Pennsylvania Online Casinos
PA regulates and licenses brick-and-mortar casinos for residents and state visitors to enjoy, some of which even have their own Pennsylvania online casino platform available to use. However, PA's domestic online casinos struggle to compete with the bonus offers and game selection available at licensed and regulated offshore casino websites.
The expanded online casino market that has emerged in Pennsylvania brings a new era of gambling entertainment to the Keystone State. Clarification regarding the legal status of PA online casinos is essential to navigating this new landscape, as well as insight into specifically what domestic and offshore online casinos deliver to players in the state.
Are Online Casinos Legal In Pennsylvania?
PA gambling laws permit state-licensed online casinos to provide real money casino gambling to individuals physically located within state borders. Online casinos physically operating within the state that are not in possession of state-issued licensing are considered to be illegal.
Licensed offshore casinos are also legally available for PA residents to enjoy. Online casinos licensed from an offshore government are not expressly prohibited in any of Pennsylvania’s gambling laws nor at the US federal level as this would restrict free trade and overextend US jurisdiction. However, federal laws are prohibitive against using unlicensed online platforms which pose a great risk to player security.
Our Picks For PA Friendly Offshore Casinos
Our team has collected a list of top rated licensed offshore casinos, of whom happily accept Pennsylvania residents. The brands shown below have thoroughly been examined for legal licensing and regulation compliance, as well as, for robust features like game variance, security settings, bonuses, etc.
Site Name | Bonus | Rating | Type | USA | Visit Site |
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$10,5000 | Casino | Visit Site Full Review |
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$10,000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
$8,000 | Casino | Visit Site Full Review |
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$5,,000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
$3,000 | Casino | Visit Site |
Other Pennsylvania Gambling Pages
PA Based Online Casinos
Even though Pennsylvania has passed legislation to allow legal online casino and poker gambling, they have yet to launch anything. Many believe this is because Pennsylvania is focusing on other online gambling forms such as Pennsylvania online sports betting as a higher priority over online casino gambling.
Nonetheless, players will be happy to know numerous casinos will be offering an online casino platform by or at the beginning of 2019. These casinos are permitted to launch as many platforms and apps using different skins giving players variety to choose from.
8 establishments managed to get license applications into the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The applicants include:
- Parx
- Stadium Casino
- Mount Airy
- Sands Bethlehem
- Hollywood Casino
- Valley Forge
- Harrah’s Philadelphia
- Sugarhouse Casino
Each of these establishments paid a $10 million licensing fee. They will be able to host online poker, slots and table games.
Were There Any Casinos That Missed The Mark On Licensing?
Yes. The Mohegan Sun, Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin, and Meadows Casino all failed to apply for or withdrew their application for their licenses. However, they still have the option of obtaining a license to host online casino gambling in Pennsylvania after the stated deadline, but they would have to pay $4 million per online license offered: casino, poker, or sports betting, instead of a $10 million deal for the bundle.
What Types Of Games Are Found At PA Online Casinos?
We have yet to find more information on what game offerings are to come with state-licensed PA online casinos. However, we have managed to learn about the casino gambling options provided at licensed offshore online casinos. Licensed offshore casinos feature a robust selection of popular table games like blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat, each with their own variations and special game styles available like American Roulette, Caribbean Hold’Em, Pai Gow, and more.
These licensed offshore casinos also offer immense slot titles and reel variations, as well as progressive jackpots, slots with bonus rounds, and more. Some brands offer specialty games on their online casino platforms like bingo, keno, and scratch cards. Tournaments and rotating games are also common on licensed offshore online casinos for PA players to enjoy.
In addition, some premium licensed offshore online casino platforms offer live dealer casino options which can make players feel like their at a physical casino.
What Kind of Bonuses Can I Find At PA Online Casinos?
It currently remains uncertain whether or not PA-based and state licensed online casinos will feature bonuses. These decisions are typically made by individual brands in regards to profitability. In the first few years of operation, online casinos licensed by the state may not be able to offer bonuses or may have to offer smaller promotions that cannot really compete with the offshore casino bonus offers.
Licensed offshore online casinos often provide players with bonuses and promotions in order to remain competitive with other online brands. Oftentimes, offshore destinations offer Welcome Bonuses and reload bonuses which reward players for depositing into their online casino account. These bonuses offer to match a portion of their deposit by double, triple, or even quadruple the amount.
Other bonuses found on licensed offshore online casinos include game-specific promotions and cryptocurrency deposit bonuses. Each bonus comes with specific terms and conditions which must be fulfilled before players can withdraw their winnings.
Pennsylvania Online Casinos FAQs
How Can I Fund My Online Casino Account?
Utilizing credit or debit cards can be tricky due to banking regulations in place through the passing of the UIGEA which prevents banks from processing gambling related transactions. Oftentimes, banks decline suspicious gambling transactions immediately without taking into account the legality for licensed domestic or international operators. Therefore, credit and debit cards are not the best method to use.
However, money orders, money grams, preloaded gift cards, and cryptocurrency are offered as banking alternatives to help PA players fund their accounts. These methods see higher success rates as they bypass UIGEA regulation screening and are likely to be processed by banking institutions.
When Are PA Based Casinos Expected To Go Online?
Pennsylvania based online casinos were expected to be fully operational by the end of 2018. However, Pennsylvania recently launched its brick and mortar sportsbooks in November and hope to focus on launching online sports betting soon after seeing the striking $600 million wagers handled in NJ. This has pushed the launch of online casino platforms to the back burner.