Sports betting has been legal in Pennsylvania since November 2018, online since May 2019, and the state now has eleven licensed sportsbook apps plus a retail book at every casino. This guide is the practical version: which apps are licensed, what each is good at, how to sign up and get paid, what the rules and taxes are, and where to watch and bet in person. You must be 21 and physically inside Pennsylvania to place a bet online.
The licensed Pennsylvania sportsbook apps
These eleven operators appear on the Gaming Control Board’s list of licensed online sports wagering operators. Every one runs under a land-based casino’s certificate, carries the “PGCB Licensed and Regulated” logo, and is geofenced to the state. If an app is not on this list, it is not legal in Pennsylvania.
FanDuel Sportsbook PA
The most-used sportsbook app in Pennsylvania, live since July 2019: the deepest same-game parlay menu, a live-betting engine that rarely stalls and a welcome offer built on bonus bets after a small first wager. Retail lounges at Live! Philadelphia, Valley Forge and Live! Pittsburgh.
DraftKings Sportsbook PA
FanDuel’s closest rival, live in PA since November 2019: the widest range of markets and player props, strong daily promotions, and Dynasty Rewards across sportsbook, casino and DFS. Welcome offers are usually bonus bets on a first wager.
BetMGM Sportsbook PA
The MGM Resorts and Entain book, in Pennsylvania since December 2019: polished app, early lines, MGM Rewards that convert to Las Vegas hotel and dining, and a first-bet-back welcome. One of only two books, with BetRivers, that runs a PA online casino and poker room on the same wallet.
BetRivers Sportsbook PA
Rush Street Interactive’s book, born at Rivers Casino Philadelphia and among the first apps live in the state in 2019. Transparent terms, iRush Rewards, quick withdrawals and a second-chance first-bet welcome; retail books at both Rivers casinos.
Caesars Sportsbook PA
The Caesars Rewards book: solid pricing across major leagues, frequent odds boosts, and loyalty credit that spends at Caesars properties nationwide. Retail at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
bet365 Sportsbook PA
The British giant, live in Pennsylvania since July 2024 with the deepest soccer and international markets of any US book, extensive live streaming and a bet-and-get welcome.
Fanatics Sportsbook PA
The sports-merchandise company’s book on the PointsBet platform, with FanCash rewards spendable on team gear — a favorite with Eagles and Steelers fans. Welcome offers pay FanCash on early bets.
betParx Sportsbook PA
Parx Casino’s own app, with a Pennsylvania-first flavor, the same Xclub account as the Bensalem casino and retail books at Parx and Parx Shippensburg.
theScore Bet PA
Penn Entertainment’s sportsbook, which replaced ESPN Bet in Pennsylvania in 2026 and links to Penn Play rewards at the four Hollywood casinos.
PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook PA
Rush Street’s second Pennsylvania brand, running the same book and rewards as BetRivers under the old SugarHouse name.
Mohegan PA Sportsbook
The Wilkes-Barre casino’s own sportsbook and casino app, sharing Momentum rewards with Mohegan Pennsylvania.
How to sign up and get paid
Registering. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play (the Pennsylvania version, where the operator has one), enter your name, address, date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security number for identity verification, and allow location services. Most accounts are verified in minutes.
Depositing. Online banking (Trustly and similar), debit card, PayPal, Venmo at some books, prepaid Play+ cards and cash at the partner casino’s cage. Credit cards are generally declined by issuers for gambling.
Withdrawing. Online banking and PayPal are usually the quickest, often same-day once your account is verified; paper checks are the slowest. Casino cage withdrawals in cash are available at the partner property.
Welcome offers. Every licensed book runs a new-customer promotion — typically a first-bet refund in bonus bets, a small “bet and get” or a matched deposit. Read the operator’s own terms on minimum odds, bonus-bet expiry and eligible states before you opt in; Pennsylvania offers are often different from New Jersey’s.
Rules that apply in Pennsylvania
What you can bet on. Professional sports, college sports (including Pennsylvania colleges, unlike some neighboring states), motor sport, golf, tennis, combat sports, esports where approved and a wide range of international events. Player props on college athletes are permitted.
Age and location. 21 and physically in Pennsylvania. You do not have to be a resident; visitors can register and bet while in the state, and Pennsylvanians cannot bet from New Jersey, Ohio or anywhere else through their PA account.
Tax. Winnings are taxable income: 3.07% Pennsylvania income tax and federal tax, with 24% federal withholding and a Form W-2G on large wins. Losses can be itemized against winnings federally. Operators pay 36% of revenue to the state.
Prediction markets. Sports event contracts on federally regulated exchanges are not licensed by the Gaming Control Board and sit outside Pennsylvania’s regulated sports betting market.
Daily fantasy. Licensed separately by the PGCB; the fantasy contest operators are listed on the board’s site.
Retail sportsbooks worth the trip
All eighteen casinos have a retail book. The ones that make a day of it: the FanDuel Sportsbook at Live! Philadelphia, a stadium-scale lounge across from the sports complex; the BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Pittsburgh, a short walk from Acrisure Stadium and PNC Park; the betParx book at Parx on a race day; and the Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s Philadelphia for Caesars Rewards members. Addresses and what else is on each floor are in the Pennsylvania gambling guide.
Horse racing, poker and casino on the same apps
Pennsylvania lets the big operators bundle products: BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365, Fanatics, betParx, theScore Bet, PlaySugarHouse and Mohegan PA all run licensed online casinos on the same login, and BetMGM, BetRivers, Borgata, DraftKings, FanDuel, PlaySugarHouse and WSOP run online poker. Horse racing is different: it uses separately licensed advance-deposit wagering apps and a minimum age of 18 — see our Pennsylvania horse racing guide. For the casino side, read the Pennsylvania online casinos guide.
Pennsylvania sports betting in 2027
Eleven licensed apps is probably the ceiling for a while: FanDuel and DraftKings should keep the bulk of the handle, BetMGM and bet365 will keep pressing on pricing and live streaming, theScore Bet has a year to prove Penn’s rebrand after ESPN Bet, and the biggest open question is regulatory — whether the Gaming Control Board and lawmakers act on prediction-market sports contracts the way they did on sweepstakes casinos.
FAQ
Is sports betting legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Retail sports betting launched in November 2018 and online in May 2019 under the 2017 gaming expansion act, regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. You must be 21 and inside the state to bet online.
Which sportsbook apps are legal in Pennsylvania?
Eleven: bet365, BetMGM, betParx, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, Mohegan PA, PlaySugarHouse and theScore Bet. All are on the PGCB’s list of licensed online sports wagering operators.
Can I bet on Penn State, Pitt and Temple?
Yes. Pennsylvania allows betting on college sports, including in-state teams, and on college player props.
What happened to ESPN Bet in Pennsylvania?
Penn Entertainment replaced ESPN Bet with theScore Bet in 2026. The Pennsylvania license, partner casino and Penn Play rewards carried over.
Do I pay tax on sports betting winnings?
Yes, at 3.07% state income tax plus federal tax. Big wins carry 24% federal withholding and a W-2G. Keep a record of losses to offset winnings on a federal return.
Are sweepstakes sportsbooks or prediction markets legal in Pennsylvania?
Neither is licensed by the Gaming Control Board. The board treats sweepstakes-model gambling sites as illegal and has ordered operators out of the state; prediction-market sports contracts are federally regulated exchanges outside Pennsylvania’s regulated market.
Where can I get help with a gambling problem?
Call 1-800-GAMBLER, free and confidential, 24/7. The PGCB’s responsibleplay.pa.gov explains deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion for online betting.
21+. Gambling should be entertainment, not income. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Operator features and promotions change; check the operator’s own Pennsylvania terms before you bet.
