Basketball
• Baseball
• Hockey
• Boxing
• MMA
• European Soccer & MLS Betting
• Formula 1
• Darts
• Rugby
• Cricket and more

Most of the popular sports gambling options are available in Pennsylvania, including:

Point spread

A team is favored by a certain number of points or goals. PA bettors can choose the favorite or underdog with their respective odds. If the favorite wins by more than the points they are favored, you win if you bet on them. If you bet the underdog, you just need them to lose by fewer points than they were getting. Odds tend to be about -110 in point spread betting no matter the side, meaning you must wager $11 to win $10.

Moneyline

No point spread. Simply a wager on a team to win a game with the moneyline odds set by the sportsbook. For example, if the Pittsburgh Penguins are -150 to beat the Philadelphia Flyers (+130), you can wager $15 to win $10 on the favored Penguins, or $10 to win $13 on the underdog Flyers.

Parlay

Instead of betting on one game, a parlay is a wager on two games or more. All games must win for the parlay to cash. The more teams in the parlay, the higher the odds and the payoff.

Over/unders

Betting on the over/under is a wager that predicts the final score to be over or under the combined points or goals of both teams in a game.

Futures

A wager on a team or player to be determined sometime in the future. Examples of futures bets including wagering on a team to win the Super Bowl before or during the NFL season, or betting on a team to win the NCAA Tournament before or during the college basketball season. Major sporting events tend to draw significant futures action.

Teasers

A teaser allows bettors to adjust the points spreads for a given game in exchange for reduced odds. The bet is usually made in a parlay format. An example: The Philadelphia Eagles are a 3-point favorite over the Pittsburgh Steelers. In a 6-point teaser, you can select the Eagles +3 or the Steelers +9. The same 6-point adjustment is applied to other games in the parlay. The reduced payout level depends on how many points are teased.

Round robin

Less risky than parlays because all of your teams don’t have to win. In a round robin, you construct three different two-team parlays and cash if one of the parlays win. The round robin offers less risk, less reward than traditional parlays.

Live betting

These are wagers that are placed on after a game has started, typically on sports betting apps. Betting options range from adjusted point spreads and over/unders to real-time proposition bets, such as scoring in a particular inning of a baseball game. PA online sports betting operators use computer algorithms to set in-game wagering odds available to you on a mobile app or on your browser.

Whether you prefer to play the major US sports league (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) or lesser-known international sports, you’ll find a long list of pro and college betting lines from Pennsylvania. Bet types include straight bets, parlays, prop bets, totals and in-game wagering.

What You Can Bet On in PA

The FanDuel Pennsylvania Sportsbook offers up to 20 different sports for wagering. Aside from the most popular sports, the list includes US and international soccer, golf, tennis, motorsports, mixed martial arts, boxing and niche sports such as cricket, rugby, table tennis and Aussie Rules Football. Wagering on NCAA college sports is also permitted with no restrictions on games involving PA-based schools. Pennsylvania online bettors can also wager on the Olympics.

What You Cannot Bet On in PA

Wagering is not permitted on high school athletic events, esports and non-athletic events such as the NFL Draft or political elections.

The Pennsylvania sports betting scene is awash with options because football, basketball, baseball, and hockey are engrained in the local culture. In fact, such is the love of sport in the Keystone State that soccer is growing in popularity thanks to Philadelphia Union. One of the main reasons sports in Pennsylvania strikes a chord is the level of talent on display. 

The state is home to some great collegiate programs as well as eight professional teams.

Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2017 and opened a new era in 2021 with Jalen Hurts the starting quarterback and Nick Sirianni the new coach. The Steelers are among the winningest franchises in NFL history with six Super Bowl titles, tying the New England Patriots for the most in league history.

Philadelphia 76ers

The state’s NBA team was the No. 1 seed in the 2020-21 Eastern Conference playoffs, but was eliminated in the semifinals. Led by high-scoring 7-footer Joel Embiid, the Sixers’ opened the 2021-22 season in the 15-1 range to win the title.

Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates

The state’s two MLB teams haven’t been much of a postseason factor in the past decade. At least the Phillies finished the 2021 season with a winning record (82-80). The Pirates (61-101) appear to be in a never-ending rebuild, with losing records in five of the past six seasons.

Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins

PA’s two NHL teams have combined to win seven Stanley Cups, The Penguins won consecutive titles in 2016 and 2017 and entered the 2021-22 season with 15 consecutive postseason appearances. The Flyers missed the postseason in two of the past three seasons.

Penn State, Villanova

Pennsylvania permits college wagering on in-state teams and Penn State is easily the state’s most high-profile football program. PA is home to 14 NCAA Division I basketball teams, with three-time NCAA Tournament champion Villanova a perennial title contender.

A look at partnerships of select PA online sportsbooks:

Note: Several PA sportsbooks have partnerships with more than one PA team.

Yes, it is. Pennsylvania online sports betting (PA online sports betting) was legalized after House Bill 271 passed a final vote in 2018. This allowed Pennsylvania to become of the first US sports betting states in 2019 following the fall of PASPA. Today, retail and online sports betting are legal in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Law for Online Betting

House Bill 271 paved the way for legal sports betting in Pennsylvania to go live in mid-2019, thanks to partnerships with local land-based operators. All licensed PA sportsbooks have to pay a $10 million fee upfront and 36% tax.

They’re allowed to offer mobile and desktop sports betting options for anyone aged 21 or older and based within the state. You don’t have to be a resident of Pennsylvania to use one of these betting sites. However, you do need to be within state lines to make a bet.

PA Sports Betting History and Timeline

• 2021: Pennsylvania sports fans had 13 different online betting sites to choose from in 2021. Buoyed by overall earnings of $2 billion in 2020, the state’s online gambling sites continued to grow the following year. Based on the official revenue reports, sports betting accounted for 90% of all online gambling activity in 2021.
• 2020: Sports betting began to blossom in 2020. Big names such as BetMGM and Barstool joined the likes of DraftKings and FanDuel. This, coupled with COVID-19 restrictions, saw a surge in online gambling activity. Casinos initially benefitted from this increase due to sporting events being put on hold. However, as the NFL et al kicked back into life, sports betting became the main option for online gamblers.
• 2019: The first PA online casino launched, with eight in operation by year-end.
• 2018: The US Supreme Court strikes down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) on May 14, giving all states the option to legalize sports betting. The first PA land-based sportsbook opens in November.
• 2017: Matzie introduces new, more comprehensive sports betting legislation to PA House, directing the Pennsylvania Gaming and Control Board to establish rules and regulations for sports betting in the state. The bill never comes to a vote.
• With the state seeking additional revenue to address a widening budget deficit, several other lawmakers begin pushing for a more ambitious gambling expansion, including online gambling. A bill introduced by Rep. Jason Ortitay undergoes several versions, and the sports betting provisions that Matzie introduced are eventually included. The bill passes both state houses and is signed into law on Oct. 30 by Gov. Tom Wolf. Thus, sports betting is legalized in PA, but a change in federal law is still required to move forward.
• 2016: The PA House passes the resolution in January, but no other action is taken.
• 2015: Rep. Rick Kotik and Rep. Rob Matzie co-sponsor a bill to repeal Pennsylvania’s prohibition on sports betting. They also file a resolution asking Congress to repeal the federal ban on sports betting outside of Nevada.

Who Regulates Pennsylvania Sports Betting Sites?

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board regulates all sports betting in PA. The agency’s mission is to protect the public interest by ensuring the integrity of legalized gambling and enforcement of laws and regulations. Players who have a complaint or dispute with their sportsbook operator may request that the board investigate.

More PA Online Gambling Options

Pennsylvania is among the most player-friendly online wagering states in the US, with online casinos, online poker and daily fantasy sports all permitted. 

Pennsylvania was one of the first states to regulated sports betting in the US. This, combined with lower tax rates than states such as New York (36% vs. 51% for licensees), mean it’s a desirable place for betting companies to operate. Indeed, when you compare the number of online sportsbooks in PA to what’s available in Iowa and Virginia, it’s way out in front.

Pennsylvania sports betting laws are also fairly liberal. Bettors can use retail and online sportsbooks. PA bettors can bet on professional and college sports.

Pennsylvania Sports Betting Handle

As of October 2023

Some helpful tips for PA sports bettors to get the most from their sports betting accounts:

Only Play at Reputable PA Online Sportsbooks

You should only open online accounts with legal PA sportsbooks that are licensed and regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. This ensures your account is safe and secure and all wagers are legal. Avoid offshore sports betting operators, which violate federal and PA laws and lack proper regulation.

Set a Budget and Stick to it

Money management is one of the key components to successful sports betting. Set a reasonable budget based on your financial situation and have the discipline to stick to it. Proper money management makes sports betting more enjoyable and lessens downside risk.

Understand the Fine Print of any Promotion

Sportsbook promotions provide bonus money into your account, but make sure you read terms and conditions of any bonus offer or promotion before claiming. Most bonus offers include a requirement that bonus money be wagered one or more times before it’s fully redeemable.

Learn About Betting Before you Bet

Improve sports betting performance through education. Learn about every type of sports wager. Study trends and money management techniques. Statistical information and helpful wagering tools are available at gambling.com and other sports wagering sites.

Have Multiple Pennsylvania Sports Betting Accounts

Joining more than one PA sports betting site allows bettors to shop and compare odds and prices, ensuring maximum value for every wager. Signing up at multiple sites also allows bettors to claim multiple bonus offers.

The main reason to use licensed sportsbooks is because Pennsylvania law ensures that you and your money are safe. What’s more, all operators are thoroughly vetted before being approved and they’re required to comply with strict regulations. This makes them extremely secure; something that’s important when it comes to money and gambling.

Aside from safety and secure, you should only use sportsbooks that are legal in PA for these reasons:

Guaranteed Payouts

Any money you win or sports betting bonuses you claim will be guaranteed by a licensed operator. If the company accepts a bet or makes an offer, it’s legally obliged to honor it. You don’t get this guarantee with unlicensed sportsbooks. Therefore, if you want to ensure you’re going to get paid as and when you expect, the only option is to use sportsbooks that are legal in PA.

Fair Odds

All the odds offered by licensed PA sportsbooks come from verified data centers. In other words, they’re overseen and have to comply with certain standards with regards to fairness and transparency. Therefore, the odds you’re getting will be the best they can be.

Stable Software

The final reason to use reputable sportsbooks is the overall betting experience. Legit operators are multi-billion-dollar companies that invest a lot of time and money in building slick software. The same can’t be said for unlicensed sites. So, if you want the best experience, it pays to use regulated platforms.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board allows players to self-exclude from sports betting or any type of gambling for a specific period of time or permanently. The agency oversees a confidential helpline that problem gamblers can access 24/7 and provides access to multiple state and federal problem gambling support groups. All PA online sports wagering sites allow bettors to set daily or weekly wagering and deposit limits.

The Pennsylvania sports betting scene is constantly changing. As new operators rise up and major events go down, the market’s dynamics change. Our team of experts is constantly monitoring what’s going on not just in terms of sports and betting but gambling in general. From results and site launches to promotions and legal updates, we cover it all. So, if you want to make the most of the PA betting market, make sure you use the links below and check out our regular news updates.

Online Sports Betting Resources

• How Betting Odds Work
• Parlay Betting 101
• Upcoming SuperBowl Odds and Futures
• Making NHL Divisional Futures Bets
• What are Prop Bets and how to I make them?