Are online casinos legal in NY?
No. The New York state constitution expressly forbids games of chance, a definition that suitably fits casino games.
A 2013 constitutional amendment did authorize the state to issue up to seven casino licenses. Tribal groups in the state have also run casinos of their own since 1993, according to the terms of their gambling compacts. However, state law and those compacts restrict the offering of such games to those facilities.
So, what would it take to legalize New York online casinos? Most likely, another constitutional amendment. Although that is a long and arduous process.
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It requires not only both chambers of the New York Legislature to approve a measure by a supermajority, but also voter approval. The time frame on that is about three years. So, even if the Legislature got moving on the issue right away, it would likely still be around 2025 or later before online casino platforms actually went live in New York.
Yet there is no momentum for such a change in Albany right now. For the foreseeable future, the status quo will remain in place. That means New Yorkers have two primary options: play online sweepstakes games or cross state lines into New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
The first option might be preferable for New York residents who value being able to play from their homes.
New York online sweepstakes casinos
A lot of people in states where online casinos remain illegal regularly play sweepstakes games online.
The apps and websites that offer such options make them work very similarly to casino games and look very much like the games that casino apps offer. You might be wondering, then, how are they legal in New York?
Online sweepstakes games are legal in the Empire State because there’s no “consideration” element. You can play without having to risk a single penny of your own money. The sites do award prizes with real value, but it isn’t necessary for you to pay.
In the US, there are three online sweepstakes casinos that have become popular because of their selection of casino games. New Yorkers can play at all three of them to their hearts’ content and do so from the comfort of your own home.
- Chumba Casino: If you’re looking for a variety of casino-style games, including some slots with progressive jackpots, you might want to try Chumba Casino. New players enjoy a special Gold Coin and Sweeps Coin bonus, which you can access using the link on this page.
- LuckyLand Slots: Just like Chumba, new casino players can get 10 Sweeps Coins just for registering your account. LuckyLand also has an app for Android devices, making the platform available to those who prefer to play on their phone. For iPhone users, you’re currently confined to your computer, but perhaps there will be an app for that someday.
- Funzpoints: Funzpoints is best known for its low limits in its titles, which prolongs gameplay. In fact, the maximum prize you can cash out is just $20. If you just enjoy playing casino-style games, and whether you win any real money is less important, this site is definitely for you.
New Jersey, Pennsylvania online casino options
Some New Yorkers understandably prefer to play casino games online and do so for money. If you spend any time in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, multiple online casinos are at your disposal.
While Pennsylvania does have a couple of unique brands, New Jersey has a more robust market. And considering more of the New York population lives closer to the NJ border, we’ll focus on the New Jersey online casino landscape.
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- BetMGM Online Casino: With a suite of over 220 games, functional apps and integration into MGM’s iRewards program, it’s easy to see why online casino players in New Jersey flock to this operator. New players receive $25 in site credit just for signing up and can also take advantage of an introductory offer to match their initial deposit up to $1,000.
- Caesars Online Casino: Caesars boasts nearly 600 titles on its online casino platform, which includes live dealer games. This online casino offers a similar registration bonus of $25 in site credit. First-time depositors also get a 100% match up to $300.
- DraftKings Online Casino: You might know this brand better for its daily fantasy and sportsbook offerings, but the casino side is no afterthought. It comes with everything you’d expect: live dealer games, slots and table games. If you’re new to DraftKings, you can get $45 in site credit just to try out the casino and an impressive 100% deposit match up to $1,500.
- Golden Nugget Online Casino: On a monthly basis, this app rakes in more revenue than any other online casino in New Jersey. And for good reason. The menu of titles is massive, with nearly 800 games. Golden Nugget isn’t resting on its laurels, however. You can get $10 just for signing up, then a 100% bonus up to $1,500 on your first deposit.
- Tropicana Online Casino: While Tropicana does offer $10 in site credit to new customers, the rest of the introductory offer is what sets the casino apart. Tropicana will cover your losses over your first seven days of play, up to $100. The casino offers both Android and iOS apps, a solid menu of slots and table games, and a special community jackpot prize.
How online casinos work
If you’re at least 21 years of age, not on any gambling self-exclusion lists, you’re good to go at a sweepstakes site. That is, of course, after creating, registering and depositing funds into your account. For NJ casinos, you will need to cross the border.
How to sign up
Signing up for an online casino is easy and quick. The casino will walk you through the process, in which it will collect a few pieces of identifying information from you:
- Date of birth
- Email address
- Last four digits of your Social Security number
- Legal name
- Mailing address
How to deposit
After the casino verifies your identity, the last step before playing is to add funds to your account. You can do so by using one of the methods below online casino.
- ACH payments from a checking or savings account
- Credit/debit cards
- Online banking
- PayNearMe
- E-wallets like PayPal
- Casino cage (if in NJ or PA)
Online casino apps vs. desktop
As previously mentioned, you can access these online casino games on a computer. Actually, that’s the best method if you want to be able to play the entire catalog of titles. Some casinos don’t make their entire selections available on their apps. At the same time, you can’t top the mobile casino app for ease and mobility.
The geolocation technology on your device verifies that you are indeed within the state when you play. So, when you install an online casino app in NY, make sure you give permission for them to use your location. If you elect to play on your computer, you’ll likely need to install geolocation software to facilitate this.
Land-based casinos in New York
New York has hosted numerous Native American casinos on Seneca, Mohawk, and Oneida tribal lands ever since the first Indian casino opened in 1993. Four new commercial casinos were opened in upstate New York between 2016 and 2018 as well.
Native American NY Casinos
Opened in 1993 by the Oneida Indian Nation of New York, Turning Stone was the first land-based casino and the first Native American casino in New York State. Since then, the property has expanded, with the most recent renovations completed in 2017.
Turning Stone is a premier Indian casino that offers a complete resort experience with lodging, a spa, golf, dining, and entertainment options.
Casino Game Selection:
- Poker: 32 tables, state-of-the-art room
- Table games: 80+ games
- Slots: 2,000+ games
- Bingo: World-class bingo hall
- Keno: Games called every five minutes
Smaller than Turning Stone, the Yellow Brick Road Casino is also an Oneida Indian property. The casino features the yellow brick road theme from the Wizard of Oz that extends through the gaming floor to the dining and entertainment venues.
Casino Game Selection:
- Table games: 14+
- Slots: 400+
Similar in size to the Yellow Brick Road Casino, the Oneida Nation also hosts this rustic-themed casino located in a woodland area replete with beloved lake points. Point Place offers a gaming floor, dining, and entertainment options.
Casino Game Selection:
- Table games: 20+
- Slots: 500+ games
Located in downtown Buffalo’s inner harbor area, the Seneca Nation’s urban casino offers a variety of gaming, dining, and entertainment options.
Casino Game Selection:
- Table games: 35+
- Slots: 1,100+ games
Boasting picturesque views of the Niagara Falls region, this full-service Seneca Nation casino resort offers gaming, lodging, spa services, dining, entertainment, and conference facilities.
Casino Game Selection:
- Poker: 16 tables
- Table games: 100+
- Slots: 2,800+ reel and video slot games
- Keno
Set in the Allegheny Mountain foothills, this full-service Seneca Nation casino resort offers gaming, lodging, spa services, dining, and entertainment.
Casino Game Selection:
- Table games: 30+
- Slots: 1,600+ reel and video slot games
Hosted by the Mohawk Indian tribe, this full-service casino resort provides lodging, spa services, dining, and entertainment options.
Where Is Online Gambling Legal
Casino Game Selection:
- Poker: 5 tables
- Table games: 25+
- Slots: 1,500+ reel (penny slots up to high-limit slots)
- Bingo
Commercial casinos in New York
The first casino with a commercial license to open in New York, Tioga Downs was originally a horse race track that was granted a commercial casino license to expand its business. The gaming floor opened in 2016, and the hotel opened in 2017. The property also features horse racing, golf, dining, and entertainment options.
Casino Game Selection:
- Poker: 6 tables
- Table games: 128+ games
- Slots: 900+ games
- Video poker: 130+ different games
Opened in 2017 in the Finger Lakes region of New York, within only an hour drive to the Oneida Nation’s Turning Stone Casino, del Lago is a full-service commercial casino resort with gaming, lodging, a spa, restaurants, and entertainment.
Casino Game Selection:
- Poker: 14 tables (Seven Card Stud, Pot Limit Omaha, Texas Hold’em)
- Table games: 66+ (e.g., craps, roulette, blackjack, three card poker, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, Mississippi Stud, Casino War)
- Slot Machines: 2,000+ games
Part of the ambitious Mohawk Harbor development project on the Mohawk River in Schenectady, Rivers opened in 2017 as a full-service resort property with gaming, lodging, restaurants, and entertainment.
Casino Game Selection:
- Poker: 16 tables, open 24/7
- Table games: 67 games
- Slot Machines: 1,150+ games (penny slots to high-limit slots)
- Video poker
- Keno
With a grand opening in 2018, Resorts World is billed as the newest commercial casino and the closest casino to New York City. This full-service luxury resort property is located in the picturesque Catskill Mountain region, boasting 100,000 square feet of gaming space, boutique lodging, a spa, and various dining and entertainment options.
Casino Game Selection:
- Poker: 19 tables, open 24/7
- Table games: 150+ games
- Slot Machines: 2,000+ games
- Video poker: 130+ different games
Legal legislation regarding online gambling in the US varies from state to state. While online poker, casino games, sports betting, and lottery are legal in some places, still, others have not accepted them. One such state where online gambling is not permitted yet but is gaining traction is New York.
For the longest time, gambling has been restricted in New York. The state is historically known to have some of the strictest gambling laws in the country. In fact, the New York gambling law has an elaborate list of gambling offenses and their penalties.
For that reason, New York is not big on casinos. In recent years, however, there have been steps to try and legalize gambling, in particular, online gambling within this state.
What Do New York Regulations Say About Online Gambling?
In reality, the New York gambling law does not explicitly outlaw its residents from participating in online gambling. So, any person residing in New York may play online games in online casinos, poker rooms, and sports betting sites without worrying about facing prosecution or being fined by the government.
What is illegal, however, is running an online gambling platform within the state. Therefore, most online casinos that offer their services to New York residents are located offshore.
The online casinos operating within the state have diverse offers. Case in point, some provide players with a comprehensive set of games while others are more specific, solely focusing on, for example, poker, sports betting, and so forth.
As time continues to pass, New York residents can be sure that there’ll never be short of choices. With each day, more and more casinos are started to meet the increasing needs of the ever-rising number of online gamblers.
Therefore, New Yorkers must do their due diligence ahead of playing at an online casino. It is particularly essential up until proper regulations are put in place. After all, the UK has already shown this to be possible by strengthening its online gambling checks in a bid to make it safer and fairer.
Some of the things to look out for in this regard include quality, customer care, and the license of operation. With that said, let’s take a look at a significant development in gambling regulations in New York over the past year.
2019 New York Online Poker Bill
On January 9, 2019, Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr. sponsored the Senate Bill 18 aimed at legalizing online poker within the state. At that time, it was the seventh consecutive year for the New York legislature to deliberate on a poker bill. The underlying message is the recognition of specific interactive poker games as activities that require skills rather than luck.
Push to Legalize Online Gambling in New York
While there is no telling if New York will authorize online betting – an activity with the probability to bring in a lot of money – the Gaming Commission has already provided its formative approval. The leadership holds the view that authorizing online betting will call for a change in the constitution.
This endeavor is bound to take up a lot of time, seeing as any change will require passage by two independent legislatures and people’s approval via conducting a referendum. In light of these developments, it is safe to conclude that such a thing can only be realized in 2021 at the earliest. And as you can already tell, gambling stakeholders are not happy with this idea.
Therefore, going into the future, we can expect New York to legalize online gambling. However, for the time being, the best action for New Yorkers interested in betting is to wager at an online casino. But even with that said, one should always consider only casinos with high recommendations to ensure their secure playing.
When it comes to betting events, once online gambling is legalized in New York, you will be able to wager on pretty much any professional or major collegiate sporting event. However, betting on political outcomes and other cultural occurrences, the winner of this season’s “The Voice,” or the coming Democratic presidential primary cage-match, will not be acceptable.
Also, it is important to note that players under the age of twenty-one are prohibited from betting. However, this doesn’t correspond to a low number of potential players. According to the Center for an Urban Future,New York’s older adult population is booming statewide.
New Jersey’s Success Story and Its Influence on New York
Ever since 1992, Nevada has been the state in the US with an unrivaled monopoly on betting parlors. Nonetheless, since then, other states have legalized sports betting, among them the state of New Jersey. This was achieved after years of pushing by the state’s lawmakers.
Citizens within the borders of New Jersey can now place wagers online, in addition to being free to bet in casinos and at racetracks. But even with that said, while New York is taking the right initiative when it comes to online gambling, the state is still yet to pass a regulation that delivers New Jersey’s expensive offerings.
As seen on OnlineCasinoGems, when it comes to success stories, Bovada casino, which started way back in 2011, has grown to become one of the most sought-after gambling sites in New Jersey. Since that time, it has become a reputable and reliable source of taxable income to the state.
Putting It All Together
While online gambling is still outlawed in New York, there is notable progress being made. The 2019 New York Online Poker Bill, for instance, is excellent evidence of this slow but sure shift towards allowing online gambling in the state.
Seeing as New Jersey has already realized success in this matter, it is safe for New York legislators to follow suit by legalizing gambling. Only this way, they can stop the money from its residents from moving into New Jersey and other states where online gambling is accepted. According toThe Wall Street Journal, New York stands to gain $48 million from fully legalizing online betting.
Nys Online Gambling Laws
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