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 online sweepstakes New York 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.