New York online casinos for real money are not yet allowed, but there is optimism that could change in 2025. When NY online casinos do launch, expect a huge library of NY online casino games and generous welcome offers for new customers. While we wait, those in the state looking to play online casino games can try out the free-to-play social and sweepstakes casinos in NY listed below.
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Are online casinos legal in New York?
Real money online casinos are not allowed in New York at present. The New York state constitution expressly forbids games of chance, a definition that suitably fits online casino games, except for the few commercial casinos and tribal locations allowed by various carve-outs. However, that might be changing as soon as 2025.
When will NY online casinos launch?
If lawmakers do authorize iGaming, New York online casinos could be legalized in 2025. Once regulations are in place and the licensing process concludes, the first legal online casinos in New York could go live later in the year. But the launch date could get pushed to 2026, depending on the efficiency of drafting rules and regulations.
Based on recent New York polls, the public generally supports the legalization of NY online casinos to help with state budget issues. That said, certain constituents do oppose the idea, including some associated with retail commercial casinos who believe online casinos might introduce unwanted problems for their industry. The debates will no doubt continue, and we’ll be following them closely here at PlayNY to see whether or not an online gambling bill will earn enough support among lawmakers to make it over the finish line.
NY online casinos at a glance
As the next push for legal online casinos in NY is here, this is what you can expect when they launch. This is based on what the online casino market looks like in New Jersey and the details that have been included in previous New York bills. Here’s a quick look at some of the key elements for online casinos in New York:
- Legal betting age: 21+
- Online casinos that will be in New York: BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, and Golden Nugget all figure to be part of the online casino scene in New York when it arrives
- Online games that will be offered in New York: You should see popular casino games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, crap, poker, and slots. The list of games should also include live dealer table games, virtual games, Keno, bingo, scratch cards and novelty titles (some based on TV shows)
- Tax rate at New York online casinos: Proposed in the 2024 bill to be 30.5%
- Who will regulate online casinos in New York: The New York State Gaming Commission will oversee legal NY online casinos
NY casino news
New York online casino bill details December 2024
In 2024, Sen. Joseph Addabbo once again proposed a new bill to legalize online casinos in New York (S8185). As expected, Asm. Gary Pretlow proposed a matching bill (A9198) as well. However, despite all the efforts, Gov. Kathy Hochul didn’t include the online casino bill in her fiscal year 2025 executive budget, once again killing hopes of iGaming legalization in the Empire State. Efforts will now turn to 2025, when New York could face a budget deficit exceeding $9 billion.
Here are some of the relevant details of the recent NY online casino bills:
- Online casino play is taxable at a 30.5% rate. This rate is higher than the online casino tax rates in New Jersey and Michigan, but considerably less than the 54% rate that Pennsylvania applies to slot games.
- Mobile interactive gaming licenses cost $2 million for 10 years.
- $11 million annually for problem gambling education and treatment.
- Potential for up to 31 licenses: Four upstate casinos; three future downstate casinos; three Indian tribes; eight VLT racinos; nine online sportsbooks; three out-of-state bidders.
- One skin per licensee.
- $25 million annually to a fund for the New York Hotel & Gaming Trades Council. The council can use that fund to ensure that online casinos don’t negatively affect brick-and-mortar casinos in New York.
- Increases jobs in New York via live dealer games that must be conducted in the state.
- There are no significant restrictions on the games that would become available.
- Includes online lottery in the bill.
Amendments to the 2024 online casino bill in New York
As with any bill, amendments are added to make it better or add further context to what was previously there. After proposing his 2024 bill, Sen. Addabbo amended and recommitted legislation to the New York Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee. Here are some of the changes made to the bill in hopes of bringing legal online casinos and online lottery to New York:
- Addabbo added Article 15 to the bill, spelling out “legislative intent and findings.” This details how seven states have legalized online casinos in the US.
- To help address concerns from the labor union, any operator looking to earn a New York online casino license must commit to using union employees.
- The bill could carve out as many as 31 licenses for online casinos in New York, including some for tribes. Added to the bill, in order to qualify, a tribe must “waive … exclusive geographic right to offer and conduct interactive gaming.”
- Ensure gamblers in New York have no more than one account with the licensee.
- The New York State Gaming Commission will have authorization to enter agreements with other states, allowing New York gamblers to participate in multistate contests.
- As for the online lottery, the bill details specific games that lottery players in the state could play. Those include: “any lawful lottery game authorized by the Commission including joint, multi-jurisdiction and out-of-state lottery games, daily number games, lotto games, quick draw and instant cash.”
New York online promotional sweepstakes social casinos
A lot of people in states where real money online casinos aren’t available regularly play at social casinos 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 to win them.
There are many sites available for NY players. These sites have become popular because of their selection of casino-style games. New Yorkers can play at any of them to their hearts’ content and do so from the comfort of their own home, including table games and online slots in NY. Here are three of the most popular:
- WOW Vegas: WOW Vegas has fast become an especially popular social casino in large part because of its especially large slot library of around 1,000 slots. Daily bonuses, prize drops, a VIP club and other promos keep players coming back.
- High 5 Casino: High 5 Casino has even more slots than WOW Vegas with over 1,400 and counting. Even better, you can play live dealer games at High 5 including blackjack and roulette.
- McLuck: McLuck likewise features a big library of 700+ slots with the chance to win McJackpots possible on every single spin. McLuck also has live dealer action with blackjack, roulette, baccarat, several wheel-based games, and Crash Live.
Other sweepstakes sites and social casinos to consider:
- Jackpota
- Mega Bonanza Casino
- NoLimitCoins
- RealPrize
- Pulsz Casino
- Punt Casino
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
There are currently seven casinos owned and operated by Native American tribes that offer plenty of gaming opportunities for visitors.
| Casino | City | Slots | Table Games | Poker Tables |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turning Stone Casino Resort | Verona, NY | 2,000+ | 80+ | 32 |
| Yellow Brick Road Casino | Chittenango, NY | 400+ | 14+ | --- |
| Point Place Casino | Bridgeport, NY | 500+ | 20+ | --- |
| Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino | Buffalo, NY | 1,100+ | 35+ | --- |
| Seneca Niagara Resorts & Casino | Niagara Falls, NY | 2,800+ | 100+ | 16 |
| Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino | Salamanca, NY | 1,600+ | 30+ | --- |
| Akwesasne Mohawk Casino | Hogansburg, NY | 1,500+ | 25+ | 5 |
Commercial casinos in New York
New York additionally features four major commercial casinos.
| Casino | City | Slots | Table Games | Poker Tables |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tioga Downs | Nichols, NY | 900+ | 128+ | 6 |
| Del Lago Resort & Casino | Waterloo, NY | 2,000+ | 66+ | 14 |
| Rivers Casino & Resort | Schenectady, NY | 1,150+ | 67 | 16 |
| Resorts World Catskills | Monticello, NY | 2,000+ | 150+ | 19 |
There are other gaming facilities in the state as well, including racinos and other tribe-owned establishments.
Downstate NY casino expansion
All of the casinos listed above are located in upstate New York. That will change, however, as New York currently plans to add three downstate NY casinos.
NY lawmakers authorized the downstate casinos back in 2022, and with licensing fees costing at least $500 million apiece, New York could collect a minimum $1.5 billion straightaway. But there have been numerous delays ever since that have prevented construction from going forward. In fact, the current timeline as set forth by the New York State Gaming Commission would push the openings of new NY casinos even further down the road.
The Commission has changed the due date for license applications to the end of June 2025, giving itself until the end of Dec. 2025 to make decisions regarding who will be allowed to build the new facilities and where they will build them.
Since the legislation passed, several prominent industry operators have shown interest, including Bally’s, Caesars, Hard Rock, MGM Resorts, Mohegan, Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts, and others. Possible locations for the new casinos have ranged from several possible sites in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Yonkers, Uniondale, and the Bronx. New Yorkers will have to remain patient, however, to find out just when and where the casinos finally will arrive.
NY online casinos and responsible gambling
When NY online casinos do launch, they will no doubt follow the lead of NY online sportsbooks and be required to follow guidelines to promote responsible gambling. These include enabling users to set limits on how much they bet in one sitting or in a week, as well as to voluntarily self-exclude from betting apps. The sites will also be required to provide other guidance, including information about helplines and other resources to prevent and treat problem gambling.
Responsible gambling is a two-way street, however, requiring both operators and gamblers to do their part to ensure gambling remains fun and entertaining. Check out our guide to responsible gambling in New York for more information about best practices when gambling and where to get help if needed.