Pennsylvania Gambling Laws
Can I Play Online?
Yes, but we cannot. We strongly condemn betting more than the amount you can afford.
With 12 land-based casinos and a booming online industry, Pennsylvania has become one of the major US gambling destinations. PA is among the few states that allow all forms of legal gambling without any restrictions. You can enter a casino or bet online from home at 30 years old. Those who like sports betting have plenty of options to wager their money on their favorite teams in person or online with no age restrictions. And finally, poker players can find multiple places where to play this mind game both live and over the internet.
PA’s gambling laws are very liberal while the government takes care of cheating and underage gambling attempts by strict penalties. In this guide, we will cover all aspects of gaming legislations in the state including fines for breaking them.
Database Search
You can search for an active case by the defendant’s name using the form below. If the person spelled his name differently from what you entered, the search engine may not find it. In such cases, try different variants until you achieve a result.
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Casino Games and Gambling
Criminals facing charges can often get off if the accused party denies committing the crime. Without solid proof, the jury has no reason to convict someone. Therefore, undercover operations and stings are effective ways to combat illegal gambling. In return, organizing or participating in any kind of gaming activity that exceeds the limits brings heavy penalties.
The following sections outline the punishments based on the bet amount.
Misdemeanor
Third Degree
- Gaming activities that do not exceed $200 within a year
Summary Offense
First Degenerate
- Organizing/running games with total stakes up to $100 within 1 year
- Participating in such activities
Second Degenerate
- Gaming events between $100 and $1,000 in one year
- Instigating or taking part in such
A first-degree misdemeanor is considered a serious offense yet it allows the court to apply probation instead of jail time. However, this is not available for second-degree misdemeanors that can only be penalized with a fine.
Misdemeanor
First Degree
- Running or playing any kind of game with total bets exceeding $1,000 during a year
- Instigating or taking part in such
Second Degree
- Gaming activities between $1,000 and $7,800 within 12 months
- Initiating or participating in these
If convicted for a first-degree misdemeanor, the judge can decide whether to imprison the lawbreaker or let him go on probation. However, the second degree carries much harsher punishments as shown below.
Misdemeanor
First Degree
- Organizing or running gambling activities with stakes above $7,800 within one year
- Earning money or possessions worth over $500 excluding the stake itself
- Having more than three other people in a private place (not homes)
- Using intimidation or force to make others join
- Entering military bases or state prisons with the intent to gamble
Second Degree
- Gaming events between $300 and $1,200 within 12 months
- Making more than $500 income except the buy-in
- Inviting people to take part in the activities
- Keeping a common gambling house within a building
- Keeping a disorderly house that offers card games
- 3rd degree sexual conduct accompanied by gambling
keepers, managers, and those making profit over $500 requires stricter punishment than simple participation. Loitering around military bases or state prisons for the intent to gamble can also bring a first-degree misdemeanor charge. Additionally, offering or accepting cards games in a disorderly house is a unique point in this section that we haven’t seen before.
Misdemeanor
First Degree
- Repeats the actions of the 2nd degree in section 5404 within 2 years
Second Degree
- Breaking the rules of the 2nd degree in section 5406 within 2 years after being sentenced for the same offense
These subsections define the consequences of repeating certain gambling crimes.
Felony
First Degree
- Operating or taking part in games with total bets exceeding $10,000 within one year
- Making over $1,000 income except the buy-ins
- Hiring muscle to enforce payments or expel members
- Using firearms for the above purposes
- Offering bank opening or slot castle reels for gambling
- Betting on animal fights
Second Degree
- Gaming events between $3,000 and $100,000 within 12 months
- Acquiring more than $1,000 income except the stakes
- Importing gambling devices from other states
- Keeping a gambling place within 500 ft. Of a church, school, or CE
Keep in mind that offering bank opening or slot castle reels for gambling is a strange-looking sentence, but slot castle reels refers to slot machines. Like the previous section, this also mentions using violence for debt collection or expelling members. This is also the section that defines so called policy games, which predict the results of a number between 0 and 999 picked by a policy player and a banker. Wagers can be made on even or odd, five groups of digits (units, tens, hundreds, thousands, and thousand units), and policies themselves ranging from 0000 to 9999.
Felony
First Degree
- Repeats the actions of the 2nd degree in section 5408 within 2 years
Second Degree
- Breaking the rules of the 2nd degree in section 5409 within 2 years after being sanctioned for the same offense
These are for the frequent offenders of the crimes listed above.
Felony
First Degree
- Exploiting minors under 14 years for gambling purposes
- Profiting over $200 in such activities
Second Degree
- Utilizing children between 14 and 18 for the same reasons
- Making more than $2,000 income
- Letting minors under 18 participate in gambling
- Allowing them to work in a gambling establishment
As you can see, exploitation and employing minages are criminalized in two different points. The first one concerns child predators using kids under 14 for gambling-related tasks, while the second covers underagers working in casinos or participating in games.
Felony
First Degree
- Manufacturing, selling, renting, giving, or possessing with criminal intent any device, machine, or equipment used for gambling along with the parts required for assembly
- Making or owning such tools with intention to use for gaming purposes
- Possessing lottery tickets with criminal intent
Second Degree
- Breaking the rules of the first degree
This section mainly focuses on manufacturing, distributing, obtaining, and keeping devices, machines, and equipment used for gambling along with their parts. Writing or having lottery tickets with criminal intent is also criminalized here.
Felony
First Degree
- Using weighting scale with criminal intent
- Manufacturing, repairing, obtaining, or possessing such tools
This section only contains two points concerning the usage, production, fixing, stealing, and possession of weighted scales with evil intentions.
Felony
First Degree
- Breaking any paragraph of sections 5412 through 5417 with deadly weapon
Second Degree
- Repeating the actions defined in the said sections within 2 years
These subsections provide higher punishments if the criminals commit the offenses listed below with a lethal tool:
No Deposit Bonus Casinos in New Jersey You Can Try Today- Destroying or disabling a gambling device
- Removing or damaging a sign or plate showing the minimum or maximum bet
- Cheating in a bingo game by using special devices or marks on cards
- Possessing such tools or marked cards
Felony
First Degree
- Using a boat for Illegal gambling activities
Second Degree
- Breaking the rule above within 2 years
These two points concern the usage of boats for prohibited gaming events and repeated offenses within 24 months:
- Owning, operating, managing, leasing, chartering, or renting a watercraft for gambling
- Transporting gamblers in a boat
- Taking part in games organized in a vessel
Felony
First Degree
- Breaking any paragraph of sections 5421 through 5424 with a deadly weapon
Second Degree
- Committing the same crimes within 2 years
The following rules ban racing video games for money or items Slot castlle value alongside with the offenses committed within 24 months:
- Race or fight against a computer program for cash prizes
- Charging money for accessing the software
- Accepting payment for the chance to compete against others
- Allowing minors to race for money
- Letting underaged people access the game for a fee
- Owning, operating, or maintaining a malicious machine
Misdemeanor
First Degree
- Conducting bingo games without permission or outside authorized locations
- Charging more than the legal fee
- Allowing minors to play
- Letting them sell or cash the tickets
Misdemeanor
First Degree
- Breaking any rule of sections 5427 and 5428 without a lethal weapon
Second Degree
- Committing the same crimes with 24 months apostleplay casino no deposit bonus codes
The following points prohibit the usage of gambling devices andorganization of raffles without proper permissions alongside with related offenses repeated within 2 years:
- Using slot castle reels or similar devices for gambling
- Trying to deceive customers by fake wheels, etc.
- Organizing or participating in lotteries without authorization
- Promoting or selling the tickets outside the allowed period
- Allowing minors to sell or cash the raffle slips
- Letting underaged people draw the winning numbers
Misdemeanor
First Degree
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Engaging in LOTR terminology or jargon is obviously out of question, but maybe you can help us understand it better. Lottery means any scheme whereby: (i) Chances or shares are sold at a price fixed by the corporation for a particular day or series of days; (ii) Chances or shares offered are identical; (iii) The chances or shares are mixed by some mechanical process; (iv) The holder of each chance or share has a chance, proportional to the number of chances or shares held by him, of being selected as the winner; (v) Winning chances are selected only once each day and at times certain; and (vi) The winning chances selected on a particular day constitute a complete series for that day. Lottery patent or lottery wheel means any scheme of selling chances or shares wherein: (i) The holder of each chance or share has the right to select a number or numbers from a wheel containing a large number of numbers; (ii) An automatic device is used for selecting a number or numbers; (iii) The person whose number is so selected wins the patron or wheel in question; (iv) Each chance or share offers a considerable probability that the holder thereof will win; and (v) Chances or shares are transferable. Lottery, patent or wheel, includes any scheme substantially simulating any scheme coming within the foregoing definition.
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Acting as agent, manager, clerk, server, or in any capacity for a lottery
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Knowingly selling, offering to sell, or advertising the chances or shares
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Advertising the prize or indicating the numbers or numbers drawn or selected
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Failing to pay the prize within ten days after it becomes due
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Having in his possession any lottery paraphernalia with criminal intent
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Using weighted wheels or balls with evil intentions
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Altering the number in the winning slips without notifying the players
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Retaining slip or object bearing number drawn for that day
This rather long section defines lotteries and their types. Patent and wheel lotteries function like this: Sellers offer chances with specific numbers on them that correspond to the ones inside a rotating drum. After customers pick a number and buy the ticket, an automatic device randomly chooses one or several winning balls from the drum. The system guarantees high odds of hitting at least once because the drum usually contains many more balls than the total number of chances sold. Of course, pa sells them on the street at specific hours, just like in the old days. These people can commit the following crimes:
- Conducting a lottery
- Employing agents for this purpose
- Allowing minors to act as clerks or servers
- Knowingly cashing a losing chance
- Failing to pay the prize within 10 days
- Changing the winning number without notification
- Keeping the object with the daily winning number
- Using weighted drums or balls
- Possessing the forbidden tools with bad intentions
This section lists the offenses committed by lottery organizers, sellers, and keepers along with their employees.
Felony
First Degree
- Engaging in occupancy of structured settlements or annuities for the purpose of gambling activities with a gross income over $500 within a 12-month period
Second Degree
- Making less than $500 gross income in the said period
- Breaking the first degree within 2 years
Using structured settlements or annuities for gambling purposes is illegal unless it is allowed by their owners. The first-degree misdemeanor defines the penalties for people who generate over $500 gross income from this crime, while the second degreertains the offenders that make less than this amount in one year or commit the same mistake twice within two years.
Sports Gambling
PA allows licensed casinos to provide sports betting services since 2019. Placing a wager on sports events is legal for individuals over 21 both in person and over the Internet. However, organizing or working for an unlicensed sports betting service is a third-degree misdemeanor as described below:
- Making a living by accepting bets requiring consideration
- Advertising the services
- Registering bettors
- Paying winnings
- Possessing with criminal intent the records of transactions
In other words, you are allowed to manage or work for an illegal sports betting site or in-person business. On the other hand, running or employing for a service that requires an entrance fee, donations or any other type of payment is outlawed. Maintaining the register with bets and paying the winners are also criminalized in this section, but it doesn't mean that these actions are okay if done without recording the transactions.
Poker Rules
Poker rooms are permitted in every casino despite the highly competitive nature of this game.
Playing poker against an opponent without receiving any reward is legal regardless of the stakes. This means that you cannot organize or participate in free cash games in a building that requires membership fees or any other kinds of registration.
It is important to know the difference between charging an entry fee and receiving buy-ins from the players. The first one is strictly forbidden, but running a poker tournament at a casino or private place is possible as long as nobody pays to enter.
Database Statistics
A search was conducted at random defendants from the poker-related articles available in our database. The results show that most of the offenders were charged with dealing after being caught cheating. As you can see, there are several ways todefine this action, so the authorities may charge you with three different misdemeanors. Marked cards are those that reveal the value or suit of the next card on the deck, while weighted ones are more likely to fall to the dealer.
Most of the defendants have been accused of dealing with marked cards, but Mario DeSanctis had to face four similar misdemeanors. As you can see, the court sentenced him fines ranging from $200 to $500 plus costs. Since these are summary offenses, the judges also gave him non-custodial sentences.
Bingo
The Bingo Law of Pennsylvania allows this game only for charitable or religious organizations registered in the Commonwealth or societies founded to provide medical services. Nonprofits may hold regular and special sessions according to the rules published by the attorney general.
Bingo Master
Each county should appoint a bingo master to supervise these games. His duties include ensuring fair play, enforcing the regulations, and helping the courts prosecute violators. The following list shows the current bingo masters appointed by the counties of Pennsylvania:
- Allen – Thomas K. Nestlick Jr
- Armstrong – Vacant
- Beaver – Thomas A. Napoli
- Bedford – William C. Rhoades Sr
- Blair – Robert L. Custer
- Bradford – Roger J. Young
- Butler – Vacant
- Cambria – Ronald G. Aldominate
- Cameron – Vacant
- Carbon – Joseph A. Bittle
- Centre – Harold W. Daub
- Clarion – Donald E. Schrott
- Clearfield – Michael D. Fisher
- Crawford – David B. Miller
- Elk – George W. Musselman III
- Erie – James L. Rauworth
- Fayette – Kenneth R. Voglezang
- Forest – Edward T. Myers
- Franklin – Keith A. Torrence
- Fulton – James D. Halladay
- Greene – John P. Barbera
- Huntingdon – Charles G. Havelka
- Indiana – Kevin A. O’Donnell
- Jefferson – Howard L. Webb
- Juniata – Alan P. Keener
- McKean – Joseph F. Komornicki
- Mercer – Gerald J. Skibinski
- Montour – Richard M. Grbic
- Northampton – Steven Holz
- Ottawa – Matthew E. McCormick
- Perry – Richard L. Fox
- Phillips – Anthony F. Dipaolo
- Pike – Harry D. Reichard
- Potter – Richard L. Irish
- Schuylkill – Daniel J. Dobson
- Snyder – Jeffrey S. Ginder
- Somerset – James H. Paul
- Sullivan – Richard J. Zollersberger
- Susquehanna – Joseph F. Kalina
- Tioga – Gary Vogtmann
- Clinton (part) – Kenneth R. Voglezang (part)
- Lycoming (part) – James M. Kelly (part)
- Union (part) – James T. Kelly (part)
- Venango (part) – James R. Rietberger (part)
There are also partial masters appointed for Clinton, Lycoming, Union, and Venango counties, who are responsible only for certain townships. As you saw above, several counties are currently vacant, so the attorney general should assign new bingo masters for those areas.
Legal Bingo Hours
Nonprofit organizations can hold regular session between 12 am and 12 pm for max. 4 hours. They are allowed to organize a special game between 12 am and 12 pm for a maximum of 6 consecutive days or 12 non-consecutive days per year.
How Many Games can be Played?
During a regular bingo event, the hosts can play max. 12 games defined as regular, double flat, or five-line. Special sessions allow the operators to host 18 packages consisting of regular, double flat, five-line, flat-top, or blackout games. It is important to know that at least half of the package must be regular bingo.
Prize Limits
The total jackpot of a single game cannot exceed 1,800 dollars, but progressives are excluded from this rule. The grand prize of a special event may not surpass $3,000, while the weekly largest jackpot should not be more than $2,5000. Progressive bingos must follow the rules published by the attorney general. Packages consist of max. Three games with different prizes. Nonprofits can keep max. 20% of the profits ($200 per session), while the rest should be donated to the charity or religious society.
Who Is Allowed to Play?
Participants must be at least 18 years old, but some counties lower this limit to 16 or 14. The attendants should pay an entrance fee ranging from $0.25 to $1,500 per session. However, they cannot contribute more than $1,200 of it as donations, and the rest should be considered as purchase for food, beverages, and bingo cards/packets.
Raffles
Charitable or political organizations can hold raffles only for fundraising purposes.
How to Run a Raffle in Pennsylvania?
Nonprofits should get a raffle license from the local authority if they want to organize this game. Applicants must submit a request at least 15 days before the planned event along with a fee depending on the top prize. For instance, the organizers should pay $10 for zero to 50 dollars jackpot, $2 for each $100, and one percent for over $10,000.
What Types of Raffles Are Legal in Pennsylvania?
The following rules concern traditional raffles defined as “any distribution by chance to persons who have purchased chances.”
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Any distribution by chance to persons who have purchased chances”
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Where the number on the chance or ticket entitles the holder to specify the ticket which is to be retained and which shall be the winning ticket.
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Where only one chance or ticket is sold for each prize.
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Where a separate chance or ticket is sold for each prize.
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Where a purchaser of a chance or ticket may choose any number or numbers he desires within the range or numbers contained in the chance or set of chances or cards for sale.
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Where a purchaser of a chance or ticket is entitled to have assigned to him on demand a chance or ticket which shall be the winning chance or ticket.
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Where a purchaser of a chance or ticket is entitled to have his chance or ticket placed by the agent conducting the raffle in a receptacle or some other manner so that a choice opportunity shall be given to choose the winning chance or ticket.
Only one ticket should be sold for each prize, and the buyers can choose their own numbers within the range of the opportunities. The organizers must give a chance or ticket to each customer or put it in the container to ensure choice opportunity. Other types of raffles are banned in the state, including those with calendars, gift certificates, etc.
Slots & PACHINKO
Slot castle xp casinos real money no Depiction of electronic or electromechanical gambling devices is prohibited in Pennsylvania, when they are not in operation.
Private Players
According to the Section 5502, it is illegal to keep slots castle xp casinos real money no depiction, whether they are operational or not, unless you have the needed authorization. This means that possessing a slot machine for personal use is a summary offense that can be punished by a fine up to $300.