StateReg.Reference

Pennsylvania Sports Betting Laws: Rules & Regulations 2025

Complete guide to Pennsylvania sports betting laws: legal status, tax rates, license types, age limits, and 2025 legislative updates. Cite PA Title 4 statutes.

Verified April 26, 202610 statute sources
AI-drafted, human-reviewed

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Each guide is built from authoritative sources (state legislatures, FAA, IRS, DSIRE, OpenStates, etc.), drafted by AI, edited by a second AI pass, polished, then spot-reviewed by a human before publication.

PennsylvaniaSports betting

Pennsylvania sports betting is fully legal and operational. It launched in 2019 and is open to anyone 21 or older physically located within state lines. The state taxes gross revenue at 36%, one of the highest operator tax rates nationally.

Quick Answer: Is Sports Betting Legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Pennsylvania legalized sports betting under Act 42 of 2017. Retail operations began in late 2018, followed by online and mobile wagering in 2019. The framework is established in 4 Pa. C.S. Chapter 13C (Sports Wagering). The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) is the sole licensing and enforcement authority.

Key details:

  • Minimum Age: 21 or older (4 Pa. C.S. § 13C51).
  • Where to Bet: Retail sportsbooks at PGCB-licensed casinos or on licensed online and mobile platforms from anywhere within Pennsylvania.
  • Geolocation: Licensed online operators must verify your physical location before accepting a wager. Bets placed from outside Pennsylvania will not process.
  • Licensed Operators: The PGCB lists active licensees at gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov. Operators with sports wagering certificates include those affiliated with FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, BetRivers, and ESPN Bet, among others. Always verify the current complete list with the PGCB registry before depositing, as certificates can be added or suspended.
Sources & Verification (10)
  • An Act amending Titles 53 (Municipalities Generally) and 72 (Taxation and Fiscal Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, eliminating school district property taxes; imposing county and school district taxes; establishing the School District Emergency Fund and the School District Property Tax Elimination Fund; consolidating Articles II and III of the Tax Reform Code of 1971; in preliminary provisions relating to sales and use tax, providing for definitions; in taxation generally relating to sales and use tax, providing for exclusions and for transfer to county sales and use tax accounts; in preliminary provisions relating to personal income tax, providing for definitions; and making repeals.
  • An Act amending Titles 4 (Amusements), 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in fantasy contests, further providing for definitions, for general and specific powers of board and for prohibitions; in general provisions relating to gaming, further providing for legislative intent and for definitions; in Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, further providing for Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board established, for general and specific powers, for license or permit application hearing process and public input hearings, for regulatory authority of board, for number of slot machines, for reports of board and for license or permit prohibition; in licensees, further providing for Category 4 slot machine license, for divestiture of disqualifying applicant, for manufacturer licenses, for gaming service provider, for nongaming service provider, for occupation permit application, for slot machine testing and certification standards, for slot machine accounting controls and audits and for renewals; in table games, further providing for regulatory authority and for table game device and associated equipment testing and certification standards; in interactive gaming, further providing for internal, administrative and accounting controls, for interactive games and interactive gaming devices and associated equipment testing and certification standards; in sports wagering, further providing for definitions; in revenues, further providing for slot machine licensee deposits and for transfers from State Gaming Fund; in administration and enforcement, repealing provisions relating to political influence, further providing for investigations and enforcement, for prohibited acts and penalties and for liquor licenses at licensed facilities; in fingerprinting, further providing for submission of fingerprints and photographs; in miscellaneous provisions relating to gaming, providing for live-streaming on casino floor and further providing for severability; in general provisions relating to video gaming, further providing for definitions; in administration, further providing for powers of board; in application and licensure, further providing for key employee licenses, for establishment licenses and for license or permit prohibition; in operation, further providing for video gaming limitations and for compulsive and problem gambling; in enforcement, further providing for prohibited acts and penalties; in revenues, further providing for fees; in ethics, repealing provisions relating to political influence; providing for skill gaming; establishing the Skill Gaming Fund; imposing duties on the Department of Revenue; in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for gambling devices, gambling, etc.; in forfeiture of assets, further providing for asset forfeiture; making appropriations; making repeals; and making editorial changes.
  • An Act amending Title 4 (Amusements) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sports wagering, further providing for definitions.
  • An Act amending Titles 53 (Municipalities Generally) and 72 (Taxation and Fiscal Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, eliminating school district property taxes; imposing county and school district taxes; establishing the School District Emergency Fund and the School District Property Tax Elimination Fund; consolidating Articles II and III of the Tax Reform Code of 1971; in preliminary provisions relating to sales and use tax, providing for definitions; in taxation generally relating to sales and use tax, providing for exclusions and for transfer to county sales and use tax accounts; in preliminary provisions relating to personal income tax, providing for definitions; and making repeals.
  • An Act amending Title 4 (Amusements) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in fantasy contests, further providing for prohibitions; in lottery, further providing for iLottery authorization; in interactive gaming, further providing for interactive gaming account credits, debits, deposits and payments; and, in sports wagering, further providing for authorization to conduct sports wagering.
  • An Act amending Titles 2 (Administrative Law and Procedure), 3 (Agriculture), 4 (Amusements), 5 (Athletics and Sports), 8 (Boroughs and Incorporated Towns), 11 (Cities), 13 (Commercial Code), 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations), 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries), 23 (Domestic Relations), 24 (Education), 25 (Elections), 26 (Eminent Domain), 27 (Environmental Resources), 30 (Fish), 34 (Game), 35 (Health and Safety), 37 (Historical and Museums), 40 (Insurance), 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure), 45 (Legal Notices), 51 (Military Affairs), 53 (Municipalities Generally), 58 (Oil and Gas), 62 (Procurement), 64 (Public Authorities and Quasi-Public Corporations), 65 (Public Officers), 66 (Public Utilities), 68 (Real and Personal Property), 71 (State Government), 74 (Transportation) and 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for right-to-know; making repeals; and making editorial changes.
  • An Act amending Title 4 (Amusements) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sports wagering, further providing for definitions.
  • An Act amending Title 4 (Amusements) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in fantasy contests, further providing for prohibitions; in lottery, further providing for iLottery authorization; in interactive gaming, further providing for interactive gaming account credits, debits, deposits and payments; and, in sports wagering, further providing for authorization to conduct sports wagering.
  • An Act amending Titles 53 (Municipalities Generally) and 72 (Taxation and Fiscal Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, eliminating school district property taxes; imposing county and school district taxes; establishing the School District Emergency Fund and the School District Property Tax Elimination Fund; consolidating Articles II and III of the Tax Reform Code of 1971; in preliminary provisions relating to sales and use tax, providing for definitions; in taxation generally relating to sales and use tax, providing for exclusions and for transfer to county sales and use tax accounts; and, in preliminary provisions relating to personal income tax, providing for definitions; and making related repeals.
  • An Act amending Titles 2 (Administrative Law and Procedure), 3 (Agriculture), 4 (Amusements), 5 (Athletics and Sports), 8 (Boroughs and Incorporated Towns), 11 (Cities), 13 (Commercial Code), 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations), 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries), 23 (Domestic Relations), 24 (Education), 25 (Elections), 26 (Eminent Domain), 27 (Environmental Resources), 30 (Fish), 34 (Game), 35 (Health and Safety), 37 (Historical and Museums), 40 (Insurance), 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure), 45 (Legal Notices), 51 (Military Affairs), 53 (Municipalities Generally), 58 (Oil and Gas), 62 (Procurement), 64 (Public Authorities and Quasi-Public Corporations), 65 (Public Officers), 66 (Public Utilities), 68 (Real and Personal Property), 71 (State Government), 74 (Transportation) and 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for right-to-know; making related repeals; and making editorial changes.

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Last verified: April 26, 2026

How we verify: 9 source adapters (FAA, DSIRE, IRS, OpenStates, etc.) → AI draft → AI editor → AI polish → spot human review.

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