PA Online Casino Games

Today, online gambling, better known as iGaming, hauls in more than $50 billion a year, including offshore casinos and PA online casinos. The attention to detail that online casino game developers like Real-Time Gaming, Wager Gaming Software, and NetEnt put into the games is surreal. From visually slick, five-reel games with progressive jackpots to authentic live dealer games, Pennsylvania gambling sites are some of the best in the country.

From finding starter casino games to gain some experience to notable slot games with jackpots over $100k, we help put together a winning strategy in this guide about PA casino games. For Keystone State players in the hunt for winning sports betting pointers, we’ve got you covered, too in this casino games guide.

The Keystone State officially jumped into the lucrative online casino scene when Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 271 in October 2017. The initial license allowed a small number of online casinos to secure licenses, including Caesars Sportsbook and BetRivers. 

With slot games, table games like Roulette and Craps now legal, online gamblers in the Keystone State became free to make real-money wagers. And with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board serving as the steward for PA online casinos, Quaker State players can gamble with peace of mind knowing these sites are from reputable brands and the results, win or lose, are fair and accurate.

However, PA online casino games continue to captivate the Quaker State because sites like betPARX frequently add new games. To help manage players’ budgets, many of these top sites offer a preview mode to help you get into the swing of things. And while Live Dealer doesn’t have a preview feature, they have many perks and competitive thrills.

All of Pennsylvania’s current 21 online casinos offer their esteemed members the chance to gamble real money. With PA online gambling legal, players must be physically present anywhere in the Keystone State to make real money wagers.

We can’t stress enough to ensure that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board licenses the online casino that interests you. Online sites like BetMGM and DraftKings take the license seriously because they must protect their brand images at all costs.

Another benefit of only dealing with licensed online sites is that they must respond to your inquiries. Legal Pennsylvania online gambling sites strive for 100% synchronicity between the desktop and mobile browser and the mobile apps for its members to make instant deposits with credit cards, and usually Play+ cards and some form of e-wallets. These same Keystone State casinos pride themselves on fast withdrawals, many of which we rank for your consideration.

The amount of PA online casino games varies by casino, but slot games make up most of the gaming roster. It’s customary for these same online gambling sites to have hundreds of slot games alone available for standalone play. For example, Golden Nugget PA has more than 500 slot games. The strength of the slot games and variety come with an abundance of critically acclaimed game developers like:

• NetEnt
• Pragmatic Play 
• Play’n Go 
• IGT 

Evolution, Konami and Everi are other revered gaming developers behind the progressive slot and table games. Evolution and IGT play special roles in the live dealer options which we will discuss shortly. 

1. Pennsylvania Online Slot Game Options

Most PA online casinos organize the slot games through tabs like:

• Popular 
• New 
• Trending 
• Jackpot

You can also search through the slot casino games via the search bar. Depending on the site, you can also refine the slot game search by the number of reels or by the game developer. While slot games vary per casino, you can generally find these staple slot titles.

• Gonzo’s Quest 
• Divine Fortune 
• Starburst 

Besides progressive slots in their own category with up-to-the-spin totals, most Pennsylvania casino sites have a Megaways section. Titles like Gonzo’s Quest and Divine Fortune have Megaway versions with over 110K pay lines.

2. Online Poker and Video Poker Variety

But because online poker was the first to become legal in the Keystone State, these sites compete against each other with fan-favorite online poker titles like Three Card. Quaker State players can expect these standard poker games. 

• Three Card Poker 
• Four Card Poker
• Three Card Stud
• I Luv Suits 
• Let It Ride
• Texas Hold’em

Some PA casino sites offer No Limit Texas Hold’em for more competitive and spirited play, but usually you can find these standard video poker titles.  

• Ultimate X Poker 
• Game King Video Poker Suite 
• Deuces Wild 
• 10’s or Better

Ultimate X Poker comes with different hands like triple-play, five-play, and ten-play. You can also generally find some variation of Caribbean poker, mainly Caribbean Draw Poker, to fill the gap.

3. Table Game Options

To further distinguish themselves, these professional Keystone State casinos offer classic Blackjack and alternatives like Xchange or Multi-hand with Surrender with side bets. For the most part, Keystone State players can look forward to these table games:

• Blackjack: While American Blackjack is usually available, prominent variants like Downtown and Vegas Strip Blackjack are unavailable for PA casino games.
• Roulette:  Almost all Pennsylvania casino sites have American and European Roulette, but not all carry French Roulette. American Roulette’s odds slightly favor the house due to the double zero. Lightning and Auto Roulette are other options.
• Baccarat: Baccarat is another Keystone State casino staple with odds favoring the gambler, especially with the exclusive tie. 
• Craps: While Craps is simple with 50/50 odds rolling the dice, complex bets and strategies are involved. However, Craps is usually exclusive to live dealer play.

Also, Keystone State gambling sites like BetMGM and DraftKings, excel with a host of exclusive Blackjack games like NHL and 76 Blackjack.

4. Live Table Games on Display

Virtually all Pennsylvania online casinos have a live version of Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette and Craps. Also, Ultimate Texas Hold’em and Three Card Poker are solid live dealer options. Evolution live streams professional dealers from a studio and lets you chat with them in real-time.

Despite hundreds of compelling casino games, bonuses are integral to Pennsylvania online gambling sites. While some bonuses only apply to  sports betting or specific casino games, all Quaker State casino sites compete against each other with first deposit promotions. Some of these matching bonuses are enticing, like BetMGM’s $1,000 bonus, plus a $25 free chip. From free chips to insurance sports bet promotions, here are the essential casino promotions:

• Sign up bonuses: No-deposit bonuses offer a specific cash value, free spins, or a combination of both to register. BetMGM proudly advertises a $25 free sign-up promotion. The beauty of no-deposit bonuses is that it doesn’t require a real-money deposit to build up a sizeable bankroll. Sign-up bonuses usually vary between $10 and $25.
• First deposit bonuses: Almost all Pennsylvania online casinos offer some form of matching deposits. As a rule of thumb, first deposits are matched by 100% for a maximum value. For example, to receive PokerStars PA's maximum of $600, you must deposit $300. Some sites require specific bonus codes, while others are applied automatically. It is a standard practice to wager the bonus winnings by required playthrough requirements in a specific period to make withdrawals.
• Seasonal bonuses: To spice things up and encourage members to play PA casino games, online casinos might have daily and weekly reload bonuses to help offset losses. Some Pennsylvania gambling sites might offer quick double-point bonuses or free spins promotions.
• Rewards and VIP clubs: Win or lose, casino bets build towards comp or tier points, depending on that particular casino’s loyalty system. Most sites have multi-tiered levels based on the number of comp points. The purpose of the VIP levels is to offer unique bonuses, faster withdrawals, and luxury vacations for example.

Sites like FanDuel and DraftKings offer first-sports bets promotions to break the sports betting ice. It is also common to find parlay insurance promotions to encourage sports betting. Also, most PA gambling sites offer a refer-a-friend feature.

One of the main reasons that dedicated gamblers flock to Pennsylvania casino games online is that they have peace of mind that they are fully licensed. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board administers licenses and closely monitors all the online casinos in the Quaker State for fairness and accurate gambling results. This is why these casinos make public the true Return to Player (RTP) percentages for their games.

Besides fair gameplay, Pennsylvania online gambling members enjoy the benefits of having first-class customer support with timely responses through live chat, email, or, in some cases, by telephone. To further comply with the PGCB, these PA sites have extensive FAQs in the help section and many avenues to institute responsible gambling measures.

The PGCB puts the onus on casinos to have strong security measures in place to protect members’ data, which is why they have a Privacy Policy available.

Before the Supreme Court overturned the PAPSA ban, which opened the door for American online gambling, Americans, including Pennsylvanians, had to rely solely on offshore online casinos. While many of the most recognizable offshore casinos, like Bovada, Red Stag, and Ignition Casino, have licenses, most notably in Curacao, The Isle of Mann, and Malta, they are not required to have a license to operate.

Besides taking calculated risks with offshore casinos, oversight is limited or nonexistent. The danger of a lack of oversight can produce spotty withdrawal payments that are severely delayed or don’t pay out at all.

On the flip side, PA Casinos took off like a rocket because having a license sanctioned by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board was mandatory. Failure to comply with the rules, stiff customers from payments, or poor customer service can have their licenses revoked. PA casino members have the advantage of knowing that the payment methods offered are tried and true, and they can receive hard-earned winnings in a timely fashion.

While it isn’t a PGCB statute that members have to be physically present in Pennsylvania to create accounts and log in, it is a statute to make real money bets while only in the Keystone State. This is where Geolocation comes into the equation. Because it is a requirement to maintain their Pennsylvania license, PA online casinos use Geolocation measures to verify where their members are. Barstool requires Geolocation to see its lineup of casino games.

Simply put, if the casino sites in the Keystone State can’t verify their members’ physical location, they will bar real money wagers. Failure to do so is a license violation that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control 

Board doesn’t take lightly. The Geolocation tools are so sophisticated that using a VPN or a reverse IP address typically isn’t good enough to fool it. Those using WI-FI or logging in through mobile apps might have to install or use additional Geolocation tools to comply.

Today, more than twenty legal online casinos exist in the Quaker State. While each one has something unique to offer, we’ve put together a small sample of ten of the most notable online gambling sites with a tremendous fan base, how their mobile apps rank, and some of their marquee casino games.

To legally operate in the Keystone State, online gambling sites must partner with one of these ten brick-and-mortar casinos to provide online casino games.

• Wind Creek Casino Resort and Hotel: Hosts its own Wind Creek online casino games.
• Presque Isle Downs Casino: Partners with Twin Spires Racebook and Online Casino. 
• Parx Casino:  Partners with its online brand betPARX. 
• Mount Airt Casino and Resort: Partners with PokerStars Casino and online poker.
• Harrah’s Casino in Philadelphia: Partners with its parent company, Caesars online casinos, including Tropicana, Caesars Palace, and Caesars Sportsbook and Casino.
• Live! Casino in Philadelphia: Carries a successful partnership with Betway and PlayLive! Casinos.
• Valley Forge Casino and Resort: Has multiple partnerships with FanDuel and StarDust Casinos.
• Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racecourse: This partnership is responsible for its own Hollywood Online Casino games, DraftKings, BetMGM, Barstool, and PointsBet casino games.
• Rivers Casino in Philadelphia: The partnership’s union includes the esteemed BetRivers, Borgata, and SugarHouse online games.

The Quaker State has over a dozen physical casinos that PGCB successfully licenses for live table games. Because Pennsylvania is such a lucrative gambling destination, the Live! Casino brand recently opened two more casinos in the state.

Also, the more than ten racetrack casinos, better known as Racinos, are equipped and licensed to handle live casino play. The same goes for smaller resort casinos that either fall in Casino Category Three or mini-casinos that fit the fourth and final Casino Category.

PA Mini-Casinos

While marquee Category One Casinos like Harrah’s Philadelphia steal most of the headlines, it’s a mistake to overlook mini-casinos. Classified as Category Four, mini-casinos provide smaller venues with slightly more than 300 slot games available. Gaming in smaller venues might favor some because they tend to be less crowded.

Prospective mini-casinos must go through the auction process. During the inaugural online casino run in 2018, select casinos qualified for the auctions. But, after some shrewd negations and roughly $100 million, Pennsylvania has these four licensed mini-casinos.

• Hollywood Casino in York 
• Hollywood Casino in Morgantown 
• Parx Casino in Shippensburg 
• Live! Casino in Pittsburgh 

While slot games come with a license, mini-casinos must apply for a separate license for table games. Due to the mini-casino's success, anticipation is high for Bally Casino to open a mini-casino.

While all Pennsylvania online gambling sites compete against each other for your hard-earned dollar and brand loyalty, they are all united in safeguarding responsible gambling. Because these superb UX sites and sophisticated mobile apps are 24/7, members can easily get sucked into a gambling addiction. Licensed sites have detailed responsible gambling sections to help their members avoid gambling pitfalls.

As you create your account, you can set up responsible gambling measures. The sensational Quaker State online casinos share these universal responsible gambling measures:

• Deposit limits: Keystone State gamblers can set daily, weekly, and monthly deposit limits.
• Loss limits: Cut off your account access for a specified period once your loss threshold is reached.
• Playing & session limits: Regardless of whether you win or lose, once your set gambling time is reached, you won’t be able to log into your account.
• Selective deposit methods: Take control of which deposit methods you can use to make instant deposits.

Members can also set up self-exclusion periods, better known as “Cool Off” periods, for days, weeks, or even months to help curb gambling addiction. The PGCB also has a self-exclusion list, but this list disqualifies those on it from gambling in the entire state. PA online casinos also offer several professional resources like 1-800-GAMBLER.

Today, only Nevada outpaces Pennsylvania’s casino games in terms of revenue. Just in the previous month, July, the Keystone State generated more than $465K in total gambling revenue, including fantasy sports. But While Nevada has more gambling profit, Pennsylvania has substantially more tax revenue from all its organized gambling systems.

And with more than twenty online casinos available any time in the Quaker State and a staple of licensed brick-and-mortar casinos and racinos that have been available since 2004, it’s easy to forget the struggle to bring online gambling to the Keystone State. From the great 2004 casino expansion to Governor Tom Wolf’s groundbreaking signing of HB 271, we outline all the milestones leading up to Pennsylvania being the second-highest gambling market in America.

• 1959: Thanks to the passage of the Race Horse Industry Reform Act, Pennsylvanians could legally bet on horse racing, with the inaugural racetrack, Meadows Racetrack, doing the honors by opening in 1965. 
• 1971: The Pennsylvania Lottery Act was enacted, legalizing lottery sales beginning in 1972. Thanks to the PA Lottery Act the foundation for fantasy sports betting was set.
• 1981: Thanks to the passage of Bingo in the Quaker State, organized raffles, drawings, and Bingo tables became legal. Legalizing bingo helped to popularize online sweepstakes and raffle casino bonuses that are available today. 
• 2004: The Keystone State created the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Fourteen casinos became eligible for licenses shortly after instating the Gaming Act and Pennsylvania Racehorse Development. Mohegan Sun Pocono was one of the first casinos to open a few years later. This passage is for legalizing only slot games. Casinos like Harrah’s that fit in Category One can offer up to 5,000 slot machines, while Casino Resorts can only offer a few hundred slot games.
• 2010: The Keystone State amended HB 271 and other gambling bills so casinos can legally have table games, like Baccarat, Blackjack, and Roulette.
• 2017: Online gambling, including online poker, became sanctioned with Governor Wolf signing HB 271. In the same year, the Keystone State enacted passage for select truck stops and airports to allow online gambling.
• 2018: After pressure from states like Pennsylvania, the US Supreme Court finally overturns the PAPSA ban, setting the stage for sports betting to become legal. Also, Governor Wolf signed bills for sactioning Keno and e-sports. 
• 2019: The first wave of land-based sportsbooks opened, and online casinos came online. Also, online sports betting is available through mobile apps, and online poker joins the other casino games.
• 2020: Despite the COVID pandemic, more online casinos became available, including Caesars Sportsbook Casino.
• 2021: Betway, Barstool and Borgata come online and add to the rich PA casino games.
• 2022: PointsBet joins the online gambling PA family with sports betting, online poker, and jackpot slots.
• 2023: PGCB approves of at least a half dozen more online casinos coming online this year, including Bally and WynnBet. Golden Nugget successfully went to 24/7 operations through a Qualified Gaming Entity agreement.