After what has indisputably been one of the challenging years for gaming in recent years, casino operators and gamers alike are turning attention to 2021. For most people, they were forced to fill their time with fun and fulfilling activities online casinos.
As a result, more and more people joined betting sites to enjoy the different games available. With the increase of iGamers casinos have to do much more to suit the gaming needs of their clientele.
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Live casinos replicate the experience of brick-and-mortar casinos. They recreate the tense moments found in these facilities as one awaits the outcome. Online casinos have made it possible for iGamers to feel this experience through its live dealer casino gamers.
Jan 11, 2021 Great online casino bonuses are now available. Our guide will lead you through the many casino bonus offers. These deals come in the forms of no deposit bonus dollars, free spins, and matching dollars on deposits, and more. This online casino bonus guide puts all the confusing terms in clear English. Online casinos offer bonuses to their patrons to promote loyalty for the site. This practice is especially true for new players; every online casino has an offer for those who register for the site. Several online casinos are active in Pennsylvania. Here’s a rundown of what bonuses are available on the best sites right now. If an online casino accepts players from the US and offers safe and US- friendly banking options then you can safely play casinos games at that online casino. Since the passing of the UIGEA in 2006, many online casinos, software providers and payment processors decided to withdraw their services from the US market.
The average casinos have 20+ live games from leading providers Evolution Gaming and NetEnt. Some sites have a lot more games. Developers of excellent live dealer games are also quite a number.
Leading live casinos like NetBet—you can read a review at www.bestcasino.co.uk will continue to offer a broad range of live dealers in 2021. And that’s because these games are becoming increasingly popular with players.
Online casinos should consider accepting payments in virtual currencies as a substitute for the current payment options. They don’t have to do away with the current methods, but rather add virtual currencies. In essence, virtual currencies are cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Today, it is a no brainer that cryptocurrencies are slowly becoming the alternative to the popular fiat currencies. It is safe to say that more online casinos will start accepting crypto payments soon.
Currently, a good percentage are already accepting payments via cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, BitCash, Litecoin, and Ethereum. Gaming sites can also start accepting cryptocurrencies as well as promote Blockchain-based games.
Ideally, this would involve giving bonuses to players who will use cryptocurrency payments. If it comes to fruition, it will be fascinating to see how the sites harness this technology.
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Esports will without a doubt be a hit not only in 2021 but beyond especially if the current hype doesn’t die. Esports have gradually become favorites to many. Players enjoy the thrill of wagering on esports, and hence, online casinos with sportsbooks could make them available.
Besides, esports will help the casinos to enhance social gaming, an element that almost every other gamer is hoping to see in casinos. Players would love to see the introduction of these games. They will have more gaming options on their list of fun activities to do at the casinos.
Casino bonuses, promotions, and limited-time perks have become an industry-standard today. Players are always anticipating the bonuses that their casinos will award them. While casinos already have great bonuses, they can still improve on this.
For instance, they can be more generous on the amounts of bonus money or free spins they offer. The casinos can also consider other offers like regular free bets on other casino games like video poker or table gamers.
Currently, the casino favors slot fans more, since they are the ones who get to enjoy regular free spins on different slots. Further, the casinos should consider hosting more tournaments to gamify users’ experience as well as give them chances to win generous prizes.
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The convenience of betting from a desktop or laptop is slowly being overridden by mobile gaming. While many players still opt for the laptop view, more gamers are turning to their tablets or smartphones which are always within reach.
The surge of mobile gaming will see more players shift to their devices. Hence, the casinos need to ensure many of their games are optimized for mobile gaming. In addition, they can develop downloadable apps for other operating systems.
They need to cater to gamers not using Android or iOS devices who may be interested in installing the casinos’ apps on their phones. This way, they can attract even more customers.
The casinos offer superb bonuses. Problem is, most of these bonuses come with unfriendly terms, such as high wagering requirements. Many iGamers find these requirements hard to fulfill within the given timeframe.
Some bonuses last only a week. Therefore, they opt not to claim these offers instead of having to spend too much to meet them. Online casinos will be more considerate in 2021. They necessarily don’t have to eliminate the wager terms.
Instead, they can lower them so that both high-rollers and low-rollers can claim their offers. Still, they can extend the expiration duration, to give players more time to play through the bonuses. Through this, no player will be left out, unless one wishes to opt-out themselves.
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Virtual reality will dramatically transform the iGaming sector in 2021 and beyond for the better. The experience that virtual games will provide to gamers will be unlike any other. VR delivers a highly stimulating gaming experience.
Plans are already underway to create games powered by virtual reality. Once they are available, online casinos could make efforts to offer the games to their customers. Many gamers are anticipating these games that are projected will bring a real-life gaming adventure.
The availability nature of iGaming sites has made it possible for gamers to play for hours, some without taking a break. Notably, online casinos increase the likelihood of people being addicted to gaming than brick-and-mortar casinos.
As a result, they must promote responsible gaming in 2021. They have to warn their customers about the dangers of addictive gaming and provide contacts of firms they can reach for assistance.
They also need to encourage players to set daily, weekly or monthly limits on the amounts they can spend on sports or casino games wagering. The organizations that the casinos can work with to promote responsible gaming are many.
The casino should continue with its in-house events and workshops that aim at educating players about the dangers of gambling even in 2021. If possible, it can make it mandatory for all customers to take part.
With several types of online gambling available in Pennsylvania, picking a site can seem overwhelming. If you’re feeling unsure about where to go, you’ve come to the right place.
Below, you will find reviews for the best online casino and online sportsbook in Pennsylvania. We have carefully studied each site to determine what the strong suits are and, conversely, what things they need to improve.
We also discuss some of the challenges Pennsylvania’s online gambling market is facing.
With things changing almost daily, it can be challenging to keep up with online gambling news in the Keystone State. Hopefully, by reading through our information below, you can determine which sites best fit your online betting needs. Most importantly, you must be comfortable with the site and aren’t worried about anything beyond winning.
Online casinos offer bonuses to their patrons to promote loyalty for the site. This practice is especially true for new players; every online casino has an offer for those who register for the site.
Several online casinos are active in Pennsylvania. Here’s a rundown of what bonuses are available on the best sites right now:
Unibet online casino in PA is one of the top options in the state, with $10 free just for signing up and a 100% match of your deposit up to $500.
For the free money, use promo code UBCASINO10. For the deposit bonus, use promo code UBCASINO500.
The trusted brand from Europe is hoping to make a big splash in PA with the biggest library of games in the state.
Read ourUnibet PA online casino review
SugarHouse Casino offers new players a 100% deposit match on their first deposit. In other words, the site will match the player’s initial deposit dollar-for-dollar.
This bonus is good for up to $250. Best of all, PlaySugarHouse only requires a 1x playthrough on its bonus, so the money is quite easy to release. SugarHouse is the best PA casino when it comes to bonus offers.
All a new player needs to do is use promo code 250MATCH when he or she makes a deposit. This deposit bonus is likely the best available in Pennsylvania right now.
Read our Sugarhouse PA Casino review
At first glance, Hollywood online casino’s bonus seems rather meager in comparison to the other two casinos. After all, $25 is not much compared to hundreds of dollars. However, this $25 does not require a deposit. It’s absolutely free.
All new players must do is register on the site. There’s no need to enter any promo code or other activity. As a result, the registrant will find $25 waiting for them.
Best of all, there’s only a 1x playthrough requirement. So, wager through the $25 once, and it’s ready for withdrawals.
Read our Hollywood Casino review
The table below shows the Pennsylvania casinos that have applied for licenses. You can see their expected technology partners, and whether they have an additional online sports betting license.
Casino | Online partners | Online Casino launch projection |
---|---|---|
Hollywood (Penn National) | N/A | Launched July 2019 |
Parx | GAN | Launched July 2019 |
Rivers Philadelphia | Rush Street Interactive / Kambi | Launched July 2019 (PlaySugarHouse) |
PokerStars Casino | 888 / PokerStars | Launched Nov. 2019 |
Unibet | Kindred | Launched Nov. 2019 |
FanDuel Casino | IGT / GAN | Launched Jan. 2020 |
Presque Isle Downs | BetAmerica | Launched Jan. 2020 |
Rivers Philadelphia | Rush Street Interactive / Kambi | Launched Jan. 2020 (BetRivers) |
Harrah's | Scientific Games / 888 (Caesars) | Launched April 2020 |
Wind Creek Casino | Pala Interactive | Launched July 2020 |
Live! Casino | GAN | Launched Aug. 2020 |
Barstool Casino | Penn National | 2020 |
Hollywood (Penn National) | BetMGM | Launched Dec. 2020 |
Golden Nugget NJ | NYX | Application pending |
Here’s a look at our welcome bonuses offers:
SugarHouse Sportsbook was the first online sportsbook to open its doors in Pennsylvania. So, fittingly, the book has a great dollar-for-dollar welcome bonus.
New players at SugarHouse will receive a 100% match on their first deposit. All they have to do is enter promo code 250MATCH when entering their banking details.
Best of all, this match is good for deposits of up to $250. There’s only a 1x playthrough requirement, so it’s quite simple to release. Few bonuses are as good as this one in Pennsylvania right now.
Read our Sugarhouse Sportsbook review
BetRivers’ online sportsbook does have a bonus that rivals SugarHouse’s deposit match. In fact, it’s the same.
Thanks to its shared corporate ownership, BetRivers and SugarHouse are sister sites. So, the two books are going to function as mirrors in many cases, including bonus offers.
Naturally, that means that BetRivers players can also receive a 100% match on their first deposits. This match extends up to $250.
New players must use the promo code 250MATCH to activate the bonus when they make that first investment. The 1x playthrough requirement is about as minimal as those restrictions get, so it should be no problem to recover a significant portion of free money from BetRivers.
Read our BetRivers Sportsbook review
To casual fans, FanDuel might seem like a strange addition to the sports betting landscape. However, the daily fantasy sports giant has become quite a force in online sports betting in the past few years.
So, Pennsylvanians can get a taste of what all the fuss is. New accounts at FanDuel online sportsbook will receive a risk-free bet of up to $500.
New FanDuel players don’t need a promo code to activate this deal. They simply must join FanDuel here and make their first wager.
There is a 1x playthrough requirement on the bonus, which means players must make another bet of equal size to release the funds.
Essentially, players are receiving two bets for the price of one. Still, that’s a great deal for most, mainly if one of them happens to win.
As an added bonus, there is also a FanDuel Casino integrated within the PA FanDuel sports betting app.
Read our Fanduel PA Sportsbook review
Casino | Retail sportsbook launch | Online sportsbook | Online sportsbook launch |
---|---|---|---|
Rivers Casino Philadelphia | Dec. 15, 2018 | PlaySugarHouse | Launched May 2019 |
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh | Dec. 15, 2018 | BetRivers | Launched June 2019 |
Parx Casino Sportsbook | Jan. 10, 2019 | Parx | Launched June 2019 |
Valley Forge Casino | March 13, 2019 | FanDuel | Launched July 2019 |
Hollywood Casino at Penn National | Nov. 17, 2018 | Barstool | Launched Sept. 2020 |
Harrah's Philadelphia | Jan. 24, 2019 | Caesars | Launched March 2020 |
Presque Isle Downs Casino | July 26, 2019 | BetAmerica | Launched Dec. 2019 |
Mount Airy | Sept. 12, 2019 | Fox Bet | Launched Sept. 2019 |
Mohegan Sun Pocono | Sept. 24, 2019 | Unibet | Launched Nov. 2019 |
The Meadows | Oct. 7, 2019 | DraftKings | Launched Nov. 2019 |
Oaks Race & Sportsbook (Now Closed) | March 14, 2019 (permanently closed in July, 2020) | N/A | N/A |
South Philadelphia Turf Club | Jan. 17, 2019 | N/A | N/A |
The Downs at Lehigh Valley | Jan. 2020 (Unibet Sportbook) | N/A | N/A |
Wind Creek Casino | Nov. 18, 2020 | Betfred | Launched Dec. 2020 |
Live! Casino Philadelphia (2021) | 2021 (FanDuel Sportsbook) | N/A | N/A |
Hollywood Casino Morgantown (2021) | 2021 (BetMGM Sportsbook) | BetMGM | Launched Dec. 2020 |
Many of these online sports betting offerings will eventually be tied to a PA online casino site. For example, Harrah’s will likely roll everything into its single Caesars Online Casino product. PlaySugarHouse offers a shared account between casino and sports betting as well.
The lone exception is if you are an iPhone user. Changes to the Apple app store guidelines make these shared apps difficult, so you might see a sports betting app before you get a real-money online casino app in the lineup. And there is a chance they will remain separate.
Few newly legalized activities come without rules and exceptions to their legality. Pennsylvania’s online sports betting is no different.
The good news is that Pennsylvania residents and visitors can wager on any professional, collegiate or international sporting events. The only requirements are:
However, the betting must occur on sporting events.
So, non-sports events, such as the Academy Awards or political elections, are not permitted for betting.
Finally, people who are intrinsically involved with a particular sport cannot wager upon it. So, players, officials, coaches, and other sports personnel cannot place bets on their own sports.
Concerning online casinos, most people can play without any restriction. Adults who are at least 21 years old are more than welcome to take part.
However, there is absolutely no online casino play allowed across state lines. The sites use geolocation software to monitor every player’s physical location. You must enable this function on your mobile device or you won’t be allowed to play.
The other exception is people who have placed themselves on the self-exclusion list. There is a separate self-exclusion list in Pennsylvania specifically for online play. Unfortunately, gambling addiction is a real problem, and online casinos are careful not to exacerbate the issue for people who are in recovery.
With Pennsylvania moving into the online casino space, there are a few points about using these programs that bear mention.
First and foremost, it’s important to know that each casino app will figure out what device you’re using automatically. So, whether you use a laptop or a mobile device, the app will size the casino to fit your screen.
For the most part, every online casino has a browser version that will always work on desktops and some phones.
With that said, many casinos have a dedicated app specific to mobile use. If you are a mobile user, you may find the app to provide a smoother experience.
The mobile apps may also have greater functionality than the browser version. However, the game selection on the app can be smaller because some games don’t translate to mobile.
Finally, no matter which platform you use, you will have to go through some steps for the app to work.
Apple users should be aware all PA casinos or sportsbooks have a native iOS app.
Android users can play on all of the casinos in Pennsylvania but they will need to download the app from the casino website. The Google Play store does not support the distribution of gambling apps.
Online casinos feature many of the same games that one might find in a land-based casino. Here are some of the types of games you may find at your favorite site.
Because of the laws requiring Pennsylvania-specific servers for any game providers to PA online casinos, the selection may not be what you are used to if you’ve ever played on a New Jersey online casino, for example.
The bread and butter for land-based casinos, slots, are the main focus for most online casinos too. An online slot is technically not a machine, but it functions identically otherwise.
A slot game will usually feature several rotating reels with various symbols drawn on them. The reels stop, and the player wins (or doesn’t) based upon the patterns the reels come to rest.
Many slots also feature bonus games or features that provide extra chances for players to win. Bonuses tend to be mini-games and have a higher chance of success than the slot game at large.
Each online casino in Pennsylvania offers a selection of games. That variety depends mostly on the deals each casino has with the game publishers.
So, the following is a list of the most popular slot developers and their games that are playable at the best PA online casinos:
NetEnt: At this time, all games on SugarHouse Casino are produced by NetEnt Games. NetEnt became an industry leader in the world of online slots by providing players with realistic games that replicated those in a Vegas casino. The list of games below includes the top games you will find at Pennsylvania online casinos.
Konami: Konami is a household name in the online casino industry. As of the time of writing, this slot developer is only available at select casinos and with only a handful of Konami slot games. Here is a list of games available at select PA casinos:
IGT: IGT is a massive global brand with more than 1,000 styles of slot machines in brick-and-mortar casinos and hundreds available online. But there is a limited number of IGT slots in Pennsylvania. This list includes the top games you’ll be able to find online.
Other game developers entering the Pennsylvania market include Incredible Technologies, Everi Gaming, GAN, H5G, and Slot Symphony.
Video poker games are often lumped together with slots. The main difference is that players retain a certain measure of control over the way the game proceeds.
Video poker creates a virtual simulation of a typical five-card draw poker hand. The player receives five cards, can choose to hold as many as they like and then redraws.
The goal is to make a five-card hand that qualifies as a winner. Exactly which rank of hand is required to win varies from game to game.
Players who prefer a more tactile experience tend to stick to table games. These are games that use a virtual simulation of activities that involve playing cards, dice, balls, or prize wheels.
The most common table game is blackjack. This card game is a competition between the player and the dealer to see whose combination of cards can get closest to 21 in value.
The catch is that the player must act before the dealer and rely on incomplete information to do so. As a result, the casino retains a slight mathematical edge.
However, players can mitigate this edge by using basic strategy. Basic strategy is a widely published set of behaviors designed to play blackjack optimally.
The second-most common table game is roulette.
This French version of the game is found in almost any casino with table games. In fact, PlaySugarHouse elected to launch three variants of roulette in its PA online casino before publishing any versions of blackjack.
Basically, roulette involves a randomly released ball falling into a spinning wheel with numbered slots. Players wager based upon which numbers they believe the ball will fall into.
When playing roulette, you will choose between European and American roulette. European roulette features only a single zero on the wheel and boasts better odds for the players. American roulette, on the other hand, features a 0 and a 00, worsening the odds for players.
There are a variety of choices and combinations of numbers that players can choose to bet. Roulette is a staple for casinos due to its pace of play and chance at incredible winnings. A correct bet on a single number will pay 35:1.
Craps seems to be a bit less likely to appear in PA online casinos. The game itself, which plays with dice rolls, a large tub-like pit, and myriad ways to wager, is likely a challenge for programmers to realize in a virtual setting.
Nonetheless, craps is a dice-based game, which involves players attempting to roll certain numbers on a pair of dice. Players wager based upon the likelihood of various combinations appearing on the dice.
The probability of those combinations often determines the prescribed payout for various wagers on the board. The casinos generate their profit margin by ensuring that the payout odds are worse than the event odds.
For example, a particular number may only have one chance in three of occurring, but a successful wager will only payout 2:1.
Several table games are available from time to time at online casinos. These games are less common and, frankly, have a bigger house edge to them.
Nevertheless, they can be a fun option for someone looking for a change of pace. Some other table games include:
People often speak about the “next big thing.” For online gambling in the US, live dealer games are that thing.
This style of online casino game has been nothing short of a revolution. It has propelled casinos in New Jersey to great heights. Live dealer games will come to a Pennsylvania online casinos as soon as the operators can get it off the ground.
Essentially, live dealer games are games dealt in real-time and broadcast live across the site. Real dealers run the games in an interactive studio located in or near the actual land-based casino itself. In fact, there are a few games conducted on the casino floor itself.
Players can place their bets, interact with the dealers, or even interact with one another. Some versions of live dealer games have even expanded to allow players to have multiple views of the game in action.
So far, the following games are available in a live dealer setting in New Jersey. Hopefully, they will appear in Pennsylvania soon:
Stay on top of things with your favorite online site. Live dealer games are not something to miss.
Online poker, online casino table games, and slots became legal in Pennsylvania as a part of a comprehensive gambling expansionpackagepassed by state legislators in October 2017.
The PGCB is providing regulatory oversight for the local online gambling industry. Casinos could get all three types of interactive gaming licenses at once for a $10 million licensing fee. The cost was $4 million each individually for slots, table games, and peer-to-peer games like poker.
There is no limit on the number of skins, or alternatively branded online gambling operations, that can operate under each licensee. However, regulations designed by the board stipulate branding for the skins must clearly identify the licensee. Plus, players can only create one account per licensee, not per skin.
According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), there are 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos and two smaller resort casinos operating inside the state. Plus, a 13th casino, Live! Philadelphia, is coming to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex area, home of Philadelphia’s professional sports teams.
All of these PA casino operations could have applied for online gambling operator licenses in the state beginning April 16, 2018. The properties had until July 16 to turn in applications for a $10 million comprehensive interactive gaming license. With this license, casinos can offer online poker, online slots, and online table games.
There were nine casinos which applied:
After applying, Rivers Casino Pittsburg eventually rescinded its application, electing to punt on online gambling. Stadium Casino, now called Live! Philadelphia, did something similar, opting to forgo an online poker license.
Meanwhile, both Presque Isle Downs and Mohegan Sun Pocono applied for a la carte licenses. Presque Isle opted to skip poker. Mohegan surprisingly signed up for all three at a cost of $2 million more than its competitors. However, like Rivers and Live!, it too abandoned its online poker plans.
That left 12 unclaimed interactive licenses. PGCB opened up a process for qualified gambling entities (QGE) from outside of Pennsylvania to claim them.
Only two groups applied. MGM Resorts has preliminary approval for all three categories of license. Golden Nugget Atlantic City can offer table games and slots, but no online poker.
These two major US gaming players will be among the last to launch online casino and sports betting products in PA. They will also be the only sites without a PA land-based casino partner.
The first online poker site to go live in the state was PokerStars PA when it fully launched on Nov. 6, 2019. The global poker brand is offered in conjunction with its land-based counterpart Mount Airy Casino Resort.
Today, 10 of 12 Pennsylvania casinos have poker rooms. Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin and Valley Forge Casino Resort are the only casinos in the state that do not have poker rooms.
More than 220 live poker tables are operating across the state with the 10 rooms pulling in an average of $4 million in revenue every month.
Plans for Live! in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex area include opening a poker room when the facility opens its doors in early 2021.
In addition to Mount Airy, six more PA casinos plan to offer an online poker counterpart. Those that will launch an online poker room in Pennsylvania (MGM is applying as an out-of-state entity) include:
PGCB will regulate all online gaming sites in the state. This is the same branch of the state government that regulates all land-based PA casinos.
The regulations designed by PGCB will include several security measures specifically designed to: