Pennsylvania regulates online casino, poker, sports wagering and fantasy contests through the PA Gaming Control Board; 21+ and supplier licences required.
Licensing model
Limited Licences
Minimum age
21
Currency
USD
Licence types
5
On this page
Key points for operators and suppliers
1
B2B game studios and platform suppliers need a PGCB interactive gaming manufacturer or supplier licence (5-year term)
2
iGaming tax: 52% of GGR on slot-type games and 14% on table/peer-to-peer games, plus a 2% local share assessment
3
Online sports wagering is taxed at 34% of GGR plus a 2% local share assessment
4
Redundancy servers must sit in a secure data centre within Pennsylvania; geolocation re-checks are mandatory
5
Unapproved changes of control are fined: approval is needed before acquiring more than 20% of a licensed manufacturer
What Pennsylvania asks of a licensee
The four questions that decide whether a market is worth entering.
Pennsylvania licenses online casino-type games (iGaming), online poker, online sports wagering and fantasy contests under the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (4 Pa.C.S.), as expanded by Act 42 of 2017. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) regulates the market: interactive gaming and sports wagering certificates go to PA slot machine licensees (or qualified gaming entities for iGaming), while platform operators acting for them need an interactive gaming operator licence. B2B companies that make or supply interactive gaming devices, games or associated equipment need an interactive gaming manufacturer or supplier licence, and all games must be tested and certified by the Board. Players must be 21 or older and physically located in Pennsylvania; in April 2025 the state joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement for shared online poker.
Which verticals are legal in Pennsylvania
Status is the position for a licensed operator, not for offshore supply.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Licensed
Fantasy contest operators are licensed by the PGCB under 4 Pa.C.S. Ch. 3; minimum age generally 18.
Esports Betting
Not stated
Horse Racing / Pool Betting
Not stated
Land-based Casino
Licensed
PGCB regulates 18 land-based casinos across four licence categories.
Online Bingo
Not stated
Online Casino
Licensed
Offered by PGCB-authorised interactive gaming certificate holders and licensed operators; players must be 21+ and located in PA.
Online Lottery
State monopoly
iLottery is operated by the PA Department of Revenue under 4 Pa.C.S. §503.
Online Poker
Licensed
Peer-to-peer interactive games under an interactive gaming certificate; multi-state poker via MSIGA since April 2025.
Online Sports Betting
Licensed
Offered online by slot machine licensees holding a sports wagering certificate, directly or through licensed operators.
Retail Betting
Licensed
Sports wagering is permitted at licensed casino facilities, OTB facilities of racetrack casinos and approved temporary facilities.
Skill Games
Not stated
Social / Sweepstakes Casino
Not stated
Pennsylvania licence types and what they cost5
Fees are the published headline figures. Tiered and revenue-banded amounts
are set out in the notes under each licence.
Interactive Gaming Supplier License
B2B Supplier
Companies that sell, lease, distribute or service interactive gaming devices or associated equipment to PA certificate holders or interactive gaming operators.
Enterprise Entity Application and Disclosure Information Form
May not hold a slot machine or interactive gaming manufacturer licence
Submit supplier agreements to Bureau of Licensing
Online CasinoOnline Poker
Interactive Gaming Certificate
B2C Operator
Any PA slot machine licensee or qualified gaming entity that conducts interactive gaming (online casino-type games and poker) in Pennsylvania.
Application
USD 5,000
Annual
—
Term
—
Processing
Board to approve or deny initial petitions within 90 days of receipt (4 Pa.C.S. §13B16)
One-time authorization fee: USD 10000000 for all categories if the slot licensee petitioned within 90 days, otherwise USD 4000000 per game category (slots, table games, peer-to-peer); qualified gaming entities pay USD 4000000 per category. Renewal fee USD 250000. USD 5000 applicant investigation deposit.
Conditions to satisfy
PA slot machine licence or qualified gaming entity status
Board-approved internal controls filed 90 days before launch
Board-certified games and equipment
Geolocation within PA
Online CasinoOnline Poker
Interactive Gaming Manufacturer License
Game / Software Supplier
Companies that manufacture, program, design or modify interactive gaming devices or associated equipment (e.g., games, RNG, platforms that affect outcomes or revenue) for use in Pennsylvania.
Application
USD 5,000
Annual
—
Term
5 years
Processing
—
Licence fee USD 10000 initial (5 years) and USD 10000 renewal; USD 5000 applicant deposit, USD 2500 per affiliated entity and per principal/key employee. Abbreviated process possible for existing PGCB manufacturer licensees.
Conditions to satisfy
Enterprise Entity Application and Disclosure Information Form
Diversity plan
Principal and key employee licences
May not hold a slot machine or interactive gaming supplier licence
Renewal filed 6 months before expiry
Online CasinoOnline Poker
Interactive Gaming Operator License
B2C Operator
Any company that conducts interactive gaming or runs an interactive gaming system on behalf of a certificate holder under a Board-approved interactive gaming agreement.
Application
USD 5,000
Annual
—
Term
5 years
Processing
—
One-time authorization fee USD 1000000; renewal fee USD 100000; USD 5000 applicant investigation deposit (plus deposits for affiliates and principals).
Conditions to satisfy
Suitability review equal to certificate holders
Board approval of agreement with certificate holder
Licensed key employees
Online CasinoOnline Poker
Sports Wagering Certificate
B2C Operator
PA slot machine licensees that offer sports wagering at their facility, approved temporary or OTB facilities, or online/mobile.
Application
USD 5,000
Annual
—
Term
—
Processing
—
One-time authorization fee USD 10000000 (payable within 60 days of approval); renewal fee USD 250000. Related licences per fee schedule: sports wagering operator USD 50000, sports wagering manufacturer and supplier USD 10000 each.
Conditions to satisfy
PA slot machine licence
Authorization fee paid before launch
Sports wagering manufacturers licensed under §1317.1
Online Sports BettingRetail Betting
Interactive Gaming Supplier License
B2B Supplier
Companies that sell, lease, distribute or service interactive gaming devices or associated equipment to PA certificate holders or interactive gaming operators.
Enterprise Entity Application and Disclosure Information Form
May not hold a slot machine or interactive gaming manufacturer licence
Submit supplier agreements to Bureau of Licensing
Online CasinoOnline Poker
Interactive Gaming Manufacturer License
Game / Software Supplier
Companies that manufacture, program, design or modify interactive gaming devices or associated equipment (e.g., games, RNG, platforms that affect outcomes or revenue) for use in Pennsylvania.
Application
USD 5,000
Annual
—
Term
5 years
Processing
—
Licence fee USD 10000 initial (5 years) and USD 10000 renewal; USD 5000 applicant deposit, USD 2500 per affiliated entity and per principal/key employee. Abbreviated process possible for existing PGCB manufacturer licensees.
Conditions to satisfy
Enterprise Entity Application and Disclosure Information Form
Diversity plan
Principal and key employee licences
May not hold a slot machine or interactive gaming supplier licence
Renewal filed 6 months before expiry
Online CasinoOnline Poker
Interactive Gaming Certificate
B2C Operator
Any PA slot machine licensee or qualified gaming entity that conducts interactive gaming (online casino-type games and poker) in Pennsylvania.
Application
USD 5,000
Annual
—
Term
—
Processing
Board to approve or deny initial petitions within 90 days of receipt (4 Pa.C.S. §13B16)
One-time authorization fee: USD 10000000 for all categories if the slot licensee petitioned within 90 days, otherwise USD 4000000 per game category (slots, table games, peer-to-peer); qualified gaming entities pay USD 4000000 per category. Renewal fee USD 250000. USD 5000 applicant investigation deposit.
Conditions to satisfy
PA slot machine licence or qualified gaming entity status
Board-approved internal controls filed 90 days before launch
Board-certified games and equipment
Geolocation within PA
Online CasinoOnline Poker
Interactive Gaming Operator License
B2C Operator
Any company that conducts interactive gaming or runs an interactive gaming system on behalf of a certificate holder under a Board-approved interactive gaming agreement.
Application
USD 5,000
Annual
—
Term
5 years
Processing
—
One-time authorization fee USD 1000000; renewal fee USD 100000; USD 5000 applicant investigation deposit (plus deposits for affiliates and principals).
Conditions to satisfy
Suitability review equal to certificate holders
Board approval of agreement with certificate holder
Licensed key employees
Online CasinoOnline Poker
Sports Wagering Certificate
B2C Operator
PA slot machine licensees that offer sports wagering at their facility, approved temporary or OTB facilities, or online/mobile.
Application
USD 5,000
Annual
—
Term
—
Processing
—
One-time authorization fee USD 10000000 (payable within 60 days of approval); renewal fee USD 250000. Related licences per fee schedule: sports wagering operator USD 50000, sports wagering manufacturer and supplier USD 10000 each.
Conditions to satisfy
PA slot machine licence
Authorization fee paid before launch
Sports wagering manufacturers licensed under §1317.1
Online Sports BettingRetail Betting
Gaming tax and regulatory charges
Everything a licensee pays in Pennsylvania on top of the licence fee.
52%52% of daily gross interactive gaming revenue from non-peer-to-peer games simulating slot machines, plus 2% local share assessment on all gross interactive gaming revenue (54% combined)
Interactive gaming tax — table games and peer-to-peer gamesGGR TaxOnline Casino · Online Poker
14%14% of daily gross interactive gaming revenue from peer-to-peer games and non-peer-to-peer games simulating table games, plus 2% local share assessment (16% combined)
At registration the operator must collect name, date of birth, address, contact details and (voluntarily) full or last four SSN digits, verify identity through documents or approved multi-source checks, and confirm the player is 21+ and not excluded.One account per player per operatorSource
Suspicious transaction reportsB2C Operator
Slot machine licensees must file reports of suspicious transactions with the Board Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement and must not tip off the person; a copy of the federal casino SAR satisfies the duty.Suspicious transaction defined from USD 5000 cash or cash equivalentSource
Responsible Gambling requirements
Interactive gaming self-exclusionB2C Operator
Operators must block people on the Board interactive gaming self-exclusion list from opening or keeping accounts and must link to the Board self-exclusion page.Exclusion periods: 1 year, 5 years or lifetimeSource
Minimum age for iGaming and sports wageringB2C Operator
Only people aged 21 or over may hold an interactive gaming account or place sports wagers; operators must verify age at registration.21 (fantasy contests: 18, or 21 inside a casino)Source
Player self-imposed limitsB2C Operator
iGaming systems must let players set daily/weekly/monthly deposit and spend limits, single-wager limits, daily time limits, peer-to-peer table limits and a temporary account suspension; decreases apply by next login, increases only after the prior period ends.Cool-off suspension of at least 72 hoursSource
Problem gambling message and session infoB2C Operator
A 1-800-GAMBLER help message must be shown prominently when players visit, log on and log off, and the system must display the date and time of the previous login.1-800-GAMBLERSource
Technical & Certification requirements
Board testing and certificationB2B Supplier
No interactive game, device or associated equipment may be used until tested and certified by the Board; testing may be referred to an approved lab and equivalent other-state certifications may be accepted, with costs charged to manufacturers/suppliers.Source
Game fairnessB2B Supplier
All critical game functions, including outcome generation and return to player, must run on the interactive gaming platform independent of the player device and unaffected by connection quality.Source
Geolocation checksB2C Operator
Systems must locate players at login or first wager and re-check during sessions, and block wagering if the player is outside PA or in a geo-fenced area.Re-check every 20 minutes, or 5 minutes within 1 mile of the state borderSource
Data & Hosting requirements
Server locationAll Licensees
Board must approve the location of all iGaming equipment, which may be in the US; redundancy, secondary and emergency servers must be in a secure data centre in Pennsylvania, and the Board may require revenue and player data to be kept in PA.Redundancy servers within PennsylvaniaSource
Player Funds requirements
No wagers beyond deposited fundsB2C Operator
Operators may not accept a wager that exceeds the funds on deposit in the player account, and balances must be updated after every game cycle.Source
Payments requirements
Account funding and no creditB2C Operator
Accounts may be funded by cash, cheque, wire, credit/debit or player-verified prepaid cards, ACH and other Board-approved methods; operators may not extend credit or accept credit-derived deposits from affiliates, and balances may not go negative.Source
Advertising & Marketing requirements
Co-branding and targetingB2C Operator
iGaming ads aimed at PA residents must show the certificate holder and operator names/logos in equal size, and ads may not target excluded players or contradict game rules.Source
General advertising standardsAll Licensees
Ads by licensees or their agents may not be false or misleading or hide conditions, and must carry the gambling assistance helpline message in a minimum font size set by medium.Font at least 2% of ad height/width (5% on billboards)Source
Promotion filingB2C Operator
Terms and conditions of each promotion must be sent to the Board at least 5 days before launch, include the helpline statement, and remain posted for the whole promotion.5 days prior noticeSource
Affiliates requirements
Responsibility for affiliate promotionsB2C Operator
Certificate holders and operators are responsible for the terms and conduct of promotions offered on their behalf by third-party vendors or marketing affiliates.Source
Other requirements
Change of control approval for suppliersB2B Supplier
Anyone acquiring more than 20% of an interactive gaming manufacturer licensee (directly or through a parent) must first get Board approval by petition; the licensee must notify the Board immediately of any proposed change.20% ownership thresholdSource
Separation of manufacturer, supplier and operator rolesB2B Supplier
An interactive gaming manufacturer licensee and its affiliates may not hold a slot machine licence or an interactive gaming supplier licence, and a supplier may not hold a manufacturer or slot licence.Source
Recent regulatory changes
Newest first. Each entry links to the notice it came from.
Other
PGCB tells CFTC sports prediction markets are illegal betting
The PGCB submitted comments to the CFTC before federal rulemaking on prediction markets. It stated its view that sports event contracts are sports wagering offered in violation of Pennsylvania law and criticised access by under-21s.
The PGCB Executive Director wrote to PA members of Congress asking them to urge the CFTC to address sports prediction markets. He argued these event contracts bypass state-regulated sports wagering and its consumer protections.
The Board reminded bettors that only its 12 regulated online sportsbooks must provide player protections such as limits, cool-off periods and complaint handling. It said it cannot help with disputes involving illegal offshore sites.
Pennsylvania joins multi-state online poker compact
The Governor signed Pennsylvania into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) as its sixth member, allowing shared online poker player pools with NJ, NV, DE, WV and MI. Multi-state play in PA was set to start on 28 April 2025.
The PGCB published final-form regulations adding 58 Pa. Code Ch. 819a, which sets a framework for online progressive wagers, including wide-area progressives shared between operators. The rulemaking also amended player account controls in §812a.9.
Published decisions against licensees — the clearest signal of what
the regulator actually polices.
Date
Licensee
Action
Amount
Reason
23 Sept 2026
CountR GmbH
Regulatory Settlement
USD 50,000
Consent agreement over an unapproved change of control of its licence and unpaid licensing fees; the company agreed to pay the Board USD 50000.Source
29 Apr 2026
Play'n GO New Jersey LLC
Fine
USD 10,000
Licensed interactive gaming manufacturer fined for failing to obtain Board approval for a change of control.Source
25 Mar 2026
BetMGM, LLC
Fine
USD 100,000
Insufficient KYC and anti-fraud procedures on its BetMGM and Borgata platforms allowed fraud rings to open accounts with other people's identities and fund them with stolen payment methods.Source
29 Jan 2025
BetMGM, LLC
Fine
USD 260,905
Interactive gaming operator let a person on the Interactive Self-Exclusion List gamble on its sites on 152 occasions.Source
18 Dec 2024
Evolution US, LLC
Fine
USD 25,000
iGaming manufacturer licensee failed to save surveillance video at its Philadelphia live dealer studio for nearly two days after a power outage caused a server failure.Source
Suppliers licensed by the PGCB
Companies on Gamitas holding a licence from this regulator.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) regulates online casino games, online poker, retail and online sports wagering and fantasy contests. Gaming taxes are paid to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, which also runs iLottery.
What is the minimum age for online gambling in Pennsylvania?
Players must be at least 21 to use online casino, poker and sports wagering sites, and operators must verify age at registration. Fantasy contests generally require players to be 18, or 21 when played inside a casino.
Do B2B game and platform suppliers need a licence in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Companies that make or modify interactive games, devices or associated equipment need an interactive gaming manufacturer licence, and those that sell or distribute them need an interactive gaming supplier licence. Both last five years, cost USD 10000 plus a USD 5000 applicant deposit, and all games must be tested and certified by the Board.
What are the online gambling tax rates in Pennsylvania?
Slot-type iGaming revenue is taxed at 52% and table and peer-to-peer games at 14%, each plus a 2% local share assessment. Sports wagering is taxed at 34% plus a 2% local share assessment, and fantasy contests at 15% of adjusted revenue.
Can a company without a Pennsylvania casino run an online casino there?
Interactive gaming certificates go to PA slot machine licensees or qualified gaming entities. Other companies can run online casinos on their behalf by getting an interactive gaming operator licence, which has a USD 1000000 one-time fee and a USD 100000 renewal fee.
Do servers have to be located in Pennsylvania?
The Board must approve where iGaming equipment is located, and it can be anywhere in the US. Redundancy, secondary and emergency servers must be in a secure data centre inside Pennsylvania, and the Board may require revenue and player data to be kept in the state.
What responsible gambling tools must operators offer?
Operators must offer deposit, spend, wager and time limits, a cool-off suspension of at least 72 hours, and must honour the Board self-exclusion list (1 year, 5 years or lifetime). A 1-800-GAMBLER message must appear at login and logout.
Can players outside Pennsylvania play on PA-licensed sites?
Players must be physically located in Pennsylvania, and geolocation is re-checked during sessions. Online poker is the exception: since April 2025, PA players can share poker tables with players in other MSIGA states.
Primary legislation and instruments
The statutes, regulations and technical standards this page is built from.
Detailed iGaming rules: certificates, operator, manufacturer and supplier licences, platform and server location, testing, player accounts/KYC, advertising and promotions, responsible gaming limits and self-exclusion.
Gaming expansion law that added interactive gaming (4 Pa.C.S. Ch. 13B), sports wagering (Ch. 13C), fantasy contests (Ch. 3) and iLottery (Ch. 5) to Title 4.
Compiled from official regulator and government sources, most recently on 26 Sept 2026. It is a starting point for commercial research, not legal advice — confirm the current position with the PGCB or local counsel before you act on it.
