Pennsylvania Gambling Laws

Q: What happens if I gamble underage in Pennsylvania?

Underage gambling is prohibited under Pennsylvania law. Casinos, sportsbooks, and other licensed operators verify a player's age, and individuals who attempt to gamble before reaching the legal age may face removal from the property, fines, or other legal consequences.

Q: Can Pennsylvania residents gamble online while traveling?

Yes, but it depends on where they are located. Pennsylvania's regulated online casinos and sportsbooks use geolocation technology, so players can only access Pennsylvania-licensed sites while physically inside the Commonwealth. If traveling to another state, you'll need to follow that state's gambling laws and use operators licensed there, if available.

Q: Can I legally play casino games on my phone in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Pennsylvania allows licensed online casino operators to offer mobile apps for real-money gaming. As long as you are at least 21 years old and physically located within Pennsylvania, you can play online slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, and other approved games from your smartphone or tablet.

Q: Does PA tax gambling winnings?

Yes. Gambling winnings are subject to both federal and state income taxes. Licensed casinos, sportsbooks, and the Pennsylvania Lottery may withhold taxes on qualifying winnings, but players are generally responsible for reporting all gambling income on their tax returns.

Q: Can visitors gamble in Pennsylvania?

Yes. You do not need to be a Pennsylvania resident to gamble legally in the state. Visitors who meet the minimum age requirements can play at licensed casinos, place sports bets, and use regulated online casino or sportsbook apps while physically located within Pennsylvania.

Q: Can I bet on college sports in PA?

Yes. state-regulated sportsbooks accept wagers on most college sporting events, including games involving Pennsylvania colleges and universities. However, certain betting markets may be restricted by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to help protect the integrity of collegiate athletics.

Pennsylvania has developed one of the most expansive regulated gambling markets in the USA. Over the past two decades, lawmakers have expanded PA gambling laws to include legal wagering far beyond traditional casinos to include online casinos, online poker, retail and mobile sports betting, fantasy sports, video gaming terminals (VGTs), truck stop gaming, horse racing, and the local lottery.

In addition to these statewide options, the Commonwealth licenses numerous commercial casinos that combine casino gaming with restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, and nightlife. You can explore our complete guide to local casinos here: https://onlinepennsylvaniacasinos.com/local/

Pennsylvania stands apart from many neighboring states by offering a fully regulated online gaming market. Adults who are at least 21 years old can legally play online slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, and live dealer games, as well as place sports bets through licensed operators using approved mobile apps anywhere within the state's borders.

Below, we'll break down the key Pennsylvania gambling statutes that govern each form of legal wagering, from casinos and online gaming to sports betting, horse racing, lottery games, and charitable gaming. We'll also highlight the state agencies responsible for regulating each industry, explain what activities are permitted under current law, and provide an overview of Pennsylvania's legal gambling landscape.

Table of Contents

Is Gambling Legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Pennsylvania law authorizes numerous forms of regulated gambling, including:

Commercial casinos
Online casinos
Online poker
Retail and online sports betting
Horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering
Lottery games
Daily fantasy sports
Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs)
Charitable gaming (bingo, raffles, small games of chance)

Unauthorized gambling operations remain prohibited under Title 18, Chapter 55 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, which contains the Commonwealth's criminal gambling offenses.

Pennsylvania Gambling Laws

With so many forms of state-regulated gambling available, Pennsylvania has an extensive legal framework governing each activity. Below is a detailed overview of the statutes that authorize and regulate state-licensed gambling services in the Commonwealth.

Casino Laws

Modern casino gaming began with the passage of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (Act 71 of 2004), codified primarily in Title 4 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.

The law created the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) and authorized slot machines at licensed facilities. Gaming expanded significantly under Act 42 of 2017, which authorized:

Mini casinos
Online casinos
Online poker
Sports betting
Video Gaming Terminals
Fantasy sports

Today, Pennsylvania casinos can legally offer:

Slot machines
Blackjack
Roulette
Craps
Baccarat
Poker
Pai Gow Poker
Specialty table games

Primary casino laws

Act 71 of 2004 – Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act
Title 4, Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Act 42 of 2017 – Gaming Expansion Act

Sports Betting Laws

Sports betting became legal following the U.S. Supreme Court's repeal of PASPA in 2018.

PA had already positioned itself for legalization through Act 42 of 2017, allowing licensed casinos to operate retail sportsbooks and online sports betting sites after federal restrictions were lifted. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board currently regulates:

Retail sportsbooks
Mobile sportsbooks
Licensing
Advertising
Consumer protections
Responsible gambling
Betting integrity

Bettors can legally wager on most professional and collegiate sporting events through licensed sportsbooks while physically located within Pennsylvania.

Primary sports betting laws

Act 42 of 2017
Title 4, Chapter 13A

PA Online Casino Laws

Pennsylvania is one of only a handful of states with fully regulated online casino gaming. Licensed casinos may legally offer:

Online slots
Online blackjack
Online roulette
Online baccarat
Online poker
Live dealer casino games

Players must be at least 21 years old and physically located inside Pennsylvania when placing wagers. All regulated online casinos operate through partnerships with existing Pennsylvania casinos and are licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Primary online gaming laws

Act 42 of 2017
Title 4, Interactive Gaming Provisions

PA Lottery Laws

The Pennsylvania Lottery was created in 1971 and operates under the State Lottery Law (72 P.S. §§ 3761-101 et seq.) The Lottery offers:

Scratch-off tickets
Draw games
Powerball
Mega Millions
Cash4Life
Keno
Xpress Sports
Online iLottery games

Pennsylvania also operates one of the nation's largest iLottery programs, allowing eligible adults to purchase and play many lottery products online.

Primary lottery law

State Lottery Law (72 P.S. §§ 3761-101 et seq.)

Horse Racing Laws

Fantasy Sports Laws

Charitable Gambling Laws

Pennsylvania permits charitable gaming through several statutes, including the Bingo Law and the Small Games of Chance Act. Eligible nonprofit organizations may conduct:

Bingo
Raffles
Pull-tabs
Small games of chance
Special fundraising events

Organizations must obtain the proper licenses and follow county and state regulations governing charitable gaming.

Primary charitable gaming laws

Small Games of Chance Act
Bingo Law
Title 10 and Title 18

Video Gaming Terminal Laws

Who Regulates Gambling in Pennsylvania?

Several agencies oversee PA's gambling industry.

Gambling Activity	Primary Regulator
Commercial casinos	PA Gaming Control Board
Online casinos	PA Gaming Control Board
Online poker	PA Gaming Control Board
Sports betting	PA Gaming Control Board
Fantasy sports	PA Gaming Control Board
Video Gaming Terminals	PA Gaming Control Board
Pennsylvania Lottery	PA Department of Revenue / Pennsylvania Lottery
Horse racing	PA State Horse Racing Commission & Standardbred Horse Racing Commission
Charitable gaming	PA Department of Revenue and county licensing authorities

Pennsylvania Gambling Age Requirements

Gambling Activity	Minimum Age
Commercial casinos	21
Online casinos	21
Online poker	21
Sports betting	21
Fantasy sports	18
Horse race wagering	18
Pennsylvania Lottery	18
Charitable gaming	18

Key Pennsylvania Gambling Laws

Pennsylvania's regulated gambling industry is primarily governed by the following statutes:

Act 71 of 2004 – PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act
Act 42 of 2017 – Gaming Expansion Act
Title 4, Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes – Casino gaming and interactive gaming
Title 18, Chapter 55 – Criminal gambling offenses
State Lottery Law (72 P.S. §§ 3761-101 et seq.) – Pennsylvania Lottery
Small Games of Chance Act – Charitable gaming
Bingo Law – Charitable bingo
Title 3 – Horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering

Together, these laws establish one of the country's broadest regulated gambling markets, covering everything from traditional casinos and horse racing to online casinos, online poker, mobile sports betting, fantasy sports, video gaming terminals, and the state lottery.

Are Offshore Casinos Legal In Pennsylvania?

There are no state or federal laws that forbid the use of offshore gambling sites. However, the state has blocked some sites from access to increase their gaming revenue. Many PA players often prefer offshore sites for their larger collection of online casino games and variations in addition to their expanded bankin options and larger bonuses.

Offshore Casino Options For PA Players In 2026

The following offshore sites have been reviewed by our team and currently accepts PA players. While these online PA casino sites operate from offshore, players can access them and wager without breaking any state or federal gambling laws.