Pennsylvania Casinos – Best Casino in Pennsylvania
All casinos in Pennsylvania are commercial casinos. There is a total of 12 casinos in PA, six of which are racinos. The Coal State is one of the leading states in terms of high gambling revenues. Since the state expanded the scope of gambling in 2017 adding VLTs (electronic gaming devices) at no casino locations the gambling industry boomed exponentially.
Pennsylvania is one of the four American states with casinos that fully allows online gambling. Hence, we have listed the best casino sites that accept US players in Pennsylvania below:
Within a year of casinos being sanctioned by law revenue of over a billion dollars was created by just seven casinos. This cemented the casino gambling cause. The reason why gambling venues were eventually legalized in the state is that the case made to defend them was job creation.
Pro gambling lobbyists projected thousands of jobs would be created from horse racing betting at race tracks. They also reiterated that any taxes made from the creation of gambling venues would only better the state.
In that first year, the immense revenue created only served to push the cause for casino gambling venues. This likely steamrolled the legalization of online gambling in the USA.
Pennsylvania Casinos – What Gambling is allowed in Pennsylvania
The Keystone State allows Commercial casinos, Electronic video lottery and pull tabs, online gambling, single game sports betting and state lottery games. Although sports betting and online gambling is legal in the state it is not active. That is, there are no online operations from the state of Pennsylvania itself.
Horse Racing Betting at authorised racinos
Casino Gambling and the state allows the following forms of casinos
Racinos
Stand-alone casinos
Resort casinos
Satellite casinos
Lottery- the state lottery
Incudes i-Lottery
Charitable gambling
Sports Betting
Online Gambling- In Pennsylvania internet gambling is legal
Casinos in Pennsylvania With Hotels
Pennsylvania is home to some of the best casinos. Below is a list of Pennsylvania casino resorts
Harrah’s Philadelphia
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin
Live! Hotel and Casino Philadelphia
The Meadows Racetrack and Casino
Mohegan Sun Pocono
Mount Airy Casino Resort
Parx Casino and Racing
Presque Isle Downs & Casino
Rivers Casino
SugarHouse Casino
Valley Forge Casino Resort
Wind Creek Bethlehem
List of Horse Race Betting On track and Off-track Betting Sites
Pennsylvania residents can bet at the following tracks
Harrah’s Philadelphia
Penn National Race Course
Meadows Racetrack and Casino
Mohegan Sun Pocono
Parx Casino
Presque Isle Downs
There are additional off-track betting sites
The Downs at East Stroudsburg
The Downs at Lehigh Valley
South Philadelphia Race & Sportsbook
Oaks Race & Sportsbook
Penn National OTW Lancaster
Penn National OTW York
The Meadows Harmar
Pennsylvania Gambling Laws Timeline
1971 state lottery established
The 1980s to 1990s bill after bill to legalize other forms of gambling fails as states citizens reject
1993-94 – push for riverboat casinos hampered by then-governor who required a referendum before he could lend support to a bill legalizing gambling
1999- the state house approves a bill but to activate it a referendum had to be voted on by Pennsylvania residents. The proposal was never scheduled for a vote, and the bill failed to materialize
2004 – Act 71 is passed finally allowing casinos and racetrack betting in the state
Pennsylvania Gambling FAQs
Are PA casinos closing again?
After initially closing in March 2020 and reopening from June, Pennsylvania Casinos closed again in December 2020 for 3 weeks and reopened on the 4th of January.
How many casinos are in Pennsylvania?
There are 12 casinos in Pennsylvania, 6 which are racinos.
Are casinos open in Pennsylvania yet?
Casinos have been open since January 4 2021 after being mandated to close for 3 weeks in December 2020.
When did Mohegan Sun Pocono Open?
Mohegan Sun Pocono first opened its doors to the public in1965. After the first Covid-19 shutdown in March 2020, the casino opened on June 22 then after the December 2020 mandatory shutdown the casino re-opened on January 4.
Can you gamble online in PA?
Yes, you can gamble online in PA. Online gambling and sports betting is legal in PA.