PA Online Sports Betting: Best PA Sportsbooks & Mobile Apps

Legal online gambling and online sports betting are officially live in Pennsylvania. Sports betting, DFS, online poker, online casino games and the lottery are all part of a bill that Governor Tom Wolf recently signed, making Pennsylvania the 4th US state to legalize online gambling.
[toc]The process of legalized sports betting in Pennsylvania has been a bit of an uphill climb. Sports bettors have watched neighboring states like Delaware and New Jersey quickly move on sports betting regulation once the Supreme Court ruled in favor of NJ this past Spring. A heavy tax burden and limiting sports betting skins to one per operator, is not making the process easy for the launch of legal sports wagering in PA.

PA Mobile Sports Betting Launches With SugarHouse Sportsbook

It may have taken longer than anyone expected, but online sports betting in PA arrived on May 31st with SugarHouse Sportsbook PA.

PA.PlaySugarHouse.com is live to place bets on any desktop playform (Yes MAC’s included), and Android mobile apps and tablets. SugarHouse Sportsbook PA is NOT currently available on iOS platforms. This means you can not access the PA SugarHouse Sportsbook on your iPhone or iPad. The SugarHouse PA Android is NOT in the Google Play store. You must download the app from the SugarHouse website.

The next PA sportsbooks to launch their online and mobile platforms will be Rivers Sportsbook (BetRivers), FanDuel Sportsbook PA, and Parx Sportsbook.

FanDuel Online Sportsbook & iPhone App Now In PA

FanDuel Sportsbook has officially entered the PA online sports betting market! FanDuel is the first online and mobile sports betting app in PA to be available on all iOS devices (iPhone & iPad). Some sports bettors in PA did report to us on Twitter that they removed and downloaded the app again in order for the app to function properly.

If you are new to sports betting in PA or with FanDuel in general, a FREE $500 bet is available to new players in PA when they make their first deposit on the FanDuel online sportsbook or mobile app.

BetRivers Pick’em Contest For $500K in Prizes

BetRivers has launched a season-long NFL pick’em contest in Pennsylvania which features $500k in prizes. BetRivers and SugarHouse PA are co-promoting the PA sports betting contest. Both sites are owned and operates by Rush Street Interactive. Players can register for the contest in person at the retail sportsbook locations or online.

Pick ’em contests have been extremely popular over the years in Vegas, as the low hurdle contest entry attracts casual sports bettors.

“We are really excited about the upcoming NFL season and know our players are, too,” said Richard Schwartz, President of Rush Street Interactive. “We wanted to make this season even more thrilling for football fans by creating a pick’em game where huge cash prizes will be won.”

Pennsylvania Sports Betting Handle & Revenue

While April did not exactly produce record-setting revenues in Pennsylvania, it did still manage to post the second-best monthly revenues in the states short history in the sports betting landscape.

It was to be expected March would be a big month with March Madness, and it was with over $44 million in total bets, compared to nearly $36.8 million in April Sports Betting Revenue report. Remember, there are no active sports betting apps in Pennsylvania, which almost certainly takes away a sizable amount of potential business.

Atop the “standings” in terms of monies earned, Rivers Casino and SugarHouse led the way at approximately $8.15 million and $7.9 million, respectively in April sports betting handle. Parx Sportsbook placed third at $6.85 million in total April handle. Beyond the top 3 sportsbooks, there is a substantial difference with the fourth most, Hollywood Casino being almost half that of Parx.

Since November 2018, Pennsylvania has taken in over $160 million in wagers, profiting nearly $17 million and the state getting around $6 million. However, when you keep in mind the licensing fees for the state, the state has actually brought in closer to $100 million.

PA Sports Betting Hurdles

Let’s look at some of the hurdles that regulators have placed in front of a company who would like to operate in PA. How does a 36 percent tax on gross betting revenue sound? How about a $10 million dollar licensing fee? Lets compare this to some other states with legalized sports betting and online gambling.

– West Virginia: Licensing fee of $100K, plus a 10% tax on revenue.

– New Jersey: Annual $100K licensing fee + a one time charge of $250K for regulatory costs. Sports betting is subject to an 8.5% tax, with gross revenue from online gambling taxed at 13%.

– Nevada: the state tax for sports betting, which is a sliding scale, is roughly six percent of monthly revenue, which amounts to roughly 11 percent total (including federal taxes)

Just to clarify, a company like DraftKings, who recently launched the first mobile sports betting in New Jersey, would have to pay $10 million dollars, plus be taxed at 36%, just to operate in the state. One would assume that PA has created a scenario where sports betting operators may wait for the market to mature before applying for PA sports gambling license.

Philadelphia Sports Betting Sites

The epicenter of PA sports betting is Philadelphia. The energetic fan-base of the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers and Flyers are the prime demographic for sports bettors in PA. Philadelphia currently has 6 sportsbooks in the city and surrounding suburbs. 4 of the 6 will be eligible to launch online sportsbooks in PA. Excluding the turf-clubs listed below, each physical sportsbook listed will launch an online sportsbook and mobile app during the summer of 2019.

Sportsbooks In or Near Philadelphia:
1. Parx Sportsbook in Bensalem, PA
2. SugarHouse Sportsbook in Philly
3. Parx South Philly Turf Club
4. Harrah’s “The Book” in Chester, PA
5. FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge Casino Resort
6. Parx Valley Forge Turf Club

Pennsylvania In-Person Sports Betting Locations

PA Sports Betting is now legal and about to explode across the Keystone state with the activation of online/mobile betting. PA now has 7 active sportsbooks (8 approved), with 6 alone in the Philadelphia area:

1. Parx Sportsbook in Bensalem, PA
2. SugarHouse Sportsbook PA in Philly
3. Rivers Online Sportsbook in Pittsburgh
4. Hollywood Sportsbook by Harrisburg
5. Parx Casino South Philly Turf Club
6. Harrah’s “The Book” in Chester, PA
7. FanDuel Sportsbook PA in Valley Forge Casino Resort.
8. Presque Isle Downs Sportsbook in Erie

Who can apply for a PA sports betting license?

Currently 12 facilities qualify:
Harrah’s Philadelphia, Chester
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Grantville
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin, Farmington
The Meadows Racetrack and Casino, North Strabane Twp.
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Wilkes-Barre
Mount Airy Casino Resort, Mt. Pocono
Parx Casino and Racing, Bensalem
Presque Isle Downs & Casino, Erie
Rivers Casino, Pittsburgh
Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Bethlehem
SugarHouse Casino, Philadelphia
Valley Forge Casino Resort, King of Prussia

FAQ

When will online sports betting launch in PA?

Originally, state officials indicated that online sports wagering in Pennsylvania would begin in July. Well, things have officially changed and quite rapidly. At the latest PPCGB board meeting on April 17, 2019, the PCGB declared that online casinos would launch on July 15. No mention of the sports betting was made, however later in the day Communications Director Doug Harbach told CrossingBroad.com that testing will begin on the first PA sports betting app in 2-3 weeks.

Previously, Marc Oppenheimer from Parx Casino said his Parx Online Sportsbooks would be ready to launch in late April. It is unclear whether Parx Betting app will be the first to launch in PA.

Is sports betting legal in PA?

Yes. The state passed a bill legalizing retail (brick/mortar) sports betting and online sports betting in Pennsylvania. Multiple PA casinos and turf clubs now offer sports wagering, with online sports betting ready to launch very soon.

Do I have to live in PA to bet on sports?

No, you do not have to be a resident of PA to bet on sports. If you are betting online, you will have to be physically located in the state to bet on sports.

Why are there so few betting apps in PA?

Unlike other states, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board allows for one sports betting “skin” – essentially a public-facing brand – for each licensed casino operator, of which there are 12 in Pennsylvania. This, obviously, caps the number of apps at 12.

Who is eligible to launch an online sportsbook in PA?

The following are the licensed “slot machine operators” who are eligible for a sports betting certificate in PA: Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Harrah’s Philadelphia, Parx Casino and Racing, SugarHouse Casino, Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin, Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Valley Forge Casino Resort, The Meadows Racetrack and Casino, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Mount Airy Casino Resort, Presque Isle, and Rivers Casino.

What types of bets can I make in PA?

The usual sports betting options commonly found at sportsbooks are allowed in PA. They include point-spread bets, moneyline bets, over-under bets, parlays, prop bets and more are available at PA sportsbooks.

What are PA sports betting tax rates?

Sports betting revenue is taxed at a 34% rate in PA, with an additional 2% tax paid to the local township of the casino license holder. Sports betting license holders pay a $10 million upfront fee for their sports wagering certificate or license in the state.

When will DraftKings Sportsbook Launch in PA?

DraftKings will need a casino partner to launch their online sportsbook in Pennsylvania. The leading candidate right now is Meadows Casino in Washington County, PA. DraftKings top rival FanDuel Sportsbook has partnered with Valley Forge Casino Resort. The FanDuel retail sportsbook opened on March 13.

Who oversees sports betting in the state?

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

How much revenue could sports betting generate?

Exact figures are obviously not yet known and the exact number of online sportsbooks in PA will have a major impact on revenue projections. There are pros and cons when it comes to the subject of betting in Pennsylvania specifically. PA is located close to other states in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region that already offer sports betting or soon will. However, PA is a huge sports state with 2 major cities in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with rabid fan base support. Oh and that taxation at 36 percent should definitely help government revenue growth numbers.