Pennsylvania Sports Betting

Over the past few years, Pennsylvania has seen a ton of success with its sports franchises. The 76ers have gone deep into the playoffs and have one of the best big men in the game in Joel Embiid. The Eagles aren’t far removed from a Super Bowl win and another appearance. The Phillies have made it to the NLCS in both 2022 and 2023. The Steelers are consistently in the playoff picture and putting a great product on the field. The Pirates are now making noise with a great young pitcher in Paul Skenes and some other talented pieces. Certainly, sports are on the rise throughout Pennsylvania. It should come as no surprise that more interest and excitement is coming around betting on these teams in the state and sports in general.

Knowing where to start and how to navigate the journey into sports betting can be a challenge, so we here at oddschecker are happy to provide a guide for Pennsylvania sports betting and Pennsylvania sportsbook promos. Utilize this page to learn about the promotions offered, how to place wagers, and the best sportsbooks in PA!

The Best Sportsbook Betting Sites in Pennsylvania

Similar to how just knowing that certain players exist isn’t enough to make you a winning sports bettor, just knowing that Pennsylvania sportsbooks are out there won’t help you decide which is the best one for you. That’s why we have compiled a list below of the best sportsbooks available in the state and why you might consider using them. As always, we recommend using multiple sportsbooks, claiming promotional offers, and choosing the best one for your specific needs. We have taken into account a variety of factors and compiled a list that should help provide an overview of the benefits of each specific sportsbook. Combine this list with your needs, and you should be set up for success as you start betting on sports in Pennsylvania!

1. BetMGM Sports Pennsylvania

If you are looking for the best bonus bet offer available in Pennsylvania as a reason to start using a sportsbook, look no further than BetMGM Sportsbook. With BetMGM Sportsbook, the offer of up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet doesn’t win is unmatched. You’ve probably heard about BetMGM as the brand is one of the more well-known in Las Vegas. They are enticing because you can earn rewards that can then be used to book rooms or on other perks. They promote fast payouts and the best odds. You will hear that from a lot of sportsbooks, but this seems to be true from BetMGM. They offer a sleek and easy-to-navigate interface on both desktop and mobile devices. We did a parlay on four division winners for the NFL to compare pricing from books - BetMGM offers a payout of +1977.

2. bet365 Pennsylvania

If you are unimpressed by celebrity spokespeople and large marketing budgets, bet365 might be the right place for you. What we like about the offers from bet365 is that they seem to cater to a different market than the other books. While we are sure they enjoy taking big bets, they look like they are going after the casual bettor who wants to place a $25 bet instead of a $250 one. To be clear, the actual interface isn’t lacking, but the branding and elements are fairly generic and subdued compared to some of its counterparts. We do like the clean style of the desktop interface.

One of the nice things about their listing of sports and popular options is the addition of state-specific teams. If you want to bet on the Phillies, for example, there is a quick link for Pennsylvania sports bettors to click and be taken to the options available. As far as welcome bonuses, they are giving new users the chance to bet $5, get $200 or claim a $1000 First Bet Safety Net. Their parlay odds were +2237 for our NFL Division Winners Parlay.

3. DraftKings Sportsbook Pennsylvania

What started as a daily fantasy sports company has evolved into one of the biggest names in sports betting. If you’re unfamiliar with DraftKings, you probably don’t own a television or radio because their ads are everywhere. Just because they have the biggest marketing budget doesn’t mean they are the best sportsbook in PA, though. No, but what we like about DraftKings is they offer very good odds, and they pay you out quickly.

In reviewing the navigation, DraftKings typically offers the best usability and interface that sports bettors can get. There has been some bad news about them lately as they are rumored to be implementing a winning tax that will make being profitable even more difficult. If they do go through with the implementation of that tax, they would most likely move to the bottom of the list. One other knock on DraftKings is that live betting can be difficult to place. To be fair, odds shift rapidly for those, so perhaps it is just the nature of the game. For the parlay, their odds were +2017.

4. Caesars Sportsbook Pennsylvania

Do you want to have $1,000 for free? That’s essentially the offer from Caesars Sportsbook. Residents who choose to start an account with the Emperor of sportsbooks can earn up to $1,000 free in bonus bets. This promotion is fairly common in sportsbooks, but not all are this generous. An impressive part of this offer is that it doesn’t appear that the promotional fund, or bonus bet, expires at any point.

Another consideration for Caesars is if you plan to travel to Las Vegas or anywhere else with a Caesars property. You can earn rewards for betting on sports in PA with Caesars. Similar to using a player’s card in a casino, you earn points that can then be redeemed for a variety of things on Caesar’s owned properties. This is a great sportsbook for Pennsylvania bettors, and if the mobile app interface was a bit better, we would probably rank it higher. For the parlay, their odds were +1846.

5. FanDuel Sportsbook Pennsylvania

FanDuel is the other daily fantasy giant that entered the fray with DraftKings. One of the game-changing features they pioneered was the Same Game Parlay. While virtually every sportsbook offers this now, it was a big deal when it first came out. While Pennsylvania sports bettors won’t be able to combine everything into a parlay, FanDuel does seem to offer more options for combining items to get that big payout. There are certainly a ton of markets for FanDuel, but it can be a bit difficult to navigate and find what you’re looking for both on mobile and desktop versions.

The app features a lot of hidden menus that can be nice for space saving but difficult to scroll and find specifically what you’re looking to bet. They do have good odds and easy-to-use live betting, though, so it somewhat makes up for it. For the parlay bet comparison, they offer some of the best odds at +2394.

6. BetRivers Sportsbook Pennsylvania

To understand the main benefit of BetRivers Sportsbook as a new customer, you need to know that the bonus bet or “risk-free” bet isn’t just going to refund you money if you lose. If you were to place a $1,000 bet and lose the wager, you’d be given a $1,000 credit that you could not take out of the account. You’d need to bet again and win in order to withdraw - and with certain books, you’d need to bet even more before they actually let you take out any of the winnings or promotional credit. With BetRivers, bettors don’t have as many hoops to jump through. If you lose your first wager, you can have a free bet up to $500, and once you’ve played through $500 of winnings, you can cash out.

There are other books that offer similar rules, so it's nice that they are upfront about what needs to happen for you to get back your money. BetRivers is fairly easy to find what you’re looking for, and the live betting interface isn’t hard to work with, either. Overall, we don’t find their payouts great, and the mobile app is at the bottom of our list. The odds on the parlay comparison worked out to be +2061.

7. Fanatics Sportsbook Pennsylvania

If you bought a T-shirt when the Phillies or Eagles made it to the championship games in the past few years, it was likely from Fanatics. The sports memorabilia giant recently entered into the sportsbook market in Pennsylvania, and they provide a quality product. Fanatics Spoortsbook's welcome bonus is a hefty $1,000 bonus bet offer. If you’re into sports gear or memorabilia, you’ll be able to earn points that can be used toward Fanatics items or more bets. While it doesn’t help those looking for a hotel room or anything, it will at least give you a bit of incentive to continue using them if you plan to buy sports gear anyway.

They make it rather hard to explore their book without an account, which is frustrating if you don’t want to have to log in or register to compare books and pricing. Most disappointing is that Fanatics is the only book on this list that will not allow you to place the parlay bet that we have used as a comparison for all books.

To be clear about the parlay, this was just one example and one sport. One book may have better pricing on this but worse on a different parlay. It was provided to just show how the odds are different between them on one single concept.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Pennsylvania?

One of the biggest concerns to any bettor in any location should be the legality of it. To answer the most burning question, yes, sports betting is legal in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania legalized sports betting in person in 2017. The first bet was officially placed in 2018. As of May 2019, Pennsylvania residents were able to bet from the comfort of their own homes via online sportsbooks. The most recent app to open in Pennsylvania was bet365.

Legal Sportsbooks in Pennsylvania

The good news is there are many legal sportsbooks available to Pennsylvania residents. With streamlined accessibility and many options to choose from, you’ll enjoy sports betting in no time at the following locations:

Pennsylvania Online Sportsbooks:

• BetMGM Sportsbook
• bet365 Sportsbook
• BetRivers Sportsbook
• DraftKings Sportsbook
• Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook
• Caesars Sportsbook
• Fanatics Sportsbook
• Betfred Sportsbook
• betPARX
• ESPNBet
• PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook
• Betway Sportsbook

Pennsylvania Retail Sportsbooks:

• Rivers Casino Pittsburgh - Partnered with BetRivers
• Valley Forge Casino Resort - Partnered with FanDuel
• Harrah’s Philadelphia - Partnered with Caesars Sportsbook
• Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course - Partnered with Barstool (rebranded to ESPN Bet)
• Mount Airy Casino Resort - Partnered with betPARX
• Mohegan Sun Pocono - Partnered with Unibet (shut down operations)
• Live! Casino Philadelphia - Partnered with FanDuel
• Hollywood Casino Morgantown - Partnered with Barstool (rebranded to ESPN Bet)
• The Meadows Racetrack and Casino - Partnered with DraftKings
• Wind Creek Bethlehem - Partnered with Betfred
• Presque Isle Downs & Casino - Partnered with TwinSpires (now only offers horse betting)
• Parx Casino - Partnered with betPARX
• South Philadelphia Race & Sportsbook - Partnered with Parx
• Oaks Race & Sportsbook - Partnered with Parx
• Chickie’s & Pete’s - Partnered with betPARX

What Are the Legal Requirements for Sports Betting in Pennsylvania?

Oddschecker works to provide you with information regarding the laws in Pennsylvania sports betting. Recognize that laws also change from state to state, so don’t just assume one state has the same rules and regulations as another. If there is a specific question or requirement, be sure to reach out to the gaming commission for your state so you can get the most detailed and accurate answers. Below, we will provide you with some of the most important rules and regulations within Pennsylvania’s sports betting laws.

Age Requirements

As with most states, the requirement to create a PA sports betting account starts with the player being 21 years or older. In order to prove this and create an account, you will need to provide a valid form of identification. In addition, you will need to provide your Social Security number.

Remote Registration

As mentioned, Pennsylvania first started accepting remote betting and registration in 2019. This allowed players to create an account within an app or on a desktop. Even if you register online, you will still need to prove your age, provide an email, date of birth, address, contact information, and Social Security number. The entire process to register shouldn’t take more than a few minutes, but if there are concerns or issues, there could be a delay in creating the account. Alternatively, Pennsylvania sportsbooks may require you to come into the casino to finalize registration.

Within Pennsylvania Borders

If you live in Pennsylvania, you will be able to place wagers at a Pennsylvania sportsbook. Also, if you are just visiting, you can create an account while you are in the state and register at one of the many great PA sports betting options.

Pennsylvania-Specific Regulation

Many states provide the same requirements to users and allow you to bet on similar markets. However, it should be noted it is not legal to place a bet on an individual performance for a single game for collegiate players. Otherwise known as player props, these specific bets are not allowed for any college athlete for single games. You can still bet on futures for these players, but individual games are not allowed.

How to Bet in Pennsylvania

Betting on sports in Pennsylvania couldn’t be easier. The books have all done an admirable job of getting registration, processing, and finalization of tickets smooth and painless. Here are a few steps to consider.

1. Choose a Pennsylvania Sportsbook

Continue checking oddschecker for details about Pennsylvania sportsbooks' welcome bonuses because they do change from time to time. As mentioned, ensure that you pick two or three (at least) so you have options available to yourself for getting the best number for your bet. Although you may use one book primarily, it is wise to at least check other books and see if there is better value at other ones.

2. Register Your Pennsylvania Betting Account

This step is typically rather easy to complete and can be done in a matter of minutes. Upon selecting a Pennsylvania sportsbook, you will need to provide data and information to them. That information can be found above, but things like name, address, contact information, and a valid form of identification are the primary things you’ll need when registering.

3. Claim a Bonus or Promotion

This is the only part that could prove a bit difficult to navigate. Welcome bonuses each have different rules and regulations as well as requirements. There are different stipulations as to when they are paid out, how long they last, and how they can be used. Be sure to check the full details before placing a bet and ask the sportsbook directly through their Contact Us feature to get any clarifications needed. They are typically fairly straightforward - if you lose, your account is rewarded with a bonus bet for the same value shortly after - but each Pennsylvania sportsbook can be a bit different.

4. Place a Wager

Now that you are set up, and hopefully not overwhelmed by the thousands of options of what you can bet, you should be ready to enter a wager. This is fairly simple as almost everything will be one or two clicks away from placing the bet. With this quick ability, be sure you’re betting on what you want and read the ticket and rules before finalizing any wager. Here are some steps we recommend:

• Pick a sport or game to bet on.
• Research the sport or game and ensure you have a good idea of why you’re betting.
• Choose the bet - spread, total, player prop, etc.
• Enter the amount you are looking to risk.
• Enter any promo code or select any promotion offer that can be applied.
• Double-check the bet and finalize the wager.

Hopefully, these steps will result in a win for your first betting experience in Pennsylvania sports betting.

What Can I Bet on in Pennsylvania?

Sometimes it feels like the question should be what can’t I bet on? The answer would be things like high school sports and collegiate player props, by the way. As far as markets available to Pennsylvania sports betting fans, the typical big four of NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB will have daily, future, and parlay options available. You can also bet on things like soccer, NASCAR, and golf. If you’re into more obscure sports, take a shot at things like darts, archery, and even e-sports.

You can bet on player props for professional sports, but you cannot bet on them for collegiate-level athletes. To explain, you can bet on Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs to throw for over 250 yards in a game, but you cannot bet on Quinn Ewers of Texas to do the same thing. You could bet on Ewers to win the Heisman Trophy just like you can bet on Mahomes to win the MVP award, though.

Outside of the tricky nuances of each sport, you should enjoy betting. While parlays and paydays are promoted by books, the reality is those are few and far between for bettors. Make sure you are researching, managing your money well, and most of all, playing responsibly. If you aren’t having fun, or you are losing more than you can afford, stop or seek help. Continue to check oddschecker for more details and updates as you go along your sports betting journey!

Pennsylvania Sports Teams

Pennsylvania has a wide range of major league sports teams, with every major league represented in the state. Along with professional sports franchises, there is also a rich history of collegiate sports in the state, with college football and basketball well represented. Read our overview of Pennsylvania’s sports teams below.

Pittsburgh Steelers

One of the behemoths of the National Football League, the Pittsburgh Steelers has won the joint most Super Bowls and won the combined most AFC Championships in the league’s history. The Steelers have a fanbase, the Steeler Nation, that spans the US and plays home games at Acrisure Stadium.

Owned for all its history by the Rooney family, the Black and Gold were founded in 1933. The team competed in the NFL until the 1970 merger when it was one of three teams to transfer to the AFC. The franchise has won a record six Super Bowls, eight conference championships, twenty-four divisional titles, thirteen in the AFC Central, and nine in the AFC North.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Referred to as the “Bucs” or “Buccos,” the Pittsburgh Pirates have been ever-present in the MLB’s National League line-up since 1900. The team has won the World Series five times, picked up nine NL Pennants, and won nine divisional titles. However, it is still searching for its first division title since joining the National League Central. 

Its home ballpark is PNC Park, constructed in 2001 after the Pirates left its previous home, Three Rivers Stadium.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins were founded in 1967 and have been one of the strongest teams in the NHL during its history. The franchise has won five Stanley Cups, making it the joint fifth most successful team in the league’s history. Along with its five victories, the team also lost a Stanley Cup Final in 2008. However, only losing one final gives it the best Stanley Cup Final win percentage of any team with four or more successes. 

The team plays at the PPG Paint Arena, which was constructed in 2010, and previously hosted the Pittsburgh Power from the Arena Football League.

Philadelphia Phillies

Founded in 1883, the Philadelphia Phillies are one of the “Classic Eight” of the National League that began its stint in the Senior Circuit in 1900. The Phillies have the distinction of having one of the longest stays in the same city while using the same name of any sports franchise. The team plays at Citizens Bank Park and has won two World Series titles, eight National League Pennants, and eleven East Division Titles.

Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia Flyers joined the league as part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, which saw the expansion of ice hockey outside of the “Original Six.” The franchise plays in the Metropolitan Division of the NHL in its Eastern Conference, and its home games are held at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia. The team won two Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975, eight conference championships, and sixteen divisional titles.

Philadelphia 76ers

Competing in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers are one of the oldest teams in professional basketball, starting life in the NBA as the Syracuse Nationals in 1946. Playing at the Wells Fargo Center, the 76ers spent twenty-nine years playing its home games at the Spectrum in South Philadelphia. The franchise has won three NBA Championships, five conference championships, and twelve divisional titles.  

Philadelphia Eagles

Established in 1933, the Philadelphia Eagles have one of the longest histories in the NFL. The Eagles, known by fans as the Birds or the Iggles, had a long wait to secure a first Super Bowl. However, the wait finally ended in 2017 when the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.

The team plays its home games at Lincoln Financial Field with one of the most committed fanbases in the NFL, with the team selling out every home game since 1997. The Eagles won three pre-merger NFL Championships, four conference championships, and fifteen divisional titles.

Philadelphia Union

Major League Soccer added Philadelphia Union as its 16th franchise in February 2008, which had its inaugural season in March 2010. Playing at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, professional basketball player Kevin Durant serves as a minority owner.

The team has yet to win an MLS Cup but has won the Supporters Shield once and the Eastern Conference playoffs once. The Union has also won the Eastern Conference playoffs once, in 2022, and finished as runners-up in the US Open Cup three time.

Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State Nittany Lions are one of the country’s most successful collegiate athletics programs, winning 52 NCAA Team championships and a further 34 championships in sports that the NCAA did not award. The most prominent of these was the school’s two national football championships in 1982 and 1986. In college football, Penn State is a member of the Big Ten Conference. 

The Nittany Lions play its football home games at Beaver Stadium, its basketball home games at the Bryce Jordan Center, and its ice hockey home games at Pegula Ice Arena. All three are located on campus.

University of Pittsburgh Panthers

Competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Pittsburgh Panthers, commonly known as Pitt, is one of the only athletics programs in NCAA history to win multiple national championships in football and basketball, winning nine and two, respectively.

Pitt plays its football games at the Acrisure Stadium, home of the Steelers, its baseball games at Charles C Cost Field, and its basketball games on campus at the Petersen Events Center.

Villanova University Wildcats

Playing in the Big East Conference that features many of the top teams in college basketball, like St Johns, Georgetown, Syracuse, and UConn, Villanova has a proud history of collegiate basketball. The program won three national championships in 1985, 2016, and 2018. The Wildcats have also won the Big East 6 times and finished runners-up on five occasions. Villanova plays its basketball home games at William B. Finneran Pavilion.

Temple University Owls

Temple Owls are the fifth most winningest team of all time in NCAA College Basketball, amassing nearly 2,000 wins in its time. Playing in the American Athletic Association (The American) since 2013, the team has yet to win the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. However, the Owls claimed victory in the National Invitational Tournament twice, in 1938 and 1969. 

Saint Joseph’s University Hawks 

St Joseph’s University in Philadelphia sponsors nine men’s and women’s NCAA-sanctioned sports at the Division I level. It is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference and competes as part of the Philadelphia Big 5, the intercollegiate competition between the colleges in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area. Its most successful side is its men’s basketball program.

The Hawks men’s basketball team has appeared twenty-one times in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The furthest it has reached in the tournament was the Final Four in 1961. In addition, they have made the Elite Eight four times, the Sweet Sixteen ten times, and won the Atlantic Ten Tournament six times.

University of Pennsylvania Quakers

Penn Quakers is the athletics program representing the University of Pennsylvania. It competes in NCAA Division I as part of the Ivy League, and its most prominent team is its football team. Penn is one of the most historic teams in college football - it has played 1,413 football games, the most of any school in any division. Its home stadium Franklin Field is also the oldest football stadium in the US. 

The Quakers claim seven national championships. There was a dispute over the 1907 national championship when the team was 11-0-1. The team also has won eighteen Ivy League championships, five of which were shared. It has the most outright Ivy League championships, the highest number of unbeaten Ivy League seasons, and the longest Ivy League winning streak between 2001-2004. 

Several prominent football figures played for the Quakers during its history, including John Heisman, former NFL commissioner Bert Bell, and Chuck Bednarik. Sixty-three consensus All-Americans have played for the Quakers over its history.