New York is one of the latest states to launch online sports betting. NY gamblers can now safely and conveniently bet on their favorite sports and benefit from lucrative bonuses. In addition, online gaming fans can legally participate in DFS contests, as well as buy their online lottery tickets. However, casino and poker sites remain off-limits in the state. In our guide to New York online gambling, we discuss the most popular operators, their bonuses for new players, and the local legislation.

Todd Winkler, Editor at online-gambling.com

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Todd Winkler has been an editor at online-gambling.com for 6 years. His focus is on guides and articles about poker games, blackjack, and DFS. With relatives in New Zealand, he is also well aware of the gambling industry in the country.

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Online Gambling in New York — Best Legal Products and Sites

We will delve into each type of legal online gambling in New York. The state has legalized various activities, including sports betting, DFS, and lottery. Our experts will discuss the pros and cons of online and offline gambling to help you decide what is the operator for your preferences, budget, and experience.

First, we always check licensing and security to ensure the recommended operators provide a safe and fair experience for players. The NY gambling sites in this article hold valid licenses from the official regulator in the state. Then, we evaluate the available betting opportunities, bonuses, mobile compatibility, and more.

Sportsbooks

Sports betting in the state of New York has been legal ever since the overturning of federal law in May 2018 ^[1]. NY lawmakers approved provisions for online and mobile wagering in April 2021 as part of the state budget. The first sportsbooks in the state went live on January 8, 2022.

The recommended NY sportsbooks feature an excellent range of markets and betting options. There are the options to live stream sports and place in-play bets. You can take advantage of generous welcome bonuses and excellent mobile optimization. The top sites for NY sports betting are compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

Daily Fantasy Sports

In 2016, NY passed a law to legalize and regulate DFS sites in the state. However, in 2018, there was a ruling stating that this activity should be classed as sports gambling and be discontinued. Following an appeal and court proceedings in the 2022 White vs Cuomo case ^[2], daily fantasy sports contests remain completely legal.

The recommended New York DFS sites are licensed to operate legally in the state. You can choose from a wide selection of sports and take advantage of sign-up bonuses as a new player. We have created a complete guide to daily fantasy sports in New York, in which you can learn more about the top sites in the state.

Online Lottery

Founded in 1996, the New York Lottery was the second one set up in an American state. It is connected to multi-state systems, meaning residents get the chance to play in huge draws such as Mega Millions. NY has legalized iLottery through subscription services and the state also permits lottery courier services.

As of writing this article, the state does not sell individual tickets online for any New York Lottery game. However, here’s where the Jackpocket app comes in. That is an approved courier service that purchases tickets on your behalf. This makes participating in the New York State Lottery even more accessible and convenient.

Online Casinos

Now, we’re moving on with an overview of the New York online gambling laws. Unfortunately, you cannot legally play casino games on the internet. There are no licensed NY online casinos, and accessing an operator outside of the state is considered a crime. We’ll keep you posted on any future updates on the topic.

Online Poker

The situation is pretty much the same when it comes to online poker. This activity is currently illegal in New York. On a more positive note, you get a chance to play poker at commercial and tribal casinos in the state. You can also engage in social poker games if you don’t profit from them.

Online Gambling Bonuses & Promo Codes in NY

The best online gambling sites in New York offer generous bonuses for new players. With various legal sportsbooks now available in the state, this is a great way to entice new members to sign up. You should know that all NY online gambling bonuses have terms and conditions that you must read and understand.

You should pay special attention to the wagering requirements. They tell you how many times you need to play through your bonus before you can withdraw your winnings. You should also check out the minimum required deposit to claim the offer, the maximum bonus amount, and the eligible payment methods.

The first deposit bonus is the most common offer at gambling sites in the state. It gives extra value for your money and gets you started with an advantage. Some NY gambling sites may also offer no deposit bonuses, allowing you to place bets for free before wagering your cash. Read on to find out more about each type of offer.

No Deposit Bonus Offers

Another popular type of sign up offer you could encounter at top online betting sites in NY is a no deposit bonus. That includes a free bet or a small amount of bonus money simply for creating a player account. A no deposit bonus is less common and lower than deposit bonuses. Yet, it is an excellent way to try a New York gambling site with limited risk.

Top Gambling Apps – Bet on the Go

Online gambling sites offer the most convenient way to bet on sports, buy lottery tickets, and participate in daily fantasy contests in NY. Apps, on the other hand, make it even more convenient to enjoy your favorite gambling activities. All New York gambling sites featured in this guide are available on mobile.

Many New York online gambling sites can be accessed directly in your mobile browser. Yet all the best operators also provide native iOS and Android apps. You can download them from the Apple Store and Google Play, respectively. The top recommended NY online gambling app has everything you need for a safe and convenient experience on the go.

We used a comprehensive set of criteria to select the best NY gambling app. Our team made sure that this is a reliable platform that loads quickly and runs smoothly. We checked for top-notch technical security and safety standards. In addition, we assessed the gambling markets, payment options, and bonus offers so we can confidently recommend the best gambling app for New York.

Live Gambling in New York

Over the last few years, this has become one of the players’ most favored gambling activities. Live casino games offer an authentic real casino playing experience. They are streamed in real-time and hosted by real dealers. However, since online casino gaming is illegal in New York, you cannot play live casino games.

Yet, that is not to say that live gambling is not available in New York. On the contrary, all the best online sportsbooks in NY offer an exciting option. You can enjoy live sports streaming from around the world. You can watch football and other sports live, with various games streamed throughout the season.

Not only can you watch live sports from NY online gambling sites and apps, but you can also place bets on the games as they take place. In-play betting is preferred by many gamblers. And the best NY online sportsbooks offer live betting odds that change quickly to reflect the action on the field.

Deposits & Withdrawals

If you are new to online gambling in NY, you may be wondering how you can fund your account. The good news is that there is a wide variety of payment methods that allow you to depost conveniently and securely. The best sites for online gambling in New York support options that can suit every player’s preferences.

First, there are online banking services and VIP Preferred e-check. You could use popular debit and credit cards, such as Visa and Mastercard. In addition, prepaid Play+ cards are quite popular. You can also deposit with cash at the affiliated casino cage or using PayNearMe. PayPal is another great option, thanks to its enhanced security and privacy protection.

Most gambling sites offer safe and near-instant payment methods, such as Apple Pay. Additionally, the leading NY online gaming sites apply SSL encryption to ensure that your transactions are completely secure, regardless which payment method you use. Most operators do not charge any fees, yet you should always double-check to make sure that’s the case.

Withdrawals, on the other hand, take longer to process. The payout time will vary by payment method. For the fastest withdrawals, e-wallets such as PayPal are the best option. PayPal withdrawals are usually processed within a day, whereas bank transfers and card payments can take up to a week.

Odds & Payouts

Before you join and start wagering real money at New York online gambling sites, you should understand how payouts and odds work. The odds offered at NY sportsbooks are initially based on the probability of an outcome happening. So, if a football team has had a great season, their odds of winning their next game will be lower than a team with a sub-par performance.

Bookies also adjust their odds based on the bets placed. If many bets have been placed on a certain game result, the sportsbook will reduce the odds on the bet type. It is important to know that online betting sites calculate their odds to protect their profit margin. This ensures that the operator limits their risk of losses and ensures they make a profit.

While NY does not offer online casino gaming, its land-based venues also apply payout rates to their games to ensure they stay profitable. Every game has a payout percentage, or RTP programmed into its rules. This is the percentage that will be paid in potential winnings over the long run. The portion of the wager that the operator retains as profit is called the house edge.

Casino game RTPs do not fluctuate once programmed. Therefore, you could play classic European Roulette at ten different casinos in NY, and the payout rate will always be 97.30%. In contrast, the payout rates for online sports bets fluctuate constantly. The best online gambling sites in New York provide competitive odds to try and attract and retain players.

If you have never gambled online before, rest assured that it is easy to get started. Whatever gambling product you choose, be it sports betting or playing the lottery, the sign-up process is much the same across the board. The most important step is to choose a safe and licensed NY gambling site.

New members at NY online gambling sites can usually take advantage of a welcome bonus. Make sure you check the promotional terms and add any required promo codes when claiming it. Once you have made your first deposit, you can start gambling. Below, we have created a simple step-by-step guide showing you how to bet on sports online:

As you can see, it is quick and easy to start legal online gambling in NY. Once you have set up an account at a gambling site, you only need to enter your login details each time you want to place bets. It is also worth checking out the current promotions each time you log in, as you will usually find various special offers available for existing customers.

Advantages of Online Gambling

Online gambling in NY offers many advantages. It provides the most convenient way to bet on sports and play the lottery from anywhere in the state. However, if you’re after casino games or poker, land-based gambling venues offer the only legal option. Below, we have compared offline vs online gambling in New York:

If you want to bet on sports in New York, online gambling sites are the best option. You do not need to travel to a brick-and-mortar establishment to place bets, and you can claim rewarding bonuses as a new player. Whereas if you want to participate in real money slots or table games, you can that legally only by visiting one of the land-based casinos in New York.

Land-based Casinos, Racinos, and Lottery Retailers

New York is home to seven racinos, which offer pari-mutuel wagering and electronic gaming devices. There are also four commercial casino resorts with slots, table games, and sports betting. In addition, there is a stand-alone casino offering only VLTs. One of the best-known NY casinos is Resorts World Casino, located in New York City.

The operator offers over 6500 slot machines and over 1300 electronic table games. There are a further 19 federally-approved Native Indian gaming locations throughout the state. This includes eight Class III Indian casinos, offering Vegas-style casino gaming like slots and table games. Four Native American tribes operate casinos in New York state.

The Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino is among the most prestigious NY tribal casinos. The high-quality gambling establishment features over 80 live table games and more than 2700 slot machines. The resort includes a luxury hotel, live entertainment, and around 10 bars and restaurants.

The other form of land-based gambling available in NY is the state lottery. You can buy lottery tickets for Mega Millions, Cash4Life, and other popular lotto games from many official New York Lottery game retailers. With over 3800 locations, you can be sure to find a seller close to you.

New York Gambling Laws

The New York Constitution prohibits gambling, except for certain activities, including the state-run lottery, betting on horse racing, charitable gambling, sports betting, and a limited number of land-based casinos. Pari-mutuel wagering on horseracing at licensed events away from the actual racetracks is also permitted, which is unusual in America.

New York’s casino industry consisted entirely of tribal casinos for several years. In 2001, commercial casino gaming was first authorized in New York. The changes to the law allowed racetracks under the authority of the New York Lottery to operate electronic gaming devices, becoming racinos.

In 2013, the New York Lottery and the New York State Racing Commission merged to become the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC). The NYSGC regulates all types of commercial gambling in the state. Sports betting was legalized in 2013, yet did not launch until July 2019, almost a year after the US Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting.

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History of Gambling in New York

There have been various updates to New York gambling laws over the years, with moves to restrict betting followed by more liberal moments. To better understand the history of gambling in the state, we have put together a timeline of the most significant moments.

State Facts & Statistics

Home to the City That Never Sleeps, there are endless facts and stories about New York State, even outside its namesake city. It was home to Woodstock, and today has the world’s smallest church (measuring 51″x81″), a pet cemetery that has 12,000 plots and, of course, the world-famous Niagara Falls (even if that is shared with Canada).

Legal Gambling Age in NY

To buy lottery tickets, participate in daily fantasy contests, or place bets on races at a racino, you must be at least 18 years of age. Other casinos, namely those that serve alcohol on the floor, require patrons to be at least 21.

If you want to bet on sports either online or at a commercial casino, the legal NY gambling age is 21. All legal New York online gambling sites will request proof of age when you sign up to ensure that underage gambling does not occur and the restrictions are followed accordingly.

• Legal Gambling Age
  You must be 21+ to bet on sports at NY gambling sites. You can play the lotto and DFS online at 18.
• Legal Drinking Age
  The legal age to buy or consume alcoholic beverages in New York is 21.
• Legal Age for Marijuana
  Recreational marijuana use in NY is legal for adults aged 21 and above.

Responsible Gambling and Addiction Prevention

There are a number of national and state organizations that New York residents can turn to if they are experiencing gambling related problems. The first port of call should be the New York Council on Problem Gambling, which is available to provide support 24/7.

The legal gambling sites promote responsible gambling practices and offer various tools to help if needed. They work with specialist organizations such as the National Council on Problem Gambling and Gamblers Anonymous. The New York State Gaming Commission also offers a voluntary self-exclusion program, allowing you to exclude yourself from all gaming facilities licensed in the state.

Upcoming Regulation and Expected Changes

The latest changes in the state are related to the NY online sports betting, which is now legal and available through nine licensed operators. Daily fantasy contests remain officially allowed following the 2022 White vs Coumo case. Currently, we do not expect any significant updates to come in the near future. Still, we’ll keep you posted in case there’s anything you need to know about the legality of gambling online in NY.

References

1. Liptak, Adam, and Draper, Kevin, (May 14, 2018), Supreme Court Ruling Favors Sports Betting, The Washington Post, (Retrieved November 30, 2023)
2. Liebman, Bennett, (September 15, 2022), White v. Cuomo: What Comes Next After Daily Fantasy Sports Gambling in New York?, Albany Law School, (Retrieved November 30, 2023)