Pennsylvania Gambling Laws for Casinos, Sports, Horse Racing, and More

It’s important to familiarize yourself with Pennsylvania gambling laws prior to gambling and betting in PA, playing at any of the state’s, betting on horses and more. Look no further than here for all gambling laws in PA.  

Pennsylvania Gambling Laws: Introduction to PA Gambling & Betting Laws

Is Gambling Legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes, gambling is legal in Pennsylvania with plenty of options for state gamblers. This encompasses everything from lottery to PA online casinos and even slots at truck stops as the Keystone State has been very liberal in its stance on gambling. The better question here is “what forms of gambling aren’t legal in Pennsylvania,” to which the answer is “not much.”

When it comes to ages, the typical legal gambling age in PA is 21. However, there are unique circumstances where gambling restrictions could allow for persons under the age of 21.

Who Makes Gambling Laws In Pennsylvania?

The state Legislature makes gambling laws in Pennsylvania. Every form of legal gambling in the state has come through the PA Legislature, though the Governor has the final say on whether gambling laws go into effect or not. 

What Does the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Do?

The PA Gaming Control Board is responsible for the licensing and regulation of legal gambling in PA. The PGCB oversees the state’s land-based and online casinos, sportsbooks, video gaming terminals and daily fantasy sports. 

The Control Board employs 6 commissioners and a chairperson who meet monthly to discuss regulations and disciplinary actions regarding PA’s gambling market. 

New PA Gambling Laws in Effect

Perhaps the most influential gambling law in PA was passed in 2017 - HB 271. House Bill 271 is not only one of the largest gambling laws in PA, but across the country, in recent memory.

This bill, also known as the Pennsylvania Expanded Gaming Act, legalized sports gambling, online casinos, daily fantasy sports, slots at truck stops and brought additional casinos (known as satellite casinos or Category 4 casinos) to the state.

The latest PA Gambling law to take effect is 55 Pa.B. 261, which went into effect in January 2025.
This law finalizes regulations for the issuance and use of promotional Direct Bet coupons at the state’s casinos. These coupons can be used at table games located at casinos, and serve as a “bonus bet” with values determined by the issuer. 

Pennsylvania State Laws on Gambling & Different Ways to Gamble

With the various forms of legal gambling, it’s important to know the different ways to gamble in the Keystone State. 

Casino Laws in Pennsylvania

Casinos in the Keystone State became legal following the passage of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act in 2004. This legalized 14 casinos including 7 racinos, 5 standalone casinos and 2 casino resorts, all regulated by the PA Gaming Control Board.

Casinos first opened in 2006 as slots-only, with table games added in 2010. Today, you’ll find 17 casinos in the state, per the Pennsylvania Expanded Gaming Act. The largest and most popular of those is Parx Casino in Bensalem, half an hour north of Philadelphia. The newest of the bunch, outside of the satellite casinos, is Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, located within the Philly’s stadium district and having opened in 2021. 

Online Casinos Laws in Pennsylvania

Made legal through the Pennsylvania Expanded Gaming Act, online casinos went live in July 2019. The PGCB regulates online casinos, just as they do with land-based casinos. 

Today, there are 23 online casinos in the state and there could be more coming. You’ll find iGaming sites ranging from FanDuel and DraftKings to some of the lesser known brands like the Jackpot City Casino and PlayLive! 

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Sports Gambling Laws in Pennsylvania

Sports betting, similar to online casinos, also went live following the passage of the Pennsylvania Expanded Gaming Act. Retail betting went live in November 2018 while online sportsbooks launched in May 2019.

Residents can bet with 25 total sportsbooks across retail and online, the newest of these being bet365 PA sportsbook. While the Keystone State may be one of the more liberal states when it comes to gambling options, the sports betting laws in PA remain pretty similar to other states. 

Lottery Laws in Pennsylvania

Lottery made its way to the state early on, being made legal in 1971. Today, the latest gambling laws in PA have allowed for the sale of lottery tickets online, also known as iLottery, as well as sales across Powerball, Mega Millions, Keno, scratch-offs and more. 

Horse Racing Laws in Pennsylvania

Horse racing was actually the first form of gambling to be made legal in PA with the passage of the Race Horse Industry Reform Act in 1959. This PA gambling law allows horse racing at each of the state’s 6 race tracks. 

Fantasy Sports Laws in Pennsylvania

Legal DFS contests came to the state as part of the Pennsylvania Expanded Gaming Act in 2017. There are currently 9 DFS operators in the Keystone State. 

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Top Pennsylvania Gambling Tax Laws to Know

PA gambling laws require winnings to be taxed at 3.07% while winnings of $5,000 or more are subject to a 24% tax.

There haven’t been many new gambling laws in PA concerning taxes, though one of the more recent laws dates back to 2016 with Act 84, which amended the personal income tax law to require withholding on PA Lottery prize payments. 

For questions on taxes in the state, including how much you may be subject to paying, check out our PA Gambling Winnings Tax Calculator page. 

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Editorial Staff

The experts at PennStakes who bring you the latest updates in Pennsylvania sports betting and online casinos. We pull together decades of experience to give you analysis as well as comparisons of the best PA online gambling apps.