Is it legal to play at online casinos in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania first legalized iGaming or online gambling in 2017 by passing PA Act 42 -
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2017&sessInd=0&act=42
. In the year 2018, the state started granting licenses to different operators who wanted to operate their online casinos legally in the state. More licenses were issued in 2020/2021, which brought up the total count of online casinos in Pennsylvania to 19.
Online gambling was legalized in the state partly because of the huge revenue-generating capacity of iGaming. It is estimated that since the online casinos in Pennsylvania became legal, the state has generated over $372 million in gaming taxes, based on the 2021 data provided by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Compared to the $48 million in revenue generated by traditional retail ‘brick and mortar’ sportsbooks,
PA online sportsbooks
generated $260 million in tax revenues. As you can see, the online gambling industry has contributed significant revenue to the state, making lawmakers satisfied with their decision to legalize and regulate the industry.
How have the laws around gambling evolved in Pennsylvania?
If you are wondering how the legal landscape around gambling in Pennsylvania has evolved over the years, here’s a quick timeline that will help you understand the history of the state.
In the early 1900s, horse racing was heavily prevalent in the state of Pennsylvania. As a result, it was legalized in the state around 1959 by passing the Race Horse Industry Reform Act in 1959.
In 1971, the first state lottery was established in Pennsylvania. The first lottery tickets for the Pennsylvania Lottery were sold on March 7, 1972; the first numbers were drawn on March 15, 1972.
In 1981, the Pennsylvania Bingo Law (the Law), 10 P.S. §§301-308.1, was passed. It made bingo legal in the state as long as it was conducted by certain nonprofit associations. At the time, bingo was only legalized to raise funds for “Charitable” and “Civic” purposes.
The Pennsylvania Racehorse Development and Gaming Act was passed in the 1990s and it established the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Then came the ‘local Option Small Games of Chance Act—Omnibus Amendments—Act Of Dec. 19, 1990, P.L. 812, No. 195, which legalized casinos and racetracks across the state.
This era saw the proliferation of land-based casinos in the state. The first major land-based casino to operate in Pennsylvania was the Mohegan Sun, later renamed to "Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs." In January 2010, then-Governor Ed Rendell told the press that he had mixed feelings about signing a major bill to legalize table games in Pennsylvania, but he did sign it in the end.
The state legalized iGaming by passing PA Act 42, which made online casinos, poker, and sports betting legal. The first online gambling sites launched in 2019.
The Gaming Expansion Act of 2022 was signed into law on June 24, 2022, by Governor Tom Wolf. Notably, it issued licenses to five new casinos and expanded the number of gambling establishments in Pennsylvania.
Is it legal to play at sweepstakes casinos in Pennsylvania?
If you’ve been hunting for a real-money online casino in Pennsylvania that offers a no-deposit bonus, you’ve probably realized those deals are few and far between. They do exist but they’re rare, and usually come with strings attached.
Now, if you’re open to trying sweepstakes casinos, that’s where things get a lot more interesting. These platforms are totally legal in Pennsylvania and often hand out
no-purchase-necessary bonuses
just for signing up. As long as they follow state sweepstakes laws, you can play casino-style games for free and still have the chance to win real prizes.
According to Title 3 of the Pennsylvania Code, the state distinguishes sweepstakes casinos from illegal lotteries by requiring that no consideration be made mandatory for participation. Below, I have outlined the main legal regulations sweepstakes casinos have to comply with.
- Have to be fair and disclose rules:
All sweepstakes have to be fair, transparent, and free from fraud. All
online sweepstakes casinos
have to disclose all the necessary rules and regulations to the players in advance, such as the number of prizes, odds of winning and the type of prizes to be given out.
- No consideration: No person should be made to pay an entry fee or make a purchase to enter the sweepstakes. This makes the sweepstakes games in Pennsylvania a game of chance instead of a game of wagering.
Pennsylvania
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Pennsylvania?
- Are sweepstakes casinos allowed:
Yes
- Relevant legal code:
Pa. Code tit. 61, pt. VII, ch. 901
- Any special restrictions:
No
- Legal age of participation:
18
Source:
Pa. Code tit. 61, pt. VII, ch. 901
There are no additional laws regarding sweepstakes casinos. Players from Pennsylvania can play freely at sweeps casinos.
Are sweepstakes casinos operating in the state of Pennsylvania licensed?
There is no separate licensing mandated for sweepstakes casinos in the state of Pennsylvania. Unlike online and offline real money casinos, sweepstakes casinos are not required to secure a proper gaming license to operate within the state of Pennsylvania.
However, just because they are not licensed does not mean they are not regulated. Pennsylvania sweepstakes casinos need to ensure that they make “no purchase necessary” and comply with all the other rules mentioned above to remain
legal sweepstakes casino sites.
If any iGaming site is found to not comply with these rules, players can report the sites to the Gaming Commission, and they can be banned from operating in the state.
How do you identify which sweepstakes casinos are legit?
If you want to sign up for new Pennsylvania sweepstakes casinos, make sure to review their reputation and legitimacy in advance. This is a heavily saturated industry and there are a lot of
new sweepstakes casinos
popping up by the minute, so you should be careful about trusting a new site on the internet. Here are a few tips to remain vigilant:
- Check if the sweepstakes site is complying with the law:
While signing up on a new sweepstakes site, make sure it complies with the laws I've mentioned above. Namely, you shouldn’t have to make a deposit or a purchase to enter the sweepstakes.
- Check for reviews of the site online:
Do some background research on the site before signing up for a new account. Head to sites like Reddit, TrustPilot, Facebook, or wherever you get gaming reviews from, to read up on what other players are saying about the site.
What potential future updates on online casinos in Pennsylvania can the people expect?
While online casinos in Pennsylvania are legal, other legal developments in the state could affect the future of gambling in the state. I have summarized some of the main headlines for you below:
- Pennsylvania commercial casino owners vs. Skill Game Operators:
Several Pennsylvania commercial casino owners filed a complaint at the Supreme Court in July 2024 against state gaming regulators and the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. The casino owners, who pay over 50% in privilege tax, want to make the skill game machine manufacturers and retail partners illegal in the state since they pay nothing. They want the state to either tax those machines or stop racing the commercial casinos.
- Bill to ban gambling companies from contacting individuals on the self-exclusion list:
Pennsylvania Senator Wayne Fontana introduced bill SB1211 in June 2024 to ban gambling companies from contacting individuals with gambling problems on the state’s voluntary self-exclusion list. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has a voluntary self-exclusion list where players with gambling problems can enroll themselves.
Besides these regulatory developments in Pennsylvania sweepstakes rules, there are no other major bills in motion at the state level. Considering most of the gambling activities are legal in Pennsylvania, it is estimated that the state’s gambling industry will continue to grow in the future.
No-deposit bonus wagering requirements in Pennsylvania
If you have ever played at a real money online casino in Pennsylvania with a no-deposit bonus, you must already be familiar with wagering requirements. However, even if you play at a free-to-play sweepstakes casino, you will encounter some form of gaming requirement that you will need to fulfill to claim a bonus.
For example, if you want to claim the welcome bonus of 27.5 free SC and 57.500 GC at McLuck Casino, you will have to sign up as a new player on the site. However, all SC has to be played through once before it is eligible for redemption. You can redeem eligible SC for either cash prizes or gift cards once you have a minimum SC of 100 and 75 required for each respectively.
Below, you will find a comprehensive table of the top no-deposit bonuses for Pennsylvania sweepstakes casinos, along with redemption requirements.
| Sweepstakes Casino |
No-deposit bonus |
Playthrough requirements |
| Stake US |
25 SC + 250,000 GC |
Must play through 3x before redemption |
| McLuck |
27.5 Free SC + Up to 57.500 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption: 75 SC for cash, 100 SC for gift cards |
| Sweeptastic |
50% First Purchase Discount: Get 40K Lucky Coins + 40 SC Free |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming; 100 SC minimum for redemption |
| High 5 Casino |
5 SC Free + 250 Game Coins and 600 Diamonds |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption; 50 SC for a gift card, 100 SC for cash prizes |
| Zula Casino |
Get 10 SC Sign-up Bonus + 100K GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption; 50 SC is the minimum required for redemption |
| Sportzino |
SC 7 Welcome Bonus + Up to GC 170,000 |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming |
| WOW Vegas |
35 SC Free and 1.75M WOW Coins |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption |
| Fortune Coins |
1,400 Fortune Coins+ Free 650,000 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption |
| Vegas Gems |
1K Gems + 50% Extra Gems On First Purchase |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming: 100 SC required at the minimum for a redemption |
| Hello Millions |
2.5 SC +15,000 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming |
What are users saying about playing sweepstakes casinos online in Pennsylvania?
A lot of players on Reddit are curious about how sweepstakes casinos are legal in the U.S. and if online gambling is illegal in general.
In response to the thread above, one Redditor commented and explained how sweepstakes casinos like Stake.us, Luckyland, and other sweepstakes casinos operate legally in the United States. The main point that makes sweepstakes legal across the U.S., including Pennsylvania, revolves around the lack of ‘consideration’ or ‘wagers’ to play the sweepstakes games in Pennsylvania.
Another major discussion in the state is about skill games and the machines that offer these games in several retail stores. Although the court has ruled that these skill game machines are legal, as I've mentioned above, there is a lot of animosity between commercial casino owners and these skill game machine manufacturers on the matter of unfair taxation for the former and not for the latter.
Pennsylvania is among the 5 to 6 progressive states in the United States where online gambling continues to thrive legally. If you are based in Pennsylvania, you are in luck since most forms of commercial gambling will be available to you.
Final thoughts on casino legalization in Pennsylvania
Online casinos and
sports betting
have been legal in the state of Pennsylvania for quite some time now. The state has established its reputation as one of the more liberal states in the U.S. by legalizing most forms of commercial gambling.
Not only can you access real money online casinos in the state, but you can also play at several sweepstakes casinos across the state. As long as you play on a Sweeps casino that is complying with the sweepstakes laws in Pennsylvania, you should be clear.
Pennsylvania Legal Sweepstakes Casino FAQ
⁇ What are sweepstakes casinos?
If you are not familiar with sweepstakes casinos, they are free-to-play virtual gaming sites where you can play several Vegas-style casino games without having to make any real money deposits. Sweepstakes casinos work on virtual currencies called Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins or GC and SC. None of these coins have any real monetary value but can be used to play games on sweepstakes sites.
❓ What type of gambling is legal in Pennsylvania?
Horse racing, state lottery, bingo, games of skills, sports betting, online real-money casinos, online sweepstakes casinos, commercial casinos, and many other forms of gambling are legal in Pennsylvania.
⚖️ Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are considered legal in Pennsylvania as long as they comply with all the state laws around sweepstakes. These include making no purchase or deposit necessary for players to participate in sweepstakes and disclosing all rules, odds, and prizes to be won ahead of time.
↔️ What is the difference between sweepstakes and social casinos?
You can redeem SC coins for gift cards or cash prizes at sweepstakes casinos but there are no redemption opportunities at a social casino. All sweepstakes casinos are social casinos but not all social casinos are sweepstakes casinos.
🏅 Which are the top sweepstakes casinos in Pennsylvania?
Some of the best sweepstakes casinos for Pennsylvania players include High 5 Casino, Sportzino, Sweeptastic Casino, Stake.us, Pulsz, Chumba Casino, McLuck Casino, and many more.
❓ Does PA allow online casinos?
The state of Pennsylvania legalized online casinos in 2017, along with poker and sports betting. The first online gambling sites in Pennsylvania launched in 2019 and online casinos have been growing in the state ever since.
🧐 How to tell if a sweepstakes casino is legitimate?
If a sweepstakes casino is free to play and verified by other players on the internet, you can trust it. Also, check our detailed guides on top sweepstakes casinos to get more information on whether they are legitimate.
🩻 What is the new PA online casino?
Bet365, the popular online casino and sports betting site, is the newest operator to offer its services in the state of Pennsylvania. All forms of online betting and gambling are now available on Bet365.
👮 When did Pennsylvania legalize online casinos?
Pennsylvania legalized online casinos in 2017 through PA Act 42 of 2017. Since then, many new online casinos have been issued licenses to operate in the state.
🏦 What is the minimum deposit for PA online casinos?
The minimum deposit for online casinos offering real money games in Pennsylvania can differ from one casino to the next. However, after industry benchmarking, we have found that there is on average a $10 minimum for deposits on some of the most well-known online casinos, like BetMGM Casino.
Disclaimer: Kindly note that I am not a legal or tax expert. While I always strive to present the most accurate information, this is not binding legal advice. Always reach out to a licensed lawyer or tax advisor when in doubt.
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