1. New York State Legalized Gambling
2. New York State Legalized Gambling July 2020
3. New York State Legalized Sports Betting

After New Jersey's Supreme Court victory in May 2018, any state that wishes can legalize sports betting.

At the same time various state lawmakers are considering sports betting legislation, Congress is too. Senators Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and now-retired Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, co-introduced comprehensive sports betting legislation at the end of 2018. On Sept. 27, 2018 the House Judiciary Committee held a formal hearing on the topic.

The dual track of proposals -- state and federal -- have increased in frequency since the start of 2017.

DraftKings, Penn National Rise as Legal Sports Betting Gets Closer in New York, Michigan An analyst believes New York will be the first major state to legalize. Andrew Cuomo makes his case this week for amending the New York State Constitution to legalize casino gambling, we should also listen to his father, former Gov. Since the state legalized sports betting in July 2019, New York has generated a total revenue of $9,646,708. In the same time span, New Jersey garnered $273,436,129 in total revenue. If New York were to launch mobile betting, its proximity to New Jersey would allow operators to join the market quickly.

To measure the change in the landscape, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia in terms of how likely it is for each jurisdiction to offer full-scale legal sports betting. A brief synopsis for the active states is included, with updates to follow.

Land-based casino gambling is legal under New York gambling laws so long as they are licensed by the state. The minimum age to gamble in a New York casino depends on the venue, tribal-run casinos operated by the Seneca tribe only accept players who are 21 and older, commercial casinos which serve alcohol also abide by this minimum age requirement.

Last updated on November 3, 2020.

Already there

1. Nevada

No longer the only state to permit a wide variety of legal sports betting, Nevada is a mature market that has existed for decades. Given its long history in successfully offering regulated sports wagering, many states might look to Nevada for best practices.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 223
Population: 3,034,392 (2,246,259 21+)

2. Delaware

On June 5, 2018, Delaware moved to offer single-game betting on a number of different sports at three casinos in the state. Expanded sports wagering options could take place at additional locations or online. Delaware's authorization of what Gov. John Carney described as 'a full-scale sports gaming operation' happened less than a month after the Supreme Court ruled that the federal law restricting single-game betting to Nevada was unconstitutional.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 3
Population: 967,171 (726,161 21+)

3. New Jersey

On June 11, 2018, Gov. Phil Murphy signed the sports betting bill that had passed the previous week. A William Hill sportsbook at Monmouth Park took the first bets on Thursday, June 14 at 10:30 a.m. ET. Gov. Murphy was the first customer in line. The Borgata in Atlantic City booked sports bets 30 minutes later. Other sportsbooks in New Jersey opened soon thereafter. For example, FanDuel's first sportsbook at the Meadowlands opened its doors on July 14.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams and collegiate events held within the state
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 9
Population: 8,908,520 (6,634,683 21+)

4. Mississippi

Two casinos owned by MGM Resorts booked their first sports bets in Mississippi on Aug. 1, 2018. Mississippi enacted a new law in 2017 that allowed for sports betting pending a favorable decision by the Supreme Court. In June 2018, the Mississippi Gaming Commission adopted implementing regulations that require all betting to take place in person, with mobile wagering to be considered later.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 29
Population: 2,986,530 (2,153,795 21+)

5. West Virginia

On Aug. 30, 2018, West Virginia became the fifth state to offer legal and regulated sports betting when the Hollywood Casino -- a sportsbook owned by Penn National -- opened its doors. The move came six months after the West Virginia legislature passed a new bill with the West Virginia Lottery Commission serving as the chief regulator.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 5
Population: 1,805,832 (1,375,788 21+)

6. New Mexico

On Oct. 16, 2018, the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel booked its first sports bet in partnership with Nevada-based USBookmaking. Although New Mexico has not passed any new sports betting legislation since the Supreme Court's decision, the move by the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel was made via a gaming compact with the state. According to Nedra Darling, spokeswoman at the Department of the Interior's Office of Indian Affairs -- the federal agency in Washington, DC that oversees tribal gaming compacts -- the New Mexico compacts permit 'any or all forms of Class III Gaming,' a category in the federal regulations that specifically includes '[a]ny sports betting and pari-mutuel wagering.'

Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 32
Population: 2,095,428 (1,529,540 21+)

7. Pennsylvania

The Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course booked the first legal sports bets in Pennsylvania in mid-November 2018. The move came just over a year after Gov. Tom Wolf signed a new sports betting bill as part of a broad legislation push that included online poker and DFS. The October 2017 bill became effective after the Supreme Court's May 2018 ruling upending the federal ban on single-game betting outside of Nevada.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 12
Population: 12,807,060 (9,645,705 21+)

8. Rhode Island

The Twin River Casino in Lincoln opened its doors for legal sports betting on Nov. 26, 2018. The move came five months after Gov. Gina Raimondo signed the state budget, which included language allowing sports betting. Only two locations would be allowed to offer sports betting under the law, with the state's lottery providing regulatory oversight. In early 2019, the law was tweaked to provide for mobile betting.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 2
Population: 1,057,315 (800,838 21+)

9. Arkansas

On July 1, 2019, the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort booked the first legal sports bets in Arkansas. Two other retail locations opened sportsbooks in the subsequent months. Sports betting is regulated by the Arkansas Racing Commission.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 3
Population: 3,013,825 (2,191,256 21+)

10. New York

On July 16, 2019, the first legal sports bets were placed in New York. J. Gary Pretlow -- a New York lawmaker and chair of the state's racing and wagering committee -- was among the first to place a wager at the Rivers Casino in Schenectady. The opening of a legal sportsbook came six years after New York passed a law to allow sports betting at four on-site locations, all in upstate New York. After lying dormant for years, the law was revived after the Supreme Court ruling in 2018 and the issuance of regulations earlier this year. The current law does not allow for mobile wagering.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: No betting on games involving in-state college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 28
Population: 19,542,209 (14,724,807 21+)

11. Iowa

Legal sports betting arrived in Iowa on Aug. 15, with multiple operators all opening their doors to customers on the first day. The move came three months after Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into a law a comprehensive bill to legalize sports betting in the Hawkeye State. Operators must pay a $45,000 licensing fee and there is a 6.75 percent tax on revenue. The new law permits mobile wagering. Betting on college sports is permitted, but certain kinds of in-game prop bets involving college games are banned. The new law bestows the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission with authority to regulate sports betting.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No prop betting on in-state college athletics
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 23
Population: 3,156,145 (2,286,374 21+)

12. Oregon

Legal sports betting returned to Oregon on Aug. 27 after a long hiatus, with the first bets booked on-site at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City. Oregon is one of a small number of states that already had a law on the books permitting some forms of sports betting, so the resumption of wagering did not require the legislature to pass any new law or have the governor amend an existing tribal-state compact. In mid-October, mobile sports betting arrived in Oregon too, with the state-run lottery overseeing the launch of a new website and app.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort, but sportsbook operated by the Oregon Lottery does not permit betting on games involving in-state colleges
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 10
Population: 4,190,713 (3,167,912 21+)

13. Indiana

Legal sports betting opened up at a number of locations in Indiana on Sept. 1. The Indiana Gaming Commission oversees all sports betting regulations and has issued licenses to operators across the state. Wagering on both college and pro sports is permitted, but betting on esports and high school sports is banned. Indiana's new law allows for both mobile and in-person wagering. Regulations permit sports leagues or colleges to request 'to utilize a geofence to prohibit wagers at the location of a particular sporting event.'

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No prop betting on in-state college athletics
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 14
Population: 6,691,878 (4,842,337 21+)

14. New Hampshire

Governor Chris Sununo placed the ceremonial first legal sports wager -- on the New England Patriots -- in New Hampshire on Dec. 30, 2019. The state's lottery is in charge of regulatory of regulatory oversight. Both retail and mobile sports betting will be permitted on a wide variety of sports, although no betting on New Hampshire's in-state colleges is allowed.

Type of wagering permitted: Mobile
Notable prohibitions: No betting on in-state colleges
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 0
Population: 1,356,458 (1,042,882 21+)

15. Illinois

Legal sports betting arrived in Illinois on March 9, 2020. The move came less than a year after the Illinois legislature passed a broad gaming bill that allowed for both online and in-person sports betting. With Governor J.B. Pritzker's signature, the new law also provided for betting on-location at venues such as Wrigley Field. Operators and certain data providers are required to obtain a license under the new law.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: No wagering on minor leagues or Illinois college teams
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 10
Population: 12,741,080 (9,391,158 21+)

16. Michigan

Legal sports betting in Michigan commenced on March 11, 2020, with two Detroit-area casinos launching on the same day. The move came less than three months after Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the 'Lawful Sports Betting Act' into law. The new law provides for wagering on a wide variety of sports, including college contests.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 27
Population: 9.995,915 (7,428,72721+)

17. Montana

Legal sports betting arrived in Montana in March 2020. The move came after Governor Steve Bullock formally signed into law a 28-page bill that brought sports wagering to Big Sky country via the state's lottery. Governor Bullock cited the Montana Lottery's 'proven track record of responsibility and integrity' when signing the bill.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 13
Population: 1,062,305 (793,151 21+)

18. Colorado

May 1, 2020 marked the launch of legal sports betting in Colorado, with multiple operators allowing residents to open accounts online and place wagers. The move came less than six months after Colorado voters -- by a narrow margin -- approved a ballot measure that would provide 'for the regulation of sports betting through licensed casinos.' Both mobile and retail sports betting are permitted. Tax revenue from sports betting will help fund various state water projects.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions: None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019): 35
Population: 5,695,564 (4,210,663.00 21+)

19. Washington, D.C.

In June 2020, the D.C. Lottery launched its 'GameBetDC' platform allowing consumers 'to wager while in the District on major sports worldwide' via computer or mobile device. Sports betting in nation's capital followed the passage of the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 and a Congressional review period during which time Congress did not formally object. The Office of Lottery and Gaming provides regulatory oversight of all sports wagering in D.C.

Type of wagering permitted: In-person and mobile
Notable prohibitions:No betting on games involving colleges located in D.C.
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019):None
Population: 705,749

20. Tennessee

Regulated sports wagering -- all online -- launched on November 1, 2020 in Tennessee with four licensed operators offering a wide variety of options. The 'Tennessee Sports Gaming Act' permits statewide mobile sports betting without any brick-and-mortar anchor. As such, there are no in-person retail sports betting locations in the state. Subject to an exception, Tennessee's new law requires all licensed operators to 'exclusively use official league data for purposes of live betting.'

Type of wagering permitted: Mobile only
Notable prohibitions:None
Number of casinos (as of Dec. 31, 2019):None
Population: 6,829,174

On-deck circle

21. North Carolina

On July 26, 2019, Governor Roy Cooper signed into a law a bill to 'allow sports and horse race wagering on tribal lands,' with such betting designated as a 'Class III' gaming activity under the state compact. The new law permits betting on both college and professional sports, but all bettors must place their wagers in-person at one of two retail locations.

22. Washington

Governor Jay Inslee signed Washington's sports betting bill into law on March 25, 2020. The new law permits sports wagering at Class III tribal casinos in the state. Mobile sports wagering is not allowed statewide, but is permitted when on-site at a licensed tribal casino. Betting on an 'esports competition or event' is allowed, but the new law bans wagering on games involving in-state colleges or minor league professional events. The new bill delegates regulatory oversight to the Washington State Gambling Commission.

23. Virginia

After some back-and-forth between Governor Ralph Northam and the legislature, legalized sports wagering was approved in the Commonwealth of Virginia in April 2020. Online betting is allowed, but wagering is not permitted on Virginia-based college sports or certain youth sports.

24. Maryland

In November 2020, Maryland voters approved 'sports and events betting for the primary purpose of raising revenue for education' by about a 2-1 margin. A regulatory framework must be created by Maryland lawmakers before any sports wagering takes place. The Maryland referendum would potentially allow for both in-person and mobile sports betting throughout the state.

25. South Dakota

On November 3, 2020, voters in South Dakota approved a ballot measure permitting 'sports wagering in Deadwood.' Other tribal locations in South Dakota could see the arrival of regulated sports betting too. State lawmakers must now establish a regulatory apparatus and tax rate for legalized sports wagering.

26. Louisiana

In November 2020, voters in the vast majority of Louisiana's 64 parishes approved a ballot measure permitting 'sports wagering activities and operations.' As a result, regulated sports wagering could come to New Orleans and certain other cities as early as 2021. Lawmakers will be tasked with setting up a regulatory scheme during an upcoming state legislative session.

Moving toward legalization

All of these states have seen some degree of legislative activity towards the legalization of sports betting the past few years.

27. Oklahoma

In April 2020, two federally-recognized tribes reached agreement with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on new gaming compacts that include sports betting. On June 8, 2020, Governor Stitt announced that the Department of the Interior had approved the compacts, paving the way for sports betting to start in Oklahoma as soon as the 'compacts are published in the Federal Register.' A bipartisan group of state lawmakers, along with Oklahoma's attorney general, have expressed opposition to the expansion of sports betting in Oklahoma and the prospect of legalized sports wagering remains uncertain.

28. Maine

On the last day of the state's 2019 legislative session -- June 19 -- Maine lawmakers passed 'An Act to Ensure Proper Oversight of Sports Betting in the State.' Shortly thereafter, the governor vetoed the bill. The legislature could re-introduce the bill later.

29. Nebraska

On November 3, 2020, Nebraska voters approved certain amendments to its state constitution legalizing 'all games of chance.' If the new constitutional amendments are construed to include wagering on sporting events, legalized sports betting could arrive in Nebraska upon the establishment of certain regulations.

30. Connecticut

31. Kentucky

32. Massachusetts

33. Minnesota

34. Missouri

New York State Legalized Gambling

35. Kansas

36. South Carolina

37. California

39. Ohio

40. Arizona

41. Hawaii

42. Texas

43. Georgia

44. Vermont

45. Alabama

46. Florida

47. Alaska

48. Wyoming

No legalization activity ... yet

49-50. Idaho and Wisconsin

These states have not had any publicly-announced bills devoted to sports betting legalization.

Unlikely

51. Utah

Utah's anti-gambling stance is written into the state's constitution. Any change to existing state policy toward gambling would be a massive departure from decades of opposition to any form of gambling, including lottery tickets, table games and sports betting.

New York has one of the longest running relationships with gambling of any state in the US. The state’s first gaming laws were introduced in the 17th century. Although betting is an old activity, laws are constantly evolving (especially recently), and these new legislative shifts lead to a lot of confusion for players.

This NY gambling page looks at all forms of gambling in New York and discusses the state’s laws that cover the activities. We will cover topics, such as casinos, both online and land-based, sports betting, and poker among others. If you know exactly the topic you’d like to know more about, click on one of the navigation buttons to jump straight to the relevant section.

Gambling in New York? What Activities are Legal

Contents

• Gambling in New York? What Activities are Legal
  • Online Gambling NY: Sports
  • Online Poker
• NY Gambling Overview
  • Famous Gamblers from the Empire State
• Frequently Asked Questions

There are many different things that come to mind when one talks about betting. There are charitable ‘casino nights,’ wagers amongst friends, and horse races. On this page, however, we’ll be focusing on large-scale operations such as casinos, sports betting, poker rooms and more. Directly below, we answer what activities you can legally play when gambling in New York. We look at both land-based gaming possibilities as well as the online gambling NY has.

New York Casinos

The most popular form of gambling is done at the handful of New York Casinos. Nothing compares to the glitz and glamor that someone feels when they step onto the game room floor. New York is one of the more restrictive states when it comes to casino gaming, but residents and visitors do have a few gaming options when in the state. The Resorts World Casino is the only gambling hall in NYC, but there is a nice selection of Indian casinos as well as racinos peppered throughout the state (ex. Yonkers Raceway).

At NY’s various land-based gambling sites, you can legally play all of the most popular casino games that we have come to know and love throughout the years. NY doesn’t have traditional casinos yet, but Native American gaming halls and racinos are legal. For those who don’t know what a racino is, it is a horse track that is allowed to carry traditional games, such as slots, but due to the state’s laws can only offer electronic table games including: baccarat, roulette and blackjack. To play traditional live card games you’ll have to visit one of the Indian Casinos in New York.

Online Gambling NY: Casinos

Many players ask “is online gambling legal in NY? The answer, unfortunately, is that there is currently no legal way, in which to play online casino games that payout real cash when in New York. In legal markets, online casinos are quickly becoming the most popular way, in which to play table and slot games. However, until the New York online gambling laws are changed, you won’t be able to play online, even if you are of legal gambling age.Popular Online Casino Games:

• Slots
• Baccarat
• Poker
• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Video-poker
• Sic Bo
• Bingo
• Scratch Cards

It isn’t all doom and gloom in the US though. Although many states have historically taken hard-lined stances towards gambling, recently many places have taken giant leaps forward towards legalizing the activity. New Jersey has legal online casinos, and many New Yorkers have started to gamble using these NJ sites. Gambling at a NJ site, however, is illegal when you are in NY, regardless of what people tell you. Nevertheless, many legislators know it is a tough task to try and halt the spread of online casinos. So, who knows? Perhaps there will be legal online gambling in New York sometime in the future.

Sports Gambling NY

The New York gambling laws are more lax when it comes to sports betting. Officially, NY sports gambling is legal. The State Gamging Commission has approved sports betting at four upstate casinos. However, New York politicians have been playing ping pong back and forth with the law, while they debate the minor details of legality. The current law requires that players be physically present when sports gambling in NY.

Where to Gamble on Sports In NY:

• World Catskills (Kiamesha Lake, NY)
• Rivers Casino (Schenectady, NY)
• Del Lago Casino (Tyre, NY)
• Tioga Downs (Nichols, NY)

To play, you’ll have to venture to the World Catskills in Monticello, NY, the Rivers Casino in Schenectady, the del Lago Casino in Tyre or the Tioga Downs which is situated west of Binghamton. If you’re in the city, the best option for sports bets at this time would be to pop on over the NJ to gamble.

Online Gambling NY: Sports

Once confined to a few locations around America, sports gambling has experienced a major shift after the federal sports betting ban was overturned in May 2018. Now, it is up to states to decide if they will legalize the activity or not. As I stated earlier online gambling in New York is currently prohibited and this extends to sports betting.NY has legalized sports betting but has yet to make a ruling as to whether or not to allow players to place bets from mobile devices. Recent reports suggest that wagering on sports in New York will, for the time being anyway, remain limited to physical sports bets. However, State Sen. Joe Addabbo (D-Queens) said that this doesn’t rule out mobile sports gambling in the future. Should New York online gambling laws change, we will update the info on this page.

Daily Fantasy Sports to Scratch Your Sports Itch

Sports fans do have one online gambling option in New York – Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS). DFS contests are available in the state, but there is a debate about whether DFS actually counts as sports gambling or not. Most have agreed that these sports contests involve enough skill/knowledge that they don’t qualify as sports betting. Until an official ruling is made, the nation’s top DFS operators still offer their products to New Yorkers.

Online Poker

Online poker, like other forms of online gambling in New York, is currently illegal. It is possible to play online at one of the popular online poker rooms, but it is not allowed to play for real money. If you’d like to gamble in New York with a poker game, you’ll need to go to a commercial casino. Social games or casino nights are allowed, but you aren’t allowed to make a profit when playing.

Popular NY Poker Events

Recently the World Poker Tour announced the first ever Deep Stacks event in New York. The event will take place at the Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady, NY. 2019’s event will require a buy-in of $1,100. The WPT also has a stop at the Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagra Falls, although on the Canadian side of the falls. Either way, it offers a good opportunity for skilled gamblers to play the popular card game.

Gambling on the New York State Lottery

The New York Lottery, founded in 1966, was the second lottery to be set up in an American state, The NY lottery is connected to the multi-state systems, so residents can play in the huge games like Powerball and Mega Millions. You have to buy tickets in person though, as online ticket sales have not yet been introduced or announced. Since 1967 the lottery has raised 64 billion USD for K-12 schools in New York. In this regard, the NY lotto is similar to that of other state lotteries in that it was set up as a way to generate funds for the state. Nearly 4.5 billion USD has been won as prizes by those gambling in NY on the lotto.

NY Gambling Overview

For a state that isn’t particularly known for its land-based betting options, especially considering Atlantic City is just a short stone’s throw away from NYC; the Empire State is a surprisingly lucrative gaming market. Those gambling in New York using slots spent nearly 40 billion USD in 2019 alone. This figure doesn’t even include table games at Indian Casinos, pari-mutuel horse bets and the Lotto. In addition, online gambling NY options are extremely limited, by that I mean nonexistent. If the laws changed, the market would generate even more money. Below you’ll be taken through the various New York laws governing online betting, the state’s history and how to gamble responsibly in the state.

Important New York Gambling Laws

The first New York gambling law was passed in 1656 when the territory was still under Dutch control. New Netherlands (NY’s name at the time), banned all gambling on the Sabbath. During the revolution, the British outlawed lotteries after it was discovered that they were used to help fund the rebel cause. After independence, convicted lottery patrons were pardoned.

The State’s first constitutions did not mention gambling until 1821 and the modern prohibition of the activity started in 1894. Since that year, a few key amendments were implemented in the years 1939, 1957, 1966, and 1975, which legalized pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, charitable bingo, the State Lottery for Education and charitable gaming respectively.

The first Indian casinos in NY emerged after the passage of the 1993 constitutional amendment, authorized the creation of casinos on native land. 2011 experienced a step backwards when US Federal law banned all online gambling. In 2013 the state finally permitted commercial casinos, however, there are not many in NY. The biggest change in recent year to the gambling laws of New York, is the legalization of sports betting. The state is currently rolling out its first legal sports betting infrastructure.

In terms of laws that are going to affect the individual gambler. The legal gambling age in New York is 18+ years of age. However, many gambling locations have limited their customers to 21+ so that they can legally serve alcohol on the game room floor without having to worry too much. The New York State gambling winnings tax lies somewhere around 3% depending on the amount won.

Gambling Responsibly in New York

Although many New Yorkers have a healthy relationship to gambling, there are some players that may struggle with addiction. The Empire State has a few options for those who seek help. The body in charge of overseeing responsible gaming is the NY Council on Problem Gambling. The NYCPG has worked since the 70s to provide people with the help they need.

The Board’s website offers numerous resources including a gambling hotline. NY is an extremely diverse state, so the help found on the NYCPG website is available in nine different languages. Another suitable option for problem gamblers is Gamblers Anonymous. If you visit the website, you can find local help based on your specific area.For player’s who would like to quit betting, rather than foster a healthier relationship to the activity, the best option is probably voluntary self-exclusion. If you visit the New York State Gaming Commission website, you’ll find steps on how to exclude yourself from casinos, racetracks, the lottery and fantasy sports in NY State.

History of Gambling in New York State

Gambling in New York goes right back to the 1600s. Laws governing betting go back just about as far, with the first legislation concerning gambling in what is today New York State passed in 1656. This was merely to forbid betting on the Sabbath, in order to further religiosity in the territory of New Netherland. However, this only covered certain games, and was only regarding “church hours”, displaying the area’s relatively relaxed attitudes at the time.

New York State Legalized Gambling July 2020

From this early start, there have been dozens of pieces of law passed by the various governing authorities in the area. However, most have been to restrict certain practices, with no individual New York gambling statute or law outright forbidding gambling in general.

New York State Legalized Sports Betting

New York’s Constitution, ratified in 1894, restricted gambling rights heavily. However, since then there have been four important exceptions, allowing for betting within the State: pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, religious, charitable and non-profit bingo, State lottery, and finally an extension to the allowance for religious and non-profit gambling to include games of chance.

Famous Gamblers from the Empire State

When people think about famous gamblers, they are not thinking about a guy who won big spinning the reels, or a successful sport better, they are thinking about poker players. During the first decade of the 21st Century, the world went nuts for poker. New broadcasting deals transformed the card game into one of the most popular spectator games on television. During the ‘poker boom’ a few stars emerged. Enthusiasts were drawn to the personalities and play styles of the world’s best card sharks. Below is some info about some of the most famous gamblers from New York

Erik Seidel

Erik Seidel is, without a doubt, the most celebrated poker player from the Empire State. For most players, winning a WSOP bracelet is a career accomplishment. Seidel, however, has won 8 throughout his career and has reached the final table a staggering 35 times. Erik’s first major bicvtory came in 1988 when he was the runner-up at the WSOP Main Event. Seidel sits atop the NY all time money list and 3rd in the global money list having earned himself over $35 million playing professionally. Currently, Seidel lives in Las Vegas.

Bryn Kenney

Bryn Kenney

Coming in at number two on the New York all-time money list is Bryn Kenney. Keeney has also eclipsed the $30mil mark throughout his career and is nearly 30 years Seidel’s junior. Kenney flaunts his New York roots proudly and can often be seen donning a Yankees or Knicks cap when on tour. Kenney has earned one gold bracelet in his career, which really puts Seidel’s accomplishments into perspective considering Kenney has earned nearly as much as Seidel, but not nearly as many bracelets. Kenney won the bracelet in 2014 after winning the $1,500 Mix Six-Handed event.

Key State Facts

As one of America’s most diverse and forward-thinking states, New York is one of the most desirable places to live in the world. At the center of all of this is of course, New York City, a thriving metropolis known as the ‘city that never sleeps’ packed with towering skyscrapers, busy streets and bullish New Yorkers. Below you can see some of the key New York state facts.

New York is famous worldwide for many things; hip hop music, street food and the nightlife. But some of the most popular things about NYC are its sports teams. Visit any country in the world and you’ll find a New York Yankees cap. New Yorkers are fanatical about their sports teams and the games they play.

Conclusion: Future Outlook of New York Gambling

As you can see above, New York doesn’t have the most restrictive of gambling laws, but the state is also far from being one of the most liberal gambling territories in the US. Players have a few legal gambling options in New York including Indian casinos, racinos, the Lottery, horse race betting and on-site sports betting. Only time will tell whether or not online gambling is in the cards for NY, but if trends continue, we are likely to see some liberalization of the New York state online gambling laws. Until this happens however, you won’t find any online gambling in New York.

Frequently Asked Questions

The New York gambling laws seem to change week to week and the courts are experiencing a logjam when it comes to making decisions about gambling. This has led to a lot of confusion, and may players have asked us for some clarification. Below are the most common questions we receive with regards to New York gambling.

Does New York have casinos?

There are currently 25 casinos registered in the state of New York. Native American casinos make up the vast majority but there are also some dedicated commercial spaces in the city with gambling licences.

Can you gamble online in NY?

Gambling online is currently not yet legal in the state of New York. There are currently no licensed online casinos in the state, and it is a federal crime for a NY citizen to register and play at a site based outside of the state

Is sports gambling legal in New York?

Sports betting was made legal in May 2018 in the state of New York. However, the state has yet to see its first official sports bet be made. The regulation and monitoring of the industry is still being decided on a federal level which has delayed the issuing of licences.