Pennsylvania Sports Betting Law
The Pennsylvania sports betting law may be a small portion of the omnibus gaming legislation it was passed with, but it certainly has a major impact. For decades, PA was similar to most states across the nation in that there were no actual sports gambling laws written. Legislators in the state relied upon federal sports betting laws to dictate the legality of betting on sports in the United States. Once lawmakers realized the benefits and inevitably of regulated sports wagering, several sports betting bills were brought forth. Eventually, one bill was passed and turned into law, legalizing sports gambling within the state contingent upon the activity being permitted by federal law. When the Supreme Court ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was unconstitutional, the sports betting provisions featured in the Pennsylvania gaming law went into effect.
The Pennsylvania sports betting law is not at all lengthy, and it is more straightforward than the legislation in the other states. To further simplify learning more about the law, there is a breakdown of what’s inside that includes what types of betting are permitted, who can offer sports betting, where residents can expect to bet, etc. Get an overview of the sports betting law, and what it means for legal Pennsylvania sportsbooks.
PA Sportsbooks Suggest Rams Will Lose Super Bowl 53, But Only By A Little
The Rams have proven to be elite and very well-coached all year long as they let up the 4th least 3rd downs all year on defense and had an offensive 3rd down conversion rate of 45%, good enough to be ranked 5th in the NFL. With this, online sportsbooks posted the Super Bowl 53 betting odds in favor of the Patriots, but only by a slight margin. The Rams are 3 point underdogs for the Super Bowl but their focus is to win outright (+125). These legal online sites offer many other Super Bowl bets that you can entertain yourself with throughout the entirety of the game such as the exact number of sacks that will occur in the Super Bowl. Three (+350), four (+375), and two (+400) are the favorites but any other number ranges from +500 to +2000. The offenses are elite and look to get the ball out quick to ensure both Brady and Goff avoid any major hits. Super Bowl 53 will be broadcasted on CBS at 6:30 EST on February 3rd – be sure to get your Super Bowl bets in before then.
PA HB 271 was passed into law on October 30, 2017, by Governor Tom Wolf. Enacted as PA Act 42 of 2017, the legislation expanded gaming in the state across several areas. Chapter 13C Sports Wagering is where all of the general provisions, taxes, licensing requirements, and applicable laws regarding sports betting in the state can be found. Here are the key points of the sports betting law:
Online Sports Betting Authorized
While online gambling has been a topic even more controversial than sports betting, PA lawmakers recognized that the market is too lucrative to ignore. Research firm Gambling Compliance estimates that regulated online sports betting could bring in $5.2 billion in gross gaming revenue for the US. Rather than create a separate law to authorize online sports betting at a later time, PA HB 271 states that sports wagering includes betting “over the Internet through websites”.
Residents Can Bet From Mobile Devices
Mobile wagering is also legal in Pennsylvania under the sports betting law. As written, the law does not specify how mobile sports betting apps would be operated or licensed within the state. Presumably, the sportsbook licensees within the state would be able to offer mobile applications in addition to their land-based offerings.
Players Must Be At Least 21 Years Old
Within the general provisions of PA HB 271, the legal sports betting age in Pennsylvania is clearly outlined. Only individuals 21 years of age or older will be able to place bets on sporting events. Operators are required to implement age verification measures.
Unauthorized Sports Wagering
One of the biggest questions surrounding the end of the PASPA era is how states would handle offshore online sports betting. Under the current PA sports betting law, it is largely up to interpretation but seems as if this type of wagering is still permitted. At first glance, it would appear that the law criminalizes gambling businesses that are unlicensed and attempt to take bets from PA residents. Here is an excerpt from the section:
§ 13C04(a)(1) Unauthorized sports wagering.
“It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, conduct, offer or expose sports wagering for play or to accept a bet or wager associated with sports wagering from any person physically located in this Commonwealth which at the time of play that is not within the scope of a valid sports wagering certificate issued by the board under this chapter.”
Licensure & Tax Fees
All gaming operators have to pay taxes, and PA HB 271 taxes licensees at a rate of 34% on daily gross sports wagering revenue. There is also a 2% fee for a local share assessment, totaling a perceivably high 36%. Potential sportsbooks will also have to pay a $10 million licensing fee to obtain a “sports wagering certificate”, which lasts for a period of five years. After that, a fee of $250,000 is required to renew the certificate. Though these high fees have no direct impact on bettors, you may still feel residual shocks when it comes to the odds that sportsbooks offer.
Casinos And Racetracks Can Offer Sports Betting
Under PA HB 217, slot machine licensees are authorized to apply for a sports wagering certificate. This means that the 12 casinos and racetracks located within the state can legally offer sports betting to patrons. Lawmakers also included a provision that is rather unique to the state, allowing what they call “temporary facilities” if a venue does not yet have enough space in their casino. The section reads as follows:
§ 13C21(b) Authorized locations for operation.
“The board may permit a sports wagering certificate holder to conduct sports wagering at a temporary facility that is physically connected to, attached to or adjacent to a licensed facility, as approved by the board, for a period not to exceed 18 months.”
Does The Law Say That I Have To Be In The State To Place Bets?
Yes, in order to use state-licensed sportsbooks you must be physically in the state. This is stated in both § 13C04 and § 13C11. It is worth noting that the law also states that you do not have to be a resident of PA to bet on sports. This means that tourists are free to visit local sportsbooks or use regulated sports betting apps in Pennsylvania.
Who Oversees Sports Betting Regulations In Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is the governing body of sports wagering in the state. Title 4, Chapter 12 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes outlines the powers of the Board and describes their oversight of gaming activities within the state. As it relates specifically to sports wagering, the Board will issue licenses and ensure that casino/racetrack operators are in compliance.
Do I Have To Be 21 For Both Online And Land-Based Sports Betting?
The legal sports betting age for Pennsylvania sportsbooks is universal, which means that residents will have to be at least 21 years old for all types of wagering. Whether you are betting from your smartphone or visiting SugarHouse, you must be 21 or over. Underage gambling is a serious offense, making it imperative that you are 21 or older before visiting a legal Pennsylvania sportsbook.
