In accordance with the Governor's additional COVID-19 protective mitigation measures, Meadows Casino will be temporarily suspending operations for a period of three weeks beginning at 11 p.m. on Friday, December 11, 2020.

The health and well-being of our team members and customers remains our paramount concern. We have been successfully operating under comprehensive health and safety protocols, in addition to significantly reduced capacity levels. We will continue to work closely with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, state and local leaders, and public health officials to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

On Oct. 30, 2017, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law a gambling expansion package that legalized and regulated online casino games, plus daily fantasy sports and sports betting.

Pennsylvania Sen. Robert Tomlinson encouraged the PA legislature to remove online gambling language from the host community casino tax fix. A letter signed by 10 attorney generals directed at Vice President-Elect Mike Pence and the Trump transitional team called for Congress to institute an online gambling ban. Pennsylvania is on the brink of launching regulated online casino and poker games offered by the state’s licensed casinos. Enter your email below to get the latest updates, and to be among the first to know when there’s a firm launch date for regulated online gambling in Pennsylvania.

The first online casinos in Pennsylvania launched on July 15, 2019, and many more are expected in the coming years. Multiple online sportsbooks and sports betting apps are also already live with more to come.

Online poker in Pennsylvania arrived with the launch of PokerStars PA in 2019.

Pennsylvania online casinos

Casinos first became legal in Pennsylvania in 2004. Today, Pennsylvania boasts the sixth largest population in the U.S., and it generates more gaming tax revenue for the state than Nevada.

The gambling industry is heavily taxed in Pennsylvania which means a casino must consider its impact before it enters the online casino market. Even so, most, if not all of the land-based casinos are expected to join the online gaming market.

Pennsylvania online casinos were estimated to earn approximately $154 million in revenue during Year 1. The projection is consistent with the New Jersey online casino market.

Evidence suggests the revenue will come from new customers, not necessarily existing ones, as online casinos have a far greater reach.

Pennsylvania Casinos Online Poker

At least seven Pennsylvania online casinos have applied for licenses with partners to provide online poker along with their casino games. They are:

• Harrah’s (888/WSOP)
• Valley Forge (partypoker)
• SugarHouse
• Hollywood Casino
• Parx
• Wind Creek

Pennsylvania casino partnerships

In anticipation of legalized real money online casino and poker sites, retail casinos several years ago began forging partnerships with software platforms and online casinos operating in New Jersey. As mentioned seven are licensed for online poker so far; here’s a look at a few of the partnerships.

Mount Airy Casino (PokerStars)

Mount Airy Casino surprised many in Pennsylvania when it signed a deal with PokerStars in August 2018. It launched the first online poker site in Pennsylvania in the Fall of 2019.

Harrah’s

As part of Caesars Entertainment, Harrah’s operates as WSOP.com in a partnership with 888. It is the only company currently offering online gambling products in both Nevada and New Jersey.

Valley Forge (partypoker)

Once the most trafficked poker site in the world, partypoker has surged back into international prominence in recent years. Massive online tournament guarantees, drastically improved software and a burgeoning partypoker Live tour have also had a big impact. It’s expected Valley Forge and partypoker will launch their co-branded online poker site in 2020.

Mohegan Sun Pocono

The tribal operator manages the operations of Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. Resorts online casino teamed up with software provider NYX to offer a suite of online casino games. Additionally, PokerStars operates under Resorts’ license in New Jersey. Of note: Scientific Games acquired NYX in January 2018.

Parx

Pa Online Gambling Update

Even though Parx had some reservations about online gaming, they signed a multi-year agreement with software provider GAN back in 2014. Parx is already building a potential customer base with a social casino using GAN’s software.

Rivers and Sugarhouse

Pa Online Gambling Update

Rivers in Pittsburgh and SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia are both owned by Rush Street Gaming. PlaySugarHouse.com operates under Golden Nugget’s online casino license in New Jersey. There is some speculation that Rush Street is eyeing NYX/Scientific Games for its Pennsylvania online casino.

Pennsylvania online casino FAQ

How old do you need to be to gamble online in Pennsylvania?

Players must be 21 years of age or older to play online casino games or online poker in Pennsylvania. Fantasy sports enthusiasts must be 18 to participate in daily fantasy sports contests.

Do players need to live in Pennsylvania to play online casino games?

Players do not need to be a resident of Pennsylvania to play online casino games or online poker. However, players must physically be located in the state to participate.

What is the minimum deposit at an online casino in Pennsylvania?

Minimum deposit amounts are set by each different casino and can be as little as $5. In Pennsylvania the lowest minimum deposit amount is $5 at DraftKings Casino. Unibet Casino and Hollywood Casino have minimum deposits of $10.

How does an online casino know if a player is in Pennsylvania?

Regulated online casino sites use geolocation services to determine a player’s location. A player whose location cannot be verified will not be able to access online casino games.

Latest Pennsylvania online gambling updates

• by StaffDecember 11, 2020
• by Anthony Cicali IIINovember 17, 2020