Harrah's Pa Online Casino
- Caesars Casino Online
- Harrah's Pa Online Casino
- Caesars Online Casino Pa
- Caesars Harrah's Pa
- Harrahscasino Online
In entering Pennsylvania, it seems likely Caesars will use the same 888 platform to power a Harrah’s online casino. The expectation is that the 888 platform will be used for online poker under the WSOP brand, as well. 888 has recently expanded its NJ presence by adding new online casino games from both NYX and NetEnt. The first Sunday of the NFL season is always like Christmas Day in Philadelphia, but this year the giddiness will climb to a whole new level with the advent of legal online sports betting in.
Disclaimer: Harrah’s Online Casino is not yet live in PA. This review is based on Harrah’s Casino New Jersey and will be updated post the site’s Pennsylvania launch.
In the meantime try out one of our top PA casinos:
Harrah’s Philadelphia may not be the biggest casino in Pennsylvania, but it has one of the strongest online brands out there. Its parent company, Caesars Entertainment, is the only gambling company with a presence in both Nevada and New Jersey.
Thanks to its online casinos in New Jersey, Caesars Casino and Harrah’s Casino, the corporation has experience with regulated gambling. Additionally, it has the strength of the World Series of Poker name with the online poker room WSOP.com.
Not only will Harrah’s benefit from the in-house Caesars Interactive Entertainment unit, but it also has a partnership with global online poker room 888 to use to its advantage.
Harrah’s Casino PA promotion code
| Online Casino | Harrah's Online Casino |
|---|---|
| Casino Promotion Code | TBD |
| Free Bonus | TBD |
| Deposit Bonus | TBD |
| Last Verified | January 2021 |
Harrah’s Philadelphia Caesars Rewards program
Like its sister sites in Nevada and New Jersey, the Harrah’s Philadelphia online casino will almost certainly be tied to the brick and mortar Caesars Rewards player loyalty program.
Caesars Rewards is a major selling point, as players in Pennsylvania can earn points playing online and redeem them at any of Caesars Entertainment’s land-based casinos across North America.
Unlike other local or regional casinos in the Keystone State, Harrah’s can promise rewards in Vegas and Diamond or Seven Star Total Rewards status for its high-volume players.
Harrah’s Philadelphia online casino platform
The two online casino platforms Caesars Entertainment uses in New Jersey actually have different software providers. Caesars runs on the Amaya Gaming platform. The deal gives Caesars Casino players a chance to play games from both IGT and ShuffleMaster, among others.
Meanwhile, 888 provides the casino platform for Harrah’s Casino. The Harrah’s game selection is not as vast as Caesars Casino. As such, it is not surprising that Caesars performs better than Harrah’s does when it comes to online casino revenue.
This means it is not exactly a no-brainer that Harrah’s Philadelphia’s online casino will use the Harrah’s Casino online platform. They could opt for the wider range of games available on Caesars. Or, like New Jersey, they could offer both.
Unfortunately for Harrah’s, there is debate regarding how many skins each online casino license can have. Some casinos, like Parx, want to limit each casino to one skin. Moreover, they want that one skin to feature the name of the actual Pennsylvania casino. If that were the case, Harrah’s has no choice but to embrace HarrahsCasino.com.
Should the extreme limits of skins go into effect, it could also hamper Harrah’s ability to operate its online poker site as WSOP.com.
While the skin limits are a possibility, they are far from certain or even likely at this point. With that in mind, let’s look at what kinds of games and features Harrah’s Philadelphia can offer given the full complement of options Caesars Entertainment utilizes in New Jersey.
Caesars Casino Online
Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino mobile app
If we know one thing about Harrah’s Philadelphia, it’s that Caesars Entertainment won’t let it go live without a mobile platform. Naturally, we can’t say for sure that a mobile casino app will go live in sync with the desktop site. However, we’d put good money on this operator offering one of the leading mobile gaming experiences at some point in the future.
To show you what we mean, let’s skip over to Caesars in NJ. First off, we can tell you there will not be an option for iOS users – only Android. An iOS option is in the works.
In terms of potential specifics, Harrah’s mobile casino is likely to feature 150+ games. Slots will form the backbone of the mobile package, but don’t discount the table games. Thanks to Caesars’ prowess in the software department and the company’s relationship with 888, you should be able to enjoy some innovative offerings.
Naturally, progressive jackpots and video slots will catch your eye. From Merlin’s Millions and Raging Rhino to Zeus III, all the industry’s major hits will be there. With regards to table games and video poker, you’ll not be short of options.
Blackjack featuring Vegas rules as well as formats is likely to be on the menu. Beyond that, roulette and video poker will also come in a variety of styles. However, where we think Harrah’s Philadelphia could make its mark is the “other games” department.
When you look at Caesars NJ, you’ll see that its “other games” lobby features a selection of scratchcards. If Harrah’s Philadelphia can integrate these into its mobile app, it’ll be onto a winner. As well as offering high-octane action and lucrative payouts, scratchcards are designed to be tactile (i.e., you scratch to win). This fits perfectly with the functionality of modern mobiles.
Therefore, if Harrah’s Philadelphia can offer mobile scratch games, you’ll be able to enjoy a truly immersive gaming experience.
Games at Harrah’s Philadelphia casino online
Other games at Harrah’s Philadelphia Online Casino
Harrah’s Online Casino NJ doesn’t have the best search functionality. The casino games lobby is fairly rudimentary, and the category headings are lacking in some respects. Now, we’re not saying you can’t find what you’re looking for. However, when you compare the site to some Garden State standouts, it’s not the most efficient or intuitive.
The one saving grace for those waiting on the release of Harrah’s Philadelphia Online Casino is CaesarsCasino.com. That site is a little slicker and, even though it’s not perfect, navigation is a little better. If we’re going to offer the developers one piece of advice, it would be to add more filters. Category headings are great, but if you can’t sort games and drill down into specifics, it makes it hard to find what you’re looking for. Indeed, with dozens of table games to choose from, instant access is important.
That issue aside, Harrah’s Philadelphia Online Casino should feature all the classics. Blackjack, roulette and video poker will be on the menu. Again, for this operator to get ahead, we’d like it to take inspiration from Caesars NJ. If the developers at Harrah’s Philadelphia can replicate Caesars’ “other games” lobby, the possibilities are endless. In addition to scratchcards, a page like this would allow the team to include virtual sports, Slingo and even things such as keno.
Finally, the one notable absence from Harrah’s New Jersey is live dealer games. At this stage, it’s not clear whether the Pennsylvania site will fill this void. In our opinion, if it doesn’t, it runs the risk of losing ground to its PA online casino peers.
Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino slots
Free play or real money slots, Harrah’s Philadelphia Online Casino will have both. Like its New Jersey counterpart, this site will want to attract a broad spectrum of players. This means offering a spread of slots that cover all betting limits.
For those who want to have fun, the demo games will provide the perfect introduction to the action. For those looking to turn bets into prizes, real money spins should start from the $0.01 mark. Now, before we speculate on the slots Harrah’s Philadelphia will offer, it’s important to note that bets are often based on a single payline.
Therefore, when it says the minimum bet is $0.01, this means that’s the smallest amount you can stake on a single payline. What you’ll then find is that the game may have 15 paylines. From there, if you can’t adjust the number of active paylines, you’ll have to pay at least $0.15 per spin. So, once you start scanning the Harrah’s Philadelphia online slots lobby, make sure you remember this.
In terms of the spinners you’re likely to see, many of the top titles from IGT will be there. Some of our favorites from Harrah’s New Jersey are Family Guy, Cleopatra, and Da Vinci Diamonds. Alongside IGT’s finest, WMSand NextGen will also bring the heat. From the former’s Raging Rhino to the latter’s Merlin’s Millions, Harrah’s slots lobby will certainly be well-stocked.
If we’re being critical, a few more progressive jackpot slots would be nice, as would some filters. Of course, the developers at Harrah’s Philadelphia may have already noted the shortcomings of their New Jersey cousin. However, if they haven’t, you may struggle to find the jackpot games among the 200+ slots available.
Blackjack at Harrah’s Philadelphia online casino
No online casino is complete without crowd favorite Blackjack. Players love the table game because it offers some of the best odds in the entire casino. The odds can vary across a wide array of Blackjack variants though. Factors like side bets, decks in the shoe, and when a dealer has to hit or stand.
Harrah’s Casino offers only standard Blackjack, while Caesars Casino spreads five different versions of the game, including European Blackjack and Vegas Blackjack.
Harrah’s Philadelphia video poker
If its sister sites in New Jersey is any indication, Harrah’s Philadelphia’s online casino will offer video poker. The Harrah’s Casino online site offers the following variants:
- 10s or Better
- Deuces Wild
Caesars Casino has a wider range of video poker options. All told, Caesars offers 21 different versions of online video poker games.
Banking options at Harrah’s Philadelphia online casino
Deposit options
Harrah’s online gambling site should be ready to accept:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Prepaid Cards
- Neteller
- Electronic checks
- Bank wire
- Check
- PayPal
- Cash at the Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino cage
Withdrawal options
Players should be able to receive payouts from Harrah’s Philadelphia online casino the same way they make deposits. This is likely to include electronic checks, wire transfers, traditional checks, Neteller, PayPal, and cash payouts at the casino cage.
Harrah’s Philadelphia online casino customer service
Caesars Entertainment takes customer service very seriously. For its online gaming offerings, it offers the following kind of support:
- Phone
- Live chat
Bet with your head, not over it. Call 1-800-GAMBLER if you have a gambling problem. View our advertising disclosure here.
PA online casinos are up and running, and growing fast.
If you are 21 years or older and inside Pennsylvania state lines, you can now enjoy online slots, table games, and video poker from your desktop computer or mobile devices.
This page contains all the information you need to start playing at online casinos in PA.
Below is a guide to the games you can play for free and for realmoney at PA online casinos. After that, you’ll find information on apps, bonuses, safety, and geolocationtechnology.
Regulated casinos also include protection for problem gamblers, which we cover at the end of this page.
Best online casinos in Pennsylvania 2021
Real money and free online casino games in Pennsylvania
You can play most games at PA casinos online for fun. Playing games in demomode, or with play-money chips, allows you to find the titles you like before you gamble.
The only category of games that are notavailable for free play is live dealer table games. You can watch them, though you will not be able to wager on them – at least yet.
The current offerings on real money online casinos in PA are growing, and fast. Casino sites regularly add new games as they are approved by the PA Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
We offer an overview of how diverse these casino game categories are. Keep in mind that the most prominent New Jersey online casinos offer more than 600 titles.
Play PA online casino games for real money
The number of Pennsylvania online casinos is now in double-digits. All of the PA casino apps are available 24/7 and offer online slots, video poker, and table games such as roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. Use this table to compare the real money casinos in PA.
| Rank | PA Casinos | Bonus Offer | Progressive | Slots | Play Now! |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | BetMGM Casino | $25 Free + 100% up to $1,000 | Divine Fortune + Mercy of the Gods | 80+ | Play Now! |
| 2. | Caesars Casino | 100% up to $500 | N/A | 36+ | Play Now! |
| 3. | FanDuel Casino | $200 Risk-Free | N/A | 25+ | Play Now! |
| 4. | Unibet Casino | $10 Free + 100% up to $500 | Jackpot Shores + Divine Fortune | 75+ | Play Now! |
| 5. | Fox Bet Casino | 100% up to $1500 | N/A | 12+ | Play Now! |
| 6. | DraftKings Casino | $45 Free + 100% up to $1500 | N/A | 25+ | Play now! |
| 7. | BetRivers Casino | 100% up to $250 | Divine Fortune | 50+ | Play Now! |
| 8. | Sugarhouse Casino | 100% up to $250 | Divine Fortune | 70+ | Play Now! |
| 9. | Hollywood Casino | $10 Free + 100% up to $502 | Divine Fortune | 80+ | Play Now! |
| 10. | PokerStars Casino | 100% up to $1500 | N/A | 25+ | Play Now! |
PA online slots
Slots are the biggest category of games for any online casino. You can expect to see over 200 games listed on some sites and you’ll need some way to sort the list of slot titles.
Firstly, casinos will feature their most popular games. You can use filters to search by, e.g., the number of reels, game developer, progressive jackpots, and so on.
If you enjoy live casino slots, then you will be able to play a lot of these online. You can search by name, or browse the listings for IGT, Bally, or another live slot studio.
Many online casinos feature classic games, e.g., Wheel of Fortune, Cleopatra, and WolfRun. You can also find traditional three-reel slots. Online slot studios like IGT created these.
When you browse the tiled graphics for slots to enjoy, you’ll see progressivejackpots listed underneath many of them. These pools can get massive, up to $1 million or more.
Table games at PA online casinos
Tablegames are a broad category, although it mostly covers all the casino games played on the greenfelt.
While most are card-based, dice and roulette wheels also fall under table games. Live dealer games are in this category; however, we will cover them separately.
This list is for the software-based versions:
- Blackjack: There are a lot of variations of basic blackjack rules. These include games with side bets, multi-hand games and entertaining variants like Blackjack Switch, Free Bet Blackjack, and Spanish 21.
- Roulette: You can bet your favorite numbers or try complex betting systems with online roulette. Where available, choose the European roulette wheel because the single zero reduces the house edge.
- Casino poker games: A lot of card-based table games use poker-hand rankings. Online casinos have Caribbean Stud, three-card poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, and Casino Hold ’em.
- Baccarat: Two of the three bets you can place in baccarat have a very low house edge. As long as you avoid the “tie” bet, this favorite among high rollers can be entertaining.
- Craps: With two betting phases and the chance to go on a hot streak as long as no 7s are rolled, craps is a lively live casino game. This appears at some online casinos, which gives you a chance to learn the complex bets.
Live dealer casinos in Pennsylvania
In other states, live dealer table games have become the go-to for many players and soon, they’ll be available in PA. With these, you’ll bet online although the action will be dealt in real-time from studios in PA live casinos. Bets will settle automatically.
Games available include blackjack (where you play on a seven-handed table), roulette, three-card poker, Casino Hold ’em, and baccarat.
Keep in mind, you need to act before the timer runs down in these games. Otherwise, your hand will be folded (or you’ll stand), depending on the game.
You can chat via text with the dealers and other players while you play. The added social element, plus the ability to watch the cards being dealt, make these increasingly popular games.
Video poker and novelty games
PA casinos allow you to play video poker games online. These include bonus poker and multi-hand variations, as well as traditional titles.
Pennsylvania online casino apps
There are pros and cons to online casino apps compared to mobile-friendly websites.
With apps, you often find only a limited number of game titles, along with account and cashier functionality. Compared to the hundreds of games you can play on your browser, this is a significant drawback.
On the positive side, having the graphics stored on your phone helps the games initialize faster. If you have ever had to wait for a bonus game to load on your mobile device after you hit it on a slot, you know how frustrating this can be.
Are the online casinos in Pennsylvania safe?
All online casinos in PA are licensed and under the jurisdiction of the PennsylvaniaGaming Control Board (PGCB).
Players are protected by know your customer (KYC) guidelines and responsible gaming laws. The games are tested for integrity and fairness. A complaint and dispute process is available if necessary.
When it comes to Pennsylvania online casinos, you really can’t get any safer.
The PGCB stated early in the licensing process that they have a deliberate, slow approach. This includes testing periods for new apps and websites. With the licenses for online casinos in Pennsylvania held by local live casinos and racetrack casinos, you’ll have trusted brand names behind each of the apps.
A major concern for players new to casino games is the fairness of the spins or deals. At regulated casinos, games are regularly audited and the expected return-to-player (RTP) percentages are published. While each game has a small edge in favor of the house, you can be sure that you are getting a fair shot at winning and it’s in line with the published figures.
Casino bonus offers in Pennsylvania
With a lot of real money online casinos opening in PA in quick succession, you can be sure they will be competing to attract new players.
This means 2021 is a perfect time to take advantage of their marketing budgets. Casino bonuses take four primary forms, and not every casino will offer them all. If not, the bonuses they do offer will need to be generous.
Here are the main types of casino bonuses:
- No-deposit welcome bonus: A popular way to attract new players is to offer free play for registering. This bonus is usually a small amount (between $10 and $25). You’ll need to wager it a number of times before you can withdraw it. These offers can start your casino bankroll, if you get lucky. If not, then you’ll have a chance to check out the real-money slot titles without any personal risk.
- Matched deposit bonuses: This is the most common form of a casino welcome bonus in PA. Your first deposit will be matched 100%, usually up to around $300, though sometimes much higher. You then get 30 to 60 days to meet the specified playthrough (wagering) requirements.
- Loyalty/comp point schemes: Some casinos will tie their online comp point schemes together with their live casino. Others have separate schemes, with complex tier systems unlocking progressively bigger bonuses. For high rollers, these loyalty schemes often have a VIP level, too.
- One-off promotions: How active a casino is with promos can make a big difference to your bankroll over time. These vary widely, and include double points deals, reload bonuses, promos linked to new games and free chips for sharing on social media.
While nothing is stopping you from taking up several casino bonuses, keep in mind that these are restricted to one per household for each casino. Many players have been tempted to sign up their entire family for a free-play offer only to find their accounts to be closed down quickly.
Licensed and legal PA casinos vs. offshore casinos
For many years, the only way to play online casino games in Pennsylvania was to risk your money at offshore casinos. While there were some limited legal options with sweepstakescasinos, the new legal PA internet casinos effectively remove the need to take this risk.
Offshore casinos are usually based in the Caribbean or Central America and their legal status is uncertain. While their host nation licenses them, they are not recognized or licensed by any US authority and our banks are legally obliged to block payments to them.
A greater concern is the lack of oversight and controls. Many offshore casinos have disappeared over the years, and many players have faced significant issues getting their winnings paid. If you have a dispute with an offshore casino, there is no industry body or organization to help you.
With PA casinos under the watchfuleye of the PGCB, they are licensed to accept conventional payment methods and thoroughly tested. There is no longer any reason to risk playing at an offshore site.
Geolocation and PA casinos
You will be able to access the PA online casinos fromanywhere. However, playing games for real money and making deposits can only be made within PA state lines.
Pennsylvania casinos will not allow real-money play if there is any doubt about your location. In New Jersey, this led to a lot of “falsenegatives.” Players who were on mobile devices near state borders were sometimes flagged as being outside of the state.
Fortunately, those initial problems were ironed out and geolocation technology is more reliable.
If you are using a VPN or proxyserver, you might still experience issues. Mobile users on 4G and close to the state border who experience problems can download additionalgeolocationsoftware in some cases.
Wi-Fi data is difficult to fake, and if you are not using a VPN, desktop players are unlikely to experience geolocation issues.
PA casinos eligible to offer online gambling in Pennsylvania
| PA Online Casino | Launch Date |
|---|---|
| Sugarhouse Online Casino PA | July 17, 2019 |
| Hollywood Casino | July 15, 2019 |
| Parx Casino PA | July 15, 2019 |
| PokerStars Casino | Nov. 4, 2019 |
| Unibet via Mohegan Sun Pocono | Nov. 12, 2019 |
| FanDuel Casino via Valley Forge | Jan. 24, 2020 |
| BetAmerica (Presque Isle Downs) | Jan. 28, 2020 |
| BetRivers (Rivers Philadelphia) | Jan. 30, 2020 |
| Caesars Online Casino (Harrah's Philadelphia) | April 23, 2020 |
| DraftKings Casino (Hollywood) | May 1, 2020 |
| Wind Creek Casino | July 24, 2020 |
| PlayLive! (Live! Casino & Hotel) | Aug. 14, 2020 |
| BetMGM (Hollywood) | Dec. 1, 2020 |
| Golden Nugget NJ | TBD |
In total, there are 12 licensed casinos that can legally offer online casino games, including slots and blackjack.
- Harrah’s Philadelphia
- Hollywood Casino
- Meadows Casino
- Mohegan Sun Pocono
- Mount Airy Casino Resort
- Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
- Parx Casino
- Presque Isle Downs
- Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
- Rivers Casino Philadelphia (formerly SugarHouse Casino)
- Wind Creek Casino Resort (formerly Sands Bethlehem)
- Valley Forge Resort Casino
In the first month of 2020, FanDuel Casino, BetAmerica, and BetRivers Casino launched just before the Super Bowl. The long-awaited Caesars Online Casino in partnership with Harrah’s Philadelphia followed in April.
Rivers Philadelphia (Formerly SugarHouse Casino) was the first brick-and-mortar casino to offer two different online casino skins under its casino license: PlaySugarHouse and BetRivers. The latter is integrated with the Rivers Pittsburgh online sportsbook that carries the same BetRivers name. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh did not obtain an online casino license.
Harrah's Pa Online Casino
On May 1, 2020, DraftKings Online Casino went live, becoming the second interactive gaming site under the Hollywood Casino license. Meadows, DraftKings’ land-based partner for online sports betting, does not hold an online casino license. But both Meadows and Hollywood are owned by Penn National Gaming, which has a market-access deal with DraftKings.
FanDuel and DraftKings originally launched online casinos that were integrated with their sportsbooks. Now, both have stand-alone online casino apps live in PA.
In late July 2020, Wind Creek Bethlehem dove into the online betting scene, launching the Wind Creek online casino through a partnership with Pala Interactive.
Live Pennsylvania casinos
There are currently 12 licensed gambling properties in the state of Pennsylvania, with another casino in the works in Philadelphia’s Stadium Park.
According to PGCB, this includes 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos and two smaller resort casinos. The former two are Category 1 and 2 casinos, while the latter falls into Category 3. These gaming establishments employ approximately 18,000 people and generate close to $1.4 billion in tax revenue annually.
Mini-casinos: The next phase of Pennsylvania casino development
Caesars Online Casino Pa
As part of its gambling expansion law passed in October 2017, the state had the ability to issue up to tenCategory 4 licenses. These licenses allow for mini-casinos with 300-750 slots. A supplemental license costing $2.5 million allows these satellite casino properties to offer up to 30 table games as well.
The process for the issuance of mini-casino licensing involves a series of auctions. The preliminary auctions began in January 2018 and were limited only to the licensed Category 1 and 2 casinos. The first license went to Penn National, who spent $50.1 million to secure a location 50 miles south of its existing Hollywood Casino. During the first round of auctions, PGCB awarded five licenses.
The PGCB ran a second round of auctions on Sept. 3, 2019 but there were no bidders this time around. As a result, the five remaining licenses will go unclaimed. In all, $114 million in license fees were raised.
Pennsylvania problem gambling support
A system for self-exclusion for problemgamblers is available at live casinos in Pennsylvania.
This program involves filling out some forms, providing a photo ID, and voluntarily requesting one-year, five-year or lifetime exclusion.
A list of excluded people is distributed to all live casinos. Then it is the casinos’ responsibility is to prevent those people from entering gaming areas.
Removal from this list (for the shorter periods) does not happen automatically. After the period expires, individuals must request their removal personally.
Online gambling prevents new challenges when it comes to the management of problem gambling. For the majority to enjoy safe gambling online, support systems need to be in place for players who experience issues.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Commission manages this support program.
Here is what legal Pennsylvania online casinos must provide:
- A prominentlink to their responsible gambling information page.
- Tools for time-out, self-exclusion and betting limits.
- A list of questions to assess whether you or someone you know has a gambling problem.
- Links to support organizations and therapists.
Support programs in the state include:
Overview of Pennsylvania’s casino industry
The Pennsylvania casino industry is relatively young. Casinos only became legal in 2004. Yet, in the dozen or so years in existence, the industry quickly became a powerhouse. Now it is the second-largest commercial casino industry in the country judging by gross revenue, trailing only Nevada.
Thanks to steep tax rates, Pennsylvania casinos actually generate more tax revenue for the state than Nevada does. That number has gotten even bigger thanks to the gambling expansion law passed in the fall of 2017.
Here is a look at the history of the Pennsylvania casino industry, starting with the latest news and moving back towards the casino industry’s more humble beginnings:
The year began on a high, but that soon changed as the spread of COVID-19 led to the shuttering of all retail casinos and racetracks in PA by mid-March. That meant furloughs for casino employees and falling casino stock prices.
Online sportsbooks were also hit hard, with most sports sidelined for a lengthy period of time.
On a positive note, three more online casinos joined the market before the Super Bowl. The FanDuel online casino made quite a splash, surging to highest handle and revenue earner after its first full month in February.
The long-awaited Caesars sportsbook went live on March 10 in partnership with Harrah’s Philadelphia, bringing the state’s online sports betting apps to a total of nine. The Caesars online casino followed on April 23, making it nine internet casinos too. An online poker room under the WSOP.com name is expected to follow.
On May 1, DraftKings added an online casino product to its established online sportbook. Its online casino product is under the Hollywood Casino license, while the DraftKings sportsbook partners with Penn’s other PA property, The Meadows. Both FanDuel and DraftKings later debuted standalone online casino apps in June and July, respectively.
Wind Creek launched its first online product with an online casino in late July, and Live! Casino brought PlayLive! online casino to PA in mid-August. Live! was the only casino to launch iGaming ahead of retail openings, which are to follow in 2021.
Online wagering sparked and sportsbooks blossomed.
With sportsbooks, there were just three operations at the beginning of the year, and all were retail. By the end of the year, the Keystone State had 12 retail sportsbooks.
But eight online sportsbooks were also running by year’s end, with around 84% of all sports wagering done online. Taken together, sports betting took in more than a billion bucks in 2019.
Five online casino sites went live, the first ones launching in July, though a new Wire Act opinion likely slowed that market segment at the start.
And at long last, an online poker site finally launched. On Nov. 4, FOX Bet was joined by PokerStars Casino and PokerStars PA, making poker a reality in the Keystone State.
In October 2019, SugarHouse changed its name to Rivers Casino Philadelphia, but not before launching the first PA online sportsbook in May. PlaySugarHouse sportsbook and online casino still retain the SugarHouse name.
After a summer of bickering, the state legislature drafted a new version of the gambling expansion package, which both the House and Senate passed. Gov. Tom Wolf signed it into law on Monday, Oct. 30, 2018. The new law allows for a wide range of new gambling ventures, including:
- Online casinos
- Video gambling terminals (VGTs)
- Daily fantasy sports (DFS)
- Satellite casinos
- Sports betting
It also offered a new class of license eliminating the amenity fee in place at Valley Forge and Lady Luck Nemacolin. Valley Forge paid the fee immediately after the bill became law.
New licensing fees brought in more than $311 million for the state.
The PA Lottery launched several new games and created the online platform iLottery.
A US Supreme Court ruling allowed sports wagering to begin and nine of 12 properties immediately applied for licenses.
Total gambling revenue topped $3.4 billion.
Legislation which would legalize and regulate online gambling in Pennsylvania, and offer online gaming licenses to the state’s 12 casino properties first, was passed by the Senate. In June 2017 it was amended and passed by the House, sending it back to the Senate.
The law was approved at the end of October.
The law ushered in sportsbook wagering and video game terminals at truck stops, and a new category of “mini-casinos” was created. As part of the expansion, horse racing money from casino slot revenue was encumbered in a trust fund. The slot money was originally set aside as part of the deal which led to the 2004 approval of casinos.
Casinos set a revenue record of $3.227 billion.
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin opened in July 2013.
Valley Forge Casino Resort opened its doors in March 2012 becoming the first Category 3 licensed casino in Pennsylvania.
After several ownership changes and failed financing plans with no construction to date, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board voted to revoke the Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia gaming license in December 2010.
SugarHouse Casino opened its first phase in Philadelphia in September 2010.
Pennsylvania passed a law in January 2010, authorizing table game operations at the state’s licensed racino, casino, and resort casino properties. The law also clarified the size and scope of gaming and other operations at the state’s three different categories of gaming licensees, including:
- Allowing up to 250 table games and 5,000 slot machines at Category 1 racino facilities
- Allowing 250 table games and 5,000 slot machines at Category 2 stand-alone casinos. These properties were also authorized to operate amenities including restaurants, spas, and entertainment options, but not hotels.
- Allowing up to 600 slot machines and 50 table games at Category 3 resort casinos. These gaming facilities can include attached hotels.
Parx Casino standalone gaming facility opened its doors in December .
Rivers Casino opened in Pittsburgh, PA’s Chateau neighborhood along the Ohio River in September.
Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem opened on the Bethlehem Works development site in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in May 2009. Table games were added in July 2010. The property officially changed ownership to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in June 2019. The casino is now known as Wind Creek Bethlehem.
Hollywood Casino opened at Penn National racetrack in February 2008.
Mount Airy Casino Resort officially opened in the Poconos in November 2007, becoming the first Pennsylvania casino with lodging.
The Meadows Casino began as a temporary casino adjacent to the racetrack in Washington County, PA in June 2007. The permanent casino opened in 2009.
Presque Isle Downs casino and horse racing track near Erie, Pennsylvania opened in February 2007.
A slots parlor began operation at Harrah’s Philadelphia racetrack on the Chester waterfront. Table games went live at the property in 2010.
Parx Casino opened as a temporary gaming facility at the former Philadelphia Park racetrack in December 2006.
Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia is granted one of five stand-alone casino licenses for a soon-to-be-built property located along the Delaware River in South Philadelphia. The project fell apart, resulting in PGCB revoking the license in 2010.
Caesars Harrah's Pa
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs became the state’s first slot parlor after opening its doors in November 2006 at a harness track near Wilkes-Barre.
State lawmakers made a number of amendments to horse track security bill authorizing both the use of 61,000 slot machines at racetracks and other new casino locations across Pennsylvania. Lawmakers rushed the bill through the House and Senate over the Fourth of July weekend, then quickly became law before any real opposition to casino gambling had a chance to oppose it.
The bill ultimately authorized the issue of three separate categories of slot machine licenses. These included:
- Category 1 for existing racetracks.
- Category 2 for designated tourist areas, including two in Philadelphia and one in Pittsburgh.
- Category 3 for resorts.
Former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell runs for Pennsylvania Governor. He wins on a campaign that includes support for the idea of allowing slot machines at racetracks in an effort to lower property taxes.
Under Then-Governor Tom Ridge the State Legislature came close to legalizing riverboat casinos. The state’s anti-gambling movement began to grow and Gov. Ridge said he would veto any gambling bill not approved by referendum. Eventually the entire idea was scrapped.
A statewide survey found 48 percent of Pennsylvania residents supported legalized riverboat gambling and just 38 percent were opposed. However, Then-Governor Robert P. Casey claimed to be opposed to gambling and threatened to veto any gambling legislation passed in the state.
First developed under Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode, and championed by mayoral successor Ed Rendell, a proposal to allow riverboat gambling in Philadelphia made it to the state legislature. The claim was it would create $25 million in new revenue for the city and 11,500 new jobs. However, the House of Representatives voted against it in November by a margin of 118-81.
Harrahscasino Online
Resorts Casino Hotel opened in Atlantic City, New Jersey, becoming the first legal casino in Atlantic City. Resorts and the rest of the Atlantic City Boardwalk is within 60 miles of Philadelphia. It quickly become evident that Pennsylvania residents are some of the budding Atlantic City casino industry’s best customers.