Pennsylvania lawmakers were quick to the gate with sports betting legislation, legalizing sport bets a year before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) in 2018. So it’s no surprise the Keystone State now has one of America's largest sports betting markets.
The PA betting industry remained pretty constant in 2024, with sportsbooks on pace to set a new handle record. Still, the state saw some changes, including two new online books launching and the exit of two prominent European betting brands that tried to bring their success across the Atlantic.
Recapping a year of sports betting in the Keystone State, here’s what happened in Pennsylvania in 2024 and a few things 2025 may bring.
Pennsylvania Sports Betting: 2024 Highlights
January: Fanatics sportsbook goes live in Pennsylvania following its migration from Pointsbet.
Jan. 23: Betr Sportsbook announces it's gained market access to Pennsylvania. The company signed an agreement with Cordish Gaming Group, which operates Live! Casino Philadelphia and Live! Casino Pittsburgh, to get its license from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Feb. 26: FanDuel passed $10 billion in handle during its operation in Pennsylvania. To this point, FanDuel has a 42% market share over the Pennsylvania sports betting market.
June 21: Long-standing Swedish operator Unibet officially withdrew from Pennsylvania. The company announced its intentions to cease its U.S. operations in 2023 and stopped accepting wagers in May 2024. Players could still access its integrated online casino and withdraw from their account until June.
July 10: UK operator Betway announced it will withdraw its online sportsbook from Pennsylvania. However, the company confirmed the Betway online casino will still remain live in the state.
July 22: UK online sportsbook operator bet365 launched in PA. The platform became the state's 12th live online sportsbook and received licensing from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) through its partnership with Presque Isle Downs and Casino, which Churchill Downs operates.
Aug. 29: Betr finally went live in Pennsylvania, providing its micro-betting markets to local players.
Sept. 17: Offshore sports betting operator Bovada stopped operating in Pennsylvania. At the end of August, the PGCB sent the operator a cease-and-desist letter.
Nov. 14: The PGCB announced it wouldn’t allow bets on the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight, citing the fight’s lack of traditional boxing rules, such as the number of rounds and the weight of the gloves. The fight attracted significant attention at sportsbooks across the U.S.
Pennsylvania Sports Betting: Where Things Stand
Online and retail sports betting are legal in Pennsylvania. You can wager on various professional and college sports events with no restrictions on wagering on in-state teams. However, you can’t bet on college prop bets. Esports betting is prohibited in PA.
You must be 21 to bet in Pennsylvania and play within state lines. You can only use one of 11 sportsbooks licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to bet. Here are the sportsbooks that currently operate in Pennsylvania at the end of 2024:
- bet365
- Betfred
- BetMGM
- Betr
- BetRivers
- Caesars
- DraftKings
- ESPN BET
- FanDuel
- Fanatics
- betPARX
Pennsylvania Sports Betting: What’s Next?
Pennsylvania sports betting laws allow for 14 online books to operate in the state, but currently, only 11 sites do. There's room for one more PA sportsbook to launch. However, there aren’t many potential operators, with most major U.S. players already live in the state. So, unless a local brand is established, it’s unlikely there will be significant changes to the operators available.
Something that could change for Pennsylvania bettors is the availability of payment methods. SB 1159, currently under consideration, would ban credit cards from funding online gambling accounts.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is currently negotiating to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), which will let poker networks share player liquidity with other states, boosting the poker offerings connected to online sports betting accounts.
Pennsylvania Sports Betting: Notes and Quotes
Betway CEO Neal Menashe on Betway leaving Pennsylvania:
“We have recently concluded an extensive review of our U.S. operations and, at present, we don’t see a long-term path to profitability for the sportsbook product.”
bet365 Spokesperson on the launch in PA:
“With a venerable history saturated with numerous championships, intense rivalries, and legendary athletes, Pennsylvania’s sports passion is undeniably Never Ordinary. We enthusiastically welcome new and eligible bettors from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the entire Keystone State as they join the bet365 experience, which features market leading offerings like amazing Bet Boosts, the fastest In-Game product, and unique Same Game Parlays.”
