Finally, the era of prohibited online gambling in New York has come to an end.
Although legal sports betting is thriving in New York and holds the top spot in the US, the situation isn’t as promising for individuals interested in engaging in online slots, table games, or poker in the state. Despite the merging of bills in early 2022 and again in 2025 to grant authorization for New York online casinos, the implementation of such platforms will not occur within this year. However, supporters are targeting the year 2025 for the legalization of online casinos and online poker in New York.
The state of New York boasts a thriving industry that encompasses four commercial casinos, tribal casinos, racetracks, and racinos. Recently, the New York State budget has been approved and endorsed by Governor Kathy Hochul, incorporating the addition of three new casino licenses in the downstate area. In January, an official request for applications was issued by the state, indicating that the granting of official licenses may take place by the conclusion of 2025. Given the consecutive years of growth in the gaming sector, there is an optimistic outlook for continued expansion throughout 2025.
Keep reading to stay updated on the most recent developments regarding legal gambling in New York.
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Legal Gambling in New York
Retail Sportsbooks
In New York, there are a total of 11 options for retail sports betting. These include four commercial casinos and seven tribal casinos. Additionally, betting kiosks will be conveniently accessible to Yankees and Mets fans at Citi Field and Yankees Stadium. However, for the 8.3 million residents of New York City, the nearest location for betting (Resorts World Catskills) is at least a two-hour drive away. Nevertheless, individuals residing in western and upstate areas have numerous betting options available to them.
Online Sportsbooks
Sports betting apps are currently available in New York, with nine prominent sportsbooks joining the market. These include renowned names like DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, BetRivers, BetMGM, PointsBet, and Bally Bet. The first eight online sportsbooks were launched from January to March 2022, while Bally Bet went live in early July. New customers can anticipate welcoming bonuses, promotions, and access to these apps in the New York sports betting market.
New York Casinos
New York does not permit online casinos, but it does have brick-and-mortar casinos like tribal venues and racinos. These establishments offer a wide range of slots and table games. However, racinos specifically provide video lottery terminals that are operated by the state lottery. Although there have been discussions about legalizing online casinos in New York this year, the chances of it becoming a reality are slim. Therefore, if you’re looking for online casino options, your best bet is to consider sweepstakes casinos or visit neighboring states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania where real money online casinos are available.
New York Lottery
You can participate in various games offered by the New York Lottery, including scratchers, state-based draw games, and multi-state draw games such as Powerball and Mega Millions. The annual revenue of the NY lottery surpassed $10 billion, making it the first to achieve this milestone. Remember that lottery tickets can only be bought in person within New York. However, you have the option to create a subscription account with the lottery commission, allowing you to prepay for a specific number of tickets for upcoming draws.
Horse Racing
Belmont Park, located in New York, serves as the host for the third leg of the prestigious Triple Crown event. Another notable horse racing event, the Travers Stakes, takes place at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, also in New York. Furthermore, Yonkers Raceway proudly hosts the Yonkers Trot. The abundance of horse racing venues in New York provides its residents with a wealth of options to visit and enjoy. It is worth mentioning that online horse betting is also available in New York, and TVG is considered the top choice in this regard.
NY Online Poker
Online poker is currently illegal in New York, but there is a proposed bill that aims to change this by categorizing it as a game of skill. While we wait for legalization, you can still play poker legally on social/sweepstakes sites like Global Poker. Alternatively, you have the option to travel to Pennsylvania or New Jersey where WSOP and PokerStars sites are legally available. In addition, New York is home to various live poker rooms located at multiple casinos within the state.
NY Gambling FAQ
In New York, various forms of gambling are permitted by law. These include:
- Casinos – commercial and tribal
- Racinos are establishments that offer a combination of horse racing, simulcast betting, and video lottery terminals.
- Lottery
- Off-track betting
- Online horse betting
- Retail sports betting
- Online sports betting
- Daily fantasy sports
The minimum age requirement varies between 21 and 18, depending on the specific activity and location. Commercial casinos in upstate New York strictly enforce a minimum age of 21 for players. On the other hand, tribal casinos, racinos, and lottery games only require players to be 18 years old. For retail sports betting, the age limit follows the rules of the house, while online sports betting mandates players to be 21.
Online sports betting was legalized in New York in April 2021, and the initial sportsbook apps were introduced on January 8, 2022, just in time for the commencement of the NFL playoffs and a month before the 2022 Super Bowl.
Currently, there are no legal casino sites in New York, similar to online poker. Your only choices are social/sweepstakes-type sites that provide free slots and table games. Among the top casinos in this category are Chumba Casino, Luckyland Slots, and Funzpoints. Alternatively, you can take a short trip to neighboring states like Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to access real money online casinos. However, there is hope for the future as bills have been proposed in 2022 and 2025 to legalize iGaming in New York, allowing for online casinos and online poker to be authorized.
No, that’s not entirely accurate. While there are places in and around New York City that claim to be casinos, they are actually racinos. These establishments offer slot-like machines, simulcast betting, and sometimes live horse racing. The closest genuine casino to New York City is Resorts World Catskills, which is located about two hours northwest and requires driving to reach.
Resources
The legality of daily fantasy sports (DFS) has been a subject of contention among supporters and opponents of gambling across the nation, including in New York. The status of DFS in the state remained unclear until March 2022, when the New York Court of Appeals ruled that it is constitutional. Shortly after this decision, a bill amendment surfaced with the possibility of attracting more DFS operators to the state. Currently, the following brands provide daily fantasy sports in New York:
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- Yahoo
- Fantasy Draft
- Draft
- The company known as Synkt Games, Inc. operates under the name letsRUMBL.
- Fanamana, Inc.
- DataForce, LLC
- RealTime Fantasy Sports
- For Players By Players
- Vauntek, Inc.
- Sports Hub Technologies
- MastersFantasyLeagues.com
- Boom Fantasy
- Fulltime Fantasy Sports, LLC
The gross gaming revenue generated by daily fantasy sports operators is subject to a 15% tax. This tax amount is then allocated to the New York Lottery fund, which utilizes the funds to support education in public schools across New York.
In New York, there are limited legal options for online casino games. Although sports betting sites are being developed, they are not yet fully operational. However, you may have come across online casinos and poker rooms in your search. These sites are based outside of the US and accept New York players. However, they come with significant drawbacks. Firstly, they are not authorized to operate in New York under the law. Secondly, if any issues arise, you will not have the support of the state and federal legal systems. Lastly, there is no guarantee of the sites’ security, leaving your personal information vulnerable to hackers.