The Empire State doesn’t feature legal real-money online casinos. Lawmakers don’t seem interested in regulating gaming sites at the moment.

They’d likely need to amend the constitution before offering internet casinos. After all, voters approved a referendum in 2013 before commercial casinos could be added.

While New York doesn’t permit real-money online casinos, it does allow social and sweepstakes gaming.

A social casino starts you off with free coins that you can use to play slots, blackjack, and more. If you run out of these coins, you can purchase more.

Social gaming sites don’t give you an opportunity to win real money. However, they do offer achievements and other perks as you continue playing.

A sweepstakes casino also provides free coins in the beginning. Chumba Casino, for example, gives you a no-deposit bonus worth two “Sweeps Coins.”

Just like with social gaming, you can purchase more coins if you run out. Prizes include sweepstakes entries that can lead to cash and/or other prizes.

Will New York Legalize Online Casinos?

NY legislators are more interested in online poker and NY online sports betting (which was legalized in January 2022) at the moment. Politicians have been trying to legalize internet poker since 2014.

They believe that poker, as a skill game, isn’t subject to New York’s ban on most games of chance. However, no bills have passed through the legislature to date.

Online sports betting figures to be more lucrative than poker and, possibly, internet casinos. As Gov. Cuomo points out, though, internet betting may violate the state’s constitution.

Online casinos run into the same problem as sports gambling. They weren’t part of the 2013 amendment and would require their own referendum.

That said, we’re stumped on a prediction for when/if New York will regulate internet gaming. The state may need to package gaming sites with online sports betting and/or poker.

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo packaged internet poker and betting into a single bill. Addabbo’s legislation faces an uncertain future right now.

If Addabbo’s bill fails, then he might consider packaging online betting with casinos and/or poker next time.

If this happens, then NY online casinos could become legal in 2021 or 2022. If not, gaming sites might not become available until 2025 or later.

Depositing at NY Online Casinos

As covered above, New York internet casinos face a long road towards legalization. If they do become available, the following banking options will likely be in play:

  • Bank transfer: Fund an online casino account with an e-check.
  • Cash: Visit a NY land-based casino and deposit with cash.
  • Credit card: Use a Mastercard- or Visa-brand card to deposit.
  • E-wallet: Neteller, PayPal, and/or Skrill would likely be available in New York.
  • Play+: A prepaid card that works like a gift card.
  • PayNearMe: Deposit with cash at a local 7-Eleven or Family Dollar.

How would you use New York Online Casino Apps?

Most NY gaming sites would assuredly offer apps to Android and iOS users. Those that didn’t would feature “instant play.”

Downloading a NY Casino App

Android and iOS gambling apps differ slightly in their download processes. After all, Google Play and Apple feature different policies on the matter.

You’d obtain an Android New York casino app as follows:

  1. Go to an internet casino’s homepage using your mobile device.
  2. Look for the Android button.
  3. Select the icon and follow the download instructions.

You’d obtain an Android New York iOS casino app as follows:

  1. Visit the App Store from your smartphone or tablet.
  2. Search the store for the relevant casino.
  3. Download the app.

What is Instant Play?

When a gaming site offers instant play, it allows you to play games directly through your browser. For example, you might register and play casino games through Safari.

To use instant play, you visit an online casino through your smartphone or tablet. After registering, you can start enjoying free games or place a deposit and play for real money.

Register for an Account

States require gaming sites to ask for specific information during the registration process. New York would be no different in this regard.

You’d certainly need to enter the following info when signing up at NY online casinos:

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Social Security number
  • Mailing address
  • Email
  • Phone number
  • Username
  • Password
  • Bonus code (if applicable)

The final step involves agreeing to the site’s terms and conditions and submitting your account information. The gaming site should approve you as long as you meet two conditions:

  1. You’re at least 18 years of age (common NY minimum gambling age).
  2. You’re not on a gambling self-exclusion list.

Likely New York Online Casinos

Some brands continue to pop up in state after state across the US. Likely online casino brands that would apply for licensing in New York include:

  • BetMGM
  • Caesars
  • DraftKings
  • Golden Nugget
  • FanDuel
  • Tropicana
  • Unibet
  • Virgin Casino

New York is a large state with 19.45 million residents and an annual GDP of $1.5 trillion. It could support internet casinos beyond those mentioned above.

NY Casinos that could Feature Gaming Sites

Each state with regulated online casinos requires operators to partner with an existing land-based gaming establishment.

New York features three different casino types—commercial, racino, and tribal venues.

If commercial casinos were allowed to offer online gaming, tribes would gain this right, too. Tribes have been offering land-based casinos in New York since 1993 through a special compact.

We’re not sure if racinos would also be able to provide internet gaming. If so, the following gambling establishments would be eligible to partner with an online brand:

  • Commercial casinos (only four out of seven are available right now)
    • Del Lago Resort & Casino (Tyre)
    • Resorts World Catskills (Kiamesha Lake)
    • Rivers Casino & Resort (Schenectady)
    • Tioga Downs & Casino (Nichols)
  • Tribal casinos
    • Akwesasne Mohawk Casino (Hogansburg - Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe)
    • Point Place Casino (Bridgeport - Oneida Indian Nation)
    • Seneca Allegany Casino (Salamanca - Seneca Nation of New York)
    • Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino (Buffalo - Seneca Nation of New York)
    • Seneca Niagara Casino (Niagara Falls - Seneca Nation of New York)
    • Turning Stone Resort Casino (Verona - Oneida Indian Nation)
    • Yellow Brick Road Casino (Chittenango - Oneida Indian Nation)
  • Racinos (slot machines only)
    • Batavia Downs (Batavia)
    • Empire City Casino Yonkers Raceway (Yonkers)
    • Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack (Farmington)
    • Jake’s 58 Hotel & Casino (Islandia)
    • Resorts World New York City Casino (NYC)
    • Saratoga Casino and Raceway (Saratoga Springs)
    • Vernon Downs Casino & Hotel (Vernon)

Online Casino Games in New York

We can’t say for sure which games would be available at NY gaming sites. However, slots, table games, video poker, and live dealer games are probable options.

New York Online Slots

Each New York gaming site would surely offer a few hundred slots after getting up to full speed. It’d also spread a variety of slot types ranging from Megaways to jackpot games.

Popular providers would surely include Bally, High 5, IGT, Konami, NetEnt, and WMS. These developers hold plenty of clout in other markets, and they’d excel in New York, too.

Table Games

Blackjack and roulette would be the most popular table games in the Empire State. Most gaming sites feature several blackjack variations and 2-3 roulette games.

Other table games could include:

  • Baccarat
  • Caribbean stud
  • Casino hold’em
  • Let It Ride
  • Mississippi stud
  • Pai Gow poker
  • Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker
  • Three-card poker

Live Dealer Games

This style of gaming streams live table games from brick-and-mortar casinos. You can chat with the dealer and enjoy the sights and sounds of a casino studio with live gaming.

Each market can differ in its live-dealer selection. However, we envision New York featuring a robust collection of live casino games.

Possible options include:

  • American roulette
  • Baccarat
  • Blackjack
  • Blackjack Xchange
  • Casino hold’em
  • Dream Catcher
  • European roulette
  • Three-card poker
  • Unlimited blackjack

Video Poker

Most markets don’t offer an abundance of video poker. However, Game King and Regal do a solid job of providing video-poker variants to different states.

Potential games that could appear in New York include:

  • Bonus Poker (Game King)
  • Double Bonus Poker (Game King)
  • Double Double Bonus Poker (Game King)
  • Jacks or Better (Game King)
  • Deuces Wild (Regal)
  • Double Poker (Regal)
  • Double Double Poker (Regal)
  • Jacks or Better (Regal)
  • Joker Poker (Regal)

NY Online Casino Bonuses

New York’s prospective online gaming market would likely provide generous bonuses. These offers could include:

  • Cashback - You receive a percentage (e.g., 20%) of your losses back.
  • Free spins - You play real-money slots for free and rack up winnings.
  • Loyalty rewards - A casino gives you rewards based on your gambling volume.
  • Match-deposit bonus - The casino matches your deposit up to a specified amount.
  • No-deposit bonus - You receive a bonus after completing registration.

Internet casino bonuses always come with terms and conditions. Therefore, you’d need to satisfy T&Cs on any NY bonus you pursued.

FAQ

Why hasn’t New York legalized online casinos?

New York’s constitution is restrictive regarding gambling. Voters needed to approve a referendum to allow commercial casinos in 2013.

Internet casinos would likely require a similar constitutional amendment. Lawmakers may not be ready for this until they can package multiple forms of gambling into one bill.

How old would I need to be to play at NY online casinos?

New York’s default minimum gambling age is 18. Some tribal casinos require you to be 21+ years old because they serve alcohol.

Of course, gaming sites can’t serve you drinks. Therefore, you’d likely only need to be 18 to play at NY online casinos.

Would I need to live in New York to play at online casinos?

No. Like other states, New York would merely require that you be within state lines to play online casino games.

Would New York online casinos be fair?

Yes. The New York State Gaming Commission would oversee internet casinos and ensure that they treated players fairly.