Welcome to Live Casino USA. Find everything you need to know to play Online USA Dealer Casino Games in 2021 and play at the Best USA Live Dealer Casino.
Live Casinos Online When you play at a live casino online, you can interact and socialize with the dealer and other players. It’s a real-world gambling experience from the comfort of home. Everything about the games happens in real-time streaming video. We Have a Huge Range of Top-Quality, Fast Loading Online Games. With over 1000 games to choose from, in all categories, including slots, table games, jackpot games, live casino and an exciting new suite of game show derived games you’re never going to be bored of the same old games.
We here at Live Casino USA only list the best live dealer casinos for 2021, but our entire website is dedicated to USA live dealer casino play and live dealer online casino games. Find the best USA live dealer casino and browse our website for everything you need to know about playing online with a live dealer. Every live dealer casino listed here at Live Casino USA accepts USA players and deposits in 2021.
Best USA Live Dealer Casino
BetOnline - The Best USA Live Dealer Casino
USA players are welcome and BetOnline does a great job getting USA deposits approved and sending withdraws quickly. BetOnline offers live dealer games as well as a full selection of standard online casino games, slots and video poker machines.
Why We Like the BetOnline Casino
- USA Players and Residents Welcome
- Outstanding Deposit Options
- USA Credit Cards Work Extremely Well
- eCheck Deposits
- Fast Withdraws - 24 Hour Turnaround
- 10% Cash Back on Casino Losses
- No Download Required
- Online Casino, Sportsbook and Poker Room
- In Business Since 2001 - Safe and Reliable
Online Live Dealer
Live Dealer Games Offered:
- Live Dealer Blackjack
- Live Dealer Baccarat
- Live Dealer Roulette
- Live Dealer Casino Holdem
Deposit Methods:
Other Top USA Live Dealer Casinos
The CryptoReels Casino is a great standard and live dealer casino. Find great USA deposit and withdraw options to play live casino games using the download or instant play casino.
Live Games: Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Super 6
Sign up at CryptoReels and Play Live Dealer Casino Games
USA Deposit Methods:
- Bitcoin
- Visa
- MasterCard
- American Express
- Discover
- Diners Club
The Vegas Crest Casino offers USA friendly live dealer casino games and is a great overall online casino to play at. The casino is safe and fair and a great choice for USA players.
Live Games: Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Casino Holdem
Play at Vegas Crest a Top USA Live Online Casino.
USA Deposit Methods:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Bitcoin
- Cash Transfer
The Drake Casino accepts USA players and offers a live dealer casino which is mobile compatible. In business since 2012, the Drake Casino is highly regarded.
Live Games: Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Casino Holdem
Sign up at the Drake Casino and Play with your PC or Mobile.
USA Deposit Methods:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- American Express
- Cash Transfer
- Bitcoin
The Wild Casino is a newer USA live dealer casino opening in 2018 but is owned and managed by CommissionKings, one of the most trusted online casino operators in the business.
Live Games: Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Casino Holdem
Play USA live dealer casino games at the Wild Casino.
USA Deposit Methods:
- Visa/MasterCard
- American Express
- Discover
- eCheck
- Cryptocurrency
- Cash Transfers
The BoVegas Casino offers a USA live dealer casino as well as a great standard online casino. Play live dealer casino games at this USA friendly online casino.
Live Games: Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Super 6
Play at BoVegas and find easy USA deposits and withdraws.
USA Deposit Methods:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- American Express
- Bitcoin
If you like to play casino table games, an online live dealer casino is your best option. Play blackjack, roulette, baccarat, casino holdem and super 6 at an actual brick and mortar casino connected remotely by a live streaming feed. It's safe, fun and easy to play.
Play at a live dealer casino online from the USA. If you like to play casino table games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, casino hold'em and/or super 6, use an online live dealer casino and play with a real live person as the dealer. Watch your game and the dealer in real time over a live streaming feed right from your home. Live dealer online casinos give you a brick and mortar casino feel but instead of driving or flying to a casino bring the casino to you. By using an online live dealer casino, you actually play at a brick and mortar casino using your computer or mobile connected by a live streaming feed. If you do want to use a mobile device to play, see our listing of USA mobile live dealer casinos.
Use any of our recommended USA live dealer casinos and always be confident you are playing at the best live dealer casinos and that you will receive your winnings when you request them. While the number of online live dealer casinos continues to grow, you want to be sure you are using a reputable and trustworthy online casino and by using any of the USA live online casinos listed here you can be sure you are. See our live casino reviews to find the USA live dealer casino of your choice and start playing live dealer casino games online. If you do not want to download any software to your computer, use one of our recommended instant play live casinos and play online from any computer, Mac, iPad or tablet. Get started at any of our recommended USA live dealer casinos for the best experience and piece of mind that your money is always safe.
What is a Live Dealer Online Casino?
You may be wondering what is a live dealer online casino or how a live dealer casino actually works. Live dealer casinos work similar to many of the online casinos you find on the Internet only the dealer is a real live person. Standard online casinos use computer software to determine how a game will be played, which cards are dealt next or what number the roulette ball will land on. While standard online casinos are very fair and use random number generator software to determine the outcome of a game, nothing is better than an actual person running the game and dealing the cards and that is just what you get at a live dealer online casino.
Standard online casinos use a computer and random number generator (RNG) to determine the outcome of a game while live dealer casinos have an actual person running the game.
Just like playing at your local land based casino or in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, when using a live dealer casino there is an actual person running the game and dealing the cards. The actual casino is located in the country or region the online casino is licensed and at this location there are casino game tables set up just like at a brick and mortar casino with real live people dealing the cards and running the games. As a player you are at your computer and logged into the online casino software which displays a live streaming feed from the table you are playing at. You can see the dealer and the table very clearly over the live feed and watch everything the dealer is doing. The camera is never interrupted and is always capturing the dealer and the table you are playing at. When the game is ready to begin you will prompted by the software to place your bet and the game will start.
Live Dealer Casino Games Offered
Play any of the live dealer casino games offered online including Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Super 6 and Casino Hold'em. Currently these are the only casino games offered using live dealers but with the popularity of live dealer casino games, we do expect more games to be offered in the near future. Games such as Craps, 3 Card Poker and Let it Ride could easily be played online using a live dealer casino. For now though enjoy the live dealer games offered and enjoy playing online just as you would at a brick and mortar casino.
Play any of the below casino games using a USA live dealer casino. Connected by a live streaming feed you are able to play at a brick and mortar casino online.
See the best USA online casinos for playing live dealer blackjack, live dealer baccarat, live dealer roulette (including live dealer european roulette), live dealer casino holdem and live dealer super 6. When more games are available for live dealer play we will list them here. In the meantime, click any of the images below for a listing of the best live dealer casinos which offer that particular game.
Live Baccarat
Live Casino Holdem
Live Casino Lobby Example
Above are the ONLY live dealer casino games available at this time. Contrary to what some websites advertise, Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Super 6 and Casino Holdem are the only online casino games you can play with a live dealer. Live dealer craps, live dealer 3 card poker and live dealer sic bo, to name a few, simply do not exist.
Be careful of other websites which advertise other USA live dealer casino games. That information is simply not true and they are purposely misleading their visitors.
Some websites will advertise other live dealer games in an effort to get you to their websites, but how can you trust such a website when they intentionally mislead their visitors? Here at Live Casino USA we only state the facts and provide the most accurate information we possibly can. We research live dealer casinos on an ongoing basis and constantly update the information here on our website. As other USA live dealer casino games such as Craps, Sic Bo, 3 and 4 Card Poker do become available we will list them here. New games are being developed and will be available in the near future.
Live Dealer Casino Online Deposits and Withdraws
Getting deposits approved and receiving withdraws online is easy at our recommended USA live dealer casinos. Simply click any of the below logos to see the best live casinos for that particular deposit method. When choosing our recommended casinos banking options were a major determining factor. Deposits should be easy to get approved and withdraws must be hassle free and sent quickly.
For a listing of available withdraw options and a listing of which recommended USA live dealer casinos offer which methods simply see our USA online casino withdraws section. You can always be confident when requesting withdraws the process will be quick and easy.
Playing at a USA Live Dealer Casino
Playing at a USA live dealer casino is not very different from using a standard online casino. While sitting at your computer and logged into the live casino, when the game is ready to start a prompt will display on your screen and you place your bet. When all bets are placed the game begins and betting is closed.
If the game you are playing does not require further action from you (like in Roulette or Baccarat) the game will finish and all bets are either paid or collected. If you are playing an interactive game like Blackjack, once the starting cards are dealt and it is your turn to act a prompt will display asking you to choose the action you want. Whether you want to hit, stand, double or split, you simply click the prompt for the action you want to make just as you would at a standard online casino. When your turn is finished the game progresses until all players have completed their hands. The cards are then turned over and you are either paid if you win or your bet is collected if you lose. At no time during the course of the game is the camera taken away from the table where you cannot see the game and/or cards and dealer. You watch in real time the entire time the game is being played and even in between games.
Another reason you may like playing online at a live dealer casino is because of the betting limits. If you want higher betting limits you can bet as much as $10,000 per game/hand at a live dealer casino. Because it is an actual person running the game and not a computer, live dealer casinos allow higher betting limits. If you use a progressive betting strategy, by using a live dealer casino you can win quite a bit more with the higher limits.
You do not have to be a high roller to play live dealer casino games. While the betting limits are higher, you can bet as little $1 for roulette and $5 for other live dealer games. Simply choose the table which best fits your betting style just as you would at a brick and mortar casino.
Can I Play Online from the USA?
YES, all the online live dealer casinos we list and recommend accept USA players. USA players can play at every live dealer casino listed and play every live dealer game offered as well as all other online casino games, slots and video poker machines still now in 2021. Several of our recommended USA live dealer casinos also offer an online sportsbook which can also be used from the same account. See our listing of the best live online casinos with sportsbooks for more information.
![Real live gambling online Real live gambling online](/uploads/1/3/6/0/136061788/196834588.jpg)
Every Live Dealer Casino Listed Accepts USA Players and Deposits Now in 2021
All the USA live dealer casinos we list also do an exceptional job getting USA deposits approved and also send withdraws quickly. Never have a problem making USA credit card deposits at any of our recommended online casinos that accept USA credit cards. Also deposit to USA live casinos by cryptocurrency or send cash using a cash transfer service at many of the casinos listed. Withdraws are offered by a variety of methods and are always sent quickly. A main consideration when choosing whether to list a USA live online casino here on Live Casino USA was the casinos ability to get USA deposits approved (including USA credit cards) and their ability to send withdraws quickly. No one wants to wait weeks to receive their winnings and by using the real money live dealer casinos listed here you can expect to receive your withdraws in as little as 24 hours depending on the withdraw method you choose.
Get Started at the Best USA Live Dealer Casinos
BetOnline is our best USA live dealer casino with a great selection of games, easy deposits and fast withdraws. While BetOnline is our top choice, every USA live dealer casino listed on our website is reputable and offers a great online experience.
See our BetOnline Casino Review for more information on our best USA live dealer online casino.
The BetOnline Casino has been in business since 2001 and is a top USA live dealer casino. Play live dealer and standard online casino games and enjoy easy USA banking options.
Live Games: Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Casino Holdem
Sign up at BetOnline for Easy Deposits and Fast Withdraws.
USA Deposit Methods:
- Visa/MasterCard
- American Express
- Discover
- eCheck
- Cash Transfer
- Bitcoin
To get started simply use any of our links to be taken directly to the USA live dealer casino of your choice or see our live casino reviews for more information on any of the USA live casinos we recommend. Every live casino accepts USA players and gets USA credit card deposits approved easily. Also by using one of links to visit the casino and signing up as a new real money player, you will be eligible for any bonuses offered by the casino. In many cases the bonuses listed are exclusive to our visitors so it is important to use our link in order to be eligible for the special bonus.
If you like playing casino table games we are certain you will enjoy playing online at a live dealer casino. When you win you can always be confident you will receive your winnings quickly from all the live online casinos listed and recommended here. If you are unable or simply do not want to download software to your computer, see our listing of no download live dealer casinos and play using the same exact software as if you did download the casino. All live casinos use flash software to run their games so whether you download the casino or not you will be using the same software.
A Message from Live Casino USA
Good luck at the tables and please browse our website for all the information you need to play USA live dealer casino games. Live Casino USA is dedicated to live online casino play and we have the most comprehensive amount of information regarding USA live dealer casinos.
Thanks for visiting us here at Live Casino USA and please check back often for the latest information regarding USA live dealer casinos. Also check out our blog where you can find useful information regarding the USA live dealer casinos we recommend as well as USA live dealer casino play in general.
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
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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.
![Live Live](/uploads/1/3/6/0/136061788/919604806.jpg)
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.
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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.
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
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.
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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.
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.
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.