Sports Betting in Philadelphia, PA

Sports betting in Philadelphia is a reality! Gamblers in Philadelphia can now bet on single matches online or on mobile via a range of regulated and licensed sportsbooks and betting sites. Pennsylvania was the fourth US state to legalize online gambling after Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey. And the state has wasted no time in making it possible for residents to gamble on sports.

Philadelphia bettors now has around eight licensed sportsbooks who provide sports betting online. The first legalized sportsbooks went live before the beginning of the 2019 NFL season. They join around half a dozen land-based sportsbooks that are already located in PA.

SugarHouse Sportsbook PA was first to launch a mobile sports betting app. Bet Rivers and Parx Sportsbook joined the gang in the middle of 2019. Android users can access the sites, but iOS players must log in direct from the sportsbook homepage.

Philadelphia Online Gambling Legislation 

Philadelphia is commonly known for founding the great Philly Cheesesteak as well as having some of the most passionate fans in all of sports. When you attend a game in Philadelphia, you best not wear an opposing team’s jersey, or you will be heckled ferociously.

When it comes to sports betting and gambling in the Philadelphia area, residents have enjoyed some of the most progressive laws in the United States when it comes to regulating these activities. There are plenty of options available for cards, casinos, sports teams, horse racing, and much more for the people of Philadelphia.

When it comes to sports, Philadelphia is extremely loyal to their teams. The city has a professional football team, baseball team, hockey team, basketball team, and a soccer team. All of these franchises have seen the good and the bad when it comes to professional sports, and the fanbase has never been more active and engaged as it is today.

In the article below, we will be going over everything you need to know about betting on sports, casinos, and online gambling in Philadelphia. We will cover all of the teams that compete in the city, the casinos you can visit, horse tracks, and the laws that surround it. Like most cities, the laws and regulations surrounding gambling and sports betting are likely to be changed around since the nationwide ban on the activity was lifted. With that being said, we will do our best to go over everything as it currently stands in the city.

As with any city, we first need to take a look at what is legal and what is not. We will look at all the options for gambling, sports betting, lottery, horse racing, and everything else that you can and can’t do in the city of Philadelphia, PA.

What is Legal

First, we are going to look at what is legal to do in Philadelphia. Everything in this next section is free and clear and will not expose you to any fines. So, let’s take a look!

Charitable Gambling

Charitable gambling is legal in the city of Philadelphia, and bingo games, poker games, and raffles are held to raise money for charitable causes. There are plenty of places to take part in charitable games, and a quick search online will lead to a variety of options.

Horse and Dog Racing

Horse racing is a great option for the people of Philadelphia as well as the entire state of Pennsylvania with horse racing tracks located all around the city. There are a few places to go see a race including Parx Racing as well as Harrah’s Harness Racing. We will look at those later on in the article.

Land-Based Casinos

Land-Based Casinos are legal in Philadelphia and residents could not be more spoiled with a large amount of land-based casinos scattered around the city and surrounding areas. Some of the best options for casinos are:

• Harrah’s Philadelphia
• Parx Casino
• Hollywood Casino at Penn National
• Sands Bethlehem
• Sugarhouse Casino
• Valley Forge Casino

We will take an in-depth look at all of these casino options and what they have to offer bettors and gamblers.

Lottery Betting

The Pennsylvania lottery is in full swing and residents of Philadelphia have access to a wide range of games to take their shot at millions of dollars. The lottery has all of the traditional lottery betting games you see in most states, including the Mega Millions and Powerball.

Poker Rooms

Poker rooms are legal and can be found at any of the diverse group of casinos listed above in the article. There are many options for poker players and plenty of venues that host tournaments and events, including high limit poker. We will take a look at these venues in more depth later in the article.

Online Gambling

After the fall of the federal ban restricting states from participating in sports betting, Pennsylvania was the fourth state to take full advantage of the bill and regulated multiple options for betting and wagering in online casinos and sportsbooks. There are a lot of different options for land-based and online casinos, and we will take a look at all of them in the article below, including:

• BetRivers
• Parx Sportsbook

Sports Betting

After the federal ban was lifted on sports betting throughout the country, Pennsylvania was quick to hop on board the sports betting frenzy and pass a bill regulating sportsbooks throughout the state. For Philadelphia residents, plenty of options exist both online as well as brick and mortar based for placing sports bets! In the section below, we will look at the casino options as well as the online options for playing your favorite casino games and placing bets in the city of Philadelphia. 

Daily Fantasy Sports

While most states and cities reside in the grey area between legal and illegal when it comes to Daily Fantasy Sports, Pennsylvania is not one of them. The state has not only legalized the major daily fantasy sites such as FanDuel and DraftKings, but they have placed a 15% tax on them and are completely legit in Philadelphia these days.

Off Track Betting

With so many options available for betting on horse races live and in-person, it makes sense that the options for online betting or off-track betting are legal as well. In Philadelphia, you can go to any of the race tracks nearby and bet on horse racing going on all around the world. There are even off-track betting parlors located throughout Pennsylvania that are always looking to bring in more people to place bets on the horses.

What Gambliing is Not Legal in Philadelphia

Luckily, for Philadelphia residents, there really isn’t much that is illegal when it comes to betting on sports, playing in casinos (online or at brick and mortar locations) or watching horse races. Not many people throughout the United States have these kinds of options, and Pennsylvania is definitely one state that is helping to lead the way for all of the others to follow.

Philadelphia Sports Betting 2020

After the federal ban was lifted on sports betting throughout the country, Pennsylvania was quick to hop on board the sports betting frenzy and pass a bill regulating sportsbooks throughout the state. For Philadelphia residents, plenty of options exist both online as well as brick and mortar based for placing sports bets! In the section below we will look at the casino options as well as the online options for playing your favorite casino games and placing bets in the city of Philadelphia. 

Philly Betting Locations

Harrah’s Philadelphia

Harrah’s Philadelphia is not only a massive casino and gaming facility but also a race track that hosts a variety of different harness races throughout the year. The casino floor is over 100,000 sq feet and holds 2,900 slot machines. There are also plenty of options for live table games as well as a poker room for some of the best poker action you will find throughout all of Pennsylvania.

The sports betting, which was legalized in January of 2019, goes down at “The Book,” which is a semi-new area of the casino. At The Book, you will find a 4,322 square foot area with six teller windows, an odds board, betting kiosks, and horse racing terminals. It is a very comfortable location with great bar seating, lounge seating, and high-top bar tables. There are 45 big screens that cover the wall of the sports book room.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National

The Hollywood Casino at Penn National is a massive casino attached to a beautiful horse racing track just outside of Hershey, PA. This venue is about a two-hour drive from the city and residents can take a nice drive out to the countryside for some incredible casino action.

The casino hosts over 2,450 slot machines and packs another 56 thrilling table games throughout the floor. There is a poker room as well as a high limit area for those looking to win the big money. A large stage, along with a variety of different bars and restaurants, is scattered throughout the first and second floor the Hollywood Casino and residents will have everything they need conveniently located wherever they may be.

The sportsbook at the Hollywood Casino gives you plenty of options for betting on all of the major sports throughout the world, including auto racing and rugby. There is also a wide range of betting options available with tradition bets and live betting both at your fingertips.

Sands Bethlehem

Table games, slots, poker rooms, and tons of promotions all come with the Sands Casino. Along with all of the gaming and casino options you can imagine, the Sands also has a world-class hotel with some amazing dining and nightlife choices for guests to pick from. There is a live dealer stadium within the hotel and casino as well as rewards cards that give you exclusive deals for anyone looking to frequent the venue. The casino is located less than an hour away from the city of Philadelphia, and residents can make it there with just a quick drive.

Sugarhouse Casino PA

Whether you want to bet pennies or fat stacks of cash, the Sugarhouse casino PA has what you are looking for. Along with a poker room, progressive and traditional slots, table games, and an Asian gaming section, the Sugarhouse casino holds a sportsbook that give bettors so many options for betting as well as plenty of sports to choose from. The casino is located in Philadelphia along the Delaware river and extremely convenient for gamblers and sports bettors in the city.

Valley Forge Casino

The Valley Forge Casino opened in 2012 and is located close to the King of Prussia mall in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. This is another really close venue to Philadelphia and yet another great option for casino gaming for city residents. The casino features 40,000 square feet of gaming space including 600 slot machines, 50 table games, and a poker room that holds around 15 tables for tournaments and events. The sportsbook at Valley Forge opened in March of 2019 and the Philadelphia Eagles legend Brent Celek was there to place the very first bet!

Philadelphia Online Casinos and Sportsbooks

PlaySugarHouse.com Pennsylvania

Not only does the Sugarhouse website offer an excellent sportsbook for bettors, but it also allows users to log in and play a wide variety of casino games as well. The sportsbook has plenty of options that would please even the most serious of sports bettors and has all of the standard options for deposits and withdrawals. If you can think of online casino game, the Playsugarhouse website has it, and once you create your account, you can enjoy a variety of different bonuses offered by the website.

BetRivers Casino and Sportsbook, PA

Rivers Casino is actually located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; however, this doesn’t stop Philadelphia residents from getting in on the action with the BetRivers online casino and sportsbook. The sportsbook has all of the standard options for betting on sports and betting options. BetRivers, along with Sugarhouse, are the only two online casinos and sportsbooks in the state of Pennsylvania that also offer mobile apps for IOS. The website went live in June of 2019 and has since seen great success.

Parx Sportsbook

When you sign up for the Parx online casino and sportsbook, you are eligible for some pretty amazing bonuses and promotional offers. You can enjoy up to $250 risk-free betting and a $10 free bet just for signing up! The sportsbook and casino opened recently and offers all of the standard games and betting options you would see if you walked into the physical casino. This is just another incredible option for betting on sports and playing casino games Pennsylvania has to offer.

Philadelphia Horse Racing Tracks

Horse racing is widely popular and readily available in the state of Pennsylvania, particularly in the city of Philadelphia. The city is conveniently located in the center of the state making it just a quick drive to a wide variety of horse racing tracks and casinos all over Pennsylvania. In the section below, we will look at some of the horse racing tracks close to Philadelphia residents.

Parx Racing

As if Parx Casino and Racing didn’t already have enough to please the masses with the largest casino in Pennsylvania as well as a world-class online casino and sportsbook. Nope, Parx also has some of the best horse racing Pennsylvania has to offer. The track was opened in November of 1974 and became a casino in 2009. There is simulcasting there for any off-track betting that you wish to take part in, and there are plenty of races to enjoy including the Pennsylvania Derby.

Harrah’s Harness Racing

Seven days a week you can walk into Harrah’s racetrack in Philadelphia and enjoy full-card simulcasting of both standardbred and thoroughbred racing. Along with the simulcasts, Harrah’s hosts some of the fastest and most action-packed harness racing in North America. The indoor wagering area is a state of the art facility with TV monitors and seating located all throughout the building.

There are several off-track betting parlors (OTBs) in PA, near Philadelphia. Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack, Hollywood Casino (Penn National Race Course) and more.

Check all Pennsylvania betting apps.

Philadelphia Online Poker Options

While real-money and completely legal online poker options are expected to become available for residents of Philadelphia in 2019, the state of Pennsylvania has yet to launch these interactive games. This makes offshore websites the only options for online poker in the state. However, it is highly recommended that you wait until Pennsylvania can get their online poker operation launched and avoid putting money down on potential scammy offshore websites.

Philadelphia Professional Sports Teams

As we have mentioned above, Philadelphia loves its sports. The city has one of the most engaged fanbases in the league and should a player or coach not perform up to par, the crowd will surely start booing and quickly turn on you. The fans want success, and players will agree that when you do well, no city will embrace you more than Philadelphia. In the section below, we will look at all the teams that make up this great city and go over their background and history.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional football team in the National Football League (NFL) that compete in the NFC East Division of the league. The Franchise was founded in 1933 and played their first season that same year. The Eagles are headquartered out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and play all of their home games in Lincoln Financial Field after moving there from Veterans Stadium in 2002. The Eagles have seen a lot of success throughout the years but have been unable to win a Super Bowl championship until just recently in 2017. The team has made 26 playoff appearances and won the NFC three times.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are a professional baseball team in Major League Baseball that competes in the NL East Division of the league. The Franchise was founded in 1883 and are the oldest same city, same name team in all of professional sports. The Phillies are headquartered out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and play all of their home games in Citizens Bank Park after moving there from Veterans Stadium in 2003. Despite their old history, it wasn’t until more recently that the Phillies were able to bring home World Series victories. The Phillies won the World Series two times throughout their history coming in the years 1980 and 2008. 

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA) that compete in the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division of the league. The Franchise was founded in 1946 and played their first season that same year. The 76ers, commonly known as the “Sixers,” are headquartered out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and play all of their home games in the Wells Fargo Arena. Throughout their history, the 76ers have been able to win three NBA Championships coming in the years 1955, 1967, and 1983. 

Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) that compete in the Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division of the league. The Franchise was founded in 1967 and played their first season that same year. The Flyers are headquartered out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and play all of their home games in the Wells Fargo Arena which they share with the 76ers. Throughout their history, the Flyers have been able to win two Stanley Cup Trophies back-to-back coming in the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons. 

Philadelphia Union

The Philadelphia Union are a professional Soccer team in Major League Soccer (MLS) that compete in the Eastern Division of the league. The Franchise was founded in 2008 and played their first season that same year. The Union are headquartered out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and play all of their home games in the Talon Energy Stadium located in Chester, Pennsylvania. While the Union remain competitive, the club has been unable to win an MLS Cup.

Philadelphia Sports Betting Communities, Bars, Forums, and Blogs

As with any massively popular city with multiple options for sports and teams to cheer on, Philadelphia has a pretty sound sports culture amongst the city. So, it is no surprise that sports bars, blogs, and even communities have sprung up everywhere that keep the fans, as well as the sports bettors of Philadelphia, informed on where their teams are at and how they are looking going forward. In the section below, we will be going over all of the nooks and crannies of the city that allow fans and sports bettors to get the latest news and updates on what is going on with the sports teams of the city.

South Philadelphia

If you are looking to catch a game in Philadelphia, the only place to do so will require a trip to South Philly. All of the cities major sports teams house their stadiums and arenas here, and the area is crawling with Philly sports fans. It’s easily accessible and is also home to Xfinity Live, a massive sports bar just outside the stadiums and arenas that make you feel as though you are at the event.

Online Betting Blogs and Sports Forums

As with most cities, there are plenty of blogs and forums online to keep up to date with the latest news for Philadelphia sports. Below, we have listed a few of the most popular blogs the residents of Philadelphia can use to stay in tune with their home teams.

• Crossing Broad – All around Philadelphia Sports Blog
• Fast Philly Sports – All around Philadelphia Sports Blog
• PhillyVoice – All around Philadelphia Sports Blog