Pennsylvania is one of the few states in the USA where land-based and online casinos are legal. Sportsbooks are allowed at licensed-casinos and race-tracks. The state was among the first to introduce this option in June of 2018, right after the famous overturn of PASPA in 2018.
There are more than 11 land-based casinos in Pennsylvania, up to 10 licensed slot operators, commercial race-track, and a state-regulated lottery. Many other activities, such as charitable gambling, are allowed, as well. Online casinos must be virtual lobbies of those land-based venues that were licensed by the state or have to be affiliated with the brick-and-mortar brands at least in some way.
The entire gambling industry is regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Gross wins on slot machines in the state are subject to 54% tax. There is a 36% tax on sports betting gross wins, and a 16% on gross wins from table games. The legal age for gambling is 18 years for bingo, lotteries, and race betting, and 21 years for casino games, interactive operators, poker, and Sportsbook.
Pennsylvania was among the first states to fully legalize gambling back at the beginning of the 2000s. This places Pennsylvania into a small group of states with full-scale commercial casino gambling, next to New Jersey, Ohio, Delaware, New York, and West Virginia.
Based on the official statistics, gross gambling turnover of gaming in Pennsylvania reached 53 million USD in 2020 and is expected to grow to 87 million USD by 2025.