Pennsylvania Gambling Laws & Online Poker in Pennsylvania

Gambling in Pennsylvania includes casino gambling, a lottery, horse racing and bingo.  Casinos were first authorized in 2004, when the state legalized slot machines, and table games entered six years later.  In 2017, the state legalized online casinos, which have continued to flourish.

Type/Code Summary
State Code Section(s) 58.161-190; 58.401-1209; 61.901; 61.1001
Definition of Interactive of Game A gambling game offered through the use of communications technology that allows a person utilizing money, checks, electronic checks, electronic transfers of money, credit cards or any other instrumentality to transmit electronic information to assist in the placement of a bet or wager and corresponding information related to the display of the game, game outcomes or other similar information.
Definition of Interactive Gaming The placing of wagers with an interactive gaming certificate holder or interactive gaming operator using a computer network of Federal and non-Federal interoperable packet switched data networks through which an interactive gaming certificate holder may offer authorized interactive games to registered players. The term includes the placing of wagers through the use of a multiuse computing device.
Definition of Interactive Gaming Device The hardware, software and other technology, equipment or device of any kind as determined by the Board to be necessary for the conduct of authorized interactive games.
Definition of Interactive Gaming Operator A person licensed by the Board to operate interactive gaming or an interactive gaming system, through the provision of an interactive gaming platform, on behalf of an interactive gaming certificate holder.
Definition of Interactive Gaming Skin The portal to an interactive gaming platform or interactive gaming web site through which authorized interactive games are made available by an interactive gaming certificate holder or interactive gaming operator to registered players in this Commonwealth or registered players in any other state or jurisdiction which has entered into an interactive gaming reciprocal agreement.
Definition of Multi-state Agreement The written agreement, approved by the Governor, between the Board and regulatory agencies in other states or jurisdictions for the operation of an interactive multistate wide-area progressive system.
Definition of Peer-to-Peer Interactive Gaming An authorized interactive game which is nonbanking, in which a player competes against one or more players and in which the interactive gaming certificate holder collects a rake.
Online Poker/Gambling Pennsylvania became the fourth state in the US to legalize online poker. It happened in late 2017 when the legislature also authorized online casino games as part of a larger gambling expansion package. Online poker is scheduled to launch in late 2018 or early 2019.
Live Poker Most of the major casinos in Pennsylvania do host poker rooms, which offer live cash games and tournaments.
Casinos There are more than a dozen land-based casinos in Pennsylvania, all of which are fully-functional casinos or racetracks turned into casinos with the capability to offer slots and table games.
Sports Betting Sports betting was legalized in late 2017 with other forms of online gaming. Once the US Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018 to allow states to pursue sports betting, Pennsylvania began to establish regulations and move forward with its new industry.
DFS Daily fantasy sports was a part of the 2017 bill that expanded gambling in Pennsylvania. It is now legal and regulated.
Other Forms of Gambling Lottery, bingo, charitable gambling, video gaming terminals, horse and harness racing, on-track and off-track pari-mutuel betting, pull-tab games, tavern raffles.

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