Is Online Sports Gambling Legal In Pa

admin  4/8/2022

Online gambling in the state of Pennsylvania is not legalized, yet there is nothing in the state gambling laws that says it is a crime. Another thing we feel we need to emphasize to Pennsylvania residents is that we are not now and never have claimed to be lawyers. We recommend you seek more experience assistance about these laws by speaking to a lawyer. Online gambling at our sites is always safe, secure, and reliable.

Pennsylvania Gambling Laws

Pennsylvania Gambling Laws. Pennsylvania passed legal sports betting in October 2018 at the same time it passed regulated online casinos, online poker sites, daily fantasy sports, and VLTs at truck stops. Since then, seven sportsbooks began operations, led by Parx Casino near Philadelphia. Pennsylvania Legal Online Gambling 2020. Pennsylvania's legal online gambling status is near complete with casino, poker, and sports gambling supported online by the state. However, some of these online gambling forms have yet to launch. Therefore, we recommend using licensed offshore online gambling sites in the meantime. The Keystone State is set to become one of the biggest players in the online sports gambling space thanks to a large population and diehard sports fans. PA has full online betting, which is great for consumers, but the barrier to entry for operators is high. Here's what you should know about Pennsylvania Sports Betting. Best PA Books & Apps.

§ 5513. Gambling devices, gambling, etc.

(a) Offense defined.–A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree if he: (1) intentionally or knowingly makes, assembles, sets up, maintains, sells, lends, leases, gives away, or offers for sale, loan, lease or gift, any punch board, drawing card, slot machine or any device to be used for gambling purposes, except playing cards; (2) allows persons to collect and assemble for the purpose of unlawful gambling at any place under his control; (3) solicits or invites any person to visit any unlawful gambling place for the purpose of gambling; or (4) being the owner, tenant, lessee or occupant of any premises, knowingly permits or suffers the same, or any part thereof, to be used for the purpose of unlawful gambling. (a) of this section shall be seized and forfeited to the Commonwealth. All provisions of law relating to the seizure, summary and judicial forfeiture, and condemnation of intoxicating liquor shall apply to seizures and forfeitures under the provisions of this section. (b) Confiscation of gambling devices.–Any gambling device possessed or used in violation of the provisions of subsection (c) Antique slot machines.– (1) A slot machine shall be established as an antique slot machine if the defendant shows by a preponderance of the evidence that it was manufactured at least 25 years before the current year and that it was not used or attempted to be used for any unlawful purposes. Notwithstanding subsection (b), no antique slot machine seized from any defendant shall be destroyed or otherwise altered until the defendant is given an opportunity to establish that the slot machine is an antique slot machine. After a final court determination that the slot machine is an antique slot machine, the slot machine shall be returned pursuant to the provisions of law providing for the return of property; otherwise, the slot machine shall be destroyed. (2) It is the purpose of this subsection to protect the collection and restoration of antique slot machines not presently utilized for gambling purposes. (d) Shipbuilding business.–Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, a person may construct, deliver, convert or repair a vessel that is equipped with gambling devices if all of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) The work performed on the vessel is ordered by a customer who uses or possesses the vessel outside of this Commonwealth in a locality where the use or possession of the gambling devices on the vessel is lawful. (2) The work performed on the vessel that is equipped with gambling devices is performed at a shipbuilding or repair yard located within a port facility under the jurisdiction of any port authority organized under the act of December 6, 1972 (P.L.1392, No.298), known as the Third Class City Port Authority Act. (3) The person provides the Office of Attorney General, prior to the importation of the gambling devices into this Commonwealth, records that account for the gambling devices, including the identification number affixed to each gambling device by the manufacturer, and that identify the location where the gambling devices will be stored prior to the installation of the gambling devices on the vessel. (4) The person stores the gambling devices at a secured location and permits any person authorized to enforce the gambling laws to inspect the location where the gambling devices are stored and records relating to the storage of the gambling devices. (5) If the person removes used gambling devices from a vessel, the person shall provide the Office of Attorney General of Pennsylvania with an inventory of the used gambling devices prior to their removal from the vessel. The inventory shall include the identification number affixed to each gambling device by the manufacturer. (6) The person submits documentation to the Office of Attorney General of Pennsylvania no later than 30 days after the date of delivery that the vessel equipped with gambling devices has been delivered to the customer who ordered the work performed on the vessel. (7) The person does not sell a gambling device to any other person except to a customer who shall use or possess the gambling device outside of this Commonwealth in a locality where the use or possession of the gambling device is lawful. If a person sells a gambling device to such a customer, the person shall submit documentation to the Office of Attorney General of Pennsylvania no later than 30 days after the date of delivery that the gambling device has been delivered to the customer. (e) Penalty.–Any person who fails to provide records as provided in subsection (d) commits a summary offense. (f) Definitions.–As used in this section, the term “gambling place” does not include a vessel that is in the process of construction, delivery, conversion or repair by a shipbuilding business that complies with subsection (d).

§ 5514. Pool selling and bookmaking. A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree if he: (1) engages in pool selling or bookmaking; (2) occupies any place for the purpose of receiving, recording or registering bets or wagers, or of selling pools; (3) receives, records, registers, forwards, or purports or pretends to forward, to another, any bet or wager upon the result of any political nomination, appointment or election, or upon any contest of any nature; (4) becomes the custodian or depository, for gain or ward, of any property staked, wagered or pledged, or to be staked, wagered, or pledged upon any such result; or (5) being the owner, lessee, or occupant of any premises, knowingly permits or suffers the same, to be used or occupied for any of such purposes.

In a time a major uncertainty due to COVID-19, DraftKings is getting a large dose of good news with the launch of the DraftKings PA online casino and Colorado online sports betting. Earlier this week the PGCB approved DK's i-gaming license in Pennsylvania. The legal status of betting on sports with friends, or really any kind of social gambling, is unclear under Pennsylvania state law. Gambling on sports as part of a business venture without state authorization is, of course, against the law.

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Between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a sports-heavy state. Pennsylvania hosts eight teams from five major sports leagues, all of which are available for online sports betting for Pennsylvania sports fans. With this guide, created specifically for Pennsylvania residents, you can educate yourself on the state and federal restrictions surrounding online sports betting. You’ll also learn about which Pennsylvania teams are worth betting on and the most trusted licensed sports betting sites accepting Pennsylvania residents.

Is Sports Gambling Legal In Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania doesn’t have any state laws that specifically ban online sports betting. However, there are some federal laws in place that have to do with sports betting. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) all attempt to regulate sports betting in some way, but these laws only apply to US-based sports betting. The offshore sportsbooks that we recommend are all legally sanctioned and allow Pennsylvania residents to bet both legally and safely. So to answer the question, yes, it is legal for PA residents to bet on sports as long as the destination at which they are betting is a legally licensed and regulated sportsbook located offshore.

Most Reputable Pennsylvania Online Sportsbooks

The way to stay on the legal side of sports betting in Pennsylvania is to be highly selective as to where you place your bets. It is imperative that you restrict your betting action to only those betting sites that are operating legitimately within the industry. This means that they will be legally licensed, subject to strict regulatory oversight and hold verified compliance certifications. The sportsbooks we include in this guide have all been extensively evaluated to ensure their legitimacy and quality are the best that the industry has to offer.

LogoSite NameBonusRatingUSAVisit Site
Betonline Sportsbook50% Max $2500Visit Site
Sportsbetting75% Max $1000Visit Site
Bovada Sportsbook50% Max $250Visit Site

How State and Federal Laws Regulate Sports Betting in Pennsylvania

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, also known as PASPA, was issued back in 1992. PASPA’s aim was to buffer the spread of legalized sports betting in the US. Before its passing, there were already four states operating legalized sports betting—Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon. These states were allowed to continue with their sports betting operations, though Nevada and Delaware are the only two that still offer some type of state licensed sportsbook gambling option.

The Federal Wire Act was originally perceived as regulating online betting for all forms of gambling, however thanks to a Formal Opinion issued by the Department of Justice, it was narrowed down to only restrict sports betting through US-based online sportsbooks. This means that it is not legal to place bets with an online sportsbook within the United States. PASPA and the Federal Wire Act combine to effectively prohibit US based sports betting activities both online and offline.

The UIGEA monitors banks and how they process transactions related to sports betting and other forms of gambling. It doesn’t affect individual bettors but more so aims to clean up any illegal transactions. The important point to clarify is that the UIGEA, along with the other two federal laws, only deal with US-based sports betting. Therefore any sportsbooks that operate outside of the US are unaffected, opening the door for Pennsylvania residents to safely and legally place bets through one of the online sportsbooks that we’ve suggested.

Popular Sports Teams To Bet On In Pennsylvania

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All of the major sports teams in Pennsylvania are split between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Philadelphia hosts the Phillies in the MLB, the 76ers in the NBA, the Eagles in the NFL, the Flyers in the NHL and the Union in the MLS. Pittsburgh has the Pirates in the MLB, the Steelers in the NFL and the Penguins in the NHL. All of these teams make for some quality sports betting action that you can get a piece of using this guide.

NFL Teams in PA

NBA Teams in PA

MLB Teams in PA

NHL Teams in PA

MLS Teams in PA

FAQs About Betting On Sports

Can I Bet On Multiple Teams?

Sure thing. You can place as many bets as you want so long as you have the bankroll to back them. In addition, these sportsbooks offer what are called parlay bets, which involve betting on multiple outcomes on one ticket. For example, you could bet on the Pirates, Steelers and Penguins to win, but you only get the winnings if all three teams get a victory.

What Other Types of Bets do these Sportsbooks offer?

These sportsbooks offer all types of bets. You can bet on the usual point spreads (for example, you could bet on the Steelers to win their game by six points or more), prop bets (will the Phillies score a home run in the top of the sixth?) or even future bets (who will win Super Bowl LI?). Most of these sportsbooks even offer bets on things like racing, boxing, MMA, politics, entertainment and more.

Are These Offshore Betting Sites Legitimate?

Is online sports betting legal in panama

Certainly. We only recommend sportsbooks that have been in business for at least a decade and have worked to build up a solid reputation of reliability and customer service. These sites deal with a lot of clients and money, so you can rest assured that your personal and financial information will be kept secure. These sportsbooks also operate outside the jurisdiction of PASPA, the Federal Wire Act and the UIGEA, so Pennsylvania residents can place bets without breaking the law.

How Do I Start Betting?

Once you sign up for an account you’ll have to deposit money into that account so you have some bankroll to bet with. You can do this in several ways. Most sportsbooks allow you to deposit funds using a credit/debit card, money transfer, money orders, cashier’s checks and more. Online currencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin are also options for depositing money.

How Do I Receive My Winnings?

Once you are ready to withdraw your winnings, all you have to do is go to your account on the site. Once there, you’ll be prompted to select the withdrawal method of your choosing. It’s important to note that some sportsbooks restrict your withdrawal method to the same deposit method, however the sportsbooks reserve the right to use alternative payout methods if necessary. The usual withdrawal methods available are check, Bitcoin, wire transfer, etc.

Do These Sportsbooks Offer Any Type of Promotions?

Yes. These sportsbooks that we’ve recommended for Pennsylvania residents offer a variety of bonuses throughout the year. These bonuses offer bettors additional funds to place bets with. For example, once you make a deposit with your Bovada account you are instantly granted a 50% bonus up to $250. There are other bonuses available, such as seasonal promotions and bonuses for referring a friend to the site. Since there are so many bonuses available to bettors throughout the year, it’s important to stay up to date with the sportsbook so you don’t miss out on any free money.

Are There Any Sports Teams in Pennsylvania That Have A Shot At Winning A National Title in 2017/2018?

The Pittsburgh Steelers just lost out on a chance at the Super Bowl thanks to the New England Patriots, but it’s safe to assume they’ll be one of the dominant teams in the AFC next season and look to redeem their loss in the AFC Championship game. The Eagles aren’t having the same success as their state counterparts, so their next season is a little more up in the air. The 76ers are undergoing a bit of a rebuild process and have been for some time now. They still need a few more pieces before they can be legitimate title contenders. The Penguins currently sit 3rd in their division while the Flyers sit in 5th, so both teams could still fight it out for a playoff berth. The MLB season isn’t set to start for a while, so the World Series might be a bit too far off to predict. The MLS season is about to start its preseason matches, so keep an eye on the Union to see if they’ll be contenders during the regular season.