Sports betting was illegal from 1992 until 2018 because of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. PASPA eliminated sports betting as a way to protect professional and collegiate athletes.
However, some states were still able to authorize sports gambling, creating an unfair advantage. This made legislatures throughout the United States complain, and eventually, the Supreme Court listened. In 2018, PASPA was eliminated by the Supreme Court, and states did not hesitate to pass sports betting bills. New Jersey led the charge after PASPA and Pennsylvania quickly followed.
Pennsylvania had the makeup to be a terrific sports betting state, which ended up being the case. It’s the fifth-most populous state which is great for sports betting. With more people, there’s more revenue.
Pennsylvania betting was also expected to be a success because of the sports fanatics in the state. There are professional sports teams across every major sports league scattered throughout the state. Early indications were that Pennsylvania betting was poised for success, and the predictions turned out to be accurate. If you’re looking to wager in the Keystone State, you’re in luck. Pennsylvania is one of the best sports betting states for new players, and you will quickly come to understand why.
In case Pennsylvania is not the state you are located in, don’t worry we have you covered. You may want to check some of the other betting guides our betting professionals gathered.
If you’re an experienced bettor or someone trying to find their way in PA, continue reading this guide. It’s going to break down the history of Pennsylvania betting, tell you the sportsbooks you must utilize, and answer frequently asked questions you may have at the end.
Is Sports Betting Legal Pennsylvania
Sports betting is legal in Pennsylvania. Once you cross state borders, you will be able to figure this out. Sports betting operators have tons of billboards and social media advertisements you will see in the state.
However, this can be a lot to understand if you don’t know much about betting. Let’s take a brief look at the history of legal sports betting in PA. Pennsylvania legalized sports betting before PASPA was eliminated. There were some states that did this to prepare for the beginning of the betting craze. This showed legislatures were hungry for the additional revenue that would come from Pennsylvania betting.
Sports betting was a portion of a large gaming expansion bill in 2017 in the Keystone State. There were not many problems that lawmakers encountered to legalize sports betting.
The gaming expansion bill was a priority, and legislators were able to get it done. Pennsylvania betting rules are similar to other states. You must be 21 years of age to play and located within state borders. If this is the case, you’re good to go in PA. Now you just need a betting account! Check out the next section of the guide to learn how to create a Pennsylvania betting account on one of the sportsbooks in the state!
How to Start Betting in Pennsylvania
It’s very easy to start betting in Pennsylvania because of widespread mobile gambling. You can go to a casino and place a wager at a retail sportsbook, but this is not the most convenient option.
Pennsylvania betting allows you to place wagers from the comfort of your own home. Retail betting is about the social experience, but for everyday betting, we recommend using your phone.
If you’re 21 and located in the state when registering, you can create a sportsbook account. Proceed to the app store to download the sportsbook app of your choice. We will discuss the best betting options in the next section, so you’re pleased with your selection. When you download the sportsbook of your choice, open the app and press the registration button. You will be asked to fill in some important information like your name, address, social security number, and payment method.
When you fill in all this information, you will be ready to gamble on the sportsbook. It may take a few minutes for your account to be verified, but the process is very swift in PA.
It’s a good idea to explore the sportsbook before placing a wager in the state. You don’t want to place a wager without doing research for Pennsylvania betting because this will lead to failure.
Failure is not going to make you happy with Pennsylvania betting. Therefore, take your time, and good things will happen with your sports gambling.
Which are the Best Licensed Sportsbooks in Pennsylvania
The best-licensed sportsbooks in Pennsylvania vary from person to person. However, we recommend a few platforms for you to utilize. These books have the best bonuses and the companies also genuinely care about their players. This is critical for a great Pennsylvania betting experience.
The bonuses are excellent on the sportsbooks, and they have terrific customer service teams. These are two necessary qualities for a great Pennsylvania betting experience. If you don’t have these two things, it will be tough for you to have an excellent experience gambling.
Don’t let us convince you, though…
Download one of these books today and be your own judge. Our bet is you will come to the same conclusion.
Pennsylvania Gambling Regulations and Rules
Pennsylvania was all-in on sports betting when they legalized it in 2017 before PASPA was ended. This can be seen with the rules and regulations in the state. You must be 21 years of age and located in PA to place a sports bet.
If you’re not aligned with this, it’s impossible for you to place a bet in the state. You don’t have to be a permanent resident of PA to place a wager. Sports wagers can be taken on all professional and collegiate events. Additionally, you can bet on awards shows like the Oscars and Grammys. However, esports betting is illegal at the moment.
This is disappointing because esports is becoming very popular in the United States.
Licenses Recognized in Pennsylvania
SugarHouse Sportsbook was the first app to go live in PA in May of 2019. Sports betting has expanded rapidly, and now there are over ten in the state.
The best operators with licenses are DraftKings, Betway, BetMGM and BetRivers.
Organizations That Operate in Pennsylvania
If gambling becomes a problem, there are numerous Pennsylvania betting resources to help solve the issue. The best organization in the state is the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania.
This council helps people with gambling issues by providing resources and therapy. Lawmakers ensured this was an important part of Pennsylvania betting law when the gaming expansion occurred in 2017.
How to Know a Sportsbook is Safe
There are two types of sportsbooks in the state. There are regulated and unregulated Pennsylvania betting sites. All the sportsbooks we list on our site are regulated. These are the Pennsylvania betting platforms that you want to utilize.
Regulated betting sites go through a lot of testing to ensure they’re safe. Unregulated books don’t comply with this testing, so fad them and always bet on regulated platforms.
What to do if you encounter any problems
If you encounter problems on a sportsbook for Pennsylvania betting, all you have to do is call the company. You will get to speak to a customer service representative that will fix your problems with ease.
Sportsbooks need excellent customer service to maintain customers. Customer service is critical in the Pennsylvania landscape with so many reputable operators.
Available Sports in PA
We provide betting picks for free and from professional handicappers on Basketball, Soccer, Ice Hockey, Baseball, and Soccer, including MLS and international leagues and tournaments. Of course, we cover all major leagues in the U.S., NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB. Don’t forget to compare the odds between the different sportsbooks we’re partnered with before you place your bets.