While Pennsylvania has had online sports betting for several years, new PA sportsbooks continue to appear online. The newest PA sportsbook is the bet365 Sportsbook, and others may be arriving soon. Here we lay out what to look for in new sportsbooks in PA, the value of choosing one over another, and how to take advantage of the competitive promotions available now.
New PA sportsbooks overview
Below we’ve broken down the available sportsbooks based on launch date to help you get a better idea of what the newest releases are, with the newest Pennsylvania sportsbook at the top combined with their promo code and a link to claim it.
| PA Sportsbook | Launch date | Welcome Offer | Bonus Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 Sportsbook | July 2024 | First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000 or Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose* | PLAYPA |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | Jan. 2024 | Bet and Get up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets OR Bet $30 Get $300 in Bonus Bets | Click to claim promo |
| ESPN Bet Sportsbook | Nov. 2023 | None | N/A |
| BetParx Sportsbook | Mar. 2022 | None | N/A |
| BetMGM Sportsbook | Dec. 2020 | Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win | PLAYPASB |
| Betfred Sportsbook | Dec. 2020 | None | N/A |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Mar. 2020 | Bet $1, Double Your Winnings on Next 10 Wagers | BETNOWDYW |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Nov. 2019 | Up to $1,200 in Bonuses + King of the End Zone Promo | Click to claim promo |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | July 2019 | Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins | Click to claim promo |
| BetRivers Sportsbook | June 2019 | 2nd Chance Bonus Bet up to $250 | PLAYPA |
| PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook | May 2019 | None | N/A |
Advantages of new sportsbooks
New sportsbooks bring a number of benefits for seasoned or new bettors alike. Here are some of the advantages to signing up for a new sportsbook:
- Better odds: New sportsbooks often compete for business by reducing the house take (the vig) and offering more favorable odds on certain teams. This also includes odds boosts for select games, prop bets or parlays. If you have your eye on a particular bet, look around some of the new online sportsbooks as you might just find better payout odds than what is offered at the more established books.
- Flexible sign-up bonuses: Every new PA sports betting app wants to attract customers, so the welcome offers are on par with the top sports betting brands. Many of the new sites also have a low playthrough requirement, so you can turn your bonus into withdrawable cash after playing through the bonus money one time.
- Ongoing promotions: To compete in a state like PA that already has double-digit betting app options, new sportsbooks have to get creative. The ongoing promos you’ll find at these new PA online sportsbooks are competitive with bet boosts, promos and bonus bet offers.
- New betting options: It can be fun to mix up your regular betting routines and try out different features. Most of the new online sportsbooks offer many live betting options.
- Rewards programs: The newest online sportsbooks in PA have rewards programs that allow bettors to build up points to earn bonus bets.
What to look for in new PA sportsbooks
What to look for in Pennsylvania sports betting sites will depend on your betting interests, including what sports or teams you like to bet on the most, the same applies for new sportsbooks.
For many, flexibility is key. A new sportsbook might offer early and/or partial cash-out options on existing bets. If you are new to betting on sports, this is a great feature that allows you to lock up a portion of winnings and minimize your risk before the final whistle blows.
Flexibility is also ideal when it comes to PA sportsbook promos. Some new sportsbooks will offer a choice between a couple of different welcome offers. Some also let you split up bonus bets into whatever incrememts you wish rather than have to place the entire bet as a single wager. All of these are big positives worth keeping an eye out for.
Shopping for the best odds is another bankroll boosting tactic that new sports betting apps can help with. Because there is so much competition for your business in Pennsylvania, the books are looking for ways to attract more wagers. One way is to offer better payout odds.
Typically, you’ll find 50-50 bets have payout odds of -110, which means that ten percent of your bet is going to the house (the “vig”) and the rest will be matched 1-to-1 if the bet wins. Some new sportsbooks will offer better odds like -107 or -105 on certain games. It may not seem like much, but those extra percentages add up and make a big difference in the long run.
Each online sportsbook tries to minimize its exposure by encouraging equal action on both sides of a bet. Because the dollar amounts bet on each side will vary at different books, odds will also change depending on the betting app. So if one sportsbook is receiving an unequal amount on the Mets moneyline, you may find a better line on the Phillies to win: +130 instead of +120, for example. In this example, the difference comes down to an extra $1 potential win for each $10 bet.
Another factor to consider is if you are looking to place a one-time larger bet on a team you like a lot in a specific game, a new sportsbook may be your best bet. The best welcome offers in PA generally come with some type of second chance first bet up to a certain amount.
You get the most value out of these deals if you plan to wager a bigger amount. That said, even a “second chance” or “no sweat” bet does come with some risk so just like any other sports bet you make, you have to know your limits. Never place a bet with money you aren’t willing to lose.
New PA sportsbooks – The latest in the state
Bet365 Sportsbook
As noted, the latest sports betting site to launch in Pennsylvania is the bet365 Sportsbook which went live in July 2024. With a long history stretching back decades in the UK and Europe, bet365 has become a big name in US sports betting after launching in several states and offering a terrific platform for both pregame and in-game live betting.
Some of the features users most like at bet365 Sportsbook include the “Early Win” promo that pays out winners on moneyline bets if your team goes ahead by a certain amount (e.g., five runs in MLB, 20 points in NBA, 2 goals in soccer). There are automatic parlay boosts added as well that increase with each additional leg. You can split up your bonus bets as well at bet365, wagering them in whatever increment you like. Pennsylvanians should be excited about bet365 Sportsbook getting added to the available online options.
- Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
- PLUS 50 Bonus Spins at bet365 Casino
- 30% Extra on Same Game Parlay Profit
- T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER 21+
- Use Bonus Code: PLAYPA
Fanatics Sportsbook
Prior to bet365’s arrival in PA, Fanatics Sportsbook launched its PA site in early January 2024, taking the spot previously occupied by PointsBet which Fanatics acquired. Fanatics isn’t as well known as some of the bigger players in US sports betting, but the sportsbook offers competitive odds on all the major sports and many minor ones as well.
One positive at Fanatics is its FanCash rewards program that gives players back 5% of each wager in the form of FanCash that can later be redeemed as bonus bets. FanCash can also be used to purchase official gear in the Fanatics store. A drawback at Fanatics is the fact that the sportsbook is app-only, meaning there is no web-based version of the site.
- Bet and Get up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets
- Earn FanCash & Spend it on Team Swag or More Bets
- 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
- To Claim: Click Play Now
ESPN Bet Sportsbook
ESPN Bet Sportsbook is the online sportsbook for the world-renowned sports and entertainment network. After signing a licensing deal with Penn Entertainment to rebrand the old Barstool Sportsbook, ESPN Bet went live in 17 states in November 2023, one of which was Pennsylvania.
The ESPN Bet Sportsbook has a nice range of features and offers betting on all the major sports and markets. The site has fairly frequent odds boosts and occasional promotions, although fewer bonuses for ongoing players than you’ll find at other sites. Some promos feature ESPN personalties such as Scott Van Pelt and Stephen A. Smith inviting users to make particular wagers on certain contests.
How do you know you can trust a new PA sportsbook?
With new sports betting apps popping up, it’s important to ensure that they are legal and regulated before you enter your personal information and banking details. The easiest way to tell is to look for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) logo at the bottom of the site or app. It will look something like this:
All PGCB-approved betting apps will also list their PA land-based betting partner on the app, and offer regular deposit and cashout options. If you see unregulated deposit options like cryptocurrency, chances are it is an offshore sportsbook, which is not approved or monitored by a state gaming regulatory agency. All the sites listed here are legal and safe betting options.
New PA sportsbooks provide more options, better lines
Signing up for new sportsbooks gives you more options for shopping around for the best odds, boosts and promos. If you are betting regularly, you will quickly notice the value in having accounts at multiple sportsbooks.
If you place your bets well before game time, line shopping is essential for straight bets like spread, moneyline and over/under totals. But it can be even more important when you get into parlays and prop bets. You might be surprised just how much some PA sportsbooks can vary in betting lines on a particular game and especially on props and parlays.
If you are looking for a particular player prop, like the over on Joel Embiid’s point total, you might find it at 28.5 at one book and 29.5 at another. Or the payouts vary from -125 to +110. These may not seem all that significant at first, but as you do more line shopping (and betting), you will soon see the benefit reflected in your sportsbook balance. Because the oddsmakers often get the lines so close to actual results, a difference in a point (or half a point) can mean the difference between a win and a loss (or a loss and a push).
For same-game parlays, it’s also best to shop around because the payout odds can fluctuate a lot depending what teams or bets are on your ticket.
Should I use a new PA sportsbook or stick with DraftKings and FanDuel?
At this point you might be wondering, should I sign up for a new sportsbook app if I am already happy with the one I use? Many sports bettors find a solid betting option like DraftKings or FanDuel and they stick with it. After all, these apps offer a great user experience, huge selection of markets and their fair share of ongoing promos.
While we are not recommending that you ditch your old book entirely, the truth is most bettors can benefit substantially from signing up for multiple sportsbook accounts. Besides the obvious new player sign-up bonuses, sometimes you can find new features, bet boosts or better odds on a wager you already plan on making.
Also, some sportsbooks are superior for a particular sport, team or bet type. For example, DraftKings is an official Eagles partners and is great for NFL odds, parlays and boosts. However, new PA betting apps will also compete with their own promos around Steelers and Eagles games, and the welcome offers always ramp up ahead of the NFL season.
You will find some good specials on your favorite teams at the new sports betting apps. That said, if you want to get fancy with player prop bets or prop bet parlays, you might find the odds are better at one of the more established books. A quick comparison of odds will also show you that depending on the props you like, payouts can be quite different depending on the book. Overall, FanDuel offers some of the best odds we’ve seen on player props and parlays, but the new sportsbooks can sometimes offer better prices on particular wagers or contests.
Final thoughts on new PA sportsbooks
All in all, we recommend you take a flier on all new sportsbooks launching in PA. You’ll benefit from the launch promos and bonuses, and you can expect any new sportsbooks will do something to separate themselves from the field.
Try out new PA sportsbook to take advantage of the best odds and promotions, and to find out for yourself which apps suit you best.