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Pennsylvania Sports Betting & Promo Codes
Pennsylvania Sports Betting
Legal Betting
Pennsylvania is one of the nation's premier sports betting hubs, having launched in 2019 as one of the first states besides Nevada to legalize sports betting.
Here, you can find everything you need to know about sports betting in Pennsylvania, from sports betting education, local betting rules, and how you can start placing bets right now at home or in person.
What To Know
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Online sports betting is legal
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Must be 21+ to bet
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Strong new user sign-up bonuses for residents
Available Sportsbooks
Today's Best Promos in Pennsylvania
Additional Promos In Pennsylvania
Upcoming Games To Bet On In Pennsylvania
Sports Betting Education 101
You’ve come to the right place if you’re new to sports betting.
We serve all sports bettors at BetSided, no matter their level of experience, in order to help everyone experience sports betting in the most enjoyable way possible.
For example, we have our Sports Betting Education section of the website that includes breakdowns such as:
… and so much more. You can also check out our Youtube channel for video breakdowns on how to bet on specific sports.
Pennsylvania Betting Legalization Timeline
Pennsylvania lawmakers acted quickly after the passing of memos HR 619 and HR 1627 in 2015, which ended the ban on sports wagering in the state.
In 2017, representative Rick Kotik proposed HR 519 to speed up the development of Pennsylvania’s betting sector.
Governor Tim Wolff signed bill HB 217 into law on October 30th, 2017, officially
Becoming the fourth state to legalize online gambling.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board established regulations and processes in 2018 to implement legal sports betting. Then, SugarHouse became the first established sportsbook in May of 2019.
Now, 14 sportsbooks (listed above )have licenses and can operate.
Tax Rates in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s sports betting tax rate is 36% of gross sports gaming revenue, which is the highest rate of any commercial market in the United States.
Futures Bets To Place In Pennsylvania
Best Sports Betting App in Pennsylvania
BetMGM Sportsbook App
BetMGM’s menus are easy to navigate and feature a variety of betting choices. Their One Game Parlay feature works well and you can search for any game.
Grade: A-
DraftKings Sportsbook App
DraftKings’ color scheme can be a bit painful on certain eyes, but the app works extremely well. Building up bonuses for betting consistently is a nice reward and the menus are effortless to navigate.
Grade: A
FanDuel App
FanDuel’s app is the gold standard in my eyes, always working quickly with no delays. The color scheme and interface are great as well.
Grade: A+
Recent Sports Betting News in Pennsylvania
- November 2022: Two mini-casinos are set to open in early 2023, bringing the total in the state to three.
- October 2022: Pennsylvania Sportsbooks reported over $40 million in October revenue, a 72.7% YOY increase.
How to Place a Sports Bet in Pennsylvania
While you could place bets in person at any of the land-based partners of the 14 legal sportsbooks, you can also bet using each sportsbook’s mobile application or website.
After downloading the app of your choice, you’ll just need to register and input the following personal information:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Username/User ID
- Password
- Last four digits of Social Security Number
- Phone Number
- Home Address
You will then be prompted to set security questions and confirm that you are at least 21 years of age. After that, you can deposit into your account and get ready to start betting.
Step-By-Step Process for Pennsylvania Sports Betting
Once you have created your account and deposited your initial funds, you can navigate through the sportsbook to place your a bet.
If you wanted to bet on an upcoming Eagles game, for example, below is what you will do. For the purposes of this demonstration, I’ll use FanDuel Sportsbook.
Step 1: Select the game you would like to bet on
Step 2: Select the wager you’d like to make. In this situation, we’re taking the Eagles -5.5 spread.
Step 3: Select your bet amount and place your bet
Details of Pennsylvania’s Sports Betting Law
Pennsylvania’s sports betting bill, HB 271, allocated 12 licenses to land-based casinos broken into three categories: poker, slots, and table games.
It allowed mobile sports betting, daily fantasy sports and the expansion of online casinos as well, demonstrating a comprehensive effort to grow the state’s gambling efforts.
Pennsylvania Betting Markets: NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and More
Popular Pennsylvania Sporting Events
- Super Bowl/NFL Playoffs
- NBA Finals/NBA Playoffs
- World Series/MLB Playoffs
- Stanley Cup Finals/NHL Playoffs
- The Memorial Tournament (PGA Tour)
- Penn State College Football Games
- Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
- NCAA Tournament
- College Football Playoff
- The Masters
- PGA Championship
Common Types of Bets/Terms
Point Spreads
The point spread in the margin of victory in a game. A team has to win or lose by a specific number of points in order to cover the point spread and win the bet.
If you bet the Eagles with a spread of -5.5, for example, you’d only win your bet if the Eagles won by more than 5.5 points.
Moneyline
A moneyline bet is choosing the winner of a game regardless of the point spread. You can choose the favorite or underdog to win the game, though at different payouts.
If you think the Sixers or Eagles will win but aren’t sure by how much, a moneyline bet is the way to go.
OVER/UNDER and Total Bets
An over/under or total is a bet on the total points scored in a sporting event. Over/unders are also used on prop bets for specific players.
The Eagles’ high-powered offense has led to a lot of OVERs this year, while the Sixers’ stout defense helps UNDER bettors.
Parlay
A parlay is a bet where multiple wagers are linked together in order to increase the odds on the payout. Every bet in the parlay must hit in order for it to win.
You can mix-and-match sports to back an all-Philly parlay if you’d like, or take a couple big favorites to create a friendlier payout.
Prop Bet
A prop bet is any bet placed on a game that is not not directly affecting the game's final outcome. This can include player props as well as game props.
Joel Embiid’s offensive production speaks for itself, and he’s a player you can consistently target with prop bets.
Most Popular Sports to Bet On
The most popular sports to bet on in Pennsylvania are football (NFL and NCAAF), basketball (NBA and NCAAB), baseball (MLB), hockey (NHL), and soccer (MLS).
Daily Fantasy Sports in Pennsylvania
HB 271 legalized daily fantasy sports in Pennsylvania alongside statewide mobile sports betting.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board was granted oversight of DFS. DraftKings and FanDuel are among the top daily fantasy sports operators.
Betting on Pro Sports Teams in Pennsylvania
There are seven major professional sports teams in Pennsylvania, with two teams in the NFL and MLB and one each in the NBA, MLS, and NHL.
NFL Betting in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are the current favorites to win the NFC and a top Super Bowl contender, opening the year in dominant fashion behind MVP candidate Jalen Hurts.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are in a transition phase with rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, but rising stars like George Pickens should give fans optimism.
NBA Betting in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia 76ers
With perennial MVP candidate Joel Embiid leading the way, the Sixers are consistent threats to win the Eastern Conference.
NHL Betting in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers finished 25-46-11 last season but have taken a step forward in the early portion of 2022-2023. Sitting around .500 at the moment, Flyers fans could be in for a playoff run if the improvement continues.
MLB Betting in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Phillies
With a dramatic surge to the World Series, the Phillies shocked the baseball world and delighted fans in 2022. Led by Bryce Harper, the Phillies will once again be World Series contenders in 2023.
Pittsburgh Pirates
After consecutive 100+ loss seasons, the Pirates hope to turn things around in 2023 behind a youth movement that showed reasons for optimism towards the end of last year
Statewide Restrictions
You must be 21+ to bet, and the state does not allow player props on college athletics. Betting on high school sports or entertainment events is also illegal.
Other Pennsylvania Teams to Bet On
You can also bet on the Philadelphia Union of the MLS and college teams like the Pittsburgh Panthers or Penn State Nittany Lions.
Betting on College Basketball in Pennsylvania
You can bet on any college basketball team in Pennsylvania, though player props for college athletics are not allowed.
Pennsylvania Online Sports Betting FAQ
Did Pennsylvania legalize sports betting?
Yes.
How old do I have to be to bet on Pennsylvania’s legal sportsbook apps?
21+ years old.
Can I bet on my college football team in Pennsylvania?
Yes, you can bet on any college football team in Pennsylvania.
What payment options can I use for betting in Pennsylvania?
Sportsbooks allow options such as: credit and debit cards, e-wallets like PayPal or Venmo, prepaid cards, ACH, and cash.
Best Sports Bars for Betting in Pennsylvania
There are tons of quality sports bars for betting in Pennsylvania, including but not limited to Xfinity Live Sports Bar, Jerome Bettis’ Grille 36, Underdog Sports Bar & Grill, and Founding Fathers Sports Bar.
Common Payment Options
- PayPal
- ACH/eCheck
- Prepaid Card
- PayNearMe
- Cash @ Cage (Casino)
- Check
Sports Betting Quirks in Pennsylvania
The only key difference between Pennsylvania and some other states is that you are not allowed to bet on player props in college athletics. Some states also allow bets on entertainment events, but Pennsylvania does not.
State-to-State Differences for Neighboring State
Pennsylvania’s sports book taxes are much higher than New Jersey’s, but you are allowed to bet on college teams within the state.
Final Thoughts on Betting in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is one of the nation’s best sports betting states for a recent, with tons of sportsbooks and options for bettors. With limited restrictions on betting across the state, this is a fantastic place to be if you want to bet on sports.
