New York Online Gambling
The New York online gambling market is diverse and tightly regulated.
Online sports betting and advance deposit wagering are legal and regulated, daily fantasy sports is sanctioned as a game of skill, and licensed lottery couriers allow residents to order official tickets from their phones.
Real money online casinos and poker remain illegal (for now), but lawmakers return to Albany each session with fresh iGaming bills in hand.
The following guide provides a complete overview of the New York online gambling landscape, the statutes that govern it, and where to find help if gambling becomes a problem.
Legal New York Gambling Sites
21+ and physically present in NY. For help with a gambling problem call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369).
New York Online Gambling Overview
| Type of Gambling (minimum age to play) | Legal Status | Notes |
| Online Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited by state law; legalization efforts ongoing |
| Sweepstakes Casinos (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | Operate under sweepstakes law; legislative ban imminent |
| Online Poker (n/a) | Illegal | Will be legal if broader iGaming package passes |
| Online Sports Betting (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Operational since 2022 under PML § 1367-a |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Legalized in 2016; upheld by NY Court of Appeals in 2022 |
| Fantasy Pick’em Contests (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited under 9 NYCRR § 5602.1 |
| Online Lottery Sales (18+) | Legal/Regulated | NYSGC regulates and licenses third-party couriers like Jackpocket |
| Online Horse Racing (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Legal under 9 NYCRR §§ 4500-4500.23 |
New York Online Casinos
Online casinos are illegal in New York.
State law does not permit real-money online slots, table games, or live dealer games. Any website or app offering casino-style games is either a sweepstakes casino (see below) or an illegal offshore gambling site.
Article I, § 9 of the state constitution bars “any other kind of gambling” that the legislature has not expressly authorized, and the Penal Law makes it a class-A misdemeanor to “advance or profit from unlawful gambling activity.”
The prohibition targets operators rather than individual players, but anyone patronizing offshore gambling sites in New York has no legal protections if a dispute arises or winnings disappear.
Legalization Outlook
Efforts to legalize online casinos have periodically surfaced in Albany but have repeatedly faced strong opposition.
The most recent legislative attempts failed to garner sufficient political support, with lawmakers frequently citing concerns over problem gambling, market oversaturation, and potential economic impacts on existing land-based casinos.
Currently, no legislation is pending that would authorize online casino gaming. Industry experts anticipate limited movement on this issue unless significant shifts occur in political sentiment or economic considerations.
Sweepstakes Casinos in New York
Sweepstakes casinos that offer casino-style games for cash prizes are illegal in New York.
Major sweepstakes casino brands like WOW Vegas and Stake.us operate under US sweepstakes laws in many states, but New York regulators and the legislature have taken decisive action against them.
In early 2025, the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) and the New York Attorney General’s Office issued cease-and-desist letters to 26 operators whose offerings constitute illegal online gambling under state law.
Shortly thereafter, the New York legislature approved S5935A to explicitly ban sweepstakes casinos. As a result, all reputable sweepstakes casinos have exited the New York online gambling market.
New York Online Poker
Online poker is explicitly illegal in New York.
Despite a strong poker-playing community, New York has consistently maintained strict prohibitions against real-money online poker.
Efforts to legalize online poker have surfaced regularly over the past decade but have repeatedly stalled, often due to legislative gridlock and competing gambling interests within the state.
In recent years, poker advocates have lobbied extensively for legalization, highlighting potential revenue and regulated market benefits. However, all notable proposals have failed to advance significantly, indicating limited legislative appetite for expanding online gambling into poker.
The current legislative environment remains unfavorable for online poker legalization over the short term.
New York Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting is legal and regulated in New York.
New York officially authorized online sports betting through legislation in 2021, leading to the launch of licensed online sportsbooks in January 2022.
Legalization followed extensive debate, spurred by a desire to capture revenue previously lost to neighboring states where sports betting was already permitted.
Most major industry leaders are active in the New York online sports betting market, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook, and ESPN Bet.
Ongoing regulatory oversight by the New York State Gaming Commission ensures consumer protection and responsible gambling practices. Recent discussions continue regarding possible expansion, including potential adjustments to the state’s tax rates and licensing conditions.
Key Regulations
- Minimum Age: Fans must be 21+ to bet on sports online in New York
- Tax Rate: New York imposes a 51% tax rate on online sports betting revenue, one of the highest in the country.
- College Sports: Betting on college sports is permitted, but wagering on games involving in-state New York college teams is prohibited.
- Player Props: Proposition bets on college athletes are also banned.
New York Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) are legal and regulated in New York.
New York passed legislation in 2016 to officially authorize daily fantasy sports contests, establish a regulatory framework, and institute licensing mandates.
However, the legality of DFS under state law remained contentious until the New York Court of Appeals found fantasy sports contests to be games of skill and distinct from gambling.
Key Regulations
- Minimum Age: Players must be 18+ to participate in DFS contests
- Consumer Protection: Licensed NY DFS apps must ensure transparency of contest terms, disclose the maximum number of entries allowed per contest, and clearly communicate contest prizes and fees
- Funds Protection: New York requires licensed operators to segregate customer funds from operational funds to ensure users’ money is safe and readily accessible
- Responsible Gambling Measures: Operators must provide players with tools to monitor their spending, set deposit limits, and allow voluntary self-exclusion
- Fairness and Integrity: Licensed operators must implement robust mechanisms to detect and prevent fraud, collusion, and unfair advantages among contestants
Fantasy Pick’em Contests in New York
Fantasy pick’em contests are prohibited in New York.
The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) considers pick’em-style contests a form of illegal, unregulated online sports betting.
In 2023, the NYSGC adopted Rule 5602.1(a)(4) to explicitly ban fantasy pick’em contests due to their close resemblance to sports betting.
The rule states:
“Contests shall not be based on proposition betting or contests that have the effect of mimicking proposition betting. Contests in which a contest must choose, directly or indirectly, whether an individual athlete or a single team will surpass an identified statistical achievement, such as points scored, are prohibited.”
Fantasy pick’em contests were initially regulated similarly to daily fantasy sports (DFS). However, state regulators determined that the contests did not align sufficiently with the skill-based, peer-to-peer framework required under DFS laws.
Prominent operators previously offering pick’em contests were compelled to withdraw these products from the New York market. The NYSGC’s decision was part of a broader regulatory effort to maintain clear distinctions between allowable fantasy contests and prohibited forms of gambling, particularly traditional sports betting.
New York Online Lottery Sales
New York authorizes two distinct channels for online lottery sales:
- NY Lottery Subscription Website: Players 18 and older can purchase multi‑draw subscriptions for Mega Millions, Cash4Life, and New York LOTTO directly through the Lottery’s subscription portal.
- Licensed Third‑Party Courier Services: The NYSGC issues Courier Service to couriers like Jackpocket that buy official tickets on behalf of customers, scan the ticket front and back, and deliver digital copies via a secure app.
Licensed couriers must geolocate users in‑state at the moment of purchase, segregate player funds, and maintain $20 million in liability insurance.
Couriers charge a service fee rather than a ticket markup, and prizes under $600 are automatically credited to the customer’s wallet; larger wins are claimed in person with the physical ticket supplied by the courier.
Online Horse Racing Betting in New York
Horse racing betting sites are legal and regulated in New York.
The state has a long and storied history with horse racing, and this extends to online betting through advance deposit wagering platforms (ADWs).
Licensed ADWs allow users to wager on races held at New York tracks like Saratoga, Belmont Park, and Aqueduct, as well as races from across the country and internationally.
The NYSGC licenses and oversees all ADWs. Licensed New York ADWs must:
- Verify bettors are 18+ and physically in New York
- Fund a Responsible Aftercare Program for retired thoroughbreds
- Report handle and taxes to the NYSGC and the pari-mutuel pools
Popular licensed ADW platforms in New York include AmWager, TVG, and TwinSpires.
New York Gambling Regulators
The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) is the state’s primary gambling regulator. It oversees all New York online gambling activities, including sports betting, daily fantasy sports, pari-mutuel horse racing wagering, and lottery couriers.
Key NYSGC duties include issuing licenses, enforcing compliance, and promoting responsible gambling to ensure that all gambling conducted in New York “is of the highest integrity, credibility, and quality.”
Responsible Gambling Resources in New York
New York provides some of the nation’s most comprehensive responsible gambling safeguards.
A statewide voluntary self‑exclusion program spans every legal gambling vertical, and licensed operators must offer self‑exclusion options along with deposit, spend, and time‑management tools.
New York Self-Exclusion Resources
- NYSGC Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program: Individuals can enroll to restrict access to all state-regulated gambling activities (1-year to lifetime).
- Individual Self-Exclusion: New York law requires all operators to offer tools to take breaks or self-exclude permanently.
New York Responsible Gambling Organizations
- New York Council on Problem Gambling (NYCPG): A non-profit organization offering education, resources, and a directory of treatment providers across New York.
- Office of Addiction Services and Support (OASAS): Provides problem gambling support, referrals to treatment programs, support groups, outreach centers for recovery, help for family members affecting by problem gambling, and
- 24/7 Problem Gambling Helpline (HOPEline): For 24/7 support, call the NYS OASAS HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (467369) or text 467369.