If you’re looking for a land-based casino in Philly, there’s only one choice but we also recommend our favorite offshore casinos for PA residents.
Best Real Money Casino Apps That Feel Like Vegas (2023)Philadelphia is known as “The City of Brotherly Love” but it should be nicknamed “The Lucky City”. Why? Because it’s home to one of the top casinos in Pennsylvania, plus plenty of daily lottery drawings and so much more. You’ll have plenty of chances to win big throughout the city, so buckle up because we’re diving into all of Philly’s gambling options below.
Best Casinos in Philadelphia
There are many casinos within driving distance of Philadelphia, but only one is actually based in the city. You probably won’t be surprised to learn that is Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack, which was developed by Caesars Entertainment. This track has been operating since 1974 but Caesars took over and transformed it into a full-scale casino back in 2010.
Unfortunately, Pennsylvania doesn’t allow for new casinos to open as resort style gaming complexes. Therefore, Harrah’s is the only casino in Philadelphia. The good news is that this casino features 2000 slots and video poker machines, 60+ table games, a poker room, and a harness raceway. There are also dozens of simulcast betting theaters where you can watch horse or dog races from around the country.
DraftKings Casino Promotions You Should Utilize This MonthOf course, everyone wants to know what the best casinos in Philadelphia are. In short, there really is only one option and we’ve covered everything you need to know about Harrah’s above. This casino offers all the classic games like Blackjack, Craps, Mundo de Apuestas (Sic Bo), Roulette, and Baccarat.
Harrah’s also boasts tons of unique slot machines and electronic versions of casino classics like Video Poker and Keno. Furthermore, you can bet on live horse racing at the harness raceway and wager on additional races through TVM stations around the casino.
Speaking of TVMs, these are similar to sportsbooks because you can place your wagers quickly and without the need for a teller. Simply insert your cash or “Ticket In” your existing tickets for instant payouts. These Total Verification Machines® are located throughout Harrah’s if you want to bet on Greyhounds, Harness Racing, Quarter Horse Racing, Thoroughbred Racing, and Jai Alai.
Top MGM Casinos in the USA - MGM Casino Resorts ReviewLastly, this casino features a fantastic poker room with 22 tables. That may not sound like much, but it’s one of the largest rooms in PA. [Break down cash games, tournaments, promotions, etc.]
Overall, this is the best casino in Philadelphia. It might be small compared to places like Atlantic City and Las Vegas, but Harrah’s provides all the same games. Whether you prefer slots, table games, poker, or racing; this is the top casino in Philly. Can you suggest any nearby casinos if I’ve already experienced everything Harrah’s has to offer? Yes. While Harrah’s is the only casino in Philadelphia, PA, there are several other quality casinos within an hour drive including:
- Parx Casino in Bensalem (20 minutes Northeast)
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville (45 minutes Northeast)
- SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia (20 minutes East)
Learn More About the Top Casinos Near Philadelphia:
Lotteries in Philadelphia
PA players have two state-run lotteries to play, the Pennsylvania Lottery and the Pennsylvania iLottery. Additionally, you can purchase tickets for multi-state lotteries like Powerball and Mega Millions wherever you see the signs. These jackpot games routinely reach $100+ million and occasionally even surpass the billion dollar mark.
What’s the point of buying a ticket? Well the Pennsylvania Lottery actually puts a lot of its revenue toward senior citizens programs, reporting $686.9 million to the commonwealth in fiscal year 2020-2021. Meanwhile the Pennsylvania iLottery Game Modernization Act allows the state to allocate a portion of its profits ($4.25 million in FY20-21) toward property tax/rent relief for low-income residents.
fanduel casino locationsOf course the main reason to buy a lottery ticket is because it could change your life. Every winner is a story of triumph and hardship leading to a lucky break. Imagine if the next big winner is you… What would you do with the money? A new house? A new car? Quitting your job to pursue your dreams?
Those are lofty goals and your odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are roughly 1 in 292 million. Clearly you’ll need more than just a single ticket. But what if I told you that the Pennsylvania iLottery offers hundreds of instant win games with top prizes as high as $300,000 and incredible odds of 1 in 3?
It’s similar to scratch-off cards but you can play these games online for as little as $1. Our personal favorite is Gems Odyssey because it looks like Bejeweled, a classic game we all know and love. We also appreciate the bright colors and fun music because it makes iLottery games feel exciting.
poker run key west 2023Below we’ve listed some more popular options including Foxin’ Wins, Wizard of Oz, and Dragon Scatter. All you have to do is purchase a ticket and click “Play Now” to get started.
Pennsylvania isn’t the only state offering iLottery games. Many other states offer their own version of online instant wins. For example, Illinois features “Instants” with top prizes up to $100,000. Meanwhile Maryland offers “Instant Games” that award up to $300,000. Finally Michigan plays host to “Instant Games” that max out at $200,000.
harrahs casino gamesWe highly recommend trying these online lotto games because they’re fun, simple, and affordable. Plus you might just become a millionaire. However, keep in mind that you must be a resident of Pennsylvania to sign up at the PA iLottery site. Everyone else will want to check out the .
Daily Fantasy Sports in Philadelphia
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) aren’t technically gambling to some people because it’s based on skill. After all, you’re creating your own team and pitting your knowledge against others. Nevertheless, DFS players are wagering real money and therefore deserve a section for the best sites in Philadelphia, PA.
The most popular US sports for Daily Fantasy Sports are NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. Therefore, the best DFS sites feature contests for those leagues. Every site will have thousands of NFL contests when September rolls around. Similarly, you’ll find plenty of Basketball DFS games during the winter months.
Another major consideration is the welcome bonus because every site offers extra funds for new customers. Furthermore, these bonuses often come with free entries to Daily Fantasy Sports games. Thus, you can use that bonus to improve your bankroll and potentially win some real cash by doing what you love.
Our final piece of advice is to choose a safe and reputable Daily Fantasy Sports site. Unfortunately there are some bad actors in this industry, but we’ve sorted through them all to provide the top choices in Pennsylvania.
Check Out the Highest Rated DFS Sites in Philadelphia:
Horse Betting in Philadelphia
PA residents have three ways to enjoy horse racing betting in Philadelphia. The first method is to visit Harrah’s Casino racetrack for live racing and simulcast betting. You can also try their TVM stations to wager on races from around the country.
The second way to gamble on the horses near Philadelphia is to visit a retail sportsbook or casino and wager on races from around the world. You’ll find plenty of parlays, exotics, and straight wagers available at the top PA sportsbooks.
Finally, the easiest way to bet on the horses in Philly is to use an online racebook. These websites offer thousands of additional races that you can’t find at local casinos. Moreover, online racebooks provide various special offers, such as jockey challenges and rebates on certain horse bets.
Unfortunately Pennsylvania does not offer legal online horse betting through the state’s licensed casinos and OTBs. Residents instead flock to offshore racebooks, which remain entirely legal under US federal law yet subject to varying degrees of regulation and oversight.
Our recommendation for PA bettors is to build a racing syndicate and pool resources to hire a professional handicapper at one of the world’s leading remote racebooks. Not only do you divide risk, you gain access to expert picks and a larger bankroll for lucrative wagers like pick 6s and picking the winners of up to a dozen races a day.
Get Our Top Offshore Racebook Recommendation for Philly Players:
32Red Casino Review NZ 2023 | Bonuses, Win Rate & Games - Indivisible GamingDog Betting in Philadelphia
Greyhound racing is slowly dying across America, but a few tracks still operate today. One of those facilities is Wheeling Downs in West Virginia, which is only about a two-hour drive from Philadelphia. Not only can you watch the greyhounds race in person, but you can also wager on the action from anywhere in Pennsylvania through the Wheeling Island Casino – Race Book.
If you don’t want to make the trip to WV, then you’ll be forced to bet greyhound races from around the country at a retail sportsbook in Pennsylvania or through an offshore racebook online. Harrah’s and their rivals will spread lines on the dogs, while the unregulated sites offer hundreds of more races each week.
Keep in mind that Pennsylvania recently passed a bill to legalize betting on greyhound racing within its borders. Therefore, PA sportsbooks could soon start offering greyhound bets in the future.
Check Out the Highest Rated Greyhound Racebook:
Philadelphia Casino Boats
Casino boats used to be popular in other parts of the United States, but none are currently running between Philadelphia and Atlantic City. Furthermore, New Jersey just voted to , which means all those casino boats are no longer necessary.
Perhaps a casino boat operation will fill the gap until you can simply gamble in Philadelphia proper. We’ll certainly keep you posted if that happens. Until then, we recommend enjoying some harbor cruises and waterfront dining around the Delaware River.
Historical Societies in Philadelphia
Did you know that the PA Gaming Control Board regululates historical societies in addition to casinos? These societies give participants a chance to win big by testing their knowledge of history. Natureduck’s Michael Roberts details how these operations work.
Casino Resorts in Puerto Rico Worth VisitingAny organization can apply for a historical society machine license through the PGCB. They must pay a $25,000 fee along with proving that they’ve operated for at least nine months. The machines themselves cost between $1,500 and $2,500 and resemble large slot machines. Participants put in cash and receive vouchers based on their performance in a timed history lesson.
All told, there are only eight historical gaming organizations in Pennsylvania. Four are located within an hour of downtown Philadelphia. Therefore, they aren’t quite as convenient as casinos in Philadelphia, but they aren’t too far away either.
Casino Games With the Best Odds of WinningCheck Out the Highest Rated Historical Society in Philadelphia:
Private Membership Clubs in Philadelphia
A final option for gambling in Philadelphia are private membership clubs. These establishments have gambling machines that resemble historical society devices, but they aren’t regulated by the PGCB. Instead, the Pennsylvania Racing Commission oversees these operations.
Basically, PMR member clubs can offer video poker and video greyhound racing machines. Anyone is allowed to enter these clubs and pay a membership fee, which can range from $1 to $100. Of course, lawmakers are constantly debating the legality of these operations.
Additionally, club owners must pay $10,00 per year for a license. They are also required to donate 51% of their proceeds to charitable causes. As you might expect, many organizations take advantage of this loophole to raise money for great projects around Pennsylvania.
Unfortunately, private membership clubs aren’t always above board. Some operators attempt to scam members or fail to donate enough money to charity. Therefore, we cannot in good conscience recommend a specific PMC in Philadelphia. We will say that it’s worth considering these venues, especially if you plan to support a worthy cause.
Enjoy the Best Casinos in Philadelphia Online
As you can see, there are so many different ways to enjoy casinos in Philly. Unfortunately, most of them have significant downsides.
Historical societies and private membership clubs could be scams. Casino boats are obsolete now that NJ has legalized gambling, and casino boats are typically a lot of driving for a small casino. Retail casinos in Pennsylvania are nice, but the crowds can be overwhelming.
Best Online Casinos with High Payout Rates in the US for 2023That leaves us with online casinos, which easily offer the best gambling experience in Pennsylvania. You can from the comfort of your home and avoid all the negatives mentioned above. Check out our recommended gambling site for Pennsylvania and start playing now.
Head to the Best Online Gambling Site in Philadelphia:
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Johnny Cabell is a freelance writer who covers sports, esports, and a variety of other topics. He has previously written for publications like The Miami Herald and HTG Writing. When he isn’t working, Johnny enjoys watching basketball and dreaming of his own Chamber of Commerce sunshine here in Seattle.
