Online casino apps have been available for download in Pennsylvania since 2019. This followed the state’s legalization of online gambling in 2017 through an expansion bill signed by Governor Tom Wolf. Unlike some states that only offer a few casino apps, PA offers a huge selection. Each app is partnered with a retail casino in the state (i.e. Mohegan Sun Pocono or Hollywood Casino).
Many of these mobile apps are available on both Apple and Android devices, including smartphones and tablets. Some go beyond offering casino games and also provide sportsbooks. Below, we’ll go into exactly what to expect from the major apps in Pennsylvania and answer any questions you might have about online gambling in the state.
The Best Online Casino Apps In Pennsylvania
While there are many online casino apps in Pennsylvania, some are more popular than others. The three below are the top apps in the state. We’ll share some of the most important things to be aware of with each app as well as what kind of bets you can make.
FanDuel Online Casino App
iOS App Android App
Download Size 22.6 MB 22 MB
Most Recent Update May 11, 2020 April 30, 2020
Requirements iOS 11.0+ Android 6.0+
FanDuel is best known for its sportsbook apps. However, it also offers casino apps with a wide selection of games for Pennsylvania residents to play legally from home or other locations. This app comes with dozens of table games and slot games, so you can easily find what you’re looking for. It also lets you start risk-free during the first 24 hours, so you can determine if it’s the right app for you.
Unibet Online Casino App
iOS App Android App
Download Size 20.7 MB 8 MB
Most Recent Update April 22, 2020 April 22, 2020
Requirements iOS 11.0+ Android 6.0+
Unibet might not have FanDuel’s name recognition in the US, but it has a strong presence in Europe. This brand has partnered with Mohegan Sun Pocono in Pennsylvania to offer the largest catalog of table and slots games in the state. There are also plans for expansion, so it’s a great choice for someone who prefers a variety of options.
PokerStars Online Casino App
iOS App Android App
Download Size 161.3 MB 2.2 MB
Most Recent Update May 12, 2020 May 7, 2020
Requirements iOS 10.0+ Android 6.0+
PokerStars is another popular choice among online casino apps in Pennsylvania. It offers the chance to play hundreds of casino games, including table games like blackjack and slot games like Divine Fortune. Video poker is also provided by the app as well as games like European roulette, Triple Bonus, baccarat, and Tens or Better.
Full List of PA Casino Apps 2020
What Devices Work With Pennsylvania’s Online Casino Apps?
If you own a smartphone or a tablet, you will likely be able to download and enjoy Pennsylvania’s online casino apps. The major operators all offer applications for Android and iOS devices. Apple products and Android products including Samsung, LG, Motorola, and Lenovo can run all of the aforementioned online casino apps.
FanDuel Online Casino App Compatibility
The FanDuel iOS app is available for iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch devices. The only real requirement is that the device has a version of iOS that is 11 or higher. A FanDuel app is also available for Android.
One thing that sets FanDuel apart from other apps is the fact that the casino feature is built into the sportsbook and daily fantasy sports app. That means you can play blackjack, spin a few slots, bet on your favorite sports game, or even make a fantasy roster all on one app.
Unibet Online Casino App Compatibility
While only an Android app was available at first from Unibet, there is now an app for those who prefer Apple devices. One of the perks of choosing this app for online gambling in Pennsylvania is that you get $10 free for signing up, so you can try out the games. Anyone who moves forward with a deposit will also receive a 100 percent match up to $500.
PokerStars Online Casino App Compatibility
The PokerStars iOS app only needs an Apple device with iOS of 10 or higher. This allows those who are on older devices login and enjoy the same poker games as everyone else. The app is also available for Android.
If you open an account and deposit $20 or more, you will get $30 in free play. This gives new users a chance to delve deep into the app and see what options are available.
The Desktop Experience Versus The App Experience At Pennsylvania’s Mobile Online Casinos
Some online casinos offer a desktop website in addition to mobile apps. Understanding the positives and negatives of each option is important for the best gaming experience. On the other hand, some apps only have one option, and it’s helpful to know which.
FanDuel Online Casino: Desktop Versus App
The FanDuel app has a desktop option for its sportsbook. However, it does not offer a desktop option for its online casino app feature. The only way to play a game of blackjack or spin slots on FanDuel is by choosing to use the mobile app. However, the mobile app is well-optimized and offers a great experience on either a tablet or phone.
Unibet Online Casino: Desktop Versus App
Unibet allows users to play online casinos games on desktop or on the mobile app. The desktop site is laid out well and lets you choose from slots, blackjack, table games, jackpots, and video poker. Games are presented in a grid format. You can select a game and choose to play it as a demo or for real money.
The app does its job well without being overly flashy and makes it easy to play games. When comparing the app to the browser, there aren’t many differences. Both are optimized well and have similar designs. Each uses pop-out menus and features a framed design with some Flash elements available.
PokerStars Online Casino: Desktop Versus App
PokerStars allows users to access online casino games via application and desktop. The website is simple to use with an under-stated design. There are pull-down menus that let you choose the types of games you want to play. You can choose to play with real money or fake digital money and whether to join in multi-player games against other users.
The app is fairly similar in design with a grid type selection of games. You can easily contact the Support team, view your account, and deposit or withdraw money. The app is downloadable for free on the Mohegan Sun Pocono website.
How To Download Online Casino Apps On Your iPhone/ iOS Device In Pennsylvania
Downloading Pennsylvania apps onto an Apple device is simple and easy. Simply follow these steps:
- Visit the Apple App Store, and type in the name of the application you want.
- Choose to download the application. This will install the app on your phone or tablet.
- Once the download is complete, open the app, sign-in to your account, and start playing!
The Apple app download process is easier to follow than the process for Android.
How To Download Online Casino Apps On Android Devices In Pennsylvania
Android apps are also easy to install, but the process is slightly different. Instead of downloading apps from the Google Play Store, they need to be downloaded from the associated casino’s website.
- Navigate to the associated casino’s website using your mobile device, and click on a link for the application.
- Allow the file to download, and then click on it to start the installation.
- After installation is complete, open the app to start playing!
While it can take more time and effort to install an Android casino app, the basic idea is the same.
How To Register For An Online Casino App In Pennsylvania
Creating an account on a casino website is also a straightforward process. We’re going to use FanDuel as an example. However, every app is slightly different, so the sign-up process may vary.
- After you’ve downloaded the application, go ahead and start it up. In the top corner, there will be a “Join Now” icon. Click it to go to your Account Details page.
- Fill out the information required, including your name, username, email, birthday, and password.
- Next, you will fill out your contact details, including your address, zip code, state, phone number, and the last four numbers of your social security number.
- At this point, you can put in a promo code (if you have one). You will be asked to confirm that your information is accurate and to accept the terms and conditions. You will also be asked to confirm that you are of legal age and that you do not work at a casino.
That’s all there is to it. Once you have completed the process, you can deposit money and start playing the games you enjoy.
Standard Bonuses At Pennsylvania’s Legal Online Casino Apps
There are several types of bonuses that you are likely to encounter on PA legal casino applications and websites. The most common are no deposit bonuses, match or deposit bonuses, and loss back bonuses. We’ll look at what’s available from various apps and explain how each bonus works.
FanDuel Online Casino App Bonuses
When using the FanDuel casino app for Pennsylvania, the sign-up bonus is typically a loss back bonus period that lasts 24 hours. During that time, you can play blackjack, roulette, slots, and other games at up to $200 without the risk of losing the money. On any games where you do lose, the casino will provide the losing amount back in credits that you can use for future games.
Unibet Online Casino App Bonuses
Unibet, on the other hand, offers a no deposit sign-up bonus where you get $10 simply for registering for the casino app. It also offers a deposit or match bonus where whatever you deposit is doubled up to $500. This gives you two ways of gaining additional money or playtime, which might be appealing if you want to make the most of your time gambling.
PokerStars Online Casino App Bonuses
As for PokerStars, the current promotion offers you a match bonus of 100 percent up to $1,500, which is more than either FanDuel or Unibet. There is also the option to play Mystery Slot Bonuses to save even more or win bigger prizes when using this Pennsylvania online casino app.
When looking at promotions, be sure you read all the details. Sometimes the deposit or match bonus only applies for a certain amount of time (or your very first deposit). There may also be times when this sort of bonus is less than 100 percent matched on your deposit. For instance, an app might offer a 50 percent deposit bonus up to $200, so you could deposit $400 and get up to $200 in free play.
Games Available At Pennsylvania’s Online Gambling Apps
Just as a land-based casino offers a wide variety of games, the same applies to most casino apps. You could play a few slot games and then switch over to a hand of blackjack or spend a whole evening playing craps or roulette. However, there are differences between live and mobile games, and being aware of those differences will give you an idea of what to expect.
Slots
Slots are probably the most common type of game at online casinos and are typically the most popular at physical casinos. There’s nothing quite like watching a colorful screen after making a bet and hoping the right symbols pop up for a jackpot. Even online casinos that offer nothing else are going to provide slots since they are so popular.
Playing slots on an app is nearly the same as doing so live since the reel rotation, layout of the controls, and bonuses are set up to match the way a physical casino would work. In many cases, even the same games are available and have just been optimized to work on a smaller screen.
The main difference with mobile play is that rather than pushing a button, you have a graphic button to push as well as finger commands to zoom in and out and swipe to change screens. The graphics also may not be quite as good due to the capabilities of today’s phones and tablets.
Blackjack
Table games are a bit more difficult to translate into mobile form but are still available on all the large casino apps in Pennsylvania. As far as table games go, blackjack is the most common to see on mobile apps since the game is fairly simple and has no need for major calculations and graphical animations.
Mobile blackjack is very similar to the live game in a casino. However, you will need to press buttons on mobile instead of using hand gestures like you would in a physical casino. Most of the games are going to have limited animations such as moving chips, dealing cards, and other things.
Roulette
We mentioned above that FanDuel and PokerStars offer roulette, which has become more common on mobile apps as time goes on. In most cases, you are going to see a top-down look of the roulette table or the game board may be shown a bit lower. Instead of traditional casino play, a user will touch the wagers they wish to make.
The issue is that sometimes getting wagers in the right area can be an issue and the precision matters since each board area corresponds to a different betting option. Paying attention and being sure the chips are located in the right area is something important with online casinos.
Craps
While craps is less common to see on mobile apps, it is available through FanDuel and Unibet in Pennsylvania. The reason this is not as often seen is that the process of animating the pit with all its bets, as well as the rolling dice, can take a great deal of development time.
It’s also a more complicated game with a large learning curve that many aren’t interested in. You don’t get the socialization aspect you’ll find with a physical game. This kind of game is available on the apps, but you can’t expect it to be quite like real life.
Other Table Games
Some other table games are available on various online casino apps with baccarat being a standout for its popularity. It tends to have many of the same positives and negatives of blackjack since the game has some similarities. It’s not going to be quite as interactive through FanDuel or other apps, but those who love the game can play it right from home.
Live Dealer Games
It might seem like live dealer games would feel “fake” in some way, but they offer a great deal of interaction. In most cases, users can talk with other players and dealers in real-time. The games are run from a studio in the land-based casino in real-time, so it’s almost no different from playing in person.
However, the games don’t run at the same pace as automated versions since all players need time to make decisions. But the socialization is there and can be a huge perk for players who want an experience more like being in a physical casino.
Does Pennsylvania Offer Legal Online Sports Betting Apps?
There are online legal sports betting apps available in Pennsylvania, and they work in much the same way as the casino apps. Some providers like FanDuel roll their sports betting into the same app as the casino games, while others will have a separate app you can use.
Legal Online Casino Apps In Pennsylvania: FAQ
How old do I need to be to play on Pennsylvania’s legal casino apps?
21-years-old or older. While some kinds of betting are allowed at 18-years-old, this does not apply to online casino apps. Those who are at least 21-years-old can enjoy table games, slots, and video poker from the comfort of home using a computer or various mobile devices to get online and gamble.
Is a DraftKings online casino app available in Pennsylvania?
Yes. As of May 2020, DraftKings’ online casino is operating in Pennsylvania and available around the clock every day of the year. The company operates through a partnership with the Meadows Casino but is using Hollywood Casino’s casino license. Both of these casinos are owned by Penn National, and all land-based casinos may have multiple interactive partners. It can be found on iOS, Android, and desktop or laptop browsers.
Do Pennsylvania’s legal casino apps allow you to pay by credit card?
Yes. Almost all online casinos allow you to make deposits by credit card, and Pennsylvania’s apps are no exception. Visa and Mastercard are the most accepted credit cards, although some apps may also offer deposits through American Express or Diner. Other options for paying deposits include eChecks and bank wire.
When did online casino apps become legal in Pennsylvania?
In 2017, online gambling was authorized in Pennsylvania in a large expansion bill that was signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf. This expansion allowed online casinos, daily fantasy sports, online lottery, online poker, and online sports betting. The first online casinos were launched in the Keystone State in the middle of 2019 and have since been going strong.
How are gambling apps in Pennsylvania used on Android phones and tablets?
Most gambling apps are simple and easy to use. You can typically download them through the website for their partner casino. Once you have an official app for your Android phone or tablet, you can use it just like any other app that you have on your phone. Click on the icon, log in, and gamble as much as you like.
Are there legal casino apps on the Google Play Store in Pennsylvania?
No. When using Android devices, legal gambling apps need to be downloaded directly from the betting site rather than using the Google Play Store. You will need to visit the online casino’s website and look for the app there. You can download and install it like other apps, but you will not find any online gambling apps in the Google Play Store.