NY Sports Betting

New York became a legal sports betting state in July 2019.

In a spectacular launch, politicians and athletes gathered at the Rivers Casino in Schenectady. The city’s Mayor Gary McCarthy placed the first bet.

Since then, seven more land-based casinos in New York have opened sportsbooks. The four commercial casinos in the state are joined by four tribal casinos.

Online sports betting has yet to launch in New York, but there are rumblings that it as well as mobile wagering may not be too far in the future. PlayNY will keep you informed about all the latest launches, news, and updates surrounding sports betting in New York.

Latest NY sports betting updates and timeline

Sports betting legalized in New York, with limitations

In January 2019, the New York State Gaming Commission released rules for betting in the state, basing its guidelines on the 2013 gaming expansion law.

Even before the first legal wagers were placed in July 2019, legislators began pushing for the authorization of online sports betting. Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. was at the front of the effort, but time and again, the quest to expand regulated wagering online has fell short.

The latest effort appears to have finally succeeded. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has expressed his desire not to have online betting in New York, eased up on the idea to provide funding for his budget. However, his plan for online betting was much different than the one lawmakers have proposed in the past.

The framework is largely a state-run model. The legislation calls for the NYSGC to contract with two “platform providers,” who will each hold at least two skins to delve out. It isn’t yet clear exactly who qualifies to be a platform provider or how the state will solve the potential conflict with tribal exclusivity zones. For the time being, though, it looks like Cuomo got his wish and legal online sports betting is coming to the Empire State at some point.

NY sports betting timeline

• Jan. 17, 2022: The New York State Gaming Commission’s deadline for choosing the state’s two platform providers.
• July 31, 2021: Proposals from interested parties to become one of two platform providers operating with the state’s consent are due. Recipients of these contracts will have the power to divide out skins to operators.
• July 1, 2021: The law says the NYSGC must submit a request for proposals from parties interested in becoming one of the state’s two platform providers by this date.
• April 7, 2021: Both the Senate and General Assembly approved the final budget, starting the official countdown of online sports betting coming to New York.
• March 31, 2021: With mere hours left before a legislative deadline, Cuomo and the legislature finalized language that changes the status of online sports betting in NY. The law calls for a largely state-run model with at least four skins and puts deadlines on the NYSGC for regulatory purposes.
• March 25, 2021: With a week to go before the final budget is due, there are whispers that Cuomo is still pushing his sports betting plan and won’t budge and include a casino licensing model. With time ticking down, lawmakers begin to negotiate a compromise in order to get something into the final budget.
• March 15, 2021: As the Senate and Assembly work together to come up with a budget plan, Pretlow gains confidence that he has the support to get his version of mobile sports betting in the final budget proposal. It turns out getting an agreement in the legislature was just the start of the process.
• March 9, 2021: As Cuomo’s controversies started to pile up, local lawmakers were hopeful this was actually a good thing for online sports betting’s prospects. The hope was, rather than slowing things down, Cuomo’s problems would distract the governor from pushing his own plan and the plan from Pretlow and Addabbo with 14 skins could move forward.
• Jan. 20, 2021: New York legislators counter Cuomo’s state-run monopoly plan for sports betting with a pair of identical bills that would allow for a more “conventional” online sports betting structure in the state. S1183/A1257 would grant the four commercial casinos and three federally-recognized tribes in New York the ability to host as many as two sportsbook skins. In other words, there could be as many as 14 online sportsbooks operating in the Empire State.
• Jan. 6, 2021: In a stroke of unexpected good news, Cuomo reverses his long-held opposition to mobile sports betting. Stunningly, the governor plans to include mobile sports wagering as part of his policy proposals for 2021. Unfortunately, Cuomo also posits that he is in favor of a state-run monopoly on sports betting through the state lottery. His concept would limit the growth potential of the New York sports betting market and might not stop the flow of sports betting dollars to New Jersey as effectively as state lawmakers would like.
• Dec., 2020: The clouds begin to break with regard to Cuomo’s opposition to online sports betting. In a televised briefing, the governor mentions sports betting as a possible solution to New York’s growing budget deficit. Cuomo has been feeling the fiscal noose tighten for months after revealing that the state is $50 billion in debt and unlikely to receive federal assistance.
• July 21, 2020: Mobile sports betting continues to be a frustrating issue in the state of New York. Although there is a twinned mobile sports betting bill in both chambers of the New York Assembly, there are conflicting reports about its chances for advancing through the legislature. However, since both Gov. Cuomo and New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie voiced their opposition to mobile sports betting, there are significant challenges ahead for New Yorkers who want to bet on sports with their mobile devices.
• April 3, 2020: Cuomo smashes any hope of immediate mobile sports betting with the finalization of the state budget for the year. Online sports wagering is pointedly not part of the plans for revenue generation going forward. Although deficits within the budget meant that cuts to services like healthcare and education were in the offing, Cuomo was unmoved by the notion of adding expanded sports betting.
• Feb. 6, 2020: The prospects for New Yorkers to continue playing daily fantasy sports dim considerably after an appellate court decision affirms a previous ruling that New York’s DFS law is unconstitutional. The 2016 DFS law attempted to amend the New York constitution to classify DFS as a game of skill, but two separate courts have rejected that argument from the state. There is now significant doubt that daily fantasy sports are a long-term facet of life in the Empire State.
• Jan. 2020: In a remarkable display of faith, DraftKings Sportsbook announces that it has renewed its partnership with the Madison Square Garden Company, the operating organization for Madison Square Garden. The company’s branding and logos will now appear in the most famous arena in the world and all of its associated properties. The move also makes DraftKings the official sports betting partner for both the New York Rangers and the New York Knicks. The move is somewhat stunning, considering that mobile sports betting is not legal in New York and daily fantasy sports is under considerable fire there.

Live sportsbooks in NY

New York is home to nearly a dozen retail sportsbooks. Each of the four commercial casinos has its own sports betting facility, and seven tribal casinos have opened their own books. However, New York’s sports betting opportunity is hampered by the fact that each casino location is located upstate, far from New York City. Although New Yorkers who live upstate are benefitting from a wide selection of betting locations, few states would benefit more from online sports betting than the Empire State.

At any rate, here are the details about the sportsbook locations in New York:

Casino	Address	NY Sportsbook
Akwesansa Mohawk Casino & Resort	873 State Rte. 37, Hogansburg	Sticks Sports Book & Grill
Del Lago Resort Casino, Waterloo	1133 NY-414, Waterloo, NY 13165	DraftKings
Point Place Casino, Bridgeport	450 NY-31, Bridgeport, NY 13478	The Lounge with Caesars Sports
Resorts World Catskills, Monticello	888 Resorts World Dr, Monticello, NY 12701	Bet365
Rivers Casino & Resort, Schenectady	1 Rush St, Schenectady, NY 12305	Rivers
Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino	1 Fulton St., Buffalo	Sports Book
Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino	310 4th St., Niagara Falls	Sports Lounge
Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino	777 Seneca Allegany Blvd., Salamanca	Sports Lounge
Tioga Downs, Nichols	2384 W River Rd, Nichols, NY 13812	PointsBet
Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona	5218 Patrick Rd, Verona, NY 13478	Caesars
Yellow Brick Road Casino, Chittenango	800 W Genesee St, Chittenango, NY 13037	Caesars

Rivers Casino & Resorts, Schenectady

• Partnered with Rush Street Gaming using a sports betting platform developed by Kambi

Sports betting takes place at the Rivers Sportsbook, a 5,000 square foot equipped with 18 individual VIP club chairs and table seating for around 80 customers. There are five private booths each with TV monitors and each spacious enough for six people.

There is a 53′ x 9′ video wall with 22 additional 86” TV monitors. There is no excuse for missing the action.

Fourteen betting kiosks cater to those comfortable with user-friendly technology and six betting windows for those who prefer the personal touch. Kiosks are open for bets from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Betting window hours are 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily.

The casino is located at 1 Rush St, Schenectady, NY 12305.

Tioga Downs, Nicols

• Partnered with FanDuel, Tioga also has a deal with Australian company PointsBet. That partnership looks to be for online sports betting which is not yet available.

Smaller than the Rivers Sportsbook, but still substantial, the Tioga Downs Sportsbook occupies 2,600 square feet close to the casino’s main entrance.

There are eight betting windows and 27 separate video displays including a large video wall. Seating is available for over 50 customers including 12 lounge seats, seven high tables, and two drinks rails.

The sportsbook is open:

• Monday – Friday: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
• 10 a.m. – 2 a.m.
• Saturday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Tioga Downs is located at 2384 W River Rd, Nichols, NY 13812.

Del Lago Resort Casino, Waterloo

• Partnered with DraftKings

The new sportsbook at the Del Lago Casino covers over 6,000 square feet of action. There are four betting windows and a total of 23 betting kiosks. Kiosks are open 24/7.

Games and odds are displayed on over 1,000 square feet of video screens. For in-game betting, there are real-time odds boards. One differentiator offered at Del Lago is that they have over 30 different varieties of beer on tap.

Opening hours are:

• 8 a.m. – 11 p.m., daily

The Del Lago Resort Casino is located at 1133 NY-414, Waterloo, NY 13165.

Resorts World Catskills, Monticello

• Partnered with UK company bet365, which notably has an equity stake in the casino.

Resorts World calls its sports betting area Sportsbook 360. That’s because there is a bar at the center surrounded by 360 degrees of video screens. In the 6,000 square foot area, there are 35 75-inch flat-screen displays plus a 9′ x 16′ definition screen.

The sportsbook comfortably seats over 100 and there are 14 betting kiosks open 24 hours a day to accept wagers when the betting counter is closed.

Opening hours are:

• Wednesday – Monday – 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Tuesday: 3 p.m. – 11 p.m.

The Resorts World Casino is located at 888 Resorts World Dr, Monticello, NY 12701.

Three tribal casinos run by the Oneida Indian Nation also have sports betting up and running. All are partnered with Caesars Entertainment using a platform provided by Scientific Games:

Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona

Known as “The Lounge with Caesars Sports,” the Turning Stone sports betting area has gone for a chic look. Blue leather high-backed chairs and a long translucent bar provide a modern aesthetic. The bar offers signature cocktails and a range of craft beers.

There are 17 screens available to display the action. The largest is 48′ long and 9′ high.

Opening hours are:

• Monday – Thursday: 12 p.m.. – 8 p.m.
• Friday: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m..
• Saturday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

The Turning Stone Casino is located at 5218 Patrick Rd, Verona, NY 13478.

Point Place Casino, Bridgeport

Built along similar lines to the Turning Point Casino, the Point Place sportsbook is also known as “The Lounge with Caesars Sports.”

The sportsbook area boasts a 24′-high resolution video wall plus 30 big LED screens. There are also luxury VIP areas with their own dedicated screens where you can follow the action.

Opening hours are:

• Monday – Thursday: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Friday: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
• Saturday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Point Place Casino is located at 450 NY-31, Bridgeport, NY 13030.

Yellow Brick Road Casino, Chittenango

The third “The Lounge with Caesars Sports” is at the Oneida Nation’s Yellow Brick Road Casino.

The lounge has a 32′ video wall and over 30 large display TVs. The largest six of these have 85-inch screens. There are also seven VIP areas known as “caves” for exclusive game-day events and dozens of recliners to relax in as you watch the action.

All in all the area offers space for over 200 sports fans.

Opening hours are:

• Monday – Thursday: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Friday: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
• Saturday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Yellow Brick Road Casino is located at 800 W Genesee St, Chittenango, NY 13037.

Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino

Located a mere 15 miles from Bills Stadium, this sportsbook has the essentials for betting customers. This includes televisions and self-service kiosks open and accessible around the clock every day. Looking to minimize time spent in betting lines? Simply use a bet-building app to select your bets, bring the QR code to the sportsbook or ticket window, and scan to complete your transaction.

Opening hours are:

• Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 12 a.m.
• Saturday – Sunday: 8 a.m. – 12 a.m.

Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino is located at 1 Fulton St, Buffalo, New York 14204.

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino

Similar to sister Seneca properties, the Sports Lounge sportsbook offers ample seating and screens to catch the game. In addition to betting windows and self-service kiosks, customers have access to a bet-building app to preset wagers. They will need to take that QR code to the sportsbook to complete their transaction.

Opening hours are:

• 10 a.m. – 12 a.m., daily

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino is located at 310 4th St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303.

Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino

It should come as no shock that the Sports Lounge at Seneca Allegany closely resembles the retail sportsbooks at the other two Seneca casinos. That means access to TVs to follow the game as well as to betting windows and self-service kiosks. As ever with Seneca, bettors can build their bets via an app before bringing in the QR code to scan at the sportsbook to complete the transaction.

Opening hours are:

• Monday – Thursday: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Friday – Saturday: 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Sunday: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino is located at 777 Seneca Allegany Blvd, Salamanca, New York 14779.

Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort

The Sticks Sports Book & Grill at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort boasts a 9-by-13-foot high-definition video wall to complement 18 65-inch TVs. If that weren’t enough, guests will be greeted by various odds boards while relaxing in comfortable seating.

Opening hours are:

• Wednesday – Thursday: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
• Friday: 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.
• Saturday – Sunday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort is located at 873 NY-37, Hogansburg, New York 13655.

What’s the minimum age to bet?

While New York allows some gambling such as buying lottery tickets for 18-year-olds, the minimum age for sports betting is 21.

Can I make bets online or on my mobile device in NY?

New York does not allow online gambling or mobile gambling. You are not allowed to place sports bets using your mobile device.

There are no legal online poker or online casino games permitted in New York. If you are playing these games or sports betting online while in New York, you are doing so at an unregulated site. You have no legal protection in the event anything goes wrong.

You can, however, play online poker at Global Poker and online casino games at Chumba for real money under sweepstakes law.

Those in New York wanting more legal and regulated online gaming options should lobby their state senator and assemblyman. Requesting their legislators approve a bill to allow online gaming in New York could help tip the scales in their favor.

Are the odds the same as in Las Vegas?

PASPA carved out an exemption for states which already had legal sports betting. That is how Las Vegas sportsbooks have managed to operate since 1992.

The odds quoted in Las Vegas vary from casino to casino depending on which technology platform they use. Top Vegas casino owner Caesars Entertainment is partnered with three of New York’s sports betting casinos, so the odds should generally match those on offer in Vegas.

Any differences that exist will usually be the result of local promotions and special offers.

The gambling tax rate in Nevada is 6.75 percent while it is 10 percent in New York. While significant, the difference is not enough to have any real effect on the odds posted in New York.

What games can I bet on in NY?

The NYSGC allows betting on 11 sports. Betting is restricted to specific tournaments or leagues. Click on the name of the sport to see exactly what bets are allowed for each:

• Auto Racing: NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Outdoor Truck Series, Formula One, and IndyCar Series
• Baseball: MLB and Olympics
• Basketball: NBA, WNBA, and NCAA Division I
• Boxing: Professional Title and Qualifying Title Bouts Sanctioned by the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO, and the Olympics
• UFC/MMA Fighting Sports: UFC and Bellator MMA
• Football: NFL, CFL, and NCAA FBS
• Golf: PGA Tour Events, PGA Tour Champions, LPGA, European Tour, and Ryder Cup
• Hockey: NHL, NCAA Division I, and Olympics
• Rugby: “World Rugby” World Cup
• Soccer: IFA World Cup and Qualifiers, MLS, UEFA Champions League (Group Stage and Beyond), English Premier League, Spanish la Liga, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, French Ligue I, Mexican Liga Bancomer, UEFA Europa League (Group Stage and Beyond), CONCACAF Gold Cup (Group Stage and Beyond) and CONMEBOL Copa America (Group Stage and Beyond)
• Tennis: USTA Pro Events, ATP Tour Events (500 Series and Above), WTA Tour Events (International and Above), and Grand Slam Tournaments (Main Events Only)

Fans of local college teams are not allowed to bet on events where their home team is participating.

The NYSGC will update this list as time goes on but the regulatory mood probably won’t allow betting on esports or on esoteric events such as the Oscars.

What bet types are allowed for New York sports bets?

As with the range of permitted sports, the NYSGC specifies what bet types are allowed for each sport. Some of the most popular bet types allowed by the regulations are:

Moneyline bets

Moneyline bets are simple bets on the outcome of a game. The odds on moneyline bets are slightly more complicated if you aren’t an experienced sports bettor.

Odds are quoted as a positive or negative number. For example, an NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys might see moneyline odds of:

• Buffalo Bills +150
• Dallas Cowboys -110

The + sign means that the Bills are the underdogs in the game. The larger the number, the higher or longer the odds. That means a wager on the Bills would return more money than your original stake if they win. If you bet $100 in this case, you would win $150 because the odds are +150.

The Cowboys are the favorite so you will win less for every dollar you bet. You have to bet $110 to win $100 here.

Futures bets

Futures bets are wagers on events where the outcome will not be known for some time. Allowable futures wagers are specified precisely by the NYSGC. For example, if you’re an NHL fan and want to bet on the winner of the Stanley Cup, you can.

Spread bets

Spread bets are not bets on which team will win, but on whether a team will beat expectations. In the moneyline example above, the Bills are the underdogs. With a spread bet you can still win on the Bills even if they lose the game. It’s a great way to bet on your team when you think they are unlikely to win but may cover the spread.

So, what is the spread in betting? The sportsbook quotes a spread which is based on their central estimate of the most likely score. If your team wins by more than the spread, you win your bet. If your team loses by less than the spread, you win. For example, if you bet on the Cowboys -3 and they win by at least 4, you win your bet. If you take the Bills +3 and they lose by 2 or 1 or tie or win, you would be a winner.

Totals bet

The winner of a match is irrelevant in a totals bet. The bet depends only on the total of both teams’ scores at the end of the match. You bet on whether the final score total will be over or under a figure quoted.

In a recent baseball match between the Dodgers and the Padres, the totals bet was quoted as:

• LA Dodgers O 10.5 +100
• SD Padres U 10.5 -130

In this game, the bookmaker expects the most probable total runs in the game to be 10.5. If you take the over, you need at least 11 runs to win. If you take the under, you win if the total scores combine for 10 or fewer runs. The difference in the odds quoted for each determines your exact payout and provides the bookmaker’s profit.

The O and the U next to each team’s name differentiates the over from the under.

Parlays

Parlay bets are extremely popular because they connect several simple bets to allow for a big win from a small initial wager.

In a parlay bet, you wager on multiple games, usually taking place on the same day. Instead of making individual bets on each game, you make a single wager combining all your bets. To win the parlay you must win all the bets included. If any of the bets are losers, you lose the parlay.

The chances of guessing the winners of multiple games are much lower than predicting just a single game. For that reason, the odds you get for making a parlay wager are much higher than for a simple moneyline bet. That means a much larger potential win.

A stake of only a few dollars can potentially lead to a six-figure win—if you can get very, very lucky.

In-game betting

In-game or in-play betting refers to bets placed after a match has started. The NYSGC allows all its permitted bets for each sport to be made in-game.

There are sports betting taxes, do I have to pay them?

It depends on what taxes you mean. If you happen to realize winnings over the course of a tax year, then you do need to claim them as part of your federal, state, and local income taxes. However, the tax rate mentioned in the New York sports betting law is a 10% levy on the sportsbooks themselves. They must pay 10% for the privilege of operating in the state. So, don’t worry about that bit of taxation, but don’t blow off paying your taxes on gambling winnings, either.

Daily Fantasy Sports in New York

Daily fantasy sports are legal and regulated in New York.

On Aug 3, 2016, the state enacted a law that allows DFS sites to serve the New York population. Major operators like DraftKings and FanDuel, which had previously been forced to abandon the state under an order from Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, returned to the state.

A 2017 report from the NYSGC showed DFS operators generated $18,621,700 in gross gaming revenue in New York from September 2016 through January 2017. In other words, they averaged $3,724,340 each month.

The state collected 15 percent, or a total of $2,796,182, in taxes from DFS operators during that period.

Extrapolated estimates would put annual DFS revenues in New York at $44.6 million per year with taxes of around $6.7 million.

How big is the NY sports betting market?

The American Gaming Association estimates Americans bet $154 billion on sports in 2016. Nearly all of those wagers were made through illegal channels, like personal bookies and offshore websites.

Based upon per-capita rates of betting, New York’s 19.75 million residents likely bet around $9.38 billion on sports in 2016.

Who is the regulator if I have a problem?

If you have any problems with bets you have placed or any other issue with a specific operator, you should first talk to the casino management. If that doesn’t work, or you have any general issues to do with sports betting, you can contact the regulator:

New York State Gaming Commission

• Main Office: (518) 388-3300
• General Questions or Comments: [email protected]
• Freedom of Information Requests: [email protected]
• Lottery Security: (518) 388-3416

Mailing Address:

New York State Gaming Commission, PO Box 7500, Schenectady, New York 12301-7500

NYSGC facilities offices

The NYSGC also has facilities offices at the main casinos:

Turning Stone Casino

• PO Box 808, Verona, NY 13476
• Phone: (315) 363-2803 / Available 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Mohawk Casino

• O. Box 869, Hogansburg, New York 13655
• Phone: (518) 358-6302 / Available 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Seneca Niagara Casino

• O. Box 1050, Niagara Falls, New York 14303
• Phone: (716) 284-5578 / Available 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Seneca Allegany Casino

• PO Box 546, Salamanca, NY 14779
• Phone: (716) 945-4813 / Available 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Seneca Buffalo Casino

• One Fulton Street, Buffalo, NY 14204
• Phone: (716) 710-4449 / Available 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Yellow Brick Road Casino

• 800 West Genesee Street, Chittenango, NY 13037
• Phone: (315) 366-9427 / Available 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Resorts World New York City Casino

• 110-00 Rockaway Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11420
• Phone: (718) 215-2828

Empire City Casino Yonkers Raceway

• 810 Yonkers Ave., Yonkers, NY 10704
• Phone: (914) 968-4200

Saratoga Casino & Raceway

• 342 Jefferson St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
• Phone: (518) 584-2110

Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack

• 5857 Route 96, Farmington, NY 14425
• Phone: (585) 924-3232

Monticello Casino & Raceway

• 204 State Route 17B, Monticello, NY 12701
• Phone: (845) 794-4100

Hamburg Gaming at The Fairgrounds

• 5600 McKinley Parkway, Hamburg, NY 14075
• Phone: (716) 646-6109

Tioga Downs Casino

• 2384 W. River Rd., Nichols, NY 13812-1406
• Phone: 1-888-WIN-TIOGA

Vernon Downs Casino & Hotel

• 4229 Stuhlman Rd., Vernon, NY 13476
• Phone: 1-877-88-VERNON

Batavia Downs

• 8315 Park Rd., Batavia, NY 14020
• Phone: (585) 343-3750

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