Authority and public resources
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania, United States
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) is an independent PA state agency responsible for licensing and policing online casinos legal in the state. It also oversees sportsbook and daily fantasy contest operators. The PGCB is not funded by the taxpayers, but the industry itself.
Most readers come to check licensed operators or how to file a complaint in case of an incident. The second job is on a clock. You have 30 calendar days from the incident to file a complaint with the PGCB.
What the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Does
How the PGCB Was Created
Act 71 of 2004, the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, created the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and authorized commercial casinos as well.
Act 42 of 2017, which was signed on October 30, 2017, added interactive gaming, fantasy contests and video gaming terminals to the remit.
The first online casinos in PA went live in July 2019. The state of Pennsylvania was the third entrant to the online casino market, following Delaware and New Jersey in 2013. Since its conception, it has grown into one of the largest markets in the USA. The PGCB is one of several regulators linked to the operators we review. Find more details on the regulators hub.
What the Board Regulates
Per the framework, the PA Gaming Control Board regulates five products. That’s casino, interactive gaming, sports betting, video gaming terminals and fantasy contests.
To check the market itself, see our Pennsylvania state hub. Our daily fantasy sports guide will tell you more about DFS contests.
Who Sits on the Board
The agency is governed by a board which features seven members. Three of these members are designated by the Governor. The four remaining seats are designated by the leaders of the General Assembly.
Denise J. Smyler is the PGCB’s chair, with Kevin F. O’Toole serving as executive director since 2009.
You can learn more about the latest Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board news on the Board’s press releases section.
How to Verify a Pennsylvania Gaming License
The Four Official Lists
Pennsylvania publishes four separate lists instead of one. This is also the main reason why readers get the wrong one.
The four lists on the Board’s licensed online gaming operators page include interactive gaming, online sports wagering, fantasy contests and online poker. To verify a PA gaming license, readers need to check if the list matches the product they’re using. Operators may hold a license for one product, but no other, or they may hold several licenses at the same time.
Pennsylvania has a minimum age limit of 21 for online casinos and sportsbooks. The age limit for DFS contests is 18, or 21 inside a Pennsylvania casino. BettingVerdict doesn’t print a count of licensed operators because lists change all the time, and a printed number would go out of date.
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board License Verification
Check the License Verification tool page for an individual licensee rather than an operator.
Signs a Site Is Not Licensed
One of the most important questions on any reader or player’s mind is if a PA gaming site is licensed or not. There are several warning signs that suggest a site is unlicensed.
- It doesn’t appear on the relevant Board list for the product it offers. This is the most reliable check, as licensing numbers and claims as well as logos can be copied.
- It skips age and location checks.
- No mention of a license, or claims about one without proof.
- It Doesn’t show the Board’s logo.
Operators with a valid PA license, such as BetRivers, should appear on the official list. To learn more about the live market and currently licensed operators you can check our Pennsylvania online casinos page.
How to File a Complaint Against a Pennsylvania Operator
The 30-Day Deadline
Players have 30 calendar days to file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) after the incident. The clock starts running from the incident, so make sure to raise the problem with the operator right away.
Filing the Electronic Form
- To file a complaint, start with the operator. Keep the complaint number assigned, as the PGCB form will ask you for it.
- Open the Board’s Patron Complaints/Dispute Forms page. Choose the form that matches your complaint.
- Enter your full name and contact details, as the Board doesn’t accept anonymous submissions. You should also send all screenshots or emails between you and the operator.
- An email confirmation should be sent to your inbox. All complaints with the PGCB are assigned a case number and an investigator.
- If you have questions about the process, send them to casinocomplaints@pa.gov. Don’t go the social media route, as the Board doesn’t discuss complaints there.
- The Board treats a complaint as a disagreement that doesn't involve money, and a dispute as a claim for a specific amount of cash or merchandise. If you have a problem with a casino, you can file an in-person complaint with a Board Casino Compliance Representative at any Pennsylvania casino.
Self-Exclusion in Pennsylvania
All responsible gaming tools and PGCB self-exclusion options are listed at responsibleplay.pa.gov. The Board also keeps separate involuntary exclusion lists for casino, iGaming and video gaming terminals.
If you believe your gambling is a problem, call the national helpline number 1-800-MY-RESET, or visit our responsible gaming hub.
Casinos and Sportsbooks Licensed in Pennsylvania
The operators below hold valid Pennsylvania licenses. The Board’s lists are the live and official source if you’re checking for a specific brand. Our Pennsylvania online casinos page compares all operators we review.
