Best Online Casinos
If you are looking for the best Texas online casinos for real money games, then you’ve come to the right place. With online gambling becoming increasingly popular, Texas residents are eager to find a trustworthy casino to play at.
- Red Dog Casino is one of the top online casinos for mobile gaming. Play over 190+ real money titles from your phone or tablet. Play over 190+ real money titles from your phone or tablet. All their games work flawlessly with touchscreen controls for both Android and Apple iOS.
- The biggest online casinos in the world are websites with the largest online casino libraries, diverse selection of available banking methods and an extensive list of casino game providers. Best Casinos has prepared a list of biggest casino sites in the world which includes operators offering 2,000+ casino.
We’ve compiled a list of the best real money online casinos and gambling sites for Texas, so you don’t have to waste time looking for a place to play casino games online. Below is our list of the top recommendations for Texas residents. These sites and apps are some of the most user friendly and safest online casinos that we have found for Texas.
Discover the Best Canadian Online Casinos 2021. We rank the most popular online casino & online gambling sites - Get C$1,600 in exclusive FREE bonuses! The best US online casinos are typically pretty good at processing cashouts as quickly as possibly. This is especially true if you use Bitcoin. You can find out more about the processing times of any online casino by visiting the site’s payment information or contacting customer support. Many of the top online casinos have already started making huge investments in this field. If you want to gamble on-the-go, look for sites with clean mobile layouts designed for touchscreens. Flexible and Secure Payment Options. The best online casinos that pay real money provide a wide range of deposit and withdrawal options. Look for banking.
Rank | Online Casino | Key Info | Bonus Info | Visit Casino |
---|---|---|---|---|
#1 |
| |||
#2 |
| |||
#3 |
| |||
#4 |
| |||
#5 |
|
For more information about TX casino websites, you can refer to the rest of this page as your go-to guide.
What Makes These the Best Online Casinos in Texas?
We promise that we don’t just pick these sites at random. Actually, we spent hours testing and researching dozens of sites in order to find the ones that meet our high standards. Here are some of the criteria a site must meet to be considered one of the best Texas online casinos.
Safe and Secure Online Gambling Experience
These real money online casinos all make your safety a top priority. Sites should offer a full-time security team, an up-to-date SSL site encryption, a third-party company to hold them accountable, solid relationships with banking establishments, and a proven track record of keeping their players safe.
If a site fails to have the necessary tools in place to fully protect their players, then they will automatically be taken off our list of recommendations. We hold the safety and security of players in high regard. We want you to be able to have peace of mind knowing that both your funds and your personal information are protected.
Feedback from Texas Gamblers
One of the first things we did while searching for the best real money online casinos accepting Texas players was to check out those casinos’ user reviews.
After spending several hours scouring different review sites, we discovered there was predominantly positive feedback. Users seem to enjoy themselves while playing at these Texas gambling sites, and most importantly, they feel safe there.
Diversity of Available Casino Games
We dedicate a massive chunk of time to playing the online casino games offered at the Texas online gambling sites we visit. Not only are we checking the quality of the games we play, but we’re also looking to see how diverse their game selection is.
Do the best TX online casinos offer poker? Do they have a wide variety of slot games? Do they offer ample ways to win money? These are just a few of the questions we ask ourselves while analyzing the casino’s value at hand. The more types of games we see offered at a casino, the more confident we become that they’ll have something for every player that comes their way.
Banking Methods Offered
Obviously, your money matters. That’s why we pay close attention to what banking methods are available at the best online casinos in Texas.
We also check to see how long it takes for both deposits and withdrawals or any additional fees or limits enforced by the casino. We take all of this and more into consideration when determining which sites we’ll recommend.
Top-Notch Customer Service Team
Another thing we are looking for from the best online casinos accepting TX players is a high-quality customer service team. We ask various customer service reps several different questions to see how kind and knowledgeable their staff is.
We also note how their staff can be contacted, the amount of time it takes to get a response, and whether or not they can be reached 24/7. We only recommend sites that go above and beyond in these areas.
The Legality of Online Gambling in Texas
At this point, you are probably wondering about Texas online casino laws. Here is everything we know.
In 2006, when the United States passed the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act), many sites closed their doors to American players. Through this legal document, the USA made it illegal to “knowingly accept payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the Internet.”
As a result, Texas created its own laws on the subject. Texas Penal Code 47.02 states that a person is at fault when he or she knowingly “plays and bets for money or other thing of value at any game played with cards, dice, balls, or any other gambling device.” Since real money online gambling in Texas would fall under this description, it is technically illegal.
However, there are still plenty of opportunities to participate in Texas casino gambling online. While there aren’t any US online casinos that accept Texas players, there are casinos in Costa Rica and other parts of the world that will take Texas players with open arms.
What Are the Penalties for Gambling Online in Texas?
Again, according to Texas Penal Code 47.02, participating in Texas online gambling would be considered a Class C misdemeanor, and it could cost you up to $500 in fines.
If you have any concerns about the legality of online casinos in Texas, then we recommend you reach out to a legal professional who is more educated on the subject and who will be able to answer your questions about TX online gambling more thoroughly.
Real Money Casino Apps for Texas Residents
If you love playing at online casinos on the go, you should definitely consider checking out real money USA casino apps. We love playing our favorite casino games on our phones. It gives us the flexibility to enjoy them anywhere we go!
If we’re stuck in traffic, waiting in line at the DMV, or on break at work, you’ll probably find us playing poker or our favorite slot game right on a mobile device. Texas gambling apps online give us the flexibility to make mundane activities more exciting. Plus, they give us the chance to earn some extra cash!
Despite our enthusiasm for real money Texas gambling apps, we always feel obligated to mention something to our readers when we are on this topic. As with other online casino apps, Texas gambling apps may not offer the same number of games as their desktop counterpart. This is simply a result of compatibility issues.
Luckily, as technology advances, we run into this issue less and less. Expect to find most of the games you want to play offered on TX casino apps, but not all.
Online Sports Betting in Texas
Many TX gambling sites offer online sports betting. You’ll have the opportunity to place real money wagers on baseball, basketball, boxing, football, golf, hockey, and just about any other sport you can think of. Yes, even esports doesn’t get left out.
Types of bets you might find offered at TX sports gambling sites include:
- straight bets
- total line bets
- money line bets
- parlay bets
- teaser bets
- head-to-head bets
Why Should I Play at Texas Online Casinos With Sportsbooks?
Betting with money on your favorite teams can make watching your favorite sporting events even more exciting, as you’ll have the chance to earn some extra cash! Plus, most online casino sites with sports gambling allow you to place your first bet for free, so there’s no risk involved.
Land Based Casinos in Texas
Like many other states, US brick and mortar casinos are illegal in the state of Texas; the only exception to this rule are casinos built on Native American reservations. Casinos owned and operated by Native Americans don’t have to follow Texas casino laws, so they are 100% legal. There are only two brick and mortar casinos in Texas at this time.
Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino
- Website: www.luckyeagletexas.com
- Address: 794 Lucky Eagle Dr, Eagle Pass, TX 78852
- Phone #: (830) 773-2255
- Number of games: Over 3300
This is the oldest casino in Texas, as it opened its doors in 1996. While there are no table games offered here, they do have just about any slot game you can think of. Stay at any of their 249 high-quality rooms and indulge at any of their four gourmet restaurants for a wonderful experience.
Naskila Gaming
- Website: www.naskila.com
- Address: 540 State Park Rd 56, Livingston, TX 77351
- Phone #: (936) 563-2946
- Number of games: 793
Naskila is a newer casino, having only been around since 2016. They have a mix of slot games and video poker games to choose from. Members will enjoy a private lounge and three fine-dining restaurants. There are no hotel rooms connected to this casino at this time.
In addition to these casinos, Texas also has several racetracks and bingo halls growing in popularity. We’ll make sure to update this section as land-based gambling in Texas hopefully expands in the years to come.
TX Online Casinos FAQ
How Can I Have A Safe Experience While Gambling Online in Texas For Money?
Since we have already researched where to play casino games online in Texas and have selected ones that offer a safe and secure environment, sticking with our list of recommendations is the most important thing you can do.
Here are other things you can do to ensure your safety at real money Texas online casinos:
- Use a unique password and change it regularly (every couple of months or so should be sufficient).
- Refrain from logging onto your Texas online casinos from a public computer.
- Choose high-quality antivirus software to put on your computer and update it as needed.
- Avoid gambling online with more funds than you can afford to lose.
How Can I Make A Deposit/ Withdrawal at Texas Online Casinos?
All real money online casinos have slightly different banking options. Most online casinos accept major debit/credit card companies like Discover, Mastercard, and Visa. eWallets like Neteller, Paypal, and Skrill are also commonly accepted. Some sites even allow you to use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin. Which method you choose is entirely up to you!
You’ll have to enter your payment method and answer a few security questions to place your deposit or withdrawal. Depending on what banking option you choose, your request could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days to process.
What Casino Games Are Available at the Best Texas Online Casinos?
When it comes to playing at real money Texas online gambling sites, there is a wide selection of games to choose from:
- Table games
- Keno and bingo
- Slot machines
- Sports betting
- Scratch-offs
Almost all real money Texas casinos online can be played on a mobile device. This wasn’t the case ten years ago, but it is the case today. Thanks to breakthroughs in technology, more and more online casinos are mobile compatible. While some casinos have a dedicated app, others can only be accessed through your device’s web browser.
At What Age Can I Play at Real Money Texas Casino Sites?
Most United States gambling apps and casinos won’t let you create an account on their site unless you’re 21 or older. They ask for your ID as part of the withdrawal process, so there’s no way to get around this rule, either. Waiting until you’re old enough can be frustrating, but it will be worth it.
What Should I Do If a Texas Online Casino Site Tries to Rip Me Off?
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do here. Since online gambling is an unregulated market in America, there’s no one local to report these discrepancies too. That’s why we cannot stress enough how important it is to stick to our list of recommended casinos, as these casinos are safe and trustworthy.
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.
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
Here’s a look at our welcome bonuses offers:
SugarHouse Sportsbook
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
Best Online Casinos
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.
Best Online Casinos Real Money
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.
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:
- 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)
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