Philadelphia is the sixth largest city in the United States and home to a major league team in each of the five dominant sports leagues in North America. The Eagles of the NFL are the most recent team to bring a championship to Philadelphia, when they defeated the Patriots in Super Bowl LII in 2018. The Eagles also won the NFC Championship last year, but lost in the Super Bowl in a tight game with the Chiefs. The Phillies won the World Series in 2008, while the Flyers, 76ers and Union have built competitive teams, but have each gone decades without a title. The Phillies and Union advanced to the World Series and MLS Cup finals, respectively, in 2022, but neither team was able to finish the job and win the championship. Through success and failure, Philly residents proudly support their teams and enjoy action on the games, as seen by the increasing rise of sports betting among city residents.
Sports betting is as popular among Philadelphia residents as it has ever been, with online sports betting become an acceptable form of entertainment among Philly sports fans. With this rise in popularity it’s important that Philadelphia residents understand the legality of sports betting within Pennsylvania and choose reputable betting sites to place their wagers.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Philadelphia?
Regulated sports betting begain in Pennsylvania in November of 2018 when The Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course booked the first regulated sports bet in the state. This wager came one year after Pennsylvania’s Governor signed a sports betting bill into law allowing both in-person and mobile betting (as well as DFS and online poker) in the state. You are now able to place bets at regulated bookies who have been granted licenses to take bets in the state. There are currently 11 regulated sportsbooks available in Pennsylvania.
As a Pennsylvania resident you also have the option to sign up and place your bets through offshore betting sites that are licensed and regulated outside of the USA. Many offshore sportsbooks, including BetOnline.ag which I recommend below, continue to accept Philadelphia residents and offer an alternative to the state licensed sportsbooks. The offshore betting sites have been serving the US betting market for decades, and they now rely on their reputation, customer service, and experience to continue operating their businesses.
Best Sportsbooks for Philadelphia Residents
BetOnline.ag is our top rated offshore sportsbook for Philadelphia residents because of their dedication to the American market. BetOnline has served the US betting market for 25+ years and has built a strong reputation as a trusted sportsbook for Americans in that time.
BetOnline is currently one of the most popular online sportsbooks serving the United States and they continue to provide a great product for their American players. Check out our full review here.
Offline Sports Betting In Philadelphia
Philadelphia is home to a variety of casinos, each of which now includes a sportsbook. Below I will outline two of the most popular casinos in the city, both of which also offer live horse racing.
Harrah’s Philadelphia
Harrah’s Philadelphia is a popular casino & racetrack in the south-west end of city. Harrah’s hosts live harness racing on their 5/8 mile track. They offer live betting on their harness races, as well as simulcast betting on thoroughbred and standardbred races 7 days a week.
Harrah’s has opened the Caesars Sportsbook on the property. The sportsbook is open 7 days a week from between 9am and 11:30am to between 8pm and 12am depending on the day. The Sportsbook features 6 ticket windows, 16 self-service betting kiosks, over 45 HDTV’s and a giant 24×14 foot screen to provide you with a great viewing experience after placing your wagers.
Parx Racing
Parx Racing and Casino is a large horse racing and casino complex located in the north-east of Philadelphia. The Parx Racing facility has become a prominent track in Pennsylvania and hosts two premier Thoroughbred races each year with the Grade I Cotillion Handicap and the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby both being run at the track.
In addition to the prestigious racetrack, the casino features 3500 slot machines, 188 live table games and 48 poker tables, which make Parx Racing and Casino the largest casino gaming complex in the state.
You can wager on every live race at the track, and you also have the option of wagering on simulcast action of all of the other top tracks in the USA.
Parx Casino has also added a sportsbook in the casino equipped with 6 ticket windows, 18 self-serve betting kiosks, several giant screens circling the sportsbook area, and comfortable seating to allow you to watch the games you wagered on in style.
Major Sports Teams in Philadelphia
- Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
- Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)
- Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
- Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)
- Philadelphia Union (MLS)