Outstandingly, horse racing was the first legalized form of gambling in PA. The Pennsylvania legislature passed the original act in 1959 and later amended portions of it to further regulate licensing, handling of funds, and allocation of racing days. Much has changed since the beginning of horse racing, but at this time, there are six racetracks in all of Pennsylvania; only three of them are thoroughbred.
Likewise, although patrons must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing, this does not apply when betting through an online sportsbook. To place wagers online, players must be 21 or older to play.
As a side note, revelations of the 2021 budget proposal by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf unveiled fund allocations that could ultimately destroy PA racetracks. Shockingly, if this budget proposal passes, $199 million will be diverted from the horse racing fund to educational assistance.