Quick Legal Status
| Field | Status |
|---|---|
| State | New York |
| Online Casino Games | Not legal |
| Online Sports Betting | Legal — mobile (launched January 8, 2022) |
| Online Poker | Not legal |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | Legal — regulated since 2016 |
| State Lottery | Yes — online subscriptions only (no on-demand iLottery) |
| Minimum Gambling Age | 21 casinos / sports betting · 18 lottery / horse racing / DFS |
| Regulatory Body | NY State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) |
| Last Legal Update | December 2025 — three downstate casino licenses approved; sweepstakes casino ban signed |
Legal Overview
New York occupies an unusual position in the US gambling landscape. It has one of the country’s most active legal sports betting markets — with nine licensed mobile operators and the highest tax rate in the nation — but no legal online casino gambling, no legal online poker, and no imminent path to either.
The state has a long history with gambling: the New York Lottery has operated since 1967, horse racing dates to the 19th century, tribal casinos have grown across the state under IGRA, and voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2013 to allow up to seven commercial casinos. But online casino gambling remains prohibited under New York Penal Law §225, and legislative efforts to change that have stalled repeatedly.
For New York residents looking to gamble online, the legal options are mobile sports betting (through any of the nine licensed operators), daily fantasy sports (regulated since 2016), lottery subscriptions at nylottery.ny.gov, and advance deposit wagering on horse racing through NYRA Bets. Online casino games and online poker are not among them.
What’s Legal
- Mobile sports betting: New York launched mobile sports wagering on January 8, 2022, making it one of the largest legal sports betting markets in North America by handle. Nine operators are licensed. See Sports Betting below.
- Commercial casinos: Four upstate commercial casinos operate under the 2013 constitutional amendment. Three additional downstate licenses were approved in December 2025. See Commercial Casinos below.
- Tribal casinos: Three tribal nations operate seven casino facilities across the state. See Tribal Casinos below.
- State lottery: The New York Lottery offers draw games, scratch-offs, and Quick Draw. Online subscriptions for recurring draw game purchases are available at nylottery.ny.gov. Full on-demand iLottery is not yet legal.
- Daily fantasy sports: Legal and regulated since 2016 under the Interactive Fantasy Sports Act (Article 14 of the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law). Twelve operators are licensed, including DraftKings and FanDuel.
- Horse racing and parimutuel wagering: Thoroughbred and harness racing are legal. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) operates three major tracks. Advance deposit wagering (ADW) is legal through NYRA Bets and other licensed platforms.
- Charitable gaming: Bingo, games of chance, and bell jar tickets are authorized for qualified non-profit organizations under NY General Municipal Law.
What’s Not Legal
- Online casino games — No state-licensed online casino framework exists. Bills S2614 (Sen. Addabbo) and A6027 (Assemblywoman Woerner) have been introduced in the 2025–2026 session to legalize iGaming, but both remain in committee. Governor Hochul has not included iGaming in her executive budgets.
- Online poker — No standalone online poker legislation exists. Online poker is included only in the pending iGaming package (S2614/A6027), which has not advanced.
- Retail sports betting outside licensed casinos — Sports wagering is limited to licensed commercial and tribal casino locations for retail, and the nine licensed mobile platforms for online.
Regulatory Structure
New York has a centralized gambling regulator — the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) — which oversees nearly all forms of legal gambling in the state.
| Authority | Jurisdiction | Website |
|---|---|---|
| NY State Gaming Commission — Division of Gaming | Commercial casinos, VLTs, sports wagering, interactive fantasy sports, charitable gaming | gaming.ny.gov |
| NY State Gaming Commission — Horse Racing Division | Thoroughbred and harness racing, OTB, ADW | gaming.ny.gov |
| NY State Gaming Commission — Lottery | NY Lottery operations | nylottery.ny.gov |
| Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) | Problem gambling treatment, HOPEline, self-exclusion program | oasas.ny.gov |
| National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) | Federal oversight of tribal gaming | nigc.gov |
Minimum Gambling Ages
| Activity | Minimum Age |
|---|---|
| Commercial casinos | 21 |
| Tribal casinos | 21 |
| Mobile sports betting | 21 |
| Retail sports betting | 21 |
| NY Lottery (all games) | 18 |
| Daily fantasy sports | 18 |
| Horse racing / OTB / ADW | 18 |
| Charitable gaming (bingo, games of chance) | 18 |
Key Legislation
| Year / Date | Law / Event | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| November 2013 | Casino constitutional amendment | Voters approved an amendment authorizing up to 7 commercial casinos. Four upstate licenses awarded in first round. |
| 2016 | Interactive Fantasy Sports Act (Article 14, RPWBL) | Legalized and regulated DFS under NYSGC oversight. 12 operators licensed. |
| 2021 | S9108-B / A10508-B — Sports Wagering Authorization | Added Article 13 to the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law; authorized mobile sports betting tethered to commercial casino servers. |
| January 8, 2022 | Mobile sports betting launch | Nine operators went live. NY became the largest sports betting market in North America by handle. |
| 2023–2024 | S1915 / A2962 — iGaming bill | Introduced to legalize online casino gambling; did not advance to a floor vote in either chamber. |
| December 15, 2025 | Three downstate casino licenses approved | NYSGC unanimous vote: Bally’s Bronx, Hard Rock Metropolitan Park, Resorts World NYC. $500M license fee + $500M development investment each. |
| December 2025 | Sweepstakes casino ban signed | Governor Hochul signed legislation banning sweepstakes casinos (passed NY Senate 57–2). |
| January 2026 | S2614 / A6027 — iGaming bills re-introduced | Fifth consecutive year Sen. Addabbo introduced iGaming legislation. Both bills in committee as of May 2026. |
Sports Betting in New York
New York launched mobile sports betting on January 8, 2022, and has quickly become the largest legal sports betting market in North America by handle. The state’s mobile wagering program was authorized through the FY2022 state budget bill, which tethered mobile sports betting servers to licensed commercial casino platforms.
Licensed Mobile Sportsbook Operators
Nine operators hold mobile sports wagering licenses from the NYSGC:
| Operator | Parent Company | License Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bally Bet | Bally’s Corporation | $25 million | Active |
| BetMGM | MGM Resorts | $25 million | Active |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Caesars Entertainment | $25 million | Active |
| DraftKings | DraftKings Inc. | $25 million | Active |
| ESPN Bet | Penn Entertainment | $25 million | Active |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | Fanatics Betting and Gaming | $25 million | Active |
| FanDuel | Flutter Entertainment | $25 million | Active |
| Resorts World Bet | Genting Group | $25 million | Active |
| Rush Street Interactive (BetRivers) | Rush Street Gaming | $25 million | Active |
Tax Rate and Revenue
New York’s mobile sports betting tax rate is 51% of gross gaming revenue (GGR) — the highest in the United States. By comparison, New Jersey taxes mobile sports betting at 13%, Pennsylvania at 36%, and Michigan at 8.4%.
The $25 million per-operator license fee is also among the highest in the country. Sports betting revenue supports New York’s public schools, with $6 million per year earmarked for problem gambling education and treatment.
Key Restrictions
- College sports: Wagering is prohibited on any game involving a New York college team, regardless of where the game is played.
- High school sports: All wagering on high school sporting events is prohibited.
- Prediction markets: The NYSGC has issued guidance that unlicensed prediction market platforms operating in New York may violate state sports wagering law.
Online Casino Gambling — Not Legal
Online casino gambling is not legal in New York. No state-licensed online slots, table games, live dealer games, or online poker platforms exist.
This is a critical distinction for New York residents: mobile sports betting is legal and widely available through nine licensed operators, but online casino games are not.
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Offshore Online Casinos — NY Restriction Warning
CRITICAL NOTE for New York players: New York is one of five states — along with Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, and New Jersey — where Ignition Casino, Cafe Casino, and Slots.LV do NOT accept players. Only two offshore casinos reviewed by MobileCasinoParty accept New York players: Bovada and Wild Casino.
| Operator | NY Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bovada | Accepts NY players | Not NY-licensed; Curaçao-licensed; NY not in Bovada restricted states |
| Wild Casino | Accepts NY players | Not NY-licensed; Panama Gaming Commission |
| Ignition Casino | Does NOT accept NY players | New York is one of 5 restricted states (DE, MD, NV, NJ, NY) |
| Cafe Casino | Does NOT accept NY players | New York is one of 5 restricted states (DE, MD, NV, NJ, NY) |
| Slots.LV | Does NOT accept NY players | New York is one of 5 restricted states (DE, MD, NV, NJ, NY) |
New York Lottery
The New York Lottery is one of the largest and oldest government-run lotteries in the United States, established in 1967. It contributed $4.38 billion to New York public schools in 2024.
| Game Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Draw games | Mega Millions, Powerball, NY Lotto, Cash4Life, Pick 10, Numbers, Win 4, Take 5 |
| Instant games | Scratch-off tickets at multiple price points |
| Monitor games | Quick Draw (drawn every 4 minutes at licensed locations) |
| Online | Subscriptions only — recurring draw game purchases at nylottery.ny.gov. No on-demand iLottery. |
Land-Based Casinos
Commercial Casinos (Upstate — Operating)
| Casino | Location | Region |
|---|---|---|
| del Lago Resort & Casino | Tyre | Finger Lakes |
| Resorts World Catskills | Thompson | Hudson Valley / Catskills |
| Rivers Casino & Resort | Schenectady | Capital Region |
| Tioga Downs Casino Resort | Nichols | Southern Tier |
Downstate Casino Licenses (Approved December 2025 — Not Yet Operational)
| License | Location | Operator | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bally’s Bronx | Ferry Point, The Bronx | Bally’s Corporation | Approved — not yet operational |
| Hard Rock Metropolitan Park | Willets Point, Queens | Hard Rock International / NY Mets | Approved — not yet operational |
| Resorts World New York City | South Ozone Park, Queens (Aqueduct) | Genting Group | Approved — conversion of existing VLT facility; opening TBD |
Tribal Casinos
Seneca Nation of Indians — 3 Casinos
| Casino | Location |
|---|---|
| Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino | Niagara Falls |
| Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino | Salamanca |
| Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino | Buffalo |
Oneida Indian Nation — 3 Casinos
| Casino | Location |
|---|---|
| Turning Stone Resort Casino | Verona (largest poker room in NY) |
| Point Place Casino | Bridgeport |
| YBR Casino & Sports Book (Yellow Brick Road) | Chittenango |
St. Regis Mohawk Tribe — 1 Casino
| Casino | Location |
|---|---|
| Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort | Hogansburg |
Daily Fantasy Sports
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Legal — regulated since 2016 |
| Governing law | Interactive Fantasy Sports Act (Article 14, RPWBL) |
| Tax rate | 15% GGR + 0.5% surcharge (capped at $50,000/year) |
| Regulator | NYSGC |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Active operators | DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog, Yahoo, and others (12 licensed total) |
Recent Legal Changes
| Date | Change | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | iGaming bills re-introduced | S2614 (Addabbo) and A6027 (Woerner) re-filed for 2026 session. Fifth consecutive year. Both in committee as of May 2026. |
| December 15, 2025 | Three downstate casino licenses approved | NYSGC unanimous vote. $500M license fee + $500M development commitment each. |
| December 2025 | Sweepstakes casino ban signed | Governor Hochul signed legislation banning sweepstakes casinos. Passed NY Senate 57–2. |
| January 8, 2022 | Mobile sports betting launched | Nine operators went live. NY became largest sports betting market in North America by handle. |
iGaming Legislative Outlook
Bills S2614 and A6027 are the active iGaming proposals as of May 2026. Key provisions: would authorize online slots, table games, live dealer, and poker; proposed tax rate of 30.5% GGR; up to approximately 31 licenses.
Why it hasn’t passed: Governor Hochul has not endorsed the legislation. Labor unions — particularly the NY Hotel and Gaming Trades Council — oppose iGaming over concerns about job losses at brick-and-mortar casinos. No passage is expected in 2026.
Responsible Gambling Resources
New York–Specific Resources
OASAS HOPEline:
- Phone: 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369)
- Text: HOPENY to 467369
- Available 24/7 — free, confidential counseling
Statewide Self-Exclusion Program: Covers all NYSGC-regulated gaming venues. Enrollment via gaming.ny.gov/voluntary-self-exclusion.
| Option | Duration |
|---|---|
| Short-term | 1 year |
| Medium-term | 3 years |
| Long-term | 5 years |
| Permanent | Lifetime |
National Resources
| Organization | Phone | Website | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCPG | 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) | ncpgambling.org | 24/7/365 |
| NCPG Text/Chat | Text 800GAM / ncpgambling.org/chat | — | 24/7/365 |
| Gamblers Anonymous | (909) 931-9056 (office) | gamblersanonymous.org | Meetings vary |
| 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | 988 (call or text) | 988lifeline.org | 24/7/365 |
| SAMHSA | 1-800-662-4357 (HELP) | samhsa.gov | 24/7/365 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is online gambling legal in New York?
It depends on the type. Mobile sports betting is legal — nine operators are licensed by the NYSGC. Daily fantasy sports is also legal and regulated. However, online casino games and online poker are not legal. Bills to legalize online casino gambling have been introduced but have not passed.
Is sports betting legal in New York?
Yes. Mobile sports betting launched on January 8, 2022 with nine licensed operators: Bally Bet, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel, Resorts World Bet, and Rush Street Interactive (BetRivers). New York taxes mobile sports betting at 51% of gross gaming revenue — the highest rate in the US.
Can I play online poker in New York?
No. Online poker is not legal in New York. There is no standalone online poker legislation, and online poker is only included in pending iGaming bills (S2614/A6027) that have not advanced. Live poker is available at several tribal and commercial casinos, with Turning Stone Resort Casino hosting the largest poker room in the state.
What is the minimum gambling age in New York?
The minimum age is 21 for casino gambling (commercial and tribal) and sports betting. The minimum age is 18 for lottery purchases, horse racing wagering, OTB, advance deposit wagering, and daily fantasy sports.
Are online casinos coming to New York?
Bills to legalize online casino gambling (S2614 and A6027) are in committee as of May 2026. Governor Hochul has not endorsed the legislation, and labor unions oppose it. No passage is expected in 2026 — the earliest realistic window is 2027 or later.
What sportsbooks are available in New York?
Nine mobile sportsbook operators are licensed: Bally Bet, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel, Resorts World Bet, and Rush Street Interactive (BetRivers). All are available statewide through mobile apps to users aged 21 and older physically located in New York.
Is daily fantasy sports legal in New York?
Yes. DFS has been legal and regulated since 2016 under the Interactive Fantasy Sports Act. Twelve operators are licensed by the NYSGC, including DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, and Underdog. The minimum age is 18.
Where can I get help for problem gambling in New York?
The OASAS HOPEline is available 24/7: call 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or text HOPENY to 467369. New York also operates a statewide self-exclusion program. National resources include the NCPG helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).
Related Guides
- Responsible Gambling Policy — Support resources and helplines
- Casino Review Process — How we evaluate and rate casinos
- USA Online Casinos — Full state-by-state guide hub
- New Jersey Gambling Guide — Full iGaming market since 2013; neighboring state
- Pennsylvania Gambling Guide — Full iGaming market
- Nevada Gambling Guide — Online poker and sports betting legal
- Michigan Gambling Guide — Full iGaming market; MSIGA member
- Bovada Casino Review — Accepts NY players; not NY-licensed
- Wild Casino Review — Accepts NY players; not NY-licensed
