The online gambling industry is booming in New York, and the growth curve still has plenty of room for increases. In the last week of January 2023, online sports betting handle alone in the Empire State brought in $344.8 million for the week.
That’s just the beginning, though, in terms of potential for New York. Currently, there are plans in the works to open three downstate brick and mortar casinos, all which would be situated in or nearby New York City.
As well, there are bills in front of the State Assembly seeking to legalize both online casino gambling and poker. Optimists are hoping that these bills can move forward quickly and that both online casino gambling and poker would be legal in New York state by the spring of 2023.
The landscape in the state has changed dramatically since Kathy Hochul took over for Andrew Cuomo as Governor of New York. While Cuomo was very resistant to the expansion of gambling in the Empire State, Hochul is proving to be a strong proponent of its growth.
Are there any legal online casinos in New York? The best casinos are betMGM, BetRivers, Borgata – the sites are currently not available for real money games in New York. You should travel to the neighboring New Jersey to sign up, get bonus and play slots and other games online or via casino apps.
New York Casino Sites And Apps (Potential)
- Draftkings
- Fanduel
- Caesars
- betMGM
- betRivers
- Wynn Casino
- Resorts World NY Casino
Currently, there are nine online sports betting apps operating in the legal and regulated New York market. These include such major players as DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars and BetMGM. Also licensed in New York are BallyBet, BetRivers, PointsBet, WynnBET and Resorts World Bet.
All nine gambling sites in New York as of 2023 also operate online casinos in other states and will certainly be expected to apply for licenses to operate a mobile casino app within New York state.
New York Online Casino Bonuses and Promotions
When onlien casinos are live in New York, we expect several great promotions and bonus codes will be offered to new registering players. Here we list potential bonuses by NY best casino sites.
| BetRivers NY Casino | Get up to $500 + Free Play. Code: USBTRV |
| betMGM NY Casino | 100% Deposit Match up to $1,000 + $25 FreePlay |
| DraftKings New York Casino | No deposit bonus for new players |
| Fanduel Online Casino NY | Get up to $1000 back after 1st day |
Types Of Real Money Online Games
At New York’s land-based casinos, players can participate in penny slots to high-limit slots, video poker, and keno. Table games on offer include blackjack, baccarat, roulette and craps.There are also poker rooms situated inside the brick and mortar casinos. Along with horse racing and daily fantasy sports, another gaming option available to New York bettors is the state lottery.
New York Brick And Mortar Casinos
Currently there are 25 land-based commercial casinos in New York state. The casinos offer to players both slots and table game action. Racinos feature video lottery terminals.
They include four commercial casinos such as Resorts World Catskills in Kiamesha Lake, Del Lago Resort and Casino in Tyre, Rivers Casino in Schenectady and Jake’s 58 Hotel and Casino in Islandia.
There are nine racinos that combine casino gambling with live and simulcast horse racing. This group includes Vernon Downs & Casino, Batavia Downs Casino, Finger Lakes Gaming and Race Track, Saratoga Casino and Raceway, Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway, The Fairgrounds Gaming in Hamburg, Monticello Gaming and Raceway, Resorts World New York City and Tioga Downs & Casino.
Finally, 12 Native American casinos situated throughout the state. This group features Akwesasne Mohawk Casino in Hogansburg, Lakeside Entertainment in Union Springs, Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, Mohawk Bingo Palace and Casino in Akwesasne, Point Palace Casino in Bridgeport, Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo, Yellow Brick Road Casino in Chittenango, Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca and Seneca Gaming and Entertainment in Oil Springs, Salamanca and Irving.
New Casino Proposals for New York
In early January of 2023, the New York Gaming Facility Board officially opened up the bidding process for licenses for three downstate brick and mortar commercial casinos that all figure to be built in or near the heart of New York City.
Originally in 2013, the NYGFB enabled the opening of the four licensed and regulated land-based commercial casinos that currently operate in upstate New York. The addition of the downstate casinos would offer casino gambling in the most heavily-populated area in the state.
Already, there are several groups that are planning to be part of the bidding. Caesars Entertainment is putting forth a proposal to build a casino in Times Square, working in partnership with Jay Z’s Roc Nation. Thor Equities is proposing to construct a $3 billion casino on Coney Island in Brooklyn.
Two existing racinos – Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway, owned by MGM Resorts and Resorts World New York City, operated by the Genting Group in Queen’s – are also expected to seek full casino status.
Wynn Resorts are part of a proposal to build a casino at Hudson Yards on the far west side of Manhattan. Las Vegas Sands wants to build a casino on the site of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, former home to the NHL’s New York Islanders.
Steve Cohen, owner of the New York Mets, is in discussions with Hard Rock about constructing a casino in Queen’s next to Citi Field, home stadium of the Mets. There’s also plans from the Soloviev Group to construct a casino complex near the United Nations Building, and for Saks Fifth Avenue to house a casino inside their midtown Manhattan location.
Two-thirds of the three-member NYGFB committee must approve of an application for the process to continue. The committee will recommend three groups for licenses to the New York Gaming Commission. The awarding of the three licenses will take place sometime later in 2023.
New York Online Gambling Bills Being Considered
Currently, New York lawmakers have bills before them that would legalize both online casino gambling and online poker within the state.
House Bill 1380, put forth by New York state assemblyman J Gary Pretlow, would classify poker as a game of skill, rather than a game of luck. A similar procedure helped to pave the way to the legalization of daily fantasy sports in New York state.
State Senator Joe Addabbo will need to reintroduce Senate Bill 8412, a bill that would legalize online casino gambling across the state. Originally put forth on Feb. 24, 2022, the bill stalled in committee before being passed.
Estimates are that online casino gambling would generate $480 million+ in tax revenue for the state.
NY Online Casino Gambling FAQ
Yes and no. Casino gambling is legal and regulated at 25 brick and mortar casino and racino sites across the state. However, online casino gambling is not legal in the Empire State.
At the moment, bills that would legalize both online casino gambling and online poker are in front of the state lawmakers. As well, the awarding of three licenses for land-based casinos in the New York City area are in the process of being awarded.
The legal age to gamble in New York state is 18 or 21, depending upon the venue and type of wagering involved. Commercial casinos require players to be 21. At tribal casinos, players must be 18 years of age. Online betting is restricted to customers who are 21 and over.