Sports betting

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Sports Betting Laws: Rules & Regulations 2026

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

By Steven Cooper · Founder & Editor

Verified June 7, 20266 statute sources

AI-drafted, human-reviewed

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PennsylvaniaSports betting

#26 of 50·6 state statutes cited·Below median

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 (6)

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 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 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.

Last verified: June 7, 2026

Editorial process: See methodology →

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

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