New York Casinos, Online Gambling and Sports Betting
Neighbouring States: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont
New York at a Glance
✅ Allowed
- Online sports betting — legal since January 8, 2022; the largest sports betting market in the US by handle; 9 licensed operators; 51% tax rate (highest in the country)
- Land-based casinos — commercial casinos (upstate New York) plus tribal casinos; three new downstate NYC-area casino licences approved December 2025
- Pari-mutuel horse racing — Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, Aqueduct, and others; long-established history
- Daily fantasy sports (DFS) — legal since 2016
- State lottery — New York Lottery since 1967; Powerball and Mega Millions; online lottery sales available
- Video lottery terminals (VLTs) — at licensed racinos; Resorts World NYC and others
- Social casinos — free-to-play with no cash prizes; the only legal online casino-style option for New Yorkers
- Charitable gaming — licensed bingo and raffles
- Minimum age: 21 for casino gaming and sports betting; 18 for lottery, bingo, and horse racing
❌ Not Allowed
- Sweepstakes casinos — BANNED since December 5, 2025 (S5935A); all platforms restricted; fines $10,000–$100,000 per violation; AG enforcement already underway
- Real-money online casinos (iGaming) — not legalised; bills introduced every year since 2022 have not advanced; iGaming unlikely before 2027 at earliest
- Online poker — not legalised; no licensed real-money poker sites for New York players
Sweepstakes casinos are banned in New York. Governor Kathy Hochul signed S5935A on December 5, 2025, formally banning dual-currency sweepstakes casino games. The Attorney General had already issued cease-and-desist letters to 26 operators in June 2025. Fines are $10,000–$100,000 per violation, with additional consequences for gaming licence holders. All platforms exited New York immediately upon signing. New York's licensed sportsbooks and, if visiting New Jersey, its licensed online casinos are the legal alternatives.
Online Gambling in New York — What's Legal
New York's online gambling landscape is defined by one major presence and several notable absences. Mobile sports betting launched in January 2022 and immediately became the largest legal sports betting market in the US. Meanwhile, online casino gaming remains unlegalised, sweepstakes casinos have been banned, and iGaming bills continue to stall in Albany.
Online Sports Betting — The World's Largest Mobile Market
New York launched online sports betting on January 8, 2022, and it quickly became the highest-handle mobile sports betting market in the United States. Nine licensed operators are currently active: FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, bet365, Fanatics, PointsBet, BetRivers, and others. New York applies a 51% tax rate on gross gaming revenue — the highest of any legal sports betting state — yet the market has grown dramatically year-over-year. Despite having the highest tax rate, the sheer size of New York's population ensures the market remains highly competitive and profitable.
You must be 21+ and physically located within New York State to place a wager. Each licensed operator is tethered to one of New York's licensed casinos or racinos.
Social Casinos — The Only Legal Online Casino Option
With sweepstakes casinos banned and iGaming unlegalised, free-to-play social casinos with no cash prizes are the only legal form of online casino gaming available to New York residents.
- 7 Seas Casino — Free-to-play Vegas-style slots. No prizes, no purchase — fully within New York law.
- Vegas World — Free slots, poker, and table games. No currency exchange of any kind.
- Casino World — A broad range of free social casino games.
New Jersey — A Short Trip Away
For New Yorkers who want to play real-money online casino games legally, New Jersey's fully regulated iGaming market (30+ licensed brands, $2.91B in 2025 revenue) is accessible to anyone physically present in New Jersey. Many New York residents who live near the state line regularly use New Jersey's licensed online casinos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in New York?
No. Governor Hochul signed S5935A on December 5, 2025, banning dual-currency sweepstakes casino games. Attorney General Letitia James had already issued cease-and-desist letters to 26 operators in June 2025 — the New York sweepstakes market had been worth an estimated $762 million in 2024. Fines are $10,000–$100,000 per violation. All platforms have exited New York. Free-to-play social casinos with no cash prizes remain legal.
Is online sports betting legal in New York?
Yes — and New York is the largest legal sports betting market in the US. Mobile betting launched January 8, 2022. Nine operators are licensed. The state applies a 51% tax rate on gross gaming revenue — the highest in the country — yet the market has generated billions in handle annually. In 2024 New York recorded a record-breaking handle, the highest in the US. You must be 21+ and physically in New York to wager. Licensed operators include FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, bet365, and others.
Is online casino gaming legal in New York?
Not yet. Senator Joseph Addabbo has introduced iGaming bills every year since 2022 — they have stalled each session. The current 2026 bills (S2614 / A6027 / A5922) propose a 30.5% tax on online casino revenue, licensing through the NY State Gaming Commission, and tethering to existing casino licence holders. If a bill were to pass in 2026, the earliest realistic launch would be 2027-2028. Governor Hochul has not endorsed iGaming, though her signing of the sweepstakes ban is interpreted as a signal that she supports regulated alternatives over the grey market.
What are the three new downstate casino licences?
In December 2025, the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board approved three proposals for downstate (NYC-area) casino licences — a process that had been under way for several years. The three approved proposals are Bally's Bronx, Hard Rock Metropolitan Park, and Resorts World New York City (an expansion of the existing Aqueduct-based Resorts World NYC). The Gaming Commission formally granted licences on December 15, 2025. Collectively these casinos are projected to generate nearly $1 billion in annual tax revenue by 2036. Their development begins in 2026.
Why does New York have the highest sports betting tax rate?
When New York structured its sports betting legislation, the state leveraged its large population as a bargaining chip — operators were willing to accept a 51% tax rate in exchange for access to the most populous sports betting market in the country. Critics argue the rate limits promotional spending and drives some bettors to offshore sites, but the market has remained robust due to New York City's sheer size. The original intent was also to maximise state revenue for education funding.
Is daily fantasy sports legal in New York?
Yes. New York explicitly legalised daily fantasy sports (DFS) in 2016 after a period of uncertainty. DraftKings and FanDuel are the primary platforms. The minimum age is 18. New York's DFS legalisation was one of the more notable US state DFS decisions given the size of the market.
What responsible gambling resources are available in New York?
The New York Council on Problem Gambling provides a 24/7 helpline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or text HOPENY (467369). The New York State Gaming Commission requires all licensed operators to offer self-exclusion tools, deposit limits, and responsible gambling disclosures. The statewide NY Self-Exclusion covers all licensed casinos; online sports betting platforms have their own self-exclusion databases. The National Problem Gambling Helpline is also available at 1-800-522-4700, 24/7.
New York Gambling Laws
New York gambling is regulated by the New York State Gaming Commission, established in 2013 by merging the Racing and Wagering Board and the Division of Lottery. The Commission licences and oversees all commercial casinos, tribal casino compacts, racinos, online sports betting operators, DFS operators, and the state lottery. The Attorney General's office has additional enforcement authority over illegal gambling operators, as demonstrated by the sweepstakes casino cease-and-desist campaign in 2025.
Online sports betting is authorised under the Consolidated Laws of New York, Chapter 47-A. The 51% tax on adjusted gross revenue is the statutory rate. Operators must be tethered to a licensed casino or racino holder in New York.
The New York State Constitution prohibits casino gambling unless explicitly authorised by the Legislature and approved by voters. The 2013 constitutional amendment that authorised commercial casinos required a voter referendum. Any future iGaming legalisation would require similar constitutional procedures, which is one reason progress is slow — it requires both legislative action and a statewide ballot measure.
The sweepstakes-to-iGaming pipeline
New York's sweepstakes casino ban (December 2025) and the ongoing iGaming push are explicitly linked. Senator Addabbo — who both sponsored S5935A (the sweepstakes ban) and leads the iGaming bills — has described the ban as "a necessary step toward responsible modernisation of New York's online gaming landscape." The argument is that banning unregulated sweepstakes creates market pressure for a licensed alternative — and that licensed iGaming with a 30.5% tax, age verification, and problem gambling protections is preferable to the unregulated sweepstakes market that was generating $762 million in New York annually. Three downstate casino licences, a sweepstakes ban, and annual iGaming bills are converging to push New York toward potential online casino legalisation — likely 2027 at the earliest.
New York Gambling History
New York has one of the longest and most complex gambling histories of any US state. The first horse racing track in the Americas opened in New York in 1655 at Newmarket in the Hempstead Plains (present-day Queens). Lottery was common from the 1600s through the early 1800s — it helped finance the settlement at Jamestown, the Revolutionary War, and the founding of universities including Rutgers and Princeton. New York was the first state to constitutionally ban gambling in 1821, ending the lottery until the 1960s.
Pari-mutuel wagering was relegalised in New York in 1939. Belmont Park, which opened in 1905 (though not fully regulated until 1959), remains one of the most iconic racecourses in the world — home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. Saratoga Race Course (est. 1863) is the oldest major thoroughbred track in the US. The New York Lottery launched in 1967.
Tribal casinos began operating in New York in 1993. A 2013 constitutional amendment authorised commercial casinos outside New York City, leading to several upstate casino resorts. Online sports betting launched January 8, 2022, transforming New York instantly into the largest legal sports betting market in the US. The sweepstakes casino ban (December 5, 2025) and three new NYC-area casino licences (December 15, 2025) were the most significant gambling developments of the past year.
Casinos in New York
Commercial Casinos (Upstate New York)
- Rivers Casino and Resort (Schenectady) — Operated by Rush Street Gaming; full-service casino with hotel, dining, and entertainment in the Capital Region.
- del Lago Resort and Casino (Tyre, near Finger Lakes) — A full resort casino in the wine country of upstate New York.
- Tioga Downs Casino Resort (Nichols) — A combined harness racing track and casino in the Southern Tier region.
Racinos (Video Lottery Terminal Facilities)
- Resorts World New York City (South Ozone Park, Queens) — The largest VLT facility in North America, at Aqueduct Racetrack. Over 6,400 gaming machines across multiple themed floors. One of three recipients of the new downstate casino full-gaming licences in December 2025, enabling table games and an expansion of the facility.
- MGM Empire City Casino (Yonkers) — Formerly Empire City Casino, acquired by MGM Resorts; approximately 5,300 gaming machines at Yonkers Raceway. One of the other downstate casino licence applicants.
- Jake's 58 Hotel and Casino (Islandia, Long Island) — A VLT facility on Long Island with 1,000+ machines.
Tribal Casinos
- Turning Stone Resort Casino (Verona, near Utica) — Operated by the Oneida Indian Nation; one of the largest casino resorts in the Northeast; full gaming, hotel, golf, and entertainment complex.
- Point Place Casino (Bridgeport) — Oneida Indian Nation; a second property serving the Syracuse area.
- Yellow Brick Road Casino (Chittenango) — Oneida Indian Nation; entertainment-focused casino.
- Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino — Seneca Nation; a major destination casino adjacent to Niagara Falls.
- Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino — Seneca Nation; located in downtown Buffalo.
- Seneca Allegany Resort and Casino (Salamanca) — Seneca Nation; full resort in the Allegany region.
Three New Downstate NYC-Area Licences (December 2025)
Three proposals received full casino licences from the New York State Gaming Commission on December 15, 2025, enabling them to offer live table games and expand their gaming operations:
- Resorts World New York City (Aqueduct, Queens) — Existing racino expanding to full casino status with table games and hotels.
- Bally's Bronx — New development at a Bronx location; Bally's Corporation's entry into the New York market.
- Hard Rock Metropolitan Park — A major new casino resort development in the greater New York metro area.
Responsible Gambling in New York
- New York Council on Problem Gambling — 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or text HOPENY (467369), available 24/7.
- National Problem Gambling Helpline — 1-800-522-4700, available 24/7 by phone, text, and live chat at ncpgambling.org.
- NY Self-Exclusion — Administered by the New York State Gaming Commission for land-based casinos. Online sports betting operators maintain their own self-exclusion databases with mandatory enrolment options. Available at gaming.ny.gov.
- Gambling Addiction Education — All gambling advertisements in New York are required (since 2024) to include warnings about the addictive and harmful effects of gambling.