Philadelphia Casinos: How to Gamble Online & In-Person in Philadelphia, PA

After the legalization of gambling in Pennsylvania, the state has benefited greatly from online betting sites with casinos. If you’re new to online gambling in Philadelphia then you may be wondering how to find the best online casino in the area. 

Our experts have put together this guide to help you select the best offshore sportsbooks in Philadelphia and explain why they are your best options when choosing an online casino. You’ll also find other aspects of gambling in Philadelphia, such as the most popular in-person casinos that are available. After all, there are many things for casino lovers to enjoy in the City of Brotherly Love.

Commercial Casinos in Philadelphia

With 15 land-based casinos in Pennsylvania as a whole you’ve got a lot of choice in the local vicinity but Philadelphia itself plays host to 5 casino operators in the metro area, with three stand-alone casino properties and two at racetracks. Below you can learn more about the luxurious casino hotels & resorts that are in and around Philadelphia:

Harrah’s Casino & Hotel Philadelphia

Harrah’s Casino & Hotel Philadelphia is a premier gaming destination located in Chester, Pennsylvania, which is around 20 miles from Northeast Philadelphia. With over 100,000 square feet of gaming space, Harrah’s offers a wide variety of gaming options for guests. The casino floor boasts over 2,000 slot machines, including video poker and progressive machines, as well as a diverse selection of table games such as blackjack, craps and roulette.

For those seeking high-stakes action, the World Series of Poker Poker Room offers tournaments and cash games. In addition to gaming, Harrah’s Casino & Hotel Philadelphia features multiple dining options, a luxurious hotel and a state-of-the-art entertainment venue showcasing the biggest names in music and comedy.

Live! Casino Hotel Philadelphia

Live! Casino Philadelphia is a top-tier gaming and entertainment destination located in the heart of South Philadelphia. With a casino floor spanning over 500,000 square feet, Live! Casino Philadelphia offers an unparalleled gaming experience with over 2,100 slot machines, more than 150 live-action table games and a state-of-the-art sportsbook.

The casino floor is equipped with the latest gaming technology and features a wide range of games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and more. In addition to gaming, Live! Casino Philadelphia offers several dining options, including celebrity chef restaurants, bars and lounges, as well as a luxury hotel featuring upscale and comfortable accommodations featuring the breathtaking city views in South Philly.

Parx Casino and Racetrack

Parx Casino is a fun casino destination located in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, just a short drive from Philadelphia. With over 260,000 square feet of gaming space, Parx offers an extensive variety of gaming options for guests. The casino floor boasts over 3,300 slot machines, including progressive and multi-line machines, as well as over 100 live table games such as blackjack, craps, roulette and live table poker.

The casino’s state-of-the-art sportsbook offers guests the opportunity to place bets on a wide variety of sports and events. Additionally, Parx East is situated adjacent to the casino location and is famous for horse racing. Parx Casino also features several dining options, including high-end restaurants, bars and quick bites. Guests can also stay overnight at the adjacent luxury hotel accommodations and enjoy top-notch amenities, including a spa, a fully-equipped fitness center and an indoor pool.

Rivers Casino Philadelphia

Originally known as the SugarHouse Casino, in reference to the vacant sugar refinery, Jack Frost Refinery, which previously occupied the Delaware Avenue site, Rivers Casino Philadelphia is an excellent entertainment destination which is located in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood. With a 45,000-square-foot casino floor, Rivers Casino Philadelphia offers an extensive selection of gaming options for guests. The casino floor features over 1,600 slot machines, including video poker and progressive machines, as well as 53 live table games such as blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat.

Rivers Casino Philadelphia’s state-of-the-art sportsbook offers guests the opportunity to place bets on a wide range of sports and events while on the casino premises. In addition to gaming, Rivers Casino Philadelphia offers several dining options, including high-end Asian cuisine restaurants, bars and quick bites. Guests that are looking for more entertainment options can also enjoy live entertainment and events at Rivers Casino’s intimate, 2,000-seat venue.

Valley Forge Casino Resort

Valley Forge Casino Resort is one of the most famous casinos in the area and is located in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, which is just a short drive from Philadelphia. With over 40,000 square feet of gaming space, Valley Forge offers a wide variety of gaming options for guests. The casino floor boasts over 850 slot machines and other electronic gaming machines, as well as a diverse selection of gaming tables that offer games such as blackjack, craps, roulette and mini-baccarat.

The casino’s FanDuel Sportsbook offers guests the opportunity to place bets on a wide range of sports and events. In addition to gaming, Valley Forge Casino Resort features multiple dining options, including high-end restaurants offering fine-dining experiences, bars and a wide variety of casual eateries. Guests can also stay overnight at the luxurious hotel, which offers deluxe amenities, including a spa, fitness center and indoor pool.

The Best Online Casino Sites to Gamble in Philadelphia 2023

The best sportsbooks in Pennsylvania offer a great range of options from card games to slots. We’ve ranked our top 10 and given reasons why they made our list.

  1. BookMaker – Best all-round gambling site in Philadelphia
  2. Heritage Sports – Brilliant casino rebate bonus
  3. Bovada – Fantastic casino welcome offer
  4. BetOnline – Biggest range of games available
  5. BetUS – Great choice of bonuses
  6. WagerWeb – Great range of slots
  7. JustBet – Lots of weekly casino tournaments
  8. Everygame – Biggest Philadelphia online casino welcome bonus
  9. BetAnySports – Great all-around Philadelphia online gambling site
  10. SportsBetting – High betting limits for all players

Reviewing the Best Online Casinos for Philadelphia Gamblers

Now that you’ve seen our casino list with the top ten best online sites in the online casino industry, we will take the five absolute best and give you a more in-depth view of each. Below you will find our reviews for the five best online casinos that are available to gamblers in Philadelphia. We will cover each site’s strengths and weaknesses. Each of these impressive casino sites offers multiple gambling opportunities with the best odds and bonuses.

1. Bookmaker.eu: Best All-Round Gambling Site

Bookmaker.eu Casino

For years, Bookmaker.eu has been providing the sharpest lines with high early limits on their sportsbook. As such this online betting site is loved by pros and casual bettors alike. While the casino doesn’t have the same amount of slots as some of its competitors, it has more than enough for anyone to use. The loyalty program is one of the best on the internet.

The casino allows free money or real money plays on all their slots and has a range of table games on offer including roulette and baccarat alongside the usual variations of blackjack and craps. You can find a well-stocked video poker section as well as Bingo and Keno which aren’t available at every site on this list.

When opening an account for the first time you can take advantage of promos like an online casino welcome bonus, here BookMaker will give you a 25% bonus up to $500 on your first cash deposit. They also offer a reload bonus depending on what level of points you’ve accrued, giving up to 20% extra every time you deposit on the site.

Pros:

  • Best all-around site with sportsbook, racebook and casino
  • Great loyalty program for all bettors
  • Reload bonus gives free cash every time you deposit

Cons:

  • Not as much variation as others on this list
  • Quite simplistic looking site

2. Heritage Sports: Brilliant Casino Rebate Bonus

Heritage Sports Casino

Established in 2001, Heritage Sports has over 20 years of experience providing fast payouts on your casino winnings and impeccable service in Philadelphia offering a sportsbook, racebook and casino.

The main advantage that Heritage Sports have over the other offshore sportsbooks in Philadelphia is their casino rebate promo, giving you 8% of your losses back to you each week, a higher number than is on offer at all the other sites on this list.

There isn’t the selection or range of the likes of BetOnline and others on this list, but there is a variety of slots to play from old-school 3-reel to new 3D slot machines as well as 27 different poker games to keep you entertained. They do offer a live dealer option but the selection isn’t as vast as others.

Pros:

  • Excellent rebate bonus on casino losses
  • Good welcome offer available
  • Sportsbook offers reduced vig lines

Cons:

  • Limited selection of assorted games

3. Bovada: Fantastic Casino Welcome Offer

Bovada Casino

Bovada boasts one of the best welcome offers. This online betting site has everything you could wish from a provider: sportsbook, racebook, casino and the busiest online poker room in the United States. Their website is well-designed and is mobile-friendly.

They offer the same $3,000 welcome bonus as BetOnline on your first cash deposit as well as a 125% match bonus if you use crypto. That raises the maximum possible credit to $3750 although the rollover requirement is larger on this bonus. There is also a wide variety of promo codes at Bovada that customers can take advantage of.

There are over 100 slots to play, with games from multiple software providers, offering a larger range than you’ll find at some of the competitors, with some games playable from $0.01 per line. You can also play them in demo mode to get used without risking your own cash.

You will find all of your favorite games, including the standard table games, with eight different versions of blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps and others, as well as an excellent live dealer section that is well laid out.

Pros:

  • Up to $3,750 in bonus cash available for crypto deposits
  • 40 live dealer tables available
  • One of the best sites for a mobile betting experience

Cons:

  • Fewer slots than BetOnline
  • Not as many ongoing promotions as competitors

4. BetOnline: Biggest Range of Games Available

BetOnline Casino

BetOnline has been one of the best online betting sites in the industry for over 25 years building up a reputation as a safe and user-friendly offshore sportsbook and casino.

BetOnline has over 350+ slot machines available, a section of table games, poker and video poker as well as specialty games such as Keno and scratchcards.

Their casino welcome bonus is one of the better promos available with up to $3000 in matched payments of up to $1000 on your first three deposits using BetOnline promo codes. As with all bonuses, there is a rollover requirement so make sure you check the terms and conditions when you use one of these, on BetOnline, it’s 30x your deposit and the bonus cash.

Pros:

  • Biggest selection of online table games in Philadelphia
  • Outstanding welcome offer
  • Live tournaments on a weekly/monthly basis

Cons:

  • Bonus needs a large rollover

5. BetUS: Great Choice of Bonuses

BetUS homepage

BetUS is one of the oldest offshore sportsbooks on this list, with nearly three decades of experience. They offer a casino, a racebook and, lately, BetUS TV, which gives you betting and advice.

As one of the online betting sites available in Philadelphia, you’ll find a selection of table games, live dealer options, video poker and virtual slot machines from a whole range of software providers.

BetUS has a great bonus for new accounts worth up to 250% available for opening an account on the casino, meaning a possible $5000 in free cash when you make your first deposit. This is one of the largest bonuses available from casinos in Philadelphia. 

Pros:

  • Many choices of bonuses available
  • Great selection of table games and slots
  • Regular weekly promotions and bonus offers

Cons:

  • Large rollover requirement on bonuses
  • Old management may have tarnished them

Is gambling legal in Philadelphia?

Whether you want to use a land-based casino or an offshore casino, you won’t have any issues in Philadelphia after Pennsylvania legalized online gambling in 2017. Two years later, Pennsylvania sports betting joined the party.

Today, you can visit the racetrack, the casino or any of the mini-casinos in the state and gamble as long as you’re 21 or above. You can place wagers on an upcoming football game or basketball game or you can try your luck with the state lottery. There’s even bingo and keno available for residents who prefer specialty games.

On the other hand, you can stay at home, open an account with one of the leading offshore sportsbooks and get bonus cash while staying in the comfort of your own home.

History of Gambling in Philadelphia

Gambling in various forms has been legal in Philadelphia since 1959 when horse racing betting was legalized in the Keystone state, but what other landmarks have there been in Philadelphia?

  • 2020: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all casinos in Pennsylvania, including those in Philadelphia, are closed for several months. They gradually reopen with capacity restrictions and safety measures in place.
  • 2019: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approves a license for a new casino to be built in the stadium district of Philadelphia. The project is expected to be completed by 2020.
  • 2010: SugarHouse Casino, the first casino in Philadelphia, opens its doors to the public. The casino is later rebranded as Rivers Casino Philadelphia.
  • 2007: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board awards two casino licenses to groups proposing to build casinos in Philadelphia. One of the proposed casinos, Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia, fails to secure financing and is never built.
  • 2004: The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act is passed, legalizing slot machines and electronic table games at select horse racing tracks in the state. This act is later amended to allow for the creation of standalone casinos.
  • 1992: The federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is passed, effectively banning sports betting in all states except Nevada, which was exempted due to its pre-existing sports betting industry.
  • 1971: The Pennsylvania Lottery is established, becoming the first state lottery east of the Mississippi River. While the lottery does not include casino games, it is a popular form of gambling in the state.

How do I stay safe playing casino games online in Philadelphia?

The best way of staying safe when playing casino games online in Philadelphia is to choose an offshore sportsbook with years of proven history of paying out its customers quickly and reliably. This guide includes the top 10 companies that have made it onto the list, thanks to their reputation across the industry.

You can deposit and withdraw through a variety of methods from credit and debit cards through bank transfers all the way to cryptocurrency which adds another level of animosity to your gambling transactions.

Every site on this list has fantastic customer service as well with most offering 24/7 support by phone, email or live chat should you have any questions when using your account.

FAQs – Online Casino Gaming in Philadelphia

Does Philadelphia have casinos?

People looking for a casino in their community can rejoice. Around Philadelphia, there are multiple casinos to choose from that offer a variety of games, including poker tables, slots and more. Many of the local casinos feature other entertainment, too, with spaces to host special events and incredible restaurants.

What is the largest casino in Philadelphia?

There are 5 casinos within the metropolitan area of Philadelphia and additional casinos just outside of the city all of which have slot machines inside. The largest is at Parx Casino, with over 3,000 slot machines available in addition to hosting live horse races at their adjacent racetrack.

Are online casinos legal in Philadelphia?

After it became the fourth state to legalize gambling, online casinos were in use before the opening of the first casino within city limits.  However, we recommend using an offshore sportsbook thanks to their years of use with some on this list coming up to 30 years of experience.

What gambling apps are legal in PA?

Any state-regulated or offshore mobile gambling apps or mobile sites are legal for residents in the Keystone State to enjoy.

What are the Top 5 online casinos?

Based on extensive research by our industry experts, we determined that BookMaker, Heritage Sports, Bovada, BetOnline and BetUS are the top online casinos in Philadelphia.

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