Is Gambling Illegal In New York
On this page we’ve compiled a comprehensive summary covering online gambling in New York state, with an overview of applicable laws as well as recommendations on which sites are safe for NY residents.
Below you’ll find our current list of the best real money online casinos for New York residents, including bonus offers from each site. All of these gambling sites have been vetted by our editorial team to ensure safety for players, good payment options, fast payouts and solid customer service:
What Are The Best NY Real Money Gambling Sites?
Unless New York legislators legalize a gambling game, it is illegal. As for the state’s legal gaming options, the most popular is the New York Lottery. More New Yorkers buy lottery tickets than citizens of any state, with greater than 92% participation, according to figures released by the state each summer.
- Gambling Laws in New York The gambling laws in New York only allow the only forms of gambling that voters have approved. However, in general, New York gambling laws state that games of luck in New York are Illegal. If you commit a gambling crime in New York.
- Opinion Arts Today's Arts Art report illegal gambling in new york & Design Books Dance Movies Music N.Y.C.Class I games are 'traditional' games that involve little or no wagering.Last week a DNAinfo New York reporter went to the club and observed four men playing slots hot dogs libertyville cards in the rear. A person is guilty of possession of.
| Rank | Online Casino | Key Info | Bonus Info | Visit Casino | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 
 | |||
| #2 | 
 | |||
| #3 | 
 | |||
| #4 | 
 | |||
| #5 | 
 | 
Is Online Gambling Legal in New York State?
The state of New York and New York City itself are not hotbeds of Casino activity but there are still some interesting venues available to those who want to gamble. Of course residents of the state of New York can also gamble online like any person in the USA can.
New York historically has had some of the most severe gambling laws in the country and it is still not the most liberal state when it comes to casinos or online gambling. Fortunately, in the last few years, there has been an evolution in that respect, notably to help support the state’s horse racing tracks.
A casino with slot machines sits next door to the racetrack of Saratoga in upstate New York since 2003. Casinos have also been opened more recently in and near New York City, one next to the Yonkers Racetrack and another Casino by the Aqueduct racetrack.
The latter is called the Resorts World New York City and is the first real casino in the Big Apple, with both slot machines but also automated table games like Blackjack, Roulette and many others. In addition to the casinos located near horse racing tracks, the state of New York also has multiple casinos located on Indian Reservations, however those are not necessarily easy to access, being outside of urban centers and far from New York City itself.
As we look to the future, it seems as though New York is going to be legalizing gambling more broadly soon. But in the meantime, the best option for New York residents looking to gamble is to do so in one of the many online casinos that accept them. Below, you can find our recommended list of online casinos, selected based on quality but especially safety and reputability.
New York has been tough on gambling in the past but, to the surprise of many, the state does not possess any laws which make it illegal to play at online casinos. What is illegal, however, is for a casino to be located in and operating in New York.

Because most online casinos that offer their services to New York residents are located offshore, you do not need to worry about landing yourself in legal trouble for having played at an online casino.
The online casinos that accept players in New York come in many different varieties. While there are full service online sites that offer just about every casino game known to man, other sites specialize in other forms of gambling like Poker or Sports Betting and therefore only a select variety of casino games are featured on these sites.
With more casinos being added all the time, there is no shortage of options for New Yorkers looking to gamble online. Not all online casinos can be trusted however and it is important to do your due diligence regarding their quality, their customer service and their gambling license before playing for real money at an online casino.
Thankfully for you, we have done the hard work and reviewed hundreds of online casino options to recommend only those who can offer the best service to New York residents.
Looking to the future, it is an interesting prospect to consider whether New York is going to move on setting up a legalized, regulated online casino system within the state. New Jersey already has an intrastate online casino network and is actively drawing more and more New Yorkers every year.

With so much money flowing over the border, it makes no sense that New York seems to be completely avoiding the topic of legalized online casinos. Pennsylvania, for example, has really relaxed their laws when it comes to gambling both online and at brick and mortar locations, so this is just one more reason why New York should really move on legalizing online casino play once and for all.
Legal Status of Brick and Mortar Casinos — New York
Despite New York’s online casino status being stuck in the early 21st century, their brick and mortar gambling industry is thriving. This has been the case for a while now, as New York has long been one of the best states in the country for real money gambling.
There are numerous land based casinos operating within the state, and they offer a multitude of different gambling options, from poker, to blackjack, and just about anything else in between. Like many other states, the biggest problem with brick and mortar casinos is that they are not easily accessible to many residents. Most of these casinos are located outside of city centers, on Indian reservations.
New York is known for the huge city bearing the same name, however the state is comprised of much more than New York City Alone. In fact, New York is one of the biggest states in the country as far as physical size is concerned. With so many rural areas in the state, and most casinos being located near those areas, you can understand how difficult it is for some people to play real money casino games.
In many cases, the casinos are located in very rural parts of the state and require residents to drive hours just to get there. An increasing number of brick and mortar locations are being added with each passing year, so we would not be surprised to see New York, in the near future, rival states like New Jersey when it comes to live gambling.
Unfortunately, there are not any grandiose plans to add a large number of brick and mortar casinos in New York City itself. This may change soon, but New York lawmakers have not really expressed an interest in expanding the scope of the brick and mortar casino industry. That being said, there are still a number of brick and mortar casinos operating in the state, which include:
| Casino | Address | Phone | 
|---|---|---|
| Akwesasne Mohawk Casino | 873 State Route 37 | (877)-992-2746 | 
| Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino | 1 Fulton Street | (716) 299-1100 | 
| Lakeside Entertainment | 271 Cayuga St | (315) 889-5416 | 
| Point Place Casino | 450-452 NY-31 | (315) 366-9610 | 
| Seneca Allegany | 777 Seneca Allegany Blvd | (716) 945-3200 | 
| Seneca Niagara Casino | 310 Fourth Street | (716) 299-1100 | 
| Turning Stone Casino | 5218 Patrick Road | (315) 361-7711 | 
| Resorts World NY | 110-00 Rockaway Blvd | (888)-888-8801 | 
| Saratoga Casino Hotel | 342 Jefferson Street | (518) 584-2110 | 
| Empire City Casino | 810 Yonkers Avenue | (914) 968-4200 | 
Sports Betting In New York
Just like about everywhere else in the USA, there is a lot of rumble recently regarding sports betting and online betting. Following a lawsuit started by the Governor of New Jersey, the law prohibiting the legalization of sports betting by each state has been struck down.
This means that a state like New York is now free to create its own laws and we are willing to bet that New York will be one of the first states to pass new gambling laws which authorize sports betting.
New York is after all arguably the biggest sports city in the world. New York City is home to two NFL teams, two MLB teams, two NBA teams and two NHL teams. Elsewhere in the state, the city of Buffalo has a NFL team and a NHL team and of course the various casinos and horse racing tracks in New York would love to be able to add sports betting to their offering.
As of now however, the only way for New York residents to gamble on sports is to open an account with one of the many international gambling sites which accept residents of the state.
These offshore sportsbooks have some pros and cons compared to a local gambling site. In the positive elements, you can find the fact that for sure international sportsbooks will offer better odds to New York players. Local casinos and sportsbooks have to pay local taxes which tend to increase their costs and therefore they cannot offer as attractive odds or bonus offers to players. We can already see that with the New York racetracks which do not offer the same rebates or bonuses to players compared to offshore racebooks.
Another distinct advantage for offshore sportsbooks is their ability to offer a whole variety of games, including poker and casino games often. So far, plans to legislate online gambling in the USA and New York have always separated the different forms of gambling. Therefore a player who wants to play multiple types of games usually needs to open multiple accounts, which is not very convenient.
Now, of course, playing with an international gambling site has some disadvantages. First of all, you have to make sure that the sports betting site you play at offers a good variety of odds and fair pricing on them. We have researched dozens of sportsbooks and those we recommend for New York residents are quite player-friendly in that respect.
New York players looking for a sportsbook also need to be careful in choosing one with a spotless reputation and known for fast payments. Receiving your winnings is generally not a problem but there are some rogue sportsbooks out there. We of course only recommend sports betting sites which are known to be treating players well and fairly, including comes the time to request a payout.
It goes without saying but offshore sportsbooks of course offer odds on all games played in New York and if you are looking to bet on the New York Giants or the Islanders or the Knicks, offshore sports books will have you covered and will often offer a wider variety of betting options than even the casinos in Vegas can offer.
Online Poker In New York State
Multiple states, including the neighbour New Jersey, have already passed legislation allowing online poker so we can wager that New York will soon pass laws allowing the licensing of online poker rooms in the state.
In the meantime, New Yorkers need to play on international sites who take American players and though there are only few left, there are still good opportunities for New York poker players online.
The big names in the game, such as Poker stars and Full Tilt Poker, have had to leave New York state in 2011. A few other poker networks have popped up since to offer the game to residents of the State. The volume of player is not as good as it used to be but for fans of the game, it is better than nothing. Usually the online poker rooms available to New York residents are part of sites also offering sports betting and casino games so for players looking to play a variety of games, this situation is not so bad.
Of course, when looking for online poker sites, New York players need to make sure to select a site which takes security seriously. The risk with online poker is to be facing cheaters or bots playing and any serious poker player knows that you need to find a site which fights against fraud with vigor and roots out this type of cheaters. All the gambling sites we recommend for New York players are very strict and dedicated to player safety and you can therefore trust than when you play in their poker room, you face real players, not bots.
Obviously, a poker player will win at least once in a while and New York players need to play on sites that are convenient when it comes to depositing real money, but only when it comes to withdrawing funds. The recommended poker sites you will find in our pages all offer convenient withdrawal methods and send payouts rapidly.
Online poker in New York might not be what it used to before the big names in the game left the state but there are still very high-quality gambling sites offering their services to New York residents. So if you are a New Yorker looking to gamble online, on poker or other games, you will find in our pages multiple good and secure choices to do so.

New York Online Casinos & Gambling FAQ
- Abbreviation: NY
- State Motto: Ever upward.
- Capital City: Albany
- Population Estimate: 19.85 million (4th)
- Website: http://www.ny.gov/
If poker sites were ousted, will I get in trouble for playing poker at New York online casinos?
While it may be true that the legislation that halted the existence of many poker brands in the US originated in New York, the fact of the matter is that not one single person landed themselves in any legal trouble by playing poker before or after that ruling. The same applies for any and all other online casino games as well. It may not be strictly legal to gamble online in New York, but it is not illegal either.
What kind of games exist at New York online casinos?
Every online casino is different, so while one may offer a multitude of games with many varieties, another online casino may specialize in only a few game types. By doing a little bit of research before you begin playing, you will be able to easily determine which online casinos offer what games. Most online casinos available to New York residents offer the classic games however: Slots, Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Keno, etc.
How can I cash out?
Cashing out is typically done one of two ways because of the banking laws that exist in the US. The first most popular cash out method is by way of a mailed check. Depending on the online casino, a mailed check can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to arrive at your door. The other option is to have your winnings directly transferred to your bank account. This is more of an immediate transaction, but requires you to give up more personal information than you would if you were receiving a check in the mail. Some online casinos offer New York residents the option to receive their winnings through bitcoin as well.
Will intrastate online casinos ever be legalized?
Because New Jersey already has an intrastate online casino system, many people believe New York will too. Up to this point, the New York government has not enacted any online casino or online gambling laws, but there is a feeling that this might change sometime in the near future as the state looks at ways to increase revenues.
Similar pages:
Historically, New York betting laws have been fairly restrictive, primarily due to New Jersey’s Atlantic City presence and the shared revenue from supporting that interstate project. However, as the New Jersey commercial gambling scene has faltered over the last several years, New York betting laws have changed to reflect the reality that fewer and fewer New Yorkers are making the trip over the bridge. Thus, legal New York betting was opened up in the Empire State itself, with residents voting in 2013 to allow Las Vegas-style casinos to operate inside its borders.
The primary laws concerning gambling in New York are covered in the state’s constitution. First, § 5-401 of the New York General Obligations Laws defines illegal gambling as “[a]ll wagers, bets or stakes, made to depend upon any race, or upon any gaming by lot or chance, or upon any lot, chance, casualty, or unknown or contingent event whatever.”
The New York Penal Code further defines what constitutes unlawful gambling in the state in § 225.00 et seq. As written, “[a] person engages in gambling when he stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.”
Despite the seeming blanket ban on gambling in the state, New York has managed to carve out a healthy, vibrant betting industry for itself over the years. Commercial and tribal casinos are allowed in the area, including Class III facilities. Horse racing betting is legal in the state (though dog racing is not), as is off-site pari-mutuel wagering. New York also operates a state lottery, and bingo is legal. On the social side, private gambling is legal in NY provided that it’s undertaken in an environment where there is no “bookmaker” or “house take” involved. Essentially, New York’s gambling scene offers everything that Las Vegas is traditionally known for, except for one thing. And it’s a big one: sports betting.
Unfortunately, even though New Yorkers finally voted to fully open up the casino industry inside the state, they weren’t actually able to establish any legal New York sports betting there. As the most popular form of gambling in the world, US sports betting is still “officially” limited to Nevada as part of a federalized monopoly on the activity.
That said, New York is – on the whole – dedicated to the cause of legalizing sports betting for its residents. Not only is the word “sports” completely unmentioned in all of NY’s legal language re gambling in general, the state is explicitly supporting neighboring New Jersey in its various current attacks on the federal laws that preclude state’s rights to regulate sports betting. From the Supreme Court challenge of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA, 1992) to the legislative debates surrounding the legalization of sports betting for all, New York is consistently in the trenches fighting the good fight with its fellow pro-gambling states. However, such judicial and legislative approaches tend to take a long time even when immediately successful, and that leaves a lot of New Yorkers in a sort of limbo when it comes to legal New York betting on the various popular sports in the area.
Thankfully, there is an easy workaround for folks who want to bet on sports in New York without breaking the law. Some might call this a New York sports betting loophole, but it’s not; there are no semantic or logical gymnastics required to establish the precedent involved for folks who want to legally bet on sports in NY. If you live in the Empire State and want to bet on your favorite teams without risking your livelihood or freedom, all you need to do is sign up at a legal online sportsbook and enjoy all your NY sports betting over the Internet.
Is Gambling Illegal
- BetOnline
- SportsBetting.ag
Why Is Online Gambling Illegal
- 5Dimes.eu
Is Gambling Illegal In New York City
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 
| X | ✔ | ✔ | 
| X | X | X | 
| X | X | X | 
| ✔ | X | ✔ | 
| ✔ | X | ✔ | 
| ✔ | X | ✔ | 
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 
| ✔ | ✔ | X | 
| ✔ | X | X | 
| X | X | X | 
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 
| X | X | X | 
Since they’re based on the Internet and operate out of countries outside of US legal jurisdiction, legal New York sportsbooks are only a click away (and quite a lot more convenient than dealing with a law-breaking local bookie). This setup works so well because all the major federal anti-gambling laws (the Wire Act, PASPA, UIGEA) are designed to address and go after those who accept bets, not those who place them. As such, these laws simply make bookies and physical sportsbooks illegal in New York, but they do not outlaw the actual act of gambling on sports.
If you want to bet on sports in NY, you have literally hundreds of online sportsbooks for legal New York betting to choose from. However, the vast majority of these are sketchy at best, and it’s a far better strategy to go with a company that’s been there from the beginning. The New York sports betting services offered by brands like BetOnline, SportsBetting, and 5Dimes are your best bets, as these players have been around since Internet-based sports betting shops first arrived on the scene. Each offers top-tier customer service, new member bonuses, and action on just about every game you can imagine. Not even Las Vegas sportsbooks can match what these online services offer, as every single NY sports team is represented. Even better, dedicated mobile betting portals mean that you can wager on the home team no matter where you are. If you’re interested in legal New York sports betting, you should definitely sign up at one – or all three! – of these online New York sportsbooks.
- #1
- #2
- #3
