Sports betting became legal in Pennsylvania in 2019, and there are now more than a dozen active digital sportsbooks. The overall sports betting handle for Pennsylvania for the fiscal year 2020-21, which concluded last June, was $5.591bn. Only New Jersey and Illinois will have bigger online wagering marketplaces in 2021.

Pennsylvania has shunned practically all sorts of legalized gaming for generations, sticking to its traditionalist, anti-gambling origins. However, the Keystone State has been forced to change its approach to sports betting due to the potential for tax revenue the industry presents and the threat of gambling sectors in neighboring states, which can draw away customers based in PA.

What sports can I bet on in Pennsylvania?

A sportsbook in Pennsylvania will feature odds on every sporting event that is being played. Football, baseball, mixed martial arts (UFC), horse racing, hockey, soccer, rugby, basketball, golf, tennis and a variety of other professional and collegiate leagues are all represented in the PA sports betting market.

The Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Penguins, as well as all NCAA Division I college basketball and football programs, such as the Penn State Nittany Lions and Pittsburgh Panthers, are just a few of the eligible wagering options available in the Keystone State.

What are the Pennsylvania sports betting rules?

Pennsylvania is one of the most internet gambling-friendly states in the US. In addition to sports betting, Pennsylvania laws permit online casino betting, poker, pari-mutuel betting and fantasy sports wagering. Tickets for the Pennsylvania Lottery may also be bought online.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) is in charge of enforcing the state’s sports betting laws and overseeing internet gambling. The PGCB is also responsible for assuring the integrity of online sports betting, as well as administering the licensing process and overseeing problem gambling initiatives.

In Pennsylvania, anybody over the age of 21 may bet on sports. To join an online sportsbook, you must be physically present in Pennsylvania at the moment the bet is placed. In other words, if you’re outside of Pennsylvania, you can’t use a Pennsylvania mobile betting app. The sites, like other gambling applications, feature locating algorithms that can figure out where a player’s registration comes from.

How to sign up to a Pennsylvania sports betting site

The procedure for joining up with a sports betting site and making your first wager in Pennsylvania is straightforward. The first step is to choose a sportsbook. Taking time to check out the many online PA sports betting sites to identify the one you feel most comfortable with is the best approach here.

You may receive several bonus offers and have the chance to compare odds and other features by signing up with various PA sportsbooks.

To create an account, go to ‘Register’ or ‘Join Now’ and fill out the form. You have to be 21 years old at a minimum before you will be allowed to bet through a PA sports betting site. You will be asked for your name, address, phone number and the last four digits of your Social Security number (to verify age and identity). Additionally, you will be required to set up a username and password.

Once this is done, you can make your first deposit to your new account. PA online sportsbooks try to cater to a wide range of payment preferences. You should be able to make deposits and withdrawals using all of the most popular payment options, including Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, ACH or e-checks, PayNearMe, Skrill or wire transfer, and the initial deposit at most PA sportsbooks is $10 or less. As mentioned above, you must be located inside Pennsylvania at the time when you make your bet.

With your account set up and funded, you are ready to bet. The layout of each sportsbook site will differ slightly, but there will be many similarities between them. You will be able to choose from live or upcoming events, which are usually categorized by sport. There will also be helpful options, often at the top of the home page, which enable you to access your account and other features.

When you are ready to make your wager, you can click on the relevant selection and this will then appear in your online betting slip. Simply enter your stake and confirm that you want to make the wager.

Final thoughts

Betting on sports in PA is a straightforward pastime, and there are plenty of sites to choose from but it is important always to remember some golden rules:

Always use registered PA sportsbooks.

Never bet on sport with money you cannot afford to lose.

Never drink alcohol while betting.

Set clear limits to your sports betting.

If you follow these rules you will be better placed to ensure that your PA sports betting experience is safe, secure, and above all, fun.