The Pennsylvania online casino industry discussion began in 2017, but it has grown and evolved since that time.
Pennsylvania was one of the first states in the US to legalize online casino gambling, and it remains one of the biggest markets in the country.
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Pennsylvania lawmakers approved an expanded gaming package in 2018, and that is when online casinos were first able to apply for licenses. Still, the first sites did not launch until the next year. PA sports betting was also included in that bill, and both industries have worked together to find success since 2018.
Online poker was added to the list of approved games in 2019, and the first online poker site launched on November 4 of that year. Pennsylvania has been able to attract some of the biggest online casino operators in the world, and there are plenty of terrific options for customers.New ones, such as BetRivers Casino, are also being added fairly regularly.
The retail casino sites in the state were given the first opportunity to apply for a license and also were allowed to partner with online companies. There is still plenty of room for the Pennsylvania online casino industry to grow, and that should continue in the coming years.
BetRivers PA
The BetRivers PA online casino has been available to people in Pennsylvania since January 2020. You’ll also find BetRivers online casinos operational in West Virginia and Michigan.
The operator has a background in land-based casinos, so it has a good idea of what gamblers enjoy the most. If you are creating a new BetRivers PA account, you will be able to get a first deposit bonus worth up to $250.
PA Online Casino Sites
All 12 retail casino properties in the state were given the first opportunity to apply for a Pennsylvania online casino license. Five of these properties quickly applied and launched in 2019, and more have joined the group since that time.
FOX Bet made a major move later in 2019 when it partnered with an online provider to bring poker and casino to the state of Pennsylvania. This move was significant, and it allowed other online operators to follow suit and form similar partnerships.
Here are some of the top PA online casino sites with welcome offers:
- Parx Casino PA
- Hollywood CasinoMorgantown
- SugarHouse Online Casino
- Caesars Casino
- BetRivers PA Casino
- Wind Creek Bethlehem
PA Online Casino Rules
PA online casino rules are pretty vague on the surface, but the laws get more specific when taking a close look at the regulations listed on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board website. The first rule is that players must be at least 21 years of age to play online casino games in Pennslyvania.
Location services must also be enabled on a user’s mobile device to ensure that a customer is physically within the state before placing a bet. Registration is not limited to Pennsylvania residents, and these apps can be accessed from anywhere in the country.
Online slots are the largest category of games at PA online casino sites, but most table games can now be found on the sites as well. Each site is able to choose the types of games, but you will find video or online poker at nearly every licensed PA online casino.
Live dealer games are now offered at PA online casino sites, and these games give players the feeling of being on the real casino floor. Live dealer games are completely legal but must be accessed during operating hours.
Most of the PA online casino games can be played for free, with the exception of live dealer games. These games can be viewed for free, but you won’t find any of these games that come with a demo mode.
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PA Casino Regulations
Lawmakers began to seriously start exploring PA online casino legislation in 2017, and the state legislature was actually able to get a law passed with little trouble. It took the state much longer to pass casino regulations, but it was clear that online casino games were the future.
The PA Senate was the first to approve online casino legislation in June of 2017, but that bill was amended by the House and returned to the Senate. It didn’t take long for that part of the legislature to come to an agreement, and the bill was officially approved in October.
Video game terminals at truck stops were also allowed as a part of this legislation, and that has turned into a legal battle over the last few years. Video game terminals are now taking away revenue from both land-based and online casino sites in the state of Pennsylvania.
Governor Tom Wolf signed an expanded gambling package into law in 2018, and it created a bunch of new online gambling opportunities in PA. The first online poker site was approved in 2019 and launched that November.
The Wire Act was issued by the Federal Government in January 2019, and it forced a much slower start to online casino gambling than what was expected. Regulators in the state wanted to ensure that all federal laws were being followed before allowing new online sites to launch.
The PGCB is tasked with regulating the new online casino industry in the state, and it is the group that reviews applications and issues licenses. All decisions when it comes to new online casino gaming options must be approved by the PGCB as well.
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Summary
By attracting some of the biggest online casino operators in the world, the Pennsylvania online casino industry has been able to become extremely successful. There are still PA online casino licenses available, and this growth should continue into the coming months and years.
Online slots remain one of the most popular games at PA online casino sites, but online poker is a big hit as well. Table games can be found at the PA online casinos, with each site being able to choose which types of games to feature.
PA online casino sites are not limited to just residents of the state, and tourists are able to sign up for an account and hop on the site to play. Users do have to physically be in the state of Pennsylvania before playing a game, and geolocation services are used to track this location.
One of the newest forms of online casino games, live dealer games, are legal and now offered at various sites in the Keystone State. The PA online casino industry is alive and well and will continue to provide much-needed revenue and financial relief to the state.