New York is the undisputed heavyweight of American sports betting. Since mobile wagering went live in January 2022, the Empire State has led the entire country in handle, revenue and tax every single year. New Yorkers now wager more than $2 billion a month — December 2025 alone saw $2.39 billion in bets — and the state’s 51% tax rate, the highest in the US, turned that into roughly $1.19 billion in tax revenue across 2025, most of it earmarked for education. If you want to bet on sports in New York, this guide covers what’s legal, the operators that matter and how to get started.
Is online gambling legal in New York?
Yes. Online sports betting has been legal in New York since January 2022, regulated by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC); 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 unlocks inside state lines. New York runs a closed, competitive market of licensed mobile operators. One thing that is not yet legal is online casino: real-money slots and table games remain off-limits, though lawmakers debate iGaming most sessions.
What you can play in New York
- Sportsbooks: mobile betting on every major sport and league, from eight licensed operators.
- Daily fantasy sports: legal in New York through DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper.
- Horse racing: pari-mutuel wagering on Belmont, Saratoga, Aqueduct and tracks nationwide through licensed apps.
- Online casino: not yet legal in New York — see the outlook below.
Online gambling in New York by the numbers
The NYSGC publishes weekly and monthly reports, and the figures dwarf every other state:
| Metric | Latest figure |
|---|---|
| Online launch | January 2022 (retail since 2019) |
| Tax rate | 51% on online GGR — highest in the US (tied with NH & RI) |
| Monthly handle | Regularly above $2 billion (e.g. $2.39B in Dec 2025) |
| Dec 2025 revenue | $260.4 million GGR / $132.8 million in state tax |
| 2025 tax to the state | ~$1.19 billion (mostly funding education) |
| Mobile operators | 8 (DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, Caesars, BetMGM, BetRivers and more) |
| Online casino | Not legal |
| Minimum age | 21+ |
For perspective, New York’s monthly handle has at times tripled New Jersey’s and exceeded New Jersey and Pennsylvania combined, and its single-month tax hauls regularly top what many states collect in a year.
Why New York is the biggest market in the US
Three forces make New York untouchable. First, sheer population and one of the deepest sports cultures anywhere — the Yankees and Mets, Giants and Jets, Knicks and Nets, Rangers and Islanders, plus a passionate college following all drive year-round action. Second, near-total mobile adoption: retail betting now exists “in name only,” with practically every wager placed on a phone. Third, fierce competition: DraftKings and FanDuel battle for the top spot, while Fanatics has surged into the mix and BetMGM, Caesars and BetRivers 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 the deepest selection of operators and markets in the country. Note that the field has thinned recently — Resorts World exited mobile in mid-2025 and ESPN BET wound down its New York operation late in the year — leaving eight mobile books.
The best New York sportsbooks and bonuses
We only feature operators we actively work with and can verify. Of those, the ones licensed in New York are led by FanDuel — the most popular app in the state, with the best same-game-parlay builder — and BetRivers, strong on rewards through iRush Rewards. They compete alongside New York’s other licensed books (DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM and Fanatics). Because New York caps promotional spending, focus on the operator and markets that suit you rather than chasing the biggest headline offer; check the live offers on this page for what’s currently available.
See current terms and codes on our promo codes page, or dig into the full New York sportsbook guide.
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, NHL and college sports all pull heavy volume. One caveat worth knowing: state lawmakers have floated bills to restrict in-play (live) betting following a 2025 MLB gambling scandal, so the rules around live wagering could tighten.
How to start betting in New York
Getting started in New York takes minutes: confirm you are 21+ and physically in New York, choose a licensed New York app, and register with real details so identity checks clear. Claim the New York welcome offer, deposit, set your limits before your first New York wager, and withdraw once any New York rollover terms are met.
Will New York legalize online casino?
Not yet, but it’s the most-watched expansion in the country. Online casino (iGaming) would be far more lucrative than betting — look at neighbouring New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where iGaming now out-earns sports betting many times over — and iGaming bills are introduced most legislative sessions. So far none has passed, with concerns over Atlantic City-style cannibalization, jobs and problem gambling stalling progress. We’ll update this page the moment New York authorizes online casinos.
For the full picture, see our New York online casino guide, which tracks whether and when real-money iGaming might reach New York.
Responsible gambling in New York
The healthiest approach to New York betting is a fixed budget and the mindset that it is fun, never income or a way to win back New York losses. 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 in New York, support is one free, confidential contact away at 1-800-GAMBLER.
New York sports betting FAQ
1. Is online sports betting legal in New York?
Yes. Online sports betting has been legal in New York since January 2022, regulated by the New York State Gaming Commission. You must be 21+ and physically in New York to bet.
2. Is online casino legal in New York?
No. Real-money online casino games are not yet legal in New York, though lawmakers debate iGaming most sessions. In New York, only sports betting, DFS and horse racing are currently legal online.
3. Why is New York’s sports betting tax so high?
New York taxes online sportsbook revenue at 51%, the highest rate in the US (tied with New Hampshire and Rhode Island). The trade-off is fewer promotions, but the market’s size keeps every major operator competing — and it generated around $1.19 billion for the state in 2025.
4. Which sportsbooks operate in New York?
New York has eight licensed mobile sportsbooks, including DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, Caesars, BetMGM and BetRivers. Resorts World and ESPN BET exited the market in 2025.
5. What is the best betting app in New York?
FanDuel is the most popular and has the best same-game-parlay builder; DraftKings runs it close; BetRivers leads on rewards. Because New York caps promo spending, pick the app whose markets and interface suit you best.
6. Do I have to live in New York to bet?
No — you just need to be physically inside New York when you place a bet. Geolocation confirms you’re in-state; your home address doesn’t matter.
7. Are prediction markets like Kalshi legal in New York?
Prediction markets such as Kalshi are open to New York residents because they count as federal financial contracts rather than New York sports betting. That keeps them national even where New York limits books, but it is genuinely unresolved — courts backed Kalshi against state regulators in 2026 and appeals continue. New York players should see them as a different, CFTC-governed product.
8. Are sweepstakes casinos legal in New York?
Sweepstakes casinos like Chumba, LuckyLand and Stake.us reach New York adults through a virtual-currency model designed to sit outside New York gambling licensing. That leaves New York players in a grey area with weaker safeguards than a regulated site, one regulators keep testing — so use them cautiously in New York.
9. Is daily fantasy sports (DFS) legal in New York?
Yes — daily fantasy sports operate in New York as a contest-based activity separate from New York sportsbook wagering. DraftKings and FanDuel lead the New York field, joined by pick’em apps PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper.
10. Can I bet on horse racing online in New York?
Yes — New York bettors can wager on horse racing via regulated ADW platforms like TVG (FanDuel Racing), TwinSpires and AmWager, a separate product from New York sports betting.
11. How are gambling winnings taxed for New York players?
New York gambling winnings are taxable income at federal and New York state level, and recent federal changes affect how losses can be deducted. Keep records of wins and losses and consult a tax professional — we can’t give tax advice.
12. Can I still bet with ESPN BET or Resorts World in New York?
No. Resorts World exited New York’s mobile market in mid-2025 and ESPN BET wound down its New York operation later in the year. Use one of the eight remaining licensed sportsbooks.
13. Where can I get help for a gambling problem in New York?
Help in New York is free, confidential and available 24/7 — call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, or use the deposit limits, cool-off periods and self-exclusion tools in every licensed New York app. Nobody in New York has to be in crisis to reach out.
21+. Must be physically located in New York. Gambling problem in New York? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.