Casino Games Online in New York

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While legal real-money online casinos have yet to be legalized, you can now enjoy your favorite online casino games in New York. Until lawmakers legalize iGaming, you can access a variety of sweepstakes casinos that offer slick free-to-play games on your desktop or mobile devices. All it takes is a simple log-in, and you are ready to go.

Let’s examine the kinds of online casino games you will find to play online once online casinos launch in the state, and which sites offer the best ones, from slots to table games such as roulette to blackjack. Plus, alternatives where to play them in the meantime.

Best alternatives for NY online casino players

Rank
Casinos
Offer
Features
Play
1
35 Free Sweepstakes Coins
With 1.5 Million WOW Coins Purchase
WOW Vegas Casino Review
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2
5 Sweeps Coins
250 Game Coins & 600 Diamonds on Sign Up
High 5 Casino Review
  • US Players Accepted
  • 1200+ Slots & Live Dealer Games!
  • FREE Daily Rewards
  • Authentic Brand, Made in the USA
3
Up to 27.5 FREE SC
PLUS 57,500 GC
McLuck Review
  • US Players Accepted
  • Get 2.5 Free SC + 7,500 GC on Sign Up
  • Live Dealer Blackjack, Roulette, and MORE
  • Use Promo Code: PLAYBONUS
4
Up to 625,000 Gold Coins
Plus 125 Free SC on First Purchase
RealPrize Review
  • PLUS Earn 1,250 VIP Points
  • Daily 5,000 GC Login Bonus
  • Choose from 400+ Games
  • To Claim: Click Play Now
5
40 FREE Sweepstakes Coins
With 400,000 Gold Coin Purchase
Pulsz Review
  • Free 2.3 SC + 5,000 GC on Sign Up
  • Daily FREE Sweepstakes When Logging In
  • Choose From Over 700 Games
  • Use Promo Code: BONUSPLAY
6
100,000 Crown Coins
Plus 2 Sweeps Coins on Sign Up
Crown Coins Review
  • 800K CC + 40 SC on 1st Purchase for $15.99 (150% Bonus!)
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  • Available iOS Mobile App
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7
7,500 Gold Coins
PLUS 2.5 Free SC on Sign Up
MegaBonanza Review
  • 150% Extra Coins on 1st Purchase: GC 50,000 + SC 25 FREE for $9.99
  • Fast and Reliable Prize Redemptions
  • Intuitive and Easy-to-Navigate Platform
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8
Up to 27.5 FREE SC
PLUS 65,000 GC
Hello Millions Review
  • GC 15,000 PLUS SC 2.5 Free on Sign Up
  • Pragmatic Jackpot Play + Over 700 Slots Games
  • Free Daily Coins Reward
  • Use Exclusive Promo Code: BONUSPLAY
9
20 Free Sweep Coins
On First $20 Purchase
Chanced Casino Review
  • PLUS 2 SC + 20,000 Gold Coins on Sign Up
  • PLUS 20 FREE Spins on Account Verification
  • Live Blackjack, Roulette, and MORE
  • Instant Redemptions for US Players
10
50,000 Gold Coins
Plus 25 Free SC on First $9.99 Purchase
Jackpota Review
  • Get 7,500 GC + 2.5 SC Free on Sign Up
  • Play a Huge Range of Casino Games
  • Get Free Coins Daily
  • To Claim: Click Play Now
11
Up to 3,400 Free SC
PLUS 1.1M GC on First Purchase
NoLimitCoins Review
  • Get 100,000 Gold Coins + 100 Super Coins on Sign Up
  • Play in Free Daily Tournaments
  • Choose from 100+ Slots
  • Use Promo Code: BONUSGET
12
Get $30 of Gold Coins for $10
PLUS 30 FREE Sweeps Coins
Chumba Casino Review
  • US Players Accepted
  • Daily Free GC and SC
  • 2 FREE Sweeps Coins on Signup
  • Redeem Cash Prizes

Free-to-play and real money casino games

If you are in New York, you have two choices when it comes to online casino games.

There are several legal play money casinos where you play games with credits. These sweepstakes casinos invite players to play a variety of casino games online using virtual currencies, and in some cases offer opportunities to redeem winnings for cash prizes. You can explore the variety of casino games available at popular sweeps and social casinos like Wow Vegas Casino, which boasts over 1,000 titles mostly features slots, and McLuck Casino, where you can find live dealer games like blackjack and roulette.

Whereas real money online casinos employ a wide range of developers to provide well known slots and table games, these social and sweepstakes casinos usually have their own proprietary games that are unique to the sites. That said, the games rival their real money counterparts in terms of their animation, graphics, sound and other features that help create the same immersive experience provided by games in retail casino. The sites also feature a decent selection of games, with some offering hundreds of slots titles. If you want a quick online game of roulette or blackjack, you can usually find those as well.

Popular casino games

Once lawmakers legalize online casinos in New York, these are the types of real money casino games you’ll likely find at licensed platforms.

Online Slots

Video slots are the most popular game found at online casinos. The best sites spread hundreds of slots with a range of themes and gameplay. You choose stakes at the start of the game, and big money progressive jackpot slots give you the chance to share a six-figure prize pool.

You can often enter a slot tournament online. Tournaments give you the chance to share a prize pool with your fellow gamblers. You get a limited number of spins on selected slots. Topping the leaderboard will bag the biggest share of the credits.

Online Roulette

In a land-based casino in NY, you can typically find American roulette at a range of stakes. Online, you are likely to find both American roulette and European roulette. Most NY casinos offer electronic roulette terminals, too.

At real-money online casinos, your stakes can start low. Online stakes are often much lower than at a land-based site. Once your bets are placed, the wheel spins. You are paid out according to the numbered pocket where the ball lands.

Online Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino card games. In New York casinos, you will find at least a few interesting variants of blackjack. When playing online blackjack in New York, classic blackjack will likely be most common, and the house edge can be low if you play optimally.

In blackjack, both you and the dealer are dealt two cards. The idea is to keep drawing cards and get as close to 21 without going over. If you beat the dealer, you win.

Online Baccarat

Baccarat and EZ Baccarat are standard options at most real money online casinos.

To win, you place bets on which hand (player or dealer) will be the highest. Picture cards and 10s count as zero. Whoever is closest to a total of nine, wins.

Online Video Poker

Video poker terminals are second only to slots in prevalence in New York land-based casinos. However, you will also often find video poker games at the best online casinos.

You are dealt five cards to play. You aim to hold or discard cards to form a winning five-card poker hand and you are paid out according to a set pay table. If you hit a royal flush and play at the maximum stake, you win the top jackpot available.

Most video poker games offer jackpots, and some let you use wild cards to form a five-card hand.

Online Live Dealer

New Jersey online casinos offer live dealer games, and we expect New York to provide the same once the state regulates online gambling.

In a live dealer table game, you play online roulette or blackjack against a human croupier. However, you place bets via a touchscreen terminal and never on the table itself. You place online bets using your mouse or touchscreen. However, the roulette wheel and blackjack cards are real, and the croupiers are trained professionals.

Live dealer games even let you talk to the dealer using the on-screen chat. They provide an interesting experience for online casino game players that comes even closer to replicating in-person play than the other online casino games.

Differences between online casino games and retail casino games

The most significant difference between land-based casinos and online casinos concerns the stakes. It’s legal to gamble for real money in person at land-based sites through the state. However, regulated online casinos in the state only provide play money games at the moment.

Some of the big land-based sites in New York offer play money social casinos games online. It’s legal to register and log on to these casino websites and play games without risking any cash.

Empire City Casino offers an online casino where you can play a selection of slots for free. Del Lago casino, in Waterloo, also provides a social casino on the Play4Fun network. Here, you will find slots where you can win credits and even low-level cash prizes.

Practice responsible gambling in NY

When it comes to gambling, especially casino gaming, the top priority should be to do so responsibly. Don’t let it affect your personal and work life, stick to a budget, even seek help if you need it.

Along those lines, here are a few tips to practice responsible gambling in New York:

  1. Set a limit: This applies to several things. First, keep your bets to within your means. Don’t bet more than you can afford. Fortunately, NY online casinos can help out in this respect, as you can set daily, weekly and monthly limits to keep you within your budget. This also goes for how much time you spend betting. Do not let legal casino or sweepstakes interfere with your personal, social or work life.
  2. Walk away if you need to: If a NY casino game loses, leave it be. Don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Walk away. Bettors oftentimes “chase losses” in hopes of making up for money lost on a previous bet. Remember: There is no sure thing.
  3. Ask for help if you need it: Many feel embarrassed or afraid to reach out for help when it feels like they have a gambling problem. But that’s why programs exist in New York. You can reach out to help lines and seek treatment. Someone is waiting and willing to help. All you have to do is simply ask.

For those looking to seek help, New York has plenty of resources that can help.

The New York Council on Problem Gambling, for example, features regional Problem Gambling Resource Centers and sponsors workshop and webinars to assist anyone seeking problem gambling help.

In addition, the New York State HOPEline is a 24/7 toll-free and confidential hotline can receive assistance, referrals and connections to a wide array of problem gambling resources.

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees the HOPEline. Its website also features more detailed information on the prevention and treatment of problem gambling. So, too, does the New York State Gaming Commission.

Play some of the best casino games online

New York state is slowly opening up its online gaming and casino laws. With online sportsbooks up and running, chances are good lawmakers will be seriously considering the possibility of adding online casinos. While it’s not yet completely legal to play casino games for real money in NY, but if New Jersey continues to be successful with its expanded online gambling options, New York could follow suit.

Remember, New York casino gamblers can currently cross the border and log on to regulated NJ online casinos. They can also play online at social and sweepstakes casinos which continue to expand and offer an increasing selection of slots and table games.

Keep your eye out for the best NY casinos online and give them a try.

Grant Lucas Avatar
Written by
Grant Lucas

Grant Lucas is the managing editor for PlayNY. A longtime, award-winning sports writer, Grant has covered gambling and legal sports betting since 2018, when he got his start reporting on the New Jersey and Pennsylvania industries. He now oversees PlayNY as New York expands legalized gambling to sports betting and online casino gaming.

View all posts by Grant Lucas
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