• Real money casinos in NJ. New Jersey online casinos started it all, launching the first legal and regulated US casino games in November 2013. There are now more than two dozen licensed online casinos available via computers and mobile devices, online and mobile sports betting, and online poker rooms, all running across the state. The online casinos.
• Online casino sites operate legally in many countries and are licensed under various jurisdictions. The Online Casino sites use software to deliver a portfolio of games. When you create an account, you have the ability to play online casino games for free or you can make a casino deposit.

Online casinos are now live and legal in West Virginia. DraftKings Casino became the first online casino to open its doors to West Virginians in July 2020. The launch of DraftKings is only the first of a handful of casinos that could come to the Mountain State.

Real money casinos come equipped with a number of features including blackjack, table games and, of course, slot machines. One of the defining features, though, is the bonus offers. Almost all legal casinos offer a no deposit bonus in addition to a deposit offer. This can add hundreds of dollars to your casino account if you know where to go and what code to use.

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Thankfully, you’re in the right place to find that information, too. We have all the latest deals with online casinos in West Virginia. Read on for all the latest news, updates, and those bonus codes for online casinos in the Mountain State.

Best online casino in West Virginia

When did WV online casinos launch?

The first West Virginia online casino launched in July 2020. DraftKings Casino began accepting wagers as part of its partnership with Hollywood Casino Charles Town.

With the launch, West Virginia became the fourth state in the US to offer online casino play to its residents and visitors. The Mountain State joins Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania as locations for casino play through laptops and mobile devices.

As it happens, West Virginians can now access their favorite casino games through Android or Apple (iOS) devices. The app allows for both real money and demo play so that players can play at their preferred comfort levels.

BetMGM Online Casino also launched in WV in 2020, offering bettors another popular online gambling option in the state. In late 2020, Golden Nugget Casino announced it would launch its online casino app next.

Online Casino Bonuses in West Virginia

One of the truths about running an online business of any type is that your competitors are only a click away. No business owners are more acutely aware of this fact than online casino operators.

So, in order to attract and retain players, online casinos will always have some sort of promotions or bonuses running. Since these bonuses often come with an opportunity for you to put hundreds of extra dollars into your casino bankroll, they are worthy of your attention.

Here are some common types of online casino bonuses you can find in West Virginia online casinos.

No deposit bonuses

One of the first types of bonuses that you might find is also one of the sweetest. It is possible to get money or free bets placed into your account without ever having to spend a dime. The no deposit bonus is always a good thing.

No deposit bonuses are pledges from the online casino to infuse a certain dollar amount into your player account. This amount is usually no more than about $20, and it may come in the form of free bets. However, there is rarely a time that you should not take advantage of this kind of bonus offer.

Risk-free bet

Another excellent type of promotion to grab if you see it is the risk-free bet. With this kind of bonus, the online casino will issue you a voucher for a wager of a certain amount that is good for betting on its games.

Now, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. The first thing is that the online casino may limit the games that you can use the risk-free bet to play. You should still use risk-free bets when they come along, but you might have to go outside your comfort zone to do so.

The second issue is that risk-free bets are usually indivisible and cannot be split to make multiple bets. Any unused portion will become void, so make sure to bet it all with these types of wagers.

However, risk-free bets are great things. There’s a reason that this type of promotion and no-deposit bonuses are the most common types offered to new players. Don’t ever miss out on them when they come around.

Deposit/match/reload

Deposit bonuses are quite common offers that you can find at most online casinos. In this type of bonus, the casino will match all or a portion of your deposit amount and put it into your account.

The only catch is that the casino will always require you to play through the amount before you can withdraw it as cash. In some cases, you need only wager through once, but some deposit bonuses require playthrough 50x the bonus amount.

Between the requirement and the time limit placed upon its redemption, you might find yourself in a bit of a bind to redeem a deposit bonus. However, not all deposit bonuses are impossible, so you should consider each offer carefully.

These bonuses are also called match bonuses from time to time. A casino might also offer a reload bonus to existing customers, but they are essentially identical to deposit bonuses.

Free spins

Free spin bonuses are quite similar to free bet bonuses, in that you are granted the ability to take part in a gambling game without paying anything. In a free spin bonus, the casino will present you with a certain number of slot machine spins that you can redeem at any time.

However, the casino will usually designate the slot machines eligible for the promotion, and they tend not to be the progressive machines with the highest jackpots. In some cases, a casino might have a special slot machine specifically set aside for the promotion.

There’s really no reason not to use this promo, though. At worst, your only loss is the time you spend spinning.

Cashback

Whenever you gamble, there’s always a chance that things won’t work out. So, online casinos will sometimes offer to make things right if you lose. Cashback bonuses do exactly that. A cashback bonus will compensate all or a portion of your net losses during a certain period of time or on a certain game. The bonus will either be in the form of site credit, or it will be straight cash.

Either way, you’ll have another bite at the apple. For the most part, these are a no-brainer.

Loyalty/rewards programs

In order to reward players who keep returning to their site, online casinos will often create a loyalty program or rewards scheme. These programs allow players to accrue points as they play normally.

Those points are redeemable for various prizes, perks, or benefits on the site. Those benefits can include free bets, cash, restaurant vouchers, or reservations at the casino’s land-based partner. The more you play, the bigger your award.

Loyalty programs are almost always free to join. Since they exist in the background, make sure to sign up so that you can get extra spiffs when you’re onsite.

How to play free and real money casino games

West Virginia online casinos offer a wide range of different games.

The state lottery commission approves all games run by online casinos in WV. A quick path to that approval for online casinos is to offer electronic versions of the same games already approved at land-based casinos across the state.

That includes a small variety of online table games and online poker variants, and plenty of variety in online slots.

Here’s a look at the games you can find in West Virginia online casinos:

Online slots

Slots are popular enough with the gambling public that they take up the majority of the floor space inside West Virginia land-based casinos. They take up a lot of bandwidth at WV online casinos, as well.

Inside WV casinos, some of the classic reel one-armed bandits are still around, although most have been replaced by modern video slots with new gameplay features, bonus games and pop-culture themes.

The most popular of these slots have also made the move to online sites. Designers such as IGT, Bally and WMS have created online versions of their most popular titles at brick and mortar casinos.

That means West Virginia online casinos can feature dozens of these modern video slots, which are based on popular television, movie and musical themes with wild and scatter symbols and bonus games. Plus, there are online versions of classic reel slots.

Other types include multi-denomination slots, penny slots, and high-roller slots. Some have fixedjackpots, and others have progressive jackpots.

As online gambling expands in the state, casinos will continue to roll out new versions of these, leading to hundreds of online slots for you to choose from.

Online blackjack

Blackjack is the most popular table game at WV casinos, and the game’s popularity translates well online. You can find the same blackjack games you encounter at WV land-based casinos employed online.

The good news is that blackjack is played under player-friendly rules in WV with a return-to-player rate of 96.6%. In other words, the house advantage is only 3.4%.

The low-house edge is due to the following rules:

• Blackjack pays 3:2.
• Dealer stands on soft 17.
• Double down any cards.
• Double after splitting.
• Surrender available.

Online roulette and video poker

American roulette has a single and double zero slot, which almost doubles the house edge of European roulette and its single zero slot. In other words, if you want to play roulette online in West Virginia, we suggest you look around for European roulette.

Online Casino Instant Withdraw

Video poker has made the transition online in every state with online casinos.

The popular standards you play at brick and mortar casinos make it online in WV as well. That means multi-denominational and multi-hand versions of jacks or better, deuces wild and bonus poker are available at WV online casinos.

Other online table games

Since you can find the following table games at WV land-based casinos, WV casino sites host online versions of the same games. The only real difference between the two is that computerized random number generators determine the outcome of the games online, instead of dealers and playing cards.

• Three card poker
• Four card poker
• Pai gow poker
• Let it ride
• Mini baccarat
• Ultimate Texas Hold ’em

Games you won’t find online in WV

The following games may one day be played at online casinos in West Virginia, but aren’t available just yet.

Online craps

Craps is the most social game at WV casinos, but the social side of the game doesn’t translate all that well online.

Simply put, online craps isn’t as much fun as its live counterpart. The loss of the social aspect hurts the appeal of the game, and the speed at which the online game plays can make the tumbling dice difficult to follow.

Live dealer games

Live dealer games combine live casino games with online wagering. The games are run by real people inside live gaming studios. Real dealers run the action, online casinos put up a simulcast of it and you can bet on it through an online betting interface.

You can even interact with the dealers and other players as it happens. Online casinos offer the following live dealer games across the US:

• Blackjack
• Three-card poker
• Baccarat
• Casino hold ’em
• Roulette

However, WV online casinos don’t yet offer live dealer casino games, mostly due to the cost of setting up a studio.

Casinos will more likely want to see what the market is like without live dealer games before determining if there is a big demand for these games.

Most popular casino game developers

The top land-based slot and casino game developers in the world also build games for online casinos in the US. They include:

IGT Slots

International Gaming Technology is one of the biggest gambling companies in the world. Iconic IGT slot titles include Megabucks and Wheel of Fortune.

IGT is also a leader in pop-culture-themed slots and linked jackpot slots like its MegaJackpots series. Some of IGT’s most popular slots include:

• Cleopatra
• Texas Tea
• Da Vinci Diamonds
• Wolf Run
• Monopoly
• Ghostbusters
• Sex and the City
• Jurassic Park
• Avatar

WMS Slots

WMS Industries has designed and built iconic slot titles like the Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and James Bond 007-themed games.

WMS now operates under the Scientific Games umbrella, alongside Shuffle Master and Bally.

Some of its other popular slots include several Monopoly titles, Zeus and Kronos Unleashed. WMS is also responsible for themed slots such as:

• The Simpsons
• Mad Men
• Seinfeld
• Star Trek
• The Flintstones

Bally Slot Machines

Bally is an iconic American casino and gaming brand. Its most popular slots include the Quick Hit series, Triple Cash Wheel and Asian-themed slots like Lucky Tree and Fu Dao Le.

AGS Slots

American Gaming Systems is a Nevada-based live casino and online slot designer responsible for titles like:

• River Dragons
• Fire Wolf II
• Rakin’ Bacon

AGS’ Xtreme Jackpots linked-progressive series is also growing in popularity. It includes:

• Wolf Queen
• Winter of the Dragons
• Longhorn Jackpots

Konami slots

Konami is a video-game-turned-worldwide-slot-machine developer. It now creates original slots and games based on its popular video game licenses.

Some of Konami’s hottest slots include:

• Dragon’s Law Twin Fever
• Solstice Celebration
• Chili Chili Fire
• Lion Festival
• Castlevania

Deposit options and how to cash out winnings

Every West Virginia online casino operator wants to make it easy for you to get money into your online casino account. So, there are a wide variety of deposit and withdrawal options available to you.

Deposit options include:

• Credit and debit cards: Casinos take Visa, Mastercard and other major cards, provided the issuing institution approves of online gambling transactions.
• Electronic checks: E-checks allow you to link your bank account and online casino account through a clearinghouse.
• Online banking: Online banking transactions permit you to link your bank account and online casino account.
• Electronic wallets: E-wallets like PayPal and Skrill can be used for online casino transactions.
• Prepaid cards: The online casinos may issue their own or accept other companies’ prepaid cards as deposit methods. Prepaid cards typically function in the same manner as a gift card.
• PayNearMe: PayNearMe transactions allow you to make cash deposits at 7-Eleven stores. You need only to let the PayNearMe software to generate a unique barcode for your transaction, then head to your nearest convenience store to complete the transaction.

For the most part, online casinos in West Virginia allow you to withdraw money the same way you deposited it. If that doesn’t work, they issue you a check through the mail. Withdrawals may take a day or two on average.

WV casinos eligible for online gambling

Five casinos in West Virginia are eligible to offer online slots, blackjack and video poker.

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

• Location: 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, WV 25414
• Casino: 2,500 slot machines, 100 table games, 16-table poker room
• Owner/Operator: Penn National Gaming
• Mobile Sportsbook Operator: DraftKings Sportsbook
• Online Casino Partner:DraftKings Casino – Launched July 2020

Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort

• Location: 71420 Mountaineer Circle, New Cumberland, WV 26047
• Casino: 1,500 slot machines, 36 table games, 12-table poker room
• Owner/Operator: Century Casinos
• Retail Sportsbook Operator: William Hill
• Possible Online Casino Partners: William Hill, Bet365

Mardi Gras Casino & Resort

• Location: 1 Greyhound Drive, Cross Lanes, WV 25313
• Casino: 1,000 slot machines, 30 table games, 18-table poker room
• Owner/Operator: Delaware North
• Retail Sportsbook Operator: Betly powered by IGT
• Possible Online Casino Partner: IGT

Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack

• Location: 1 S. Stone St., Wheeling, WV 26003
• Casino: 2,000 slot machines, 40 table games, 20-table poker room
• Owner/Operator: Delaware North
• Retail Sportsbook Operator: Betly powered by IGT
• Possible Online Casino Partner: IGT

The Greenbrier Casino Club

• Location: 101 Main St. West, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986
• Casino: 320 slot machines, 37 table games
• Owner/Operator: Justice Family Group, LLC
• Mobile Sportsbook Operators: FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM
• Online Casino Partner: BetMGM Casino, Golden Nugget online casino

Which gambling sites are live in WV?

Online Sportsbook	Land-Based Partner	Date Launched
DraftKings	Hollywood Casino	Aug. 28, 2019	Play Now
FanDuel	FanDuel at The Greenbrier	Sept. 13, 2019	Play Now
BetMGM	The Greenbrier	Jan. 29, 2020	Play Now
N/A	Hollywood Casino	N/A	N/A
N/A	Mountaineer Sportsbook	N/A	N/A
N/A	Wheeling Island	N/A	N/A
N/A	Mardi Gras	N/A	N/A

How online casinos work in West Virginia

The launch of online gambling completed a journey that West Virginia has been traveling since lawmakers passed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act in early 2019. The bill became law on March 27, 2019, when Gov. Jim Justice let his legislative veto window pass without signing it.

More than a year later, on April 29, 2020, the West Virginia Lottery Commission, tasked with overseeing all types of gambling in the state, approved a set of emergency rules related to the launch of online casinos.

The licenses granted by the law gives holders the right to launch up to three online gambling sites offering online poker, online slots and online table games for a period of 270 days. Each operator is charged a $100,000 license fee; software providers must pay a $10,000 fee, and West Virginia will implement a 15% tax on gross online gambling revenue.

The West Virginia Legislature will have the opportunity to make the regulations permanent when they reconvene for the 2021 legislative session. However, with the interim rules in place, online casinos are already beginning to launch in the state.

Who is eligible for an iGaming license?

Only existing land-based West Virginia casinos can apply for master iGaming licenses. This includes:

However, each casino can operate up to three skins under its master license. That means online casino operators from outside WV are free to partner with West Virginia casinos to launch inside the state.

Who will regulate the casino industry?

The West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates the casino industry in West Virginia. It has also been tasked with providing oversight and running the licensing process for online gambling and online casinos in the state.

Taxes and licensing requirements for online casinos

Land-based casinos in WV can obtain a master license that allows them to operate up to three online casino skins. Each operation must pay a $100,000 license fee. Plus, software providers working with these casinos must pay a $10,000 fee to operate inside the state.

Once an online casino is up and running, they will be required to pay the state a 15% tax on all gross online gambling revenue. Currently in WV, that’s just DraftKings and BetMGM.

The road toward legal WV online casinos

West Virginia’s path to legal online gambling started with online and mobile sports betting. The state authorized the launch of retail and online sportsbooks in 2018.

BetLucky, a partnership between Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island casino owner Delaware North and sports betting tech provider Mionmi, launched in December 2018. The pair also partnered on retail sports betting operations at Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island.

Then, a dispute arose between the partners resulting in the online and retail operations both closing abruptly in March 2019. It was around this same time that WV lawmakers passed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act. The bill, which authorized online casino gaming, became law on March 27, 2019, when Gov. Jim Justice let his legislative veto window pass. He did not sign the bill.

West Virginia Lottery officials spent the next year continuing to work mostly on mobile sports betting regulation. FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook received licenses and launched in August 2019. BetMGM has since launched, as well.

Delaware North also partnered with IGT to re-launch retail sports betting at Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island.

Then, on April 29, 2020, the West Virginia Lottery Commission finally approved a set of emergency rules to govern online casinos in the state.

The lottery commission sent these rules over to the West Virginia secretary of state for approval on May 15, 2020. The secretary of state has 42 days from May 15 to approve or reject the rules, which means interim licenses could be granted to West Virginia’s first online casinos anytime from now through the beginning of July.

The WV casino market

Horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering have been popular in West Virginia since the 1930s.

In 1987, West Virginia allowed for video lottery terminal gaming to launch inside the Mountaineer Park racetrack.

By 1994, the West Virginia Racetrack Video Lottery Act passed, making the operation of video lottery terminals legal at all West Virginia race tracks in an effort to boost the local horse racing industry. The Mountaineer, Wheeling and Mardi Gras tracks all started running video lottery terminal casinos with over 1,200 video lottery machines that year.

In 1997, the Hollywood Races and Slots facility opened at Charles Town Races, running a similar VLT operation.

In 2007, the Mountaineer and Wheeling facilities installed poker tables and eventually began running table games as well, including blackjack, Caribbean stud, craps, roulette, three-card poker and four-card poker.

Mardi Gras installed table games a year later, and by 2008 the Greenbrier launched with video lottery and table games as well.

Hollywood Races and Slots became the Hollywood Casino in 2010, and the Greenbrier got the authorization to run a full-scale casino as well.

Almost a decade later, in early 2019 WV lawmakers passed online gambling legislation allowing WV casino to go online.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Online Casino Real Money

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)

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