New York Online Gambling

Is Online Gambling Legal in New York?

New York offers a few forms of legal internet gambling—social casinos, social poker sites, sweepstakes casinos, and sweepstakes poker.

The Empire State also regulated DFS in 2016. However, an anti-gambling coalition has been battling daily fantasy ever since it became legal.

The coalition has scored victories in 2018 and 2020, with judges citing that DFS violates the state constitution both times. Nevertheless, daily fantasy remains legal, pending a final decision by the state’s Court of Appeals.

Other forms of online gambling are illegal in New York. Online casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks remain unregulated.

When Will NY Legalize More Online Gambling?

The Empire State shows a normal line of progression regarding gambling. It approved commercial casinos in 2013.

Lawmakers legalized retail sports betting in 2019. Each commercial casino is allowed to take sports wagers.

Given the trend, we strongly believe that New York will legalize more types of internet gambling. The question is when.

NY lawmakers have put forth efforts to regulate online poker every year since 2014. Each iPoker bill has died in the legislature.

Given the many past failures, we don’t expect NY online poker to become a reality any time soon. However, internet poker could become legal in the state by 2025 or 2026.

When retail sports gambling was approved, lawmakers left out online betting. Gov. Andrew Cuomo worried that adding more internet gambling could violate the state constitution.

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo, who’s introduced online poker bills in the past, is a big advocate of mobile sports gambling. His online betting bill, S17D, hangs in the balance at the time of this writing.

Neighboring Pennsylvania and New Jersey are putting pressure on New York with their thriving internet betting markets. If S17D doesn’t pass, NY politicians should legalize online sports gambling in 2021 or 2022.

Online casinos are a wildcard in New York. The legislature has taken little initiative in regulating internet gaming.

The best hope is that online casinos will be attached to an internet betting or poker bill. Otherwise, gaming sites might not become legal until 2028 or beyond.

New York Online Betting

New York currently only offers legal retail sportsbooks. Again, State Sen. Addabbo has an online-betting bill (S17D) waiting in the legislature.

If NY lawmakers don’t approve S17D, they’ll likely pass a bill within the next year or two. The big hurdle is Gov. Cuomo.

Cuomo expressed concerns that internet betting would violate the following snippet of the state constitution:

“[...] no more than seven (commercial casino) facilities as authorized and prescribed by the legislature shall hereafter be authorized or allowed within this state.”

This bit entered the constitution during the 2013 casino expansion. Cuomo believes that the seven commercial casinos represent finality in New York’s gambling expansion.

Lawmakers have their work cut out in plying Cuomo for his signature. However, all parties will be motivated to get a deal done within the next couple of years.

Looking at other markets, most sports bets take place online. Plus, New York loses revenue to other states when its residents cross borders to place internet bets.

New York Online Casinos

The Empire State doesn’t regulate internet gaming. It isn’t close to legalizing NY online casinos, either.

However, New York does offer legal sweepstakes and social casinos. Both options are legal because they don’t involve betting money to win money.

A social casino sees you gamble with play-money coins. You play games like slots and blackjack while trying to earn achievements and level up.

Zynga Casino is an example of a social gaming site. It lets you earn or buy coins that can lead to cool avatars, level-ups, and more.

A sweepstakes casino also involves betting play-money coins. You can win sweepstakes entries that can result in valuable prizes.

Chumba Casino is a popular sweepstakes gaming site. It offers you two Sweeps Coins just for signing up.

New York Daily Fantasy Sports

New York currently offers legal daily fantasy. DraftKings and FanDuel are the main DFS providers in the Empire State and beyond.

The future of NY daily fantasy is in question. An anti-gambling group is waging a successful war to get DFS banned in New York.

The coalition won a court decision in 2018. It won again when another judge ruled that DFS violates the state constitution.

For now, DraftKings and FanDuel are still legally operating in the Empire State. This could change if the state loses again in the NY Court of Appeals.

New York Poker Sites

Lawmakers have tried harder to legalize online poker than any other form of internet gambling. They’ve attempted to regulate iPoker dating back to 2014.

Every effort has failed. That said, we aren’t sure when/if real-money New York online poker will become available.

However, social and sweepstakes poker is legal in the Empire State. This option is similar to the social and sweepstakes casinos covered earlier.

Global Poker is the top sweepstakes poker room. It lets you play cash games and tournaments in hopes of earning sweepstakes entries.

Zynga is a popular social poker site. It gives you an opportunity to win accolades and share them with social media friends.

How Would you Deposit at New York Online Gambling Sites?

Some banking options are common in US internet gambling markets. The deposit and withdrawal options presented here would likely be available in New York’s potential market, too.

Deposit Methods

• Cash: You’d be able to visit a land-based casino and deposit in person.
• Credit/debit card: Visa, Mastercard, and other card brands would be available.
• E-check: You’d transfer funds from your bank account to a NY gambling site.
• E-wallet: Neteller, PayPal, and/or Skrill are available in many markets.
• PayNearMe: Visit a 7-Eleven or CVS and purchase an online deposit voucher.
• Play+ card: Gambling sites issue you a branded prepaid card for deposit/cashout purposes.

Withdrawal Options

• Cash: You could also visit NY brick-and-mortar casinos to withdraw funds.
• E-check: Transfer money back to your bank account.
• E-wallet: E-wallets also let you cash out.
• Paper check: Request a check from a gambling site.
• Play+ card: Load funds back onto your prepaid card.

You’d need to use the same banking option to deposit and withdraw funds. If you deposit with Play+, for example, then you’ll need to cash out with a prepaid card, too.

Additionally, you’d need to provide extra identification to a NY gambling site when withdrawing money. This helps verify your age and ensure that you’re the one receiving your money.

Online Gambling Bonuses in New York

New York’s bonuses depend on what forms of internet gambling lawmakers eventually legalize. If online betting, casinos, and poker are regulated, you’ll certainly see all of the offers covered below.

Cashback

Cashback lets you win a percentage of your online-casino losses back. This deal typically lasts for your first week at a new gaming site.

Here’s an example:

• An internet casino features a 20% up to $100 cashback deal.
• This offer lasts over your first seven days at the casino.
• You lose $70.
• You can now earn back the $70 by meeting terms and conditions (T&Cs).

Free Spins

Free spins allow you to play real-money slots. You can withdraw money by satisfying T&Cs.

Here’s an example:

• A casino gives you 50 free spins.
• You win $20 with these spins.
• Playthrough is 10x.
• You must wager 20 x 10 = $200.
• You can withdraw what’s left of the $20 after meeting playthrough.

Match Deposit Bonus

This deal involves a gambling site matching your deposit. Match-deposit bonuses are worth up to a specified amount.

Here’s an example:

• A betting site offers a 100% match bonus worth up to $500.
• You deposit $100 and, thus, qualify for a $100 bonus.
• Playthrough is 5x.
• You must wager 100 x 5 = $500.
• You can cash out the $500 after satisfying playthrough.

No Deposit Bonus

Some gambling sites offer a bonus just for completing registration. You keep whatever is left over from these bonuses after meeting T&Cs.

Here’s an example:

• A gambling site delivers a $10 bonus once you register.
• Playthrough is 10x.
• You must wager 10 x 10 = $100.
• You have $12 after satisfying playthrough.
• You can either withdraw the $12 or continue gambling with it.

Risk Free Bet

A risk-free wager gives you an opportunity to earn back losses from a losing bet. Like match-deposit bonuses, these deals are capped at a given amount.

Here’s an example:

• An online sportsbook offers a risk-free bet worth 50% of your deposit up to $500.
• You deposit $500 and, thus, qualify for a $250 free wager.
• You lose the bet.
• Playthrough is 10x.
• You must wager 250 x 10 = $2,500.
• You get the $250 back upon meeting playthrough.

VIP Program

Many gamblings sites boast VIP programs that deliver extra rewards. If you’re playing at an online casino, for example, you can earn deposit bonuses, free spins, and/or cashback.

FAQ on NY Online Gambling