You must be 21 years old to gamble at commercial casinos. However, you only need to be 18 years old to play the state lottery, gamble at tribal casinos, and participate in horse betting.
Best Online Gambling Sites in New York
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To date, there is no online casino NY has deemed legal. The only way to win real prizes with online casinos is through social casinos. In the meantime, there are dozens of ways you can play your favorite slots, table games, and more both online and in person. In addition, New Yorkers have access to other types of betting, including online Fantasy Sports and online horse betting.
New York Online Gambling Laws
While New York is known for being a premier destination for entertainment, from concerts to restaurants and venues, the same can’t be said of its casino scene. New York casino online laws are incredibly stringent, making it impossible for residents to gamble online for real cash.The laws state that something as simple as owning a device to gamble, such as an illegal slot machine or a computer used to access illegal online gambling sites, is considered a class A misdemeanor. These laws continue to get worse as your offense grows. For instance, if you’re responsible for operating online betting sites illegally, you could be guilty of S 225.10, promoting gambling in the first degree. This is a class E felony, meaning you could be facing significant jail time and fines.
Fortunately, these laws mostly apply to people who are betting with illegal NY online casinos. If you simply want to have fun without worrying about these laws, consider playing with social casinos. These sites are legal and many offer a generous welcome bonus for new players.
How Does New York Regulate Gambling?
New York currently has one dedicated government body to help regulate betting and gaming. This is known as the New York State Gaming Commission, which is responsible for overseeing lottery, gaming, horse racing, and charitable gaming.
While the Commission has the power to help enforce state laws, such as making sure that casino table games aren’t rigged or slot machines are operating fairly, there is little they can do to enforce online casino sites in the state. Since these sites are currently illegal, players have virtually no security when using these sites since they are unregulated.
Playing it safe
New York’s future laws may make online casinos fully legal in the state, but for now, it’s important to understand that the Commission cannot help you get money back if you lose it on shady offshore casino sites.
In addition, the Commission is also responsible for enforcing other rules, such as charitable gaming in the state for non-profit organizations. If you have an anonymous tip on illegally operating casinos or betting, you can also reach out to the Commission.
Online Casino Gambling in New York
The best online casinos for those who want to have fun are social casinos. These platforms are fully legal because they don’t require people to wager real money to play their favorite online slots, table games, or casino games. Instead, these casinos offer free games, from blackjack games to popular slot machines.
These social casino sites offer players gold coins or other types of virtual currency as a bonus. You can use these gold coins to extend gameplay and enter competitions. Social casinos also offer the best online casino bonuses, like 100,000 to 500,000 gold coins, just for signing up! If you want to use more coins to extend your gameplay or for a chance to win prizes, you can also purchase more coins from some websites.
 Online Poker
There are no online poker rooms in the state that allow you to wager real money. However, there are social poker sites that operate similarly to social casinos. The only difference is that, instead of offering other popular table games, these sites specialize in poker games and tournaments. They also offer bonus promotions for players.
 Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily Fantasy Sports is one of the only forms of legal betting available in New York. DFS sites allow players to create Fantasy Sports teams and bet on the odds of their favorite athletes’ performance. According to the state of NY, this type of betting takes skill and isn’t solely based on chance, making it legal.
While regular DFS bets are legal, it’s important to note that, as of late 2023, DFS pick’em games are illegal in New York. Sites like Underdog and PrizePicks have continued to lobby for pick’em-style games to be legal in New York. However, as of now, the state has banned these types of games, as they are too similar to sports betting.
Several major DFS sites continue to operate legally in NY, including DraftKings and FanDuel, since they have operated since before 2015 and don’t offer pick’em games. However, smaller DFS sites like Underdog are not authorized to offer these types of DFS games but still do despite cease and desist letters from the state. If you’re betting online with DFS sites, it’s best to stick to well-known and regulated sites like DraftKings.
 Sports Betting
Unfortunately, sports betting is currently also illegal in the state. Unlike creating a Fantasy sports team, it takes little skill to bet on the outcome of a game and is partly based on chance. Your best bet will be to wait until new laws are created to legalize sports betting online once and for all.
 Online Horse Betting
Horse betting is legal in New York, both online and through off-track betting sites. It’s important to note that, while online horse betting is legal so long as you’re within the state’s boundaries, this only applies to pari-mutuel betting. Fixed odds bets are yet to become legalized. FanDuel is one of the biggest platforms that allows you to bet on your favorite races from the comfort of your home and is only one of several accessible in the state.
 Lottery
There is also a statewide lottery in effect that is overseen by the Gaming Commission. Players can purchase tickets through several retail stores, including scratch-offs, draw games, and more. While there is a site that provides helpful information on the lottery, how to play, and how to contact someone for your winnings, there are currently no online games available.
New York Land Based Casinos
From Rivers Casino to the Diamond Casino and Resort, there are tons of options for casino players looking to bet big and win big in New York! NY casinos contain a mix of commercial and tribal casinos. Here’s a list of land-based casinos in the state, where you can enjoy your favorite games from blackjack to roulette in person.
States with legal online gambling
FAQ
What is the gambling age in New York?
Who regulates gambling in New York?
The NY State Gaming Commission oversees several types of gambling, including horse betting, the state lottery, and in-person casinos.
Are online casinos legal in New York?
No, online casinos that accept and offer cash for online casino winnings are not legal. There are social casinos available; they allow you to play for free and don’t require wagers or betting minimums to enjoy casino games.
Are gambling winnings taxable in New York?
Yes, all wins have a federal tax rate of 24% applied to them. State tax rates vary from 4% to 10.9%. These rates will vary depending on your income. Any losses can also be reported to help offset your winnings.
I’m a seasoned gambler with a decade of experience in games like blackjack and roulette, and a particular fondness for slot machines. Now, as a writer for iGaming IQ Inc and Lucky Gambler, I use my expertise to educate others on smart, responsible betting, winning strategies, and choosing the best online casinos.
