Pennsylvania online sports betting laws

Pennsylvania was one of the first states to swing into action after the Professional and Amateur Sport Protection Act (PASPA) was declared unconstitutional in 2018, having already passed authorizing legislation in 2017 ( HB 271 ) in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s decision.

Retail betting started in November 2018, and by the summer of 2019, Pennsylvania online sports betting was up and running. The Keystone State has not looked back since.

In 2019-20, sportsbooks in the state took more than $2.2 billion in bets, making this the third largest sports betting market in the US behind Nevada and New Jersey.

That trend continues. The monthly sports betting handle topped $600 million for the first time in January 2021, with a majority of sports bets being placed online. And the 2020-2021 fiscal year handle has already surpassed the prior year’s total, with a total of $3.1 billion wagered in the first six months of the fiscal year.

When you want to enjoy Pennsylvania betting sites you don’t have to go to licensed premises to sign up in person.

Wherever you are in the state, you can register with a sportsbook through laptop, desktop or mobile. Please be sure that you have your geolocation tech switched on so that the sportsbook can confirm your location.

The minimum age to bet on sports in Pennsylvania is 21 so you should also have ID handy that proves your age, such as a passport or Social Security number.

One factor that has hampered the growth in Pennsylvania sports betting is the cost of the sports wagering licenses in the state. They are among the most expensive in the US, which most likely has decreased the amount of competition in the market.

Nevertheless, the numbers show that there is a wide range of experienced, well-established, and trusted operators running sportsbooks in the state.

Yes, they are. Any Pennsylvania sports betting winnings are considered taxable income by the IRS and it’s advisable to keep a record of every winning sports bet you place.

The sportsbook you sign up with is obliged to keep records too. If you win more than $600, you will be expected to fill in form W-2G. The amount you declare there will then go on your personal tax return.

As well as the federal tax, Pennsylvania also levies a 3.07% tax on gambling income. This has to go on PA-40 Schedule T.

Even though Pennsylvania rushed to legalize sports betting, it takes the minimum betting age very seriously.

When you sign up with a sportsbook, you will be expected to provide ID that proves you are 21 or older – either a passport or your Social Security number.

You don’t have to register in person for a sportsbook account – but you have to be inside the state to be able to enjoy Pennsylvania sports betting.

It’s essential that you have your geolocation tools on your device switched on so the sportsbook can check you are inside state lines. Otherwise, you won’t be permitted to bet.

When Pennsylvania sports betting was legalized, certain restrictions were imposed by the lawmakers. If you work for a casino or a sports betting company, you are not allowed to bet on your own Pennsylvania betting sites. This also applies to people who work for organizations that supply betting software or hardware.

Athletes and other individuals who work for or are involved with professional and college athletics, including coaches, referees, and trainers, may not wager on any events in which they are participating, have access to non-public information, or in the sport or league in which the person is involved.

In Pennsylvania you may place wagers on all professional and college sports, but betting on high school sports is prohibited.

Sports bets placed in Pennsylvania must be on “sports events or on the individual performance statistics of athletes in a sporting event or combination of sports events.” This language does not specifically prohibit wagers on esports, although, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has held that virtual gaming competitions do not fit in that narrow definition.

Esports may be on the near horizon, however, as Philadelphia Rep. Ed Neilson has introduced a bill in 2021, HB 1580, that would authorize esports wagers.

That stipulation over betting being allowed only on actual sporting events means that intriguing occasions such as the drafts for the NBA and NFL are excluded. You can’t bet on who you think the Steelers are about to draft in the first round, for instance.

Sports betting means betting on sports alone. This also means that people in Pennsylvania are not allowed to wager on showbiz events such as the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards.

In common with all other states, Pennsylvania does not allow betting on political events, including elections. No licensed sportsbook will allow Americans to wager on local, national or overseas elections.