Online Live Gambling Sites

When live dealer online casinos were first introduced to the market, you only had one or two games to choose from. Quickly, though, online casino sites saw their popularity and began rapid expansion of the games offered. Below, we’ve got a list of the most popular live dealer online casino games that you can play for real money right now.

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The emergence of live dealer casinos over the past few decades has been an
incredible step for the casino industry. Gamblers across the world are now able
to enjoy their favorite games without leaving the comfort of their homes. But
what happens if you like the live interaction of a real life, living and
breathing dealer? Or what if you’re one of those skeptics who doesn’t trust
computerized dealers?

BetOnline.ag is more than just an online betting platform. We boast a 'focus on the player' approach and have built our reputation on offering clients nothing but the best, from cutting-edge technology, enticing promotions and the latest sports betting odds. For online gambling in the US, live dealer games are that thing. PGCB will regulate all online gaming sites in the state. This is the same branch of the state government that regulates all land-based PA casinos. Other important points regarding PA online gambling.

This is where live dealer online casinos come into play! Through the use of
technology, live dealer online casinos allow you to play your favorite casino
games from home with a living and breathing dealer. If you’re ready to check out
how it all works right now, choose one of the top live dealer casinos
below.

Rank	Gambling Site	Deposit Bonus	Get Started
#1	100% Up To €250	Visit Site
#2	Europa Casino	200% Up To €500	Visit Site
#3	100% Up To €400	Visit Site
#4	Spinia	100% Up To €250	Visit Site
#5	100% Up To €400	Visit Site

Not quite ready to jump into the action? Still want to learn a little more
about how live dealer casinos work? Looking for something a little more
specific? No problem! The rest of this guide has been designed with you in mind.
We’re going to take a look at anything and everything you could ever want or
need to know about live dealer online casinos. By the end of the guide, you will
be completely versed on what live dealer casinos are, what games are offered,
how they work, what type of bonuses are available, and exactly what you need to
do in order to get started playing the right way.

Live Dealer Casinos – What They Are and How They Work

The first two questions we hear from patrons when they find out about live
dealer casinos involve what they are and how they work. A live dealer
casino is much like a normal online casino in that they offer casino
table games that you can play from your computer, smartphone, or tablet from
anywhere you have a phone or internet connection.

The major difference, though, is that instead of the game being run by a
computerized dealer and a random number generator, the game is run and operated
by a living, breathing dealer on an actual casino game table. All the cards,
dice throws, and ball spins all play out on actual casino tables. There is no
random number generator or any form of computerized dealing.

How does this work? Through the use of streaming technology and digital
overlays, live dealer casinos are able to offer you this experience. The
casino sets up an actual table, with actual cards, dice, or other equipment
usually used for the game somewhere in the world. The table is staffed by a real
dealer. Around the table, special cameras and digital technologies are set up
that stream all of the action on the table to your phone, tablet, or computer
screen. To see all this in action check out our video below.

Your bets are all made through your smart device. When you make your bets,
you’ll see the chips and your decisions show up on the table through the use of
digital overlays. In other words, it’s going to look exactly like you’re at the
table in person, except you’re going to be at home relaxing in your PJs (if
that’s what you want to do).

How Do I Get Started With a Live Dealer Casino?

Curious on how to start playing at a live dealer casino right now? Wondering
what type of equipment you need to get started? We’re going to break all of that
down for you step by step right now. And, good news, you don’t need to purchase
any additional equipment to enjoy this technology.

Pick out the Live Dealer Online Casino That’s Best for You

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Step one is figuring out which of the casinos we recommended is best for you.
The good news is that you already know every casino on the list can be trusted
and has been deeply vetted by our experienced team. But you still have some
choices that you need to make.

Each live dealer casino site is going to offer a different experience.
They’ll offer different games, different types of dealers, user interfaces,
bonuses, and an overall different feel. It’s up to you to decide which is
the best fit for you and what you’re looking to achieve with your online
gambling experience. Ultimately, you’ll probably have a ball with any of the
options, but why not take a few minutes and find the best one for you.

Create and Fund Your Account

The next step in this process is creating and funding your account. Creating
your account is free and should take you no more than a couple of minutes. Click
one of the links we’ve provided for you and you’ll be taken to the start of the
signup process. Input your email address, pick a password, and fill out some
other basic information and you’re ready to go!

From there, navigate to the deposits page. You’ll have a ton of different
deposit options you can choose from. Any of the methods offered should help you
get real money into your account instantly. That way you can start trying to win
right away! If you have any issues during this process, we recommend contacting
the site’s customer support for help or just trying out a different option. We
don’t anticipate any issues, but the help is there in case you need an extra
hand.

Open a Live Dealer Table and Get Started!

The final step is to navigate to the live dealer section of the website,
select a table, take a seat, and get started! You don’t need to purchase new
technology or do anything special on your part. All you have to do is locate the
live dealer section of the site and select the table you want. A window will pop
open, and you’ll immediately feel like you’re at the live table. You’ll see the
real live dealer and the bets from some of the other players that are already
playing.

Choose a seat, decide how much money you want to bring to the table, and jump
into the action! It’s really that simple. To get started right now, head back up
to the top of the page and select a live dealer online casino right now. If
you’re still unsure, you can head there and view one of the tables without
making a deposit just to get a feel for how it works.

Most Popular Live Dealer Online Casino Games Offered

When live dealer online casinos were first introduced to the market, you only
had one or two games to choose from. Quickly, though, online casino sites saw their
popularity and began rapid expansion of the games offered. Below, we’ve got a
list of the most popular live dealer online casino games that you can play for
real money right now.

Additionally, we’ve included links to our strategy guides on each of these games.
So, if you want to get play live dealer casino games and do it properly, be sure to
click the link under your favorite casino game.

Live Dealer Blackjack

One of the original games offered at live dealer casinos is blackjack.
This gambler-favorite lends itself very well to the live dealer format and
offers a ton of interaction with the dealer as well as chat interaction with
other players if that’s something you want. You can always mute them if not. If
you’d like to check out one of the most popular live dealer online casino games
right now, check out the link we’ve provided for you below.

Live Dealer Roulette

In our opinion, one of the coolest games that you can play with a live dealer
online has got to be roulette. Some live dealer online casinos even install some super
high-tech cameras in the roulette wheel to give you an exciting vantage point to
see if your bets are winners. If you’re ready to see how awesome live dealer
online roulette can be, check out the top casino websites offering action linked below.

Live Dealer Baccarat

This casino game, typically reserved for high rollers in brick and mortar
casinos, is now available for you to play at low, medium, or high stakes with a
live dealer. If you’re a fan of playing baccarat and you like the interaction
you get with a live dealer, check out the top online casino offering live dealer
baccarat linked below!

Live Dealer Three Card Poker

A relatively newer game that has garnered a lot of popularity is Three Card
Poker. This game is now available with a live dealer online at many of the best
casinos on the web. If you’re ready to get started playing Three Card Poker
right now from home, click on the link we’ve provided for you below.

Live Dealer Ultimate Texas Hold’em

You got to know when to hold ’em… Know when to fold ’em. Ahh, what a
classic gambler’s song! A casino game born out of the poker boom of the early
2000s, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em is extremely fun and a great way for gamblers to
try and win big. The game has been available online for a while, but recently
has made the crossover into the live dealer casino realm.

Other Live Dealer Casino Games

• Sic Bo
• Caribbean Stud Poker
• Craps Lottery
• Hi/Lo

How We Rate Live Dealer Casinos

As you probably already know, we take our reviews and ratings of online
casinos seriously. This is still the case when we’re rating live dealer online
casinos as well. But there are some different elements that we look at that are
pertinent to the live dealer setup. Below, we’ve listed the most important
factors we assess when rating live dealer online casinos.

Honesty, Trust, and Reliability

At the top of all our rating criteria lists are always honesty, trust, and
reliability. If you don’t get these 100% from a live dealer online casino, then
in our opinion, the site is garbage. You must be able to trust that your bets,
your money, and your personal information are going to be safe. You must also
trust that the games are being conducted fairly and in a way that puts the wants
and needs of the player first.

This is one area of our live dealer online casino reviews that we refuse to
compromise.

Safety and Security

Another area of our live dealer online casino reviews that we refuse to
waiver on is our safety and security section. Not only do you need to be able to
know that you can trust the people running the site you’re playing on, but you
need to know that they are doing what they need to protect you from external
threats. Are they using the latest and greatest in security technology? Are they
proactively focused on protecting you and your money? If they’re just reacting
to threats or behind on the updates and technologies needed, you’ll want to stay
far away from that site.

Live Dealer Games Offered

The first two things we already mentioned are aimed at the integrity of the
site. Once we are certain those are intact, it’s time to start looking at the
user experience elements. These are the factors that will make or break your
experience and are the things you are most likely to notice. The biggest of
these is if you are able to play live dealer games easily with a large number of
games available.

This falls into two categories. First, we look at the number of different
games that they offer. Do they only offer blackjack? Or do they offer blackjack
plus another 10 different games? If you only like to play one game, this won’t
be as big of a deal. But, because we do our reviews for the most people
possible, we like to see options.

Second, we look at the actual number of tables they have available. A live
dealer online casino can offer a wide variety of different games, but if they
only have one or two tables for each game, you’re going to have a hard time
finding a seat. What usually happens is that they raise the stakes to
accommodate only the higher-level players which excludes a lot of other players.
This is not something we like to see and is the reason we look for the quantity
of tables offered for each game when reviewing live dealer online casinos.

Quality of the Technology Utilized

Having a lot of live dealer tables is great, but it’s only great if they’re
actually worth playing. What this comes down to is the quality of the technology
that the casino is employing. If they went with the cheapest, lowest-bidder
provider for the game, it’s going to show. The camera quality will be low, the
graphics will not be smooth, and the overlays for your bets will look terrible.
Ultimately, this is going to give you a pretty crummy online gambling
experience.

When an online casino actually shells out the money to get the best live dealer
games, it shows. The gameplay will be seamless, the
graphics will be incredible, and your overall experience will be almost as if
you are in the casino in person.

Live Dealer Casino Bonuses Offered

Free money! If those two words don’t get you excited, then we’re not sure
what will. Because the world of live dealer online casinos is so competitive,
casinos are going to fight for your business. And, thankfully for us, the way
that they go about fighting for your business is by offering bonuses and free
money to get you to sign up and keep playing with them.

While this is not the most important criteria we look for, we still think
it’s important. If there are two equally great sites but one is offering a great
live dealer no deposit bonus, that becomes an easy decision.

Mobile Live Dealer Capabilities

Being able to play live dealer casino games from home is awesome. What’s even
cooler, though, is having the ability to play those games from anywhere you are.
When we are racking and stacking live dealer online casinos, we take a long look
at the quality of their mobile live dealer capabilities. Are you able to play
their games from your phone on the go? Do the games still look great? Is the
experience just as good (or better) than desktop? While it’s not a deal breaker
if a site does not offer mobile live dealer games, it is a huge bummer and will
usually get lower marks from our team.

Live Dealer Online Casinos vs In-Person Casinos

Are you used to playing at brick and mortar casinos? Curious how live dealer
online casinos stack up? As we have a lot of experience with both, let us break
down the major differences and similarities.

You’re Not ACTUALLY Sitting at the Table

This probably seems pretty obvious, but it’s something that we wanted to
point out. While the experience will feel much like you are actually at the
table thanks to the technology, it’s not 100% the same. This can be a pro or a
con depending on what you’re looking for.

The pros of this are that you avoid all the annoyances of playing in the
casino. No one is spilling drinks on you, the smelly guy that won’t leave you
alone isn’t there, and it’s not loud and smoky like a brick and mortar casino.
On the other hand, though, you’re not going to get as much social interaction as
you would in a live casino. You will be able to interact with other players via
the chat if you want, as well as the dealer, but that’s not the same as sitting
next to a real person. Again, this may be a pro for some or a con for others
depending on your preferences.

The Games Are the Same

Even though the platform is different, the games you are playing are the
exact same. The rules are the same, the payouts are the same, and the way the
winners are decided is the same. You’re not dealing with an animated virtual
dealer or any special technology that helps to decide the winner. The cards are
shuffled the same, the dice are tossed the same way, and the roulette ball spins
around the same wheel. We point this out to make sure you understand that
regarding gameplay, you’re going to get an identical experience whether you play
online or in person.

You Can Win Just as Big

Some people for some reason tend to think that because you aren’t walking
through the physical doors of a casino that you can’t win as big. This is far
from true. Live dealer online casinos offer the same opportunities to win big
money and major jackpots. In fact, there are times when you can win more than
you could at a brick and mortar establishment. This is because bonuses are built
based on how many people are playing a game and because the games are often
available to players worldwide, the bonuses grow much quicker.

Live Dealer Casino Pros and Cons

If you’re sitting on the fence about trying out a live dealer casino, we want
to try and help. In the chart below, we’ve broken down the pros and cons of
playing at a live dealer online casino. These aren’t all of the pros and cons,
but these are the major ones that you should be aware of before making your
decision.

Pros

• You can play from home and there’s no need to travel
• No smoke, patrons spilling drinks, or loud people bumping into you
• You don’t have to trust computerized dealers and gameplay is similar to
  a live casino
• Easier to track your wins and losses
• You can play 24/7/365
• Interact with the dealer and other players if you’re looking to add a
  little social aspect to your gambling experience

Cons

• Less social interaction than an in-person casino
• Not every game is offered
• Occasionally can also become busy at peak hours

Myths About Live Dealer Online Casinos

Anytime you have something new that people don’t understand, you’re going to
have misinformation. As live dealer casinos online are fairly new, this is the
case. What we’d like to do is take a few minutes to help dispel many of the
myths that you may have heard and may believe about live dealer casinos online.

The Games Are Rigged

Simply put, the games are not rigged. How do we know? Here are a few reasons.
One, the casino already has the advantage in all the games. This means that they
don’t need to cheat to make money. Second, the live dealer casinos that we
recommend are audited and monitored by third-party companies. These companies
regularly check the random number generators used to power the games as well as
the integrity of the games themselves. This ensures that the games are fair and
play out just as they would at a brick and mortar casino.

The Dealers Are Prerecorded

Nope! While you may have been told the games just show prerecorded clips of
real dealers, that is wrong. The dealers that you are seeing are actually at the
tables and actually running the games you are playing. You know this because you
can interact with them via the chat box and they will talk back to you.
Additionally, you are making decisions that affect the course of the game, and
this would be impossible to do with prerecorded dealers.

You Can’t Win Real Money

You most certainly can win real money at live dealer casinos online. You can
actually win a lot of money if you’re lucky. You have the exact same odds of
winning as you would at any brick and mortar casino. If someone has told you
differently, they are mistaken. The money you wager with is real, and the money
you can win is just as real.

The Technology Is Terrible

If someone tells you that the technology at live dealer casinos online is
terrible, one of two things is most likely true. Either they have never actually
played at a live dealer casino or they played at one years ago when they were
first starting out. When they were first released, the technology was clunky and
needed work. But because of the popularity and support from the casinos, the
technology grew swiftly and is now an absolutely incredible experience.

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Don’t believe us? No problem. You can see for yourself. Check out one of the
sites we recommended and take a look at the tables yourself. You will be
pleasantly surprised with the high quality of the experience and the technology
being employed.

Live Dealer Casino Software

Live dealer casinos (the good ones at least) spend a lot of money building
and updating their live dealer game software. The result of this is an
ever-improving gambling experience for you. Let’s take a quick look at how
things work and what types of software are utilized to facilitate your
experience.

The basis of live dealer casino software and technology are the camera
systems. The live dealer tables that are set up in a real casino somewhere in
the world are equipped with high-quality cameras that capture all of the action.
The idea with these cameras is to give you the feeling that you are actually at
the table. Typically, you’ll have a dealer cam with a full look at the table and
a few additional cameras pointed at the action point.

To help you track your bets, software is used to overlay virtual chips onto
the camera shot. Ever seen a movie where they have animated characters
interacting with real-live actors? This is the same concept. When you make a
bet, you’ll see the chips appear on the table. This helps to build out the
experience for you and other patrons.

Additionally, this software usually has features built in to make your
experience simpler. These are typically shortcuts and predetermined actions that
you can set to happen to speed up the experience. For example, if you want to
always stand on 17 or higher in blackjack, you can typically set that. That way,
as soon as you get to 17, the action moves to the next player, and you don’t
have to redundantly tell them you don’t want to hit.

Live Dealer Casino FAQ

Are the Dealers Actually Real People?

They are! The dealers are real people who are not pre-recorded. When you are
betting, the game is actually happening, and your decisions are playing out in
real life on a real table.

Can I Win Real Money Playing These Games?

You bet you can. In fact, a lot of the time, you can win more money playing
at these live dealer online casinos than you can at brick and mortar
establishments because of the sheer number of players that drive up the
jackpots.

Can I Try out the Games With Play Money First?

Unfortunately, you cannot. Why? It’s because it costs the sites money to
employ the dealers, and they would lose a lot of money if they were offering
these tables for play money. With the virtual dealer games, you can try them for
free because it does not cost the online casinos anything extra. This is the
same reason why you can’t try out the games for free in a brick and mortar
casino.

Do Live Dealer Online Casinos Offer Bonuses?

Yes, if you’re not taking advantage of a casino bonus when signing up for a live
dealer online casino, you’re doing it all wrong. Because of the competitive
nature of the industry, online casinos try to court your favor by offering
lucrative signup bonuses and bonuses for continued play. In other words, you can
get a lot of free money and other perks just for playing online!

With several types of online gambling available in Pennsylvania, picking a site can seem overwhelming. If you’re feeling unsure about where to go, you’ve come to the right place.

Below, you will find reviews for the best online casino and online sportsbook in Pennsylvania. We have carefully studied each site to determine what the strong suits are and, conversely, what things they need to improve.

We also discuss some of the challenges Pennsylvania’s online gambling market is facing.

With things changing almost daily, it can be challenging to keep up with online gambling news in the Keystone State. Hopefully, by reading through our information below, you can determine which sites best fit your online betting needs. Most importantly, you must be comfortable with the site and aren’t worried about anything beyond winning.

Best PA online gambling sites for 2021

Our best casino bonuses and offers

Online casinos offer bonuses to their patrons to promote loyalty for the site. This practice is especially true for new players; every online casino has an offer for those who register for the site.

Several online casinos are active in Pennsylvania. Here’s a rundown of what bonuses are available on the best sites right now:

Unibet Casino

Unibet online casino in PA is one of the top options in the state, with $10 free just for signing up and a 100% match of your deposit up to $500.

For the free money, use promo code UBCASINO10. For the deposit bonus, use promo code UBCASINO500.

The trusted brand from Europe is hoping to make a big splash in PA with the biggest library of games in the state.

Read ourUnibet PA online casino review

SugarHouse Casino

SugarHouse Casino offers new players a 100% deposit match on their first deposit. In other words, the site will match the player’s initial deposit dollar-for-dollar.

This bonus is good for up to $250. Best of all, PlaySugarHouse only requires a 1x playthrough on its bonus, so the money is quite easy to release. SugarHouse is the best PA casino when it comes to bonus offers.

All a new player needs to do is use promo code 250MATCH when he or she makes a deposit. This deposit bonus is likely the best available in Pennsylvania right now.

Read our Sugarhouse PA Casino review

Hollywood Casino

At first glance, Hollywood online casino’s bonus seems rather meager in comparison to the other two casinos. After all, $25 is not much compared to hundreds of dollars. However, this $25 does not require a deposit. It’s absolutely free.

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All new players must do is register on the site. There’s no need to enter any promo code or other activity. As a result, the registrant will find $25 waiting for them.

Best of all, there’s only a 1x playthrough requirement. So, wager through the $25 once, and it’s ready for withdrawals.

Read our Hollywood Casino review

PA online casinos partnership tracker

The table below shows the Pennsylvania casinos that have applied for licenses. You can see their expected technology partners, and whether they have an additional online sports betting license.

Casino	Online partners	Online Casino launch projection
Hollywood (Penn National)	N/A	Launched July 2019
Parx	GAN	Launched July 2019
Rivers Philadelphia	Rush Street Interactive / Kambi	Launched July 2019 (PlaySugarHouse)
PokerStars Casino	888 / PokerStars	Launched Nov. 2019
Unibet	Kindred	Launched Nov. 2019
FanDuel Casino	IGT / GAN	Launched Jan. 2020
Presque Isle Downs	BetAmerica	Launched Jan. 2020
Rivers Philadelphia	Rush Street Interactive / Kambi	Launched Jan. 2020 (BetRivers)
Harrah's	Scientific Games / 888 (Caesars)	Launched April 2020
Wind Creek Casino	Pala Interactive	Launched July 2020
Live! Casino	GAN	Launched Aug. 2020
Barstool Casino	Penn National	2020
Hollywood (Penn National)	BetMGM	Launched Dec. 2020
Golden Nugget NJ	NYX	Application pending

Best sportsbook bonuses and offers

Online sports betting is a relatively new concept in Pennsylvania. Several betting sites have launched, and there’s a bit of an arms race underway.

Here’s a look at our welcome bonuses offers:

SugarHouse Sportsbook

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SugarHouse Sportsbook was the first online sportsbook to open its doors in Pennsylvania. So, fittingly, the book has a great dollar-for-dollar welcome bonus.

New players at SugarHouse will receive a 100% match on their first deposit. All they have to do is enter promo code 250MATCH when entering their banking details.

Best of all, this match is good for deposits of up to $250. There’s only a 1x playthrough requirement, so it’s quite simple to release. Few bonuses are as good as this one in Pennsylvania right now.

Read our Sugarhouse Sportsbook review

BetRivers Sportsbook

BetRivers’ online sportsbook does have a bonus that rivals SugarHouse’s deposit match. In fact, it’s the same.

Thanks to its shared corporate ownership, BetRivers and SugarHouse are sister sites. So, the two books are going to function as mirrors in many cases, including bonus offers.

Naturally, that means that BetRivers players can also receive a 100% match on their first deposits. This match extends up to $250.

New players must use the promo code 250MATCH to activate the bonus when they make that first investment. The 1x playthrough requirement is about as minimal as those restrictions get, so it should be no problem to recover a significant portion of free money from BetRivers.

Read our BetRivers Sportsbook review

FanDuel Sportsbook

To casual fans, FanDuel might seem like a strange addition to the sports betting landscape. However, the daily fantasy sports giant has become quite a force in online sports betting in the past few years.

So, Pennsylvanians can get a taste of what all the fuss is. New accounts at FanDuel online sportsbook will receive a risk-free bet of up to $500.

New FanDuel players don’t need a promo code to activate this deal. They simply must join FanDuel here and make their first wager.

There is a 1x playthrough requirement on the bonus, which means players must make another bet of equal size to release the funds.

Essentially, players are receiving two bets for the price of one. Still, that’s a great deal for most, mainly if one of them happens to win.

As an added bonus, there is also a FanDuel Casino integrated within the PA FanDuel sports betting app.

Read our Fanduel PA Sportsbook review

Full list of sportsbooks and partnerships

Casino	Retail sportsbook launch	Online sportsbook	Online sportsbook launch
Rivers Casino Philadelphia	Dec. 15, 2018	PlaySugarHouse	Launched May 2019
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh	Dec. 15, 2018	BetRivers	Launched June 2019
Parx Casino Sportsbook	Jan. 10, 2019	Parx	Launched June 2019
Valley Forge Casino	March 13, 2019	FanDuel	Launched July 2019
Hollywood Casino at Penn National	Nov. 17, 2018	Barstool	Launched Sept. 2020
Harrah's Philadelphia	Jan. 24, 2019	Caesars	Launched March 2020
Presque Isle Downs Casino	July 26, 2019	BetAmerica	Launched Dec. 2019
Mount Airy	Sept. 12, 2019	Fox Bet	Launched Sept. 2019
Mohegan Sun Pocono	Sept. 24, 2019	Unibet	Launched Nov. 2019
The Meadows	Oct. 7, 2019	DraftKings	Launched Nov. 2019
Oaks Race & Sportsbook (Now Closed)	March 14, 2019 (permanently closed in July, 2020)	N/A	N/A
South Philadelphia Turf Club	Jan. 17, 2019	N/A	N/A
The Downs at Lehigh Valley	Jan. 2020 (Unibet Sportbook)	N/A	N/A
Wind Creek Casino	Nov. 18, 2020	Betfred	Launched Dec. 2020
Live! Casino Philadelphia (2021)	2021 (FanDuel Sportsbook)	N/A	N/A
Hollywood Casino Morgantown (2021)	2021 (BetMGM Sportsbook)	BetMGM	Launched Dec. 2020

Many of these online sports betting offerings will eventually be tied to a PA online casino site. For example, Harrah’s will likely roll everything into its single Caesars Online Casino product. PlaySugarHouse offers a shared account between casino and sports betting as well.

The lone exception is if you are an iPhone user. Changes to the Apple app store guidelines make these shared apps difficult, so you might see a sports betting app before you get a real-money online casino app in the lineup. And there is a chance they will remain separate.

What’s legal and illegal for online sports betting?

Few newly legalized activities come without rules and exceptions to their legality. Pennsylvania’s online sports betting is no different.

The good news is that Pennsylvania residents and visitors can wager on any professional, collegiate or international sporting events. The only requirements are:

• Be at least 21 years or older
• Be physically within Pennsylvania state lines
• Wager on an approved, regulated Pennsylvania site

However, the betting must occur on sporting events.

So, non-sports events, such as the Academy Awards or political elections, are not permitted for betting.

Finally, people who are intrinsically involved with a particular sport cannot wager upon it. So, players, officials, coaches, and other sports personnel cannot place bets on their own sports.

Concerning online casinos, most people can play without any restriction. Adults who are at least 21 years old are more than welcome to take part.

However, there is absolutely no online casino play allowed across state lines. The sites use geolocation software to monitor every player’s physical location. You must enable this function on your mobile device or you won’t be allowed to play.

The other exception is people who have placed themselves on the self-exclusion list. There is a separate self-exclusion list in Pennsylvania specifically for online play. Unfortunately, gambling addiction is a real problem, and online casinos are careful not to exacerbate the issue for people who are in recovery.

PA casino apps

With Pennsylvania moving into the online casino space, there are a few points about using these programs that bear mention.

First and foremost, it’s important to know that each casino app will figure out what device you’re using automatically. So, whether you use a laptop or a mobile device, the app will size the casino to fit your screen.

For the most part, every online casino has a browser version that will always work on desktops and some phones.

With that said, many casinos have a dedicated app specific to mobile use. If you are a mobile user, you may find the app to provide a smoother experience.

The mobile apps may also have greater functionality than the browser version. However, the game selection on the app can be smaller because some games don’t translate to mobile.

Finally, no matter which platform you use, you will have to go through some steps for the app to work.

Apple users should be aware all PA casinos or sportsbooks have a native iOS app.

Android users can play on all of the casinos in Pennsylvania but they will need to download the app from the casino website. The Google Play store does not support the distribution of gambling apps.

What online casino games are available in PA casinos?

Online casinos feature many of the same games that one might find in a land-based casino. Here are some of the types of games you may find at your favorite site.

Because of the laws requiring Pennsylvania-specific servers for any game providers to PA online casinos, the selection may not be what you are used to if you’ve ever played on a New Jersey online casino, for example.

Slots

The bread and butter for land-based casinos, slots, are the main focus for most online casinos too. An online slot is technically not a machine, but it functions identically otherwise.

A slot game will usually feature several rotating reels with various symbols drawn on them. The reels stop, and the player wins (or doesn’t) based upon the patterns the reels come to rest.

Many slots also feature bonus games or features that provide extra chances for players to win. Bonuses tend to be mini-games and have a higher chance of success than the slot game at large.

Each online casino in Pennsylvania offers a selection of games. That variety depends mostly on the deals each casino has with the game publishers.

So, the following is a list of the most popular slot developers and their games that are playable at the best PA online casinos:

NetEnt: At this time, all games on SugarHouse Casino are produced by NetEnt Games. NetEnt became an industry leader in the world of online slots by providing players with realistic games that replicated those in a Vegas casino. The list of games below includes the top games you will find at Pennsylvania online casinos.

• Blood Suckers II
• Dead or Alive
• Divine Fortune
• Drive: Multiplier Mayhem
• Gonzo’s Quest

Konami: Konami is a household name in the online casino industry. As of the time of writing, this slot developer is only available at select casinos and with only a handful of Konami slot games. Here is a list of games available at select PA casinos:

• African Diamond
• Ancient Dragon
• China Shores
• Full Moon Diamond
• Solstice Celebration

IGT: IGT is a massive global brand with more than 1,000 styles of slot machines in brick-and-mortar casinos and hundreds available online. But there is a limited number of IGT slots in Pennsylvania. This list includes the top games you’ll be able to find online.

• The Big Easy
• Cleopatra
• Crown of Egypt
• King of Atlantis
• Pixies of the Forest

Other game developers entering the Pennsylvania market include Incredible Technologies, Everi Gaming, GAN, H5G, and Slot Symphony.

Video poker

Video poker games are often lumped together with slots. The main difference is that players retain a certain measure of control over the way the game proceeds.

Video poker creates a virtual simulation of a typical five-card draw poker hand. The player receives five cards, can choose to hold as many as they like and then redraws.

The goal is to make a five-card hand that qualifies as a winner. Exactly which rank of hand is required to win varies from game to game.

Table games

Players who prefer a more tactile experience tend to stick to table games. These are games that use a virtual simulation of activities that involve playing cards, dice, balls, or prize wheels.

Blackjack

The most common table game is blackjack. This card game is a competition between the player and the dealer to see whose combination of cards can get closest to 21 in value.

The catch is that the player must act before the dealer and rely on incomplete information to do so. As a result, the casino retains a slight mathematical edge.

However, players can mitigate this edge by using basic strategy. Basic strategy is a widely published set of behaviors designed to play blackjack optimally.

Roulette

The second-most common table game is roulette.

This French version of the game is found in almost any casino with table games. In fact, PlaySugarHouse elected to launch three variants of roulette in its PA online casino before publishing any versions of blackjack.

Basically, roulette involves a randomly released ball falling into a spinning wheel with numbered slots. Players wager based upon which numbers they believe the ball will fall into.

When playing roulette, you will choose between European and American roulette. European roulette features only a single zero on the wheel and boasts better odds for the players. American roulette, on the other hand, features a 0 and a 00, worsening the odds for players.

There are a variety of choices and combinations of numbers that players can choose to bet. Roulette is a staple for casinos due to its pace of play and chance at incredible winnings. A correct bet on a single number will pay 35:1.

Craps

Craps seems to be a bit less likely to appear in PA online casinos. The game itself, which plays with dice rolls, a large tub-like pit, and myriad ways to wager, is likely a challenge for programmers to realize in a virtual setting.

Nonetheless, craps is a dice-based game, which involves players attempting to roll certain numbers on a pair of dice. Players wager based upon the likelihood of various combinations appearing on the dice.

The probability of those combinations often determines the prescribed payout for various wagers on the board. The casinos generate their profit margin by ensuring that the payout odds are worse than the event odds.

For example, a particular number may only have one chance in three of occurring, but a successful wager will only payout 2:1.

Other table games

Several table games are available from time to time at online casinos. These games are less common and, frankly, have a bigger house edge to them.

Nevertheless, they can be a fun option for someone looking for a change of pace. Some other table games include:

• Casino Hold ’em
• Caribbean Stud
• EZ Baccarat
• Let It Ride
• Pai Gow Poker
• Three-card poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold ’em

Live dealer games at PA casinos

People often speak about the “next big thing.” For online gambling in the US, live dealer games are that thing.

This style of online casino game has been nothing short of a revolution. It has propelled casinos in New Jersey to great heights. Live dealer games will come to a Pennsylvania online casinos as soon as the operators can get it off the ground.

Essentially, live dealer games are games dealt in real-time and broadcast live across the site. Real dealers run the games in an interactive studio located in or near the actual land-based casino itself. In fact, there are a few games conducted on the casino floor itself.

Players can place their bets, interact with the dealers, or even interact with one another. Some versions of live dealer games have even expanded to allow players to have multiple views of the game in action.

So far, the following games are available in a live dealer setting in New Jersey. Hopefully, they will appear in Pennsylvania soon:

• Baccarat
• Blackjack
• Casino Hold ’em
• Roulette
• Three-card poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold ’em

Stay on top of things with your favorite online site. Live dealer games are not something to miss.

More about PA’s legal online gambling industry

Online poker, online casino table games, and slots became legal in Pennsylvania as a part of a comprehensive gambling expansionpackagepassed by state legislators in October 2017.

The PGCB is providing regulatory oversight for the local online gambling industry. Casinos could get all three types of interactive gaming licenses at once for a $10 million licensing fee. The cost was $4 million each individually for slots, table games, and peer-to-peer games like poker.

There is no limit on the number of skins, or alternatively branded online gambling operations, that can operate under each licensee. However, regulations designed by the board stipulate branding for the skins must clearly identify the licensee. Plus, players can only create one account per licensee, not per skin.

Potential PA online casinos

According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), there are 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos and two smaller resort casinos operating inside the state. Plus, a 13th casino, Live! Philadelphia, is coming to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex area, home of Philadelphia’s professional sports teams.

All of these PA casino operations could have applied for online gambling operator licenses in the state beginning April 16, 2018. The properties had until July 16 to turn in applications for a $10 million comprehensive interactive gaming license. With this license, casinos can offer online poker, online slots, and online table games.

There were nine casinos which applied:

• Harrah’s Philadelphia
• Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
• Mount Airy Casino Resort
• Parx Casino
• Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
• Wind Creek (formerly Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem)
• Rivers Philadelphia (formerly SugarHouse Casino)
• Valley Forge Resort Casino
• Live! Philadelphia Casino (under development)

After applying, Rivers Casino Pittsburg eventually rescinded its application, electing to punt on online gambling. Stadium Casino, now called Live! Philadelphia, did something similar, opting to forgo an online poker license.

Meanwhile, both Presque Isle Downs and Mohegan Sun Pocono applied for a la carte licenses. Presque Isle opted to skip poker. Mohegan surprisingly signed up for all three at a cost of $2 million more than its competitors. However, like Rivers and Live!, it too abandoned its online poker plans.

That left 12 unclaimed interactive licenses. PGCB opened up a process for qualified gambling entities (QGE) from outside of Pennsylvania to claim them.

Only two groups applied. MGM Resorts has preliminary approval for all three categories of license. Golden Nugget Atlantic City can offer table games and slots, but no online poker.

These two major US gaming players will be among the last to launch online casino and sports betting products in PA. They will also be the only sites without a PA land-based casino partner.

Potential PA online poker sites

The first online poker site to go live in the state was PokerStars PA when it fully launched on Nov. 6, 2019. The global poker brand is offered in conjunction with its land-based counterpart Mount Airy Casino Resort.

Top Online Gambling Sites

Today, 10 of 12 Pennsylvania casinos have poker rooms. Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin and Valley Forge Casino Resort are the only casinos in the state that do not have poker rooms.

More than 220 live poker tables are operating across the state with the 10 rooms pulling in an average of $4 million in revenue every month.

Plans for Live! in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex area include opening a poker room when the facility opens its doors in early 2021.

In addition to Mount Airy, six more PA casinos plan to offer an online poker counterpart. Those that will launch an online poker room in Pennsylvania (MGM is applying as an out-of-state entity) include:

Online Gambling Sites Usa

• Harrah’s Philadelphia
• Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
• Parx Casino
• Wind Creek Casino
• Rivers Casino Philadelphia
• Valley Forge Resort Casino
• MGM Resorts (QGE – no land-based partner)

Best Online Live Casino Sites

PA online gambling site safety

PGCB will regulate all online gaming sites in the state. This is the same branch of the state government that regulates all land-based PA casinos.

Other important points regarding PA online gambling security

The regulations designed by PGCB will include several security measures specifically designed to:

• Ensure player balances are held in a separate account from operating funds
• Force sites to implement a rigorous player verification process
• Prevents minors from gaining access
• Deal with problem gamblers
• Force sites to implement geolocation software making sure all players are within the state
• All deposits and withdrawals are processed securely