In New York, legal online gambling means sports betting, horse racing through licensed racebooks, and daily fantasy. Online casino and poker aren’t legal here, and sweepstakes casinos are now banned. This guide covers what’s legal, who’s licensed by the New York State Gaming Commission, and how to get started.
New York is the biggest sports betting market in America. Since mobile wagering went live in January 2022, the Empire State has led the country in handle and tax. New Yorkers wager more than $2 billion a month (December 2025 alone saw $2.38 billion in bets), and the state’s 51% tax rate turned 2025’s $26.3 billion handle into $1.32 billion in tax revenue, most of it earmarked for education.
In this article 13 sections
- New York gambling in brief
- Is online gambling legal in New York?
- What you can play in New York
- New York by the numbers
- Why New York is the biggest market in the US
- The New York sportsbooks
- Popular bets in New York
- How to start betting in New York
- Will New York legalize online casino?
- Sweepstakes casinos in New York
- Responsible gambling in New York
- New York gambling in 2027
- More
New York gambling in brief
| Quick facts | New York |
|---|---|
| Online sports betting | Yes, since January 8, 2022 |
| Retail sports betting | Yes, at upstate casinos since July 2019 |
| Legal age | 21+ sports betting; 18+ lottery and pari-mutuel racing |
| Regulator | New York State Gaming Commission |
| Mobile sportsbooks | 8 (September 2026) |
| In-state college betting | Prohibited |
| Online casinos | Not legal |
| Sweepstakes casinos | Banned (December 2025) |
| Tax on mobile sports revenue | 51% |
| Problem gambling help | HOPEline 1-877-8-HOPENY |
Is online gambling legal in New York?
Yes, for sports betting and horse racing. Online sports betting has been legal since January 8, 2022, regulated by the New York State Gaming Commission; retail sportsbooks have operated at upstate casinos since 2019. You must be 21 or older and physically located in New York to bet, confirmed by geolocation: your account works anywhere, but the bet button only works inside state lines. New York runs a closed, competitive market of licensed mobile operators. Real-money online casino is not legal.
What you can play in New York
- Sportsbooks: mobile betting on every major sport and league from eight licensed operators. See our New York sportsbooks guide.
- Horse racing: pari-mutuel wagering on Belmont, Saratoga, Aqueduct and tracks nationwide through licensed ADW apps. See our New York horse betting guide.
- Daily fantasy sports: legal in New York, with DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper among the operators.
- Lottery: the New York Lottery runs draw games, scratch-offs and video lottery terminals at racinos.
- Prediction markets: federally regulated exchanges such as Kalshi operate in New York, though a state bill would regulate them.
- Online casino: not legal; see the outlook below.
- Sweepstakes casinos: banned since December 2025.
New York by the numbers
| Metric | Latest figure |
|---|---|
| Online launch | January 8, 2022 (retail since 2019) |
| Tax rate | 51% on mobile gross gaming revenue |
| 2025 handle | $26.3 billion (up 15.8%) |
| 2025 revenue | $2.55 billion GGR / $1.32 billion in state tax |
| September 2026 | Just over $2.4 billion handle / $160 million GGR / $81.4 million tax |
| Mobile operators | 8 |
| Online casino | Not legal |
| Minimum age | 21+ |
For perspective, New York’s single-month tax hauls regularly top what many states collect from sports betting in a year.
Why New York is the biggest market in the US
Three forces make New York dominant. First, sheer population and one of the deepest sports cultures anywhere: the Yankees and Mets, Giants and Jets, Knicks and Nets, Rangers and Islanders, the Bills and Sabres upstate, all driving year-round action. Second, near-total mobile adoption: retail betting barely registers, with practically every wager placed on a phone. Third, competition: FanDuel and DraftKings battle for the top spot, while Fanatics has surged into the mix and BetMGM, Caesars, BetRivers, theScore Bet and Bally Bet round out the field.
The 51% tax is the market’s defining feature. It limits how much operators can spend on promotions and has prompted periodic talk of a rate cut, but the market is simply too big for any national brand to skip. The trade-off for bettors is fewer lavish bonuses than in low-tax states, offset by a deep selection of markets. The field has shifted: WynnBet left in 2024, Resorts World Bet announced its exit in June 2025, and ESPN Bet became theScore Bet in December 2025, leaving eight mobile books.
The New York sportsbooks
None of our sportsbook partners is licensed in New York, so we present the market editorially. FanDuel is the most popular app in the state, taking $904.7 million in bets in September 2026, with DraftKings close behind and Fanatics the fastest riser. Because New York caps promotional spending in practice through its tax, focus on the operator and markets that suit you rather than chasing the biggest headline offer.
Popular bets in New York
New Yorkers bet the same core markets that dominate nationwide: moneylines (who wins), point spreads (the margin), totals (over/under), and increasingly parlays and same-game parlays, which combine several outcomes for a bigger payout. The NFL drives the most handle, but with so many local teams the NBA, MLB and NHL all pull heavy volume. College is limited: New York bans bets on its own college teams and on college events held in the state. State lawmakers have also filed bills to restrict in-play (live) betting following the 2025 MLB gambling investigations, so the rules around live wagering could tighten.
How to start betting in New York
Getting started takes minutes: confirm you are 21+ and physically in New York, choose a licensed app, and register with real details so identity checks clear. Deposit, set your limits before your first wager, read any welcome offer’s terms, and withdraw once any rollover terms are met.
Will New York legalize online casino?
Not yet, but it’s one of the most-watched expansion debates in the country. Online casino would add a major revenue stream, as neighboring New Jersey and Pennsylvania show, and Sen. Joseph Addabbo has introduced iGaming bills in recent sessions. None has passed; his 2025 proposal never left committee, with concerns over cannibalization of land-based casinos, jobs and problem gambling stalling progress.
The downstate casino race was the main obstacle, and it is now settled. On December 15, 2025, the Gaming Commission formally awarded three New York City licenses: Bally’s at the former Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx, Hard Rock’s Metropolitan Park next to Citi Field in Queens, and Resorts World New York City’s expansion in Jamaica, Queens. Addabbo has said that clears the way for iGaming talks. For the national picture, see our online casino guide.
Online casino sites expected if New York legalizes
If New York follows other states, national operators already licensed for sports betting here would be first in line, with FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars and DraftKings the obvious candidates, along with Bally’s, which now holds a downstate casino license. Nothing is guaranteed until a bill passes.
Top New York land-based casinos
There are some good-quality land casinos in New York, and more on the way.
- Resorts World New York City, Queens. Next to Aqueduct Racetrack near JFK Airport, with electronic gaming machines; its new license now allows a full casino expansion.
- Empire City Casino, Yonkers. MGM’s racino, with electronic gaming alongside Yonkers Raceway’s harness racing.
- Upstate commercial casinos such as Rivers Casino Schenectady, del Lago, Tioga Downs and Resorts World Catskills, plus tribal casinos including Turning Stone. Several host retail sportsbooks.
Sweepstakes casinos in New York
Sweepstakes casinos are no longer an option. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed S5935A in December 2025, banning online sweepstakes casinos in New York, and none of our sweepstakes partners accepts New York players. Brands that once marketed to New Yorkers, such as Chumba, LuckyLand, Stake.us and Pulsz, should not be taking New York customers.
Responsible gambling in New York
Decide what you can afford to lose before you bet, and treat it as the cost of the fun rather than a way to make money. Licensed New York books build in deposit and time limits, cool-offs and self-exclusion, so lean on them early. If gambling ever feels like a problem, the New York HOPEline is free and confidential 24/7 at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369), or text HOPENY (467369). See our responsible gambling guide.
21+. Must be physically located in New York to bet on sports.
New York gambling in 2027
iGaming back on the agenda
With the downstate casino licenses awarded in December 2025, Sen. Addabbo has said online casino legislation is back on track. Watch the 2027 session and the state budget for any movement.
Belmont Park and the Breeders’ Cup
The Belmont Stakes returns to the rebuilt Belmont Park in 2027, and the Breeders’ Cup World Championships follow there in the fall.
Live betting and prediction markets
A bill to ban in-play sports betting was refiled in January 2026, and S9414 would regulate prediction markets. Either could reshape what New Yorkers can bet on.
Is online casino legal in New York?
No. Real-money online casino games are not legal in New York. Sports betting, horse racing ADW and DFS are the legal online options.
Which sportsbooks operate in New York?
Eight: FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics, Caesars, BetMGM, BetRivers, theScore Bet and Bally Bet.
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in New York?
No. Gov. Hochul signed a ban on online sweepstakes casinos in December 2025.
Are prediction markets like Kalshi legal in New York?
Kalshi and similar exchanges operate in New York under federal CFTC rules. Their status is contested in courts nationally, and New York’s S9414 would regulate them at state level. See our prediction markets guide.
What is the legal gambling age in New York?
21 for sports betting and most casinos; 18 for the lottery and pari-mutuel horse betting at the track, though ADW operators can set higher minimums.
How are gambling winnings taxed in New York?
Winnings are taxable federally and by New York State, plus New York City or Yonkers for residents. From the 2026 tax year the federal W-2G threshold rose to $2,000 and losses became deductible only at 90% of their value, capped at your winnings.
