In 2004, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act.

The legal minimum gambling age in Pennsylvania is 18 for the lottery and 21 land-based for casinos, sports betting, and online gaming. Matters related to gambling are covered in Pennsylvania Statutes 5513.18. Intentionally or knowingly makes, assembles, sets up, maintains, sells, lends, leases, gives away, or offers for sale, loan, lease or gift, any punch board, drawing card, slot machine or any device to be used for gambling purposes, except playing cards. The laws focus specifically on gambling operators and not on players.įor example, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree if he: However, it does make illegal any form of gambling that is not specifically exempted by the legislature. It does not even provide a definition of gambling, much less a definition of online gaming. Online casino and poker games were legalized in 2017, and sports betting launched in 2019.ġ8 for lottery, 21 for casinos, online gamingįor a state where a lot of legal gambling goes on, Pennsylvania's Criminal Code is curiously brief when it comes to unlawful gambling. Next came the lottery (1971), followed by charitable gaming (1988).īy the early 2000s, the racetracks were struggling, and a law that allowed them to host slots ultimately led to the establishment of standalone casinos. The first racetrack, the Meadows, opened in 1963 and took the first legal bets in the state. Gross gaming revenue across all its casinos was $5.34 billion in 2022, creating an estimated overall economic impact of $6.45 billion, according to the American Gaming Association.įor many years, parimutuel horse and dog betting was the only game in town, and it was legalized later than in many states, in 1959. Its 16 casinos are second only to the Nevada market in terms of the revenue they generate.

All players of legal gambling age in the state can access licensed Pennsylvania online casi nos, online sportsbooks, and poker sites, plus daily fantasy sports, and online racebooks. Gambling has expanded considerably in Pennsylvania in recent years, and today it's one of the most liberal markets in the US.

Pa laws online gambling