Casinos in Pennsylvania

The Best Casino in Pennsylvania

The Biggest Casinos in Pennsylvania

Are There Indian Casinos in Pennsylvania?

While there are no Indian casinos in Pennsylvania, two Native American tribes own and operate commercial casinos in the state: Mohegan Sun Pocono and Wind Creek Bethlehem. These establishments are regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and adhere to the same laws and restrictions as other commercial casinos in the state.

Racinos

Racinos are the types of casinos that have their own racetrack for horse racing, hound racing or even auto racing. Currently, there are four racinos in the state of Pennsylvania. One of the main advantages of this type of facility is that they combine what sports betting fans and casino fans are passionate about.

Ticking these two boxes earns you a lot of respect and popularity in the community that’s crazy about gambling in Pennsylvania. Spectacular races, the ringing sound of slot machines paying off – what else could you possibly want? Below is our detailed report on the racinos based in PA where you can gamble.

Are There Cruise Ship or Riverboat Casinos in Pennsylvania?

Cruise ship casinos are the answer for the more adventurous or sea-loving gamblers. The standard procedure is after the ship departs, the gambling action only starts after International Waters are reached (after the 12th mile away from land). This way, the ship is not subject to federal law as it is outside of the territorial waters.

The games onboard a typical cruise ship or riverboat casino are no different than what you can find at some of the best casinos in Pennsylvania. However, presently, there are no cruise ship casinos in Pennsylvania. The nearest state that can offer that is New Jersey. Riverboat casinos are not legal either, certainly not for want of trying.

Full Pennsylvania Casino Directory

A question that would make just about every punter perk ears up, the number of good quality casino facilities in the state is an insight that truly excites the curiosity. If you wonder how many Pennsylvania casinos there are, the answer is 14, give or take.

To not end up in the wrong place, you should ask yourself the questions of how much you want to risk and what kind of games you want to play. While not of the essence, the atmosphere is also something that should be factored in. Here we will compile the locations available to those living in Pennsylvania.

Expected New Casinos

Morgantown is believed to be fast becoming one of the biggest Pennsylvania gambling cities. Everyone with a gambling frame of mind is excited about the opening day of Pennsylvania’s first mini-casino, built-in Morgantown. You can find it in Caernarvon Township, nestled between Berks and Lancaster counties.

Gambling in Pennsylvania

There is a wide variety of activities that you can participate in for gambling in Pennsylvania. Right now, we will concentrate on casinos and what you can do there, but there is also the ability to visit a sportsbook and bet on sports.

The main activities in a casino when it comes to gambling can be divided into table games, slots and racetrack betting if the facility is present. However, playing for real money is a territory reserved for those aged 21 and above. Eighteen years of age is enough for off-track betting. Below you can see some key facts about Pennsylvania gambling.

Casino Games in Pennsylvania

Gambling in Pennsylvania has gone full circle to a state where you can find almost every game you are looking for. Usually, the means to do that are the best casinos in Pennsylvania – whether it be virtual or land-based ones.

The number of operational slot machines in Pennsylvania sets them as one of the preferred gambling methods. Every casino in the state has a selection of such. Besides slots, roulette, blackjack, casino poker, and sports betting – which is now casino-based – come to the fore as things to gamble on.

Gambling Legal Situation in Pennsylvania

Taxation of Winnings

The state of Pennsylvania, like all other states, is subject to federal taxation – 24% of all gambling winnings collected by patrons. After the federal tax, state and local taxes apply. Luckily, in Pennsylvania, there is a flat tax rate of 3.07%, which can go up to 15.3% if the patron is a self-employed professional gambler.

Luckily, as a PA gambler, you are entitled to the right to deduct your losses from the winnings. The rule to remember is that you must itemize your losses in your tax return Schedule A, line 28 of Form 1040. In the table below, we will outline the current gambling taxes in the respective state.

Pennsylvania Gambling Laws

Pennsylvania state gambling laws outline the legal framework for gaming activities, specifying what constitutes illegal betting and the treatment of gambling devices. To stay compliant, it’s essential to understand these regulations.

History

The state of Pennsylvania has a gambling history which dates since the early ages of the 19th century. Have a look at the timeline underneath, you will find the most significant gambling facts up to this date.

• 1820: Horse racing wagers were made illegal for the first time in the Pennsylvania state history.
• 1967: Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission allows and oversees pari-mutual wagers and racing events in the whole state.
• 1971: With the acceptance of Act 91 the Pennsylvania State Lottery becomes legal for the first time. The first draw was held the next year and the revenues were targeted towards the elderly.
• 1991: Chapter 901 of PA State Law updated, also known as “Local Options Small Games Of Chance”, allowing charity bingo, raffles and limited pull-tab type games with very strict limits on prizes and the redistribution of the profits for good causes is mandatory.
• 2004: The biggest milestone in Pennsylvania state gambling law. For the first time casinos were licensed for the first time along with updates on the sports betting law.
• 2008 to 2010: Increase the minimum payout approved for charity bingo and raffles, and Senate Bill 711 is passed allowing table games at licensed casinos leading to record breaking revenues from the casinos 3 years later.
• 2017: Sports betting is legalized in all licensed casinos.

Upcoming Changes in the Gambling Regulation

As you may already know, web-based gambling is rapidly picking up the pace, especially in Pennsylvania. What you can expect in the future as law changes for the state is additional regulations and updates to the 2013 bill, and possibly even more licensed operators to join the fray. We don’t think the licensing procedure will change all that much.