Living in New York means you have plenty of access to bookies, though these have historically been extensions of criminal enterprises and are surely not legal sportsbooks for New York residents. Since not paying your debts can result in broken legs or worse, we do not recommend you gamble with these criminals and thugs. That said, sports betting has been nominally legal in NY for many years, and in 2019, the first actual brick-and-mortar sports betting lounges opened in upstate NY’s four new commercial casinos. Since domestic online wagering is not legal in New York and will likely require a public referendum, you will not be able to conveniently place bets with these upstate venues using your iPhone, Android, desktop, or laptop computers.

In order to wager at licensed NY betting operators, you will have to physically make your way to these books. These are located in Monticello at Resorts World Catskills, in Nichols at Tioga Downs Casino, in Schenectady at Rivers Casino & Resort, and in Waterloo at del Lago Resort and Casino. Of course, there is a compelling and long-running alternative if you wish to wager from home (or anywhere else in the state): legal offshore sports betting sites. Indeed, there are plenty of legal online sports betting websites available for NY residents, and these will allow you to bet safely. When it comes down to it, you will be able to play the odds without fear of arrest, as players have not been banned from joining in on the fun through these legal online sports betting websites.

New York doesn’t have regulated online gambling, but New Yorkers can join offshore gaming sites without legal repercussions. Joseph Addabbo introduced an online poker bill in 2019, but the bill failed to pass through the legislature. Canada's legal age is 18. The legal gambling age in New York is 18. But the casino on the US side the casino limits access to the gambling floor to those over the age of 21. Legal gambling ages across the US vary, with states setting the minimum age at either 18 or 21. This can however change depending on the type of gambling, as well as if you're playing in a Native. What Is The Minimum Legal Gambling Age In New York? New York’s minimum gambling age varies based on the gambling option chosen. 18-year-olds can participate in pari-mutuel wagering, the lottery, charitable gambling, and play at racinos, and some casinos.

Legal gambling age in new york

New York levies a 10 percent gambling tax on sports betting, the same as for other gambling games. This tax is paid by the operator, not by the customer. If you do win, your gains are normally taxable. If you are in doubt, talk to a financial expert. Daily Fantasy Sports In New York. Daily fantasy sports are legal and regulated in New York.

Residents of New York enjoy many different ways of gaining access to various types of gambling, between existing tribal gaming venues, online casino gaming sites, and online sportsbooks that allow bets from New York players. Residents of this state can safely place all the online bets they want at legal online casinos and offshore online sportsbooks that accept New York residents. It is naturally more convenient to play your favorite gambling games and to place sports bets at online casinos and sportsbooks because this doesn’t require leaving your house or even putting on pants, which is always a plus. That’s why New York gamblers enjoy using legal sports betting sites.

As far as the specific legalities of offshore sports betting for NY residents, you can check out section 225.00 et seq. of the New York Penal Code for more information. Note that the NY gambling laws include zero mention of the words “Internet,” “online,” or “sports.”

Will I Go to Jail for Online Sports Betting in New York?

In the Empire State, no laws exist in the state penal code that would make online gambling explicitly illegal. That is why not one single arrest has ever taken place in New York for any crimes related to online sports gambling or casino play. New York residents shouldn’t fear federal prosecution either, since the Department of Justice officially altered their reading of the 1961 Federal Wire Act to make it clear that the law only applies to providers of illegal sports betting action (i.e. bookies), and not to online gamblers themselves.

Another important law that New York bettors should know is the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). This law was passed in 1992, and it banned most US states from offering sports betting of any kind. However, online wagers made on sports were not characterized under this law, and PASPA was already a bit obsolete by the time the Supreme Court overturned the law as unconstitutional in 2018. Sports bettors are safe to place their wagers online in New York, and NY is slated to have in-state sports betting in the near future, as well.

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The state of New York has not addressed the use of the Internet for gambling, so there simply aren’t any sports betting laws in New York that address Internet sports gambling. Of course, there is finally a limited selection of licensed and regulated local bookies in New York that you are able to wager with. With PASPA gone, the state is also currently considering half a dozen or more bills that would set the governmental terms for a legalized Internet and/or statewide sports betting industry, though it could take several years for sports wagering to extend past the four casino venues where it is currently available.

But even once that happens, you will almost certainly get better odds and lines using an offshore sportsbook, as local New York books will have to weigh many of their contests due to the “home team” bettors they’ll have to balance their books against. Internationally-based offshore sportsbooks do not have this same problem with homers weighing certain lines on certain games, as they accept players from all over the United States.

How Federal Laws Impact New York Sports Betting

There are two different federal laws that impact legal New York sports betting: the Interstate Wire Act (1961) and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA, 2006). PASPA was the most suffocating and restrictive of the American sports betting laws from a state perspective, but even though it’s no longer in play, the remaining two federal laws are still important to understand.

The Wire Act’s purpose was to prevent bookmakers from accepting interstate wagers placed using telegraphic or telephonic means. This extends to the Internet, but it does not apply to offshore sportsbooks, as these books operate outside of US jurisdiction. The Wire Act also does not criminalize those who place wagers, instead going after only those who place them. Offshore sports betting renders the Wire Act moot.

Similarly, the UIGEA doesn’t go after New York sports bettors themselves. However, the law actually does affect New York players because it puts banking restrictions on all gambling sites. The UIGEA doesn’t allow banks to knowingly accept gambling transactions, but the top sites have figured their ways around this as well. Neither of the remaining federal antigambling laws have anything to do with individual players, but it is important to understand these laws for your own peace of mind.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Bet Online In New York?

The legal gambling age for players living in or visiting New York is 21 years old. This means that despite a betting site only requiring NY residents to be at least 18 to sign up, players in New York should still wait until they are 21 before joining. While nobody has ever been arrested or fined for wagering underage at offshore sportsbooks, it’s always a good idea to “comply” with your state’s laws. It shows good faith on your part, and it is simply an added measure of security when wagering on sports online.

Mobile sports betting has become incredibly popular among New York sports betting fans. All of the top online sportsbooks are offshore sites that are legally regulated and licensed outside of the United States, making them totally safe to use for New York residents. All of these top sites offer mobile sports betting in New York so players can enjoy gambling on sports from their smartphone or tablet devices whenever they want. While none of these sites actually has an official iPhone or Android app available in the App Store or in Google Play, the mobile versions of their sites are optimized for the small screen and offer fluid, gesture-based interaction for quick searching and wagering.

Both tribal casinos and four upstate casinos can offer sports betting in New York. However, there is no concrete timetable on when that will be expanded to include online or mobile betting. It seems like a good bet that NY legislators will want to eventually expand sports wagering, but the timeline is still unknown.

As such, it will be some time before NY actually gets its state-sanctioned, online sports betting system up and running, and in the meantime, you should continue using legal offshore New York betting sites. In fact, even when you legally wager locally in the Big Apple, you should still maintain your offshore sports betting memberships, as this allows you to shop lines and maximize your potential payouts.

Is Bovada Legal For New York Residents?

Fortunately, Bovada resumed accepting all wagers from existing New York account holders and also opened registration to all those living in the Empire State. New Jersey residents remain excluded from using Bovada, as do residents of Maryland, Delaware, and Nevada.

Are There Any Brick and Mortar Sportsbooks in New York?

Yes! There are two brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in New York currently open for business. These include:

  • Tioga Downs Casino (Nichols)
  • Rivers Casino & Resort (Schenectady)

How Can I Tell if an Online Sports Betting Site Accepts Wagers from New York citizens?

Most sportsbook websites that accepts American bettors will take wagers from people living in New York. If you are not geographically eligible to join a sportsbook, the book in question will advertise this fact clearly and will not let you complete the sign-up process.

Betting On Professional and Collegiate New York Sports Teams

New York is one of the biggest sports markets in the entire country, and is home to some of the most storied professional sports teams of all time. The New York Yankees have nearly 30 championships in the MLB, while the Mets have added a couple more. The NFL has three different teams that call New York home, with the Giants being most successful. Of course, the local fandom for the Jets and the Bills is through the roof as well, even though they’ve had less postseason success historically. The NHL’s Islanders and Rangers have combined for several Stanley Cup trophies, while the Knicks of the NBA have a few championships under their belt, as well. And of course, there is a hefty NCAA presence in the Empire State, with over a dozen DI teams showing up on the betting boards each gameday.

  • NFL: Giants, Jets & Bills
  • MLB: Yankees & Mets
  • NBA: Knicks & Nets
  • NHL: Islanders, Rangers & Sabers
  • MLS: New York City FC & Red Bulls
  • NCAA: Syracuse Orange, Army Black Knights, Columbia Lions & Cornell Big Red
  • Racing (1959), Lottery (1966), Off-track betting (1970), Tribal Casinos (1993), Racinos (2001), Commercial Casinos (2013)
  • $4.2 billion
  • $10.8 billion
  • 18 for lottery and racing, 18-21 for casinos. No minimum age for charity gaming.
  • New York bans smoking in all indoor businesses. It does not apply to tribal casinos.
  • Horse racing is the only form of legalized online gambling in New York

New York Casino Locations: New York City, Hogansburg, Batavia, Yonkers, Hamburg, Farmington, Union Springs, Akwesasne, Monticello, Ozone Park, Saratoga Springs, Salamanca, Buffalo, Irving, Cuba, Niagara Falls, Nichols, Verona, Vernon and Chittenango. With 14 New York casinos, and more on the way, there are plenty of gambling options for residents and visitors.

New York gambling is one of the most profitable industries in the country. It’s lottery sales are in the $9 billion range each year. Resorts World is the most profitable slots-only New York casino in the country.

New York voters approved a massive gambling expansion in November 2013. This will add seven more New York casinos in resort corridors within the state. The licensing process began in 2015. There are already nine New York racinos and five Native American casinos.

New York also permits horse racing and charity gaming. There are four tracks that hold regular races. Several others continue with off-track betting to maintain racino status.

Paying Gambling Taxes in New York

Did you know that your gambling income is taxable? OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos has gathered everything you need to know about paying your gambling taxes straight from a Certified Public Accountant. For more information please visit our exclusive Gambling Taxes article.

New York Casinos Map & Guide

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Types of New York Online Gambling Allowed

The only form of legal online gambling New York is off-track betting on horses. TVG, TwinSpires, BetAmerica, and XpressBet all accept these types of bets. There are some restrictions on races held within New York. Those are off the board to encourage attendance at the tracks.

Daily fantasy sports are illegal in New York, according to State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. He declared the contests illegal in November 2015. DraftKings and FanDuel were ordered out of the state. These two sites decided to challenge the opinion. The courts issued a stay that permitted the companies to remain in the state. It seems that a decision has been made and DFS sites can legally operate in New York.

Online casinos, poker, and sports betting sites that accept New York players are not licensed. These websites are widely believed to be illegal in the state.

Types of Live New York Gambling

What Is The Legal Gambling Age In New York
  • Slots: Yes
  • Blackjack: Yes
  • Poker: Yes
  • Craps/Roulette: Yes
  • Horses: Yes
  • Lottery: Yes

The New York Lottery is among the most profitable in the country. It sells instant games through scratch-offs and lotto drawings. There are statewide lotto games that include Take5, Win 4, and Pick 10. The New York Lottery also sells lotto tickets for interstate drawings. These include Mega Millions and Powerball. There are more than 18,000 lottery retailers in the state.

Legal Gambling Age In Ny

There are four New York racetracks that offer live racing; Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, Yonkers Raceway, and Aqueduct Racetrack. Off-track betting and slots, video poker and electronic table games are also available at these venues. There are five other mostly-shuttered tracks that also offer New York racinos.

There are five Native American casinos in Upstate New York that offer casinos. These establishments are permitted to offer more casino games than the tracks. In addition to slots, video poker and electronic table games, these venues may offer live poker, craps, roulette, blackjack and other table games that use cards and are banked by the house. There are plenty of other New York casinos spread throughout the state that players can visit.

The only other form of gambling legal in New York is through charities. Raffles, bingo, and pull-tab games are permitted.

New York Gambling Laws

The New York Constitution only permits forms of gambling that are specifically legalized by voters. Other than that, New York gambling laws state that games of chance are illegal. Most gambling crimes are a misdemeanor in the state. Promoting gambling is a ClassE felony. The state attorney general of the U.S. Attorney’s Office may initiate charges against individuals or companies that commit crimes related to gambling.

New York gambling laws forbid sports pools and games determined by a material degree of chance. This is the language that daily fantasy sports sites are fighting. These companies claim that the outcome of daily fantasy sports contests is mostly skill and not any material degree related to chance.

What Is The Legal Gambling Age In New York State

The New York Constitution permits state lotteries, live horse racing, off-track betting, Native American casinos, and racinos. In 2013, voters approved the addition of seven resort New York casinos.

List of New York Casinos

There are four New York racetracks that offer live racing and race books, and six other racetracks that offer full casino services. There are other Native American New York casinos that are spread throughout the state, with plenty of casinos in Upstate New York.

Find the casino nearest to you by looking at our general guide below, or use our New York casinos map for more detailed directions.

CasinoSizeAddressWebsite
Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort – Hogansburg1,800 Slot Machines873 NY-37mohawkcasino.com
Batavia Downs – Batavia785 Slot Machines8315 Park Rd.www.bataviadownsgaming.com
Del Lago Casino – Waterloo1,950 Slot Machines1133 State Route 414dellagoresort.com
Empire City Casino – Yonkers5,300 Slot Machines810 Yonkers Ave.www.empirecitycasino.com
Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack – Farmington1,500 Slot Machines5857 NY-96www.fingerlakesgaming.com
Hamburg Gaming – Hamburg900 Slot Machines5820 South Park Ave.www.the-fairgrounds.com
Lakeside Entertainment – Union Springs80 Slot Machines271 Cayuga St.www.lakesidegaming.com
Monticello Casino & Raceway – Monticello1,000 Slot Machines204 NY-17Bwww.monticellocasinoandraceway.com
Resorts World Casino – Jamaica3,000 Slot Machines110-00 Rockaway Blvd.www.rwnewyork.com
Resorts World Catskills – Monticello2,150 Slot Machines888 Resorts World Dr.rwcatskills.com
Rivers Casino & Resort – Schenectady1,150 Slot Machines1 Rush Streetriverscasinoandresort.com
Saratoga Gaming and Raceway – Saratoga Springs1,700 Slot Machines342 Jefferson St.www.saratogacasino.com
Seneca Allegany Casino – Salamanca1,800 Slot Machines777 Seneca Allegany Blvd.www.senecaalleganycasino.com
Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino – Buffalo800 Slot Machines1 Fulton St.www.senecabuffalocreekcasino.com
Seneca Gaming – Irving650 Slot Machines11099 Erie Rd.www.senecagames.com
Seneca Gaming – Oil Spring110 Slot Machines5374 W Shore Rd.www.senecagames.com
Seneca Gaming – Salamanca250 Slot Machines768 Broad St.www.senecagames.com
Seneca Niagara Casino – Niagara Falls3,600 Slot Machines310 4th St.www.senecaniagaracasino.com
Tioga Downs – Nichols800 Slot Machines2384 W. River Rd.www.tiogadowns.com
Turning Stone Resort Casino – Verona2,000 Slot Machines5218 Patrick Rd.www.turningstone.com
Vernon Downs – Vernon800 Slot Machines4229 Stuhlman Rd.www.vernondowns.com
Yellow Brick Road Casino – Chittenango400 Slot Machines800 W. Genesee St.www.yellowbrickroadcasino.com

History of New York Gambling

Gambling in New York was first recorded in 1655. That is when a horse track at Newmarket located in the Hempstead Plains opened. That area is known as Queens today. Horseracing did not remain legal from that time, however, Belmont Park, one of the most well-known tracks in the world, opened in 1905 and has operated ever since.

Betting at Belmont Park did not become fully legal until 1959. It was the first form of legalized gambling in the modern era in New York.

A state lottery was created by voters in November 1966. It passed by more than a 60 percent margin. The first tickets were sold the following year. It has since raised more than $35 billion for the state’s public schools.

New York became the first state outside Nevada to permit off-track betting on horses. This type of wagering would become a staple in New York City. That local government opened more than 100 betting shops that accepted wagers on races across the country. These were a part of life in the largest city in America. TV shows like Seinfeld and Law and Order regularly featured these establishments. Regional casinos, including one at Aqueduct, cannibalized the revenues once enjoyed by New York’s OTBs.

The expansion of gambling machines to tracks like Aqueduct put an end to these businesses. The last New York OTB betting shop closed in 2010. There have been some private attempts to reopen the most profitable storefronts in recent years.

Online Gambling

New York was home to the most infamous online gambling bust in the world. Preet Bharara of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York filed indictments against the three largest U.S.-facing online poker rooms on April 15, 2011. This action shut down Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker. It ran PokerStars, the largest poker site in the world, out of the U.S. market. This generated $547 million in fines for the U.S. Government. The action was called Black Friday.

In November 2013, New York voters approved the addition of seven commercial casinos in the state. These licensees will be able to spread the same games as Upstate New York casinos.

Daily Fantasy Sports Dispute

In November 2015, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman determined that daily fantasy sports violated state law. FanDuel and DraftKings dispute this opinion. Both filed suit against the state for declaratory judgment. The case is working its way through the court system. In the meantime, the companies received a stay that allows them to remain in the New York market. Payment processors have run for the door while the legal battle continues.

What Is The Legal Gambling Age In New York

New York Casinos & Gambling FAQ

New York has legalized live horse racing, off-track betting, a state lottery, tribal casinos, racinos and commercial casinos.

The minimum New York gambling age is 18 years to play the lottery or bet on horses. The minimum gambling age in New York for casinos is 18 years; unless alcohol is served, then it is 21 years. Charity gaming has no minimum age.

The only form of legal online betting in New York is off-track betting on horses.

TVG, TwinSpires, BetAmerica and XpressBet are all licensed to accept wagers in New York.

What Is The Legal Gambling Age In New York State

Racetracks with gaming licenses may spread slots, video poker and electronic table games.

What Is The Legal Gambling Age In New York

The state’s tribal casinos and future commercial ones may spread slots, video poker, electronic table games, live poker, craps, roulette, blackjack, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Pai Gow, baccarat and any other table game approved by regulators.

What Is Legal Gambling Age In New York

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara of the Southern District of New York filed indictments against PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker on April 15, 2011. The charges were connected to illegal payment processing. The action put Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker out of business. Full Tilt was bailed by PokerStars through a $731 million settlement. Absolute Poker players and those that deposited through UltimateBet were stiffed.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman published an opinion that daily fantasy sports sites are illegal in November 2015. FanDuel and DraftKings refute this assertion. The case is working its way through the court system. In the meantime, daily fantasy sports sites remain in the market.

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