The Legal Status of Gambling in Texas Outside of the lottery and exceptions for private, charitable, and carnival games, no traditional forms of gambling are legal in the Lone Star State. United States gambling law is governed by three sets of gaming regulations, one each for local, state, and federal entities. Some states have gaming regulations that go back more than two centuries; other states have yet to address major aspects of the industry at all.
With such a large population in such a small state, we have found that the legalities of online gambling in New York are very important. If you live in New York or are visiting the state, you will find that there is a reason for the mass confusion surrounding the laws in the New York.
Historically, these laws have been scattered and inconsistent. However, now that the federal sports betting ban PASPA (the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, 1992) has been overturned by the US Supreme Court, New York is actively promoting sports betting – and online casino gaming and athletics wagering – within its borders. Several bills are currently being considered to formally legalize these practices statewide.
We are going to give you a brief overview of the New York gambling industry, how much you have to worry about indictment or arrest for participating in that industry, as well as why online gambling is generally superior to land-based gambling - especially if you are hesitant to visit certain unlicensed gambling outlets (i.e. black market bookies and betting clubs) that are often found on street corners, in bodegas, and at similar back-alley venues.
Online Gambling Age For New York Residents
New York's gambling industry has had quite a few age limits put in place, with most forms of gambling regulated by an age of 18 or 21. Few forms of gambling can be enjoyed at 18 - the lottery, bingo, dog and horse racing, and even online bingo - but this is better than nothing. With casinos, poker rooms, and most forms of online gambling - particularly casinos, sports betting and poker rooms - you have to be at least 21 years of age in order to begin participating.
That said, all the top offshore sports betting and casino sites that serve NY residents only require their members to be 18 or older, and it is 100% legal to wager through these avenues if you meet that age limit.
New York Online Gambling Laws
In the state of New York, you will not find any laws written specifically to ban online gambling, but there is also no law that has been written to establish a framework for online gambling (albeit this is likely to change soon, as NY is very close to passing online sports betting legislation and may include broader gambling considerations therein). With no specific laws as a reference, there is a debate over whether or not existing gambling laws cover online gambling. This has caused great contention in New York, and it is one reason that so many people are hesitant to gamble online in the state.
However, gambling at offshore sportsbooks and casinos is unambiguously legal, as New York state law only concerns those who operate sportsbooks and gambling houses, not those who place bets with such services. For more on New York’s current gambling laws, check out Article 225 of the New York Penal Code.
Gambling Sites That Accept New York Residents
Residents in the state of New York will find that there are many open-ended gambling sites. Poker rooms, sportsbooks, casinos and even bingo halls can be found online for New York residents. Any choice can prove profitable, and only those who have passed our rigorous testing will be listed here. Below, you can find a list of the best 2021 New York gambling sites.
BetOnline: Live Betting Odds For Giants And Jets Games
New York is home to the National Football League, the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer. So, I can say with confidence that New York loves its sports. I’m sure New York sports fans like to bet on games from time to time, too. But why bet for peanuts and small potatoes when you can use BetOnline’s sportsbook and have your cake and eat it too?
Constantly updated with all your chalk teams and players, at BetOnline, you can become a bona fide sharp and get the edge over your friends and family. This site needs no introduction to seasoned sports fans, as television personalities, sports analysts, and media moguls rant and rave about BetOnline. No fluff or puff here – just the best overall sports betting site for New York residents.
BetOnline is a legal betting site that follows all the rules and regulations imposed by the federal government. They are very well respected and trusted. BetOnline has been an established betting site since 1991, which means that it has clearly withstood the test of time in an industry where customer service is everything.
Joining BetOnline is also free and simple. All you have to do is click on the “Join Now” icon and follow the three easy steps. With your first deposit, you can receive a 50% welcome bonus that can go up to $1000. That’s a lot of cash to play with! BetOnline also has a variety of other games that you can play. Waiting on a bet, laboring through a halftime show, or bored between innings? Pass the time with slots, poker, table games, and more. Seize the day and sign up at BetOnline! Go To BetOnline!
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| Rank | Casino | Highlights | Rating | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100% Up To $3,000 Read Review | Visit Bovada | ||
| 2 | 100% Up To $1,000 | Visit Ignition | ||
| 3 | 500% Up To $5,000 | Visit Slots.lv | ||
| 4 | 100% Up To $4,000 | Visit Cafe Casino | ||
| 5 | 200% Up To $2,000 | Visit SlotoCash | ||
| 6 | 200% Up To $1,000 | Visit Cherry Jackpot | ||
| 7 | 40% Up To $4,000 | Visit Lucky Red | ||
| 8 | 150% Up To $3,000 Read Review | Visit Las Vegas USA | ||
| 9 | 150% Up To $3,000 Read Review | Visit Sun Palace | ||
| 10 | 100% Up To $1,000 | Visit CasinoMax | ||
| Rank | Sportsbook | Highlights | Rating | Visit Site |
| 1 | 50% Up To $250 Read Review | Visit Bovada | ||
| 2 | 50% Up To $1000 | Visit BetOnline.ag | ||
| 3 | 50% Up To $1000 | Visit SportsBetting.ag | ||
| 4 | 50% Up To $1000 | Visit MyBookie | ||
| 5 | 50% Up To $300 | Visit Xbet | ||
| Rank | Poker Room | Highlights | Rating | Visit Site |
| 1 | 100% Up To $500 Read Review | Visit Bovada | ||
| 2 | 100% Up To $1000 | Visit BetOnline.ag |
Latest Legal New York Gambling News
Online Casinos That Accept New York Residents
Online casinos may not carry the same ability to socialize that one finds at land-based betting shops, but why go to the Aqueduct or the Resorts World Catskills when you can just go to your computer or whip out your iPhone? You will find that online casinos offer all of the most impressive games that can be found in physical casinos, with the added benefit that you never have to wait for a spot at the table or the ticket counter.
All of New York’s best offshore sportsbooks have live poker and real-dealer casino games, so signing up at sites like BetOnline, SportsBetting, 5Dimes, BookMaker, and BetDSI is a foregone conclusion. However, there are plenty of great offshore casino sites that don’t operate sportsbooks and simply double down on their casino offerings, like Lucky Red, Aladdin’s Gold, and the High Noon Casino. All of these legal sites are available for NY residents, and they are all totally free to join.
Online Sports Betting Sites That Accept New York Residents
Sports betting in New York is not something that has been relegated to offline avenues, as there are many online sportsbooks that accept residents from the state. If you are going to play the odds in NY, you will find that these online sportsbooks are the safest route to take.
These sportsbooks offer a wide variety of sports odds to take advantage of, and with the enormous sports scene in New York, there will be plenty of wagers to make on the hometown teams. Even better, by using an online sports betting site, you will not have to shell out for the premiums that local New York bookies charge for such local bets.
Indeed, this is a common problem to all sports betting venues in states or towns with popular regional “home teams,” and it’s something that you never have to deal with online, as the top offshore books have members from all 50 states to balance out any potentially lopsided options. Sites like BetOnline, SportsBetting, 5Dimes, BetDSI, and BookMaker are the de facto gaming standards for Internet-based gambling in New York, and you cannot go wrong by signing up at any (or all!) of them.
Online Poker Sites That Accept New York Residents
Live poker rooms are not that common in the state of New York, which is why online poker rooms are as necessary as they are. There are many online poker rooms out there, but very few of them have passed our requirements for being a quality betting site. It's important that poker rooms be held to a high standard of regulation, and there are definitely sites that meet those standards. New York players will have plenty of access to quality online poker rooms when they choose to sign up and create an account with sites like BetOnline, SportsBetting, 5Dimes, BetDSI, and BookMaker, to name just a few.
Online Bingo Sites That Accept New York Players
Bingo halls are all over the Internet, but we have only provided you with the best of the best. If you are going to play online bingo, you will want to make sure that you play only with those Internet bingo halls that are trusted. Due to the inherently random nature of online bingo, you will want to use legally operating and licensed bingo sites.
There are plenty of quality bingo sites out there where players from New York are welcome to play, but only a couple truly stand out. Of all the biggest sites, 5Dimes has the best bingo hall feature with the most perks and bonuses, but the bingo-centric Downtown Bingo offers the very best promos for serious bingo players in New York.
Is Online Gambling Legal In New York?
We have had more players than we can count who have asked us if online gambling is legal in New York. The long answer and short answer are both “yes.” If you decide to play online while living in NY, you will not be subject to the possibility of being arrested or otherwise inconvenienced by law enforcement. Nobody has ever been fined or arrested for gambling over the Internet in New York, so it is totally unlikely that you will be the test case. Plus, since it’s not even technically illegal, there’d be nothing to charge you with! Even on a federal level, there are no laws that make it illegal for players to participate in these kinds of games over the Internet.
While we could opine for hours on the intricacies of New York’s many gambling laws, there is no need: If you wish to wager at online, offshore sportsbooks in NY, you are 100% free to do so without any legal repercussions.
Are Online Casinos Legal In New York?
Though there are a few scattered casinos throughout the state of New York, the online casinos are superior for many reasons. Not only do online casinos carry much more safety than live casinos, but they are also the most convenient and accessible. With the online casinos listed on this page, you will never have to leave your home – or your seat at the bar – in order to gamble on your casino games.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal In New York?
Sports betting is all over the state of New York, but many of the sources of this style of betting are illegal. With PASPA gone, the state is primed to make the activity legal for licensed casinos to offer, but even then, it’ll be largely land-based and inconvenient for the dramatic majority of NY residents to access. If you turn to the Internet for your sports betting, however, you can wager freely at overseas sportsbooks. And more often than not, you’ll get better lines with them, too.
Is Online Poker Legal In New York?
New Yorkers who do not want to find a live poker room can very easily turn to the Internet in order to find a way to hit the felts without having to leave home. If you want to play online poker, know that you do not have to worry about the law as there is nothing that has made it illegal for players to participate. As long as you stick to the sites listed on this page, online poker can be a fun, profitable, safe, legal pastime perfect for anyone aged 18 and up.
Will I go to jail for online gambling in New York?
We have never heard of anyone going to jail for online gambling, at least in playing the games. There may have been a few arrests over operating an online gambling site, but there are no instances of gamblers being arrested in the state of New York.
Is Bovada Legal For New York Residents?
One of the questions we get asked the most is if Bovada accepts New York residents. Recently, the answer to that question is yes. The gambling laws in New York are fairly strict, and for whatever reason, Bovada thinks that it is in their best interest to resume accepting any NY players at this time.
To see how far regulated gambling in the USA has come, we have made this timeline to show over 90 years worth of history. From the legalization in Nevada, up to the present day and a look at the states who are still to legalize gambling.
1931 – Introduction of legalized gambling in Nevada.
1949 – First government-sanctioned sportsbook opens in Las Vegas
1975 – First brick-and-mortar sportsbook inside a casino opens in Las Vegas, Nevada.
1961 – Wire Act passed to target racketeering. The act made it expressly illegal to use wire communication (phones, telegrams, and other means) to pass information that assisted in betting on sports.
1984 – Congress reduces tax on sportsbooks from 2% to 0.5%, making them even more economically viable.
1993 (January 1st) – Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) passed, expressly prohibiting states from either allowing or offering any sports betting services related to either professional or amateur sports. The entire state of Nevada is “grandfathered”, meaning Vegas sportsbooks are exempt of the legislation.
Supreme Court ruling on PASPA back in 1993
1996 – First online bet is placed at Austrian-based Intertops sportsbook.
2006 – Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passed, criminalizing the act of accepting money from any person who was a part of an unlawful online gambling operation occurring on US soil. Online books are forced to go “offshore”.
2011 (April 15th) – Criminal case brought against three of the largest online poker companies operating, effectively wiping out the entire industry in the U.S.
2012 (January) – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signs legislation allowing sports betting in the state, a move that would ultimately help lead to repeal of PASPA.
2013 – New Jersey online casinos and poker sites begin operating.
Legal Gambling Florida
2018:
March 10th – West Virginia legalizes sports betting, making way for August 2018 launch.
West Virginia was one of the first states to legalize sports betting
May 14th – U.S. Supreme Court repeals federal law (PASPA) preventing individual states from regulating sports betting. The law had been passed on January 1st 1993.
June 5th – Legal sports betting begins in Delaware at the state’s three casinos. The Delaware Lottery is charged with regulation and oversight of the industry.
June 14th – First retail sportsbooks open in New Jersey.
August 1st – Legal sports betting begins in Mississippi albeit limited to water- and land-based casinos.
August 6th – DraftKings Sportsbook app, created under a partnership with Kambi and casino license of Resorts, becomes first legal online option for New Jersey bettors. playMGM and SugarHouse Sportsbooks launch in the same month.
August 30th – soft launch of retail sports betting in West Virginia at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town, as a result of partnership with Penn Gaming National and DraftKings. Full launch two days later.
September – New Jersey online bettors get five further options: BetStars Sportsbook (later rebranded to FOX Bet Sept. 2019), FanDuel Sportsbook, William Hill Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, 888 Sportsbook.
September 13th – FanDuel opens retail sportsbook at The Casino Club at The Greenbrier (a private club) in West Virginia.
October 16th – sports betting starts at the tribally-owned Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel, New Mexico.
November 17th – William Hill in partnership with Hollywood Casino launch Pennsylvania’s first retail sportsbook.
November 21st – William Hill launches third retail sportsbook in West Virginia in partnership with Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort.
December 11th – PointsBet NJ Sportsbook soft launch (full launch Jan. 2019). The Australian company introduces a new way to bet – ‘PointsBetting’ – to a U.S. audience.
December 15th – SugarHouse Sportsbook and Rivers Sportsbook PA launch out of temporary locations in Pennsylvania.
December 28th – First sports betting app, BetLucky.com, launches in West Virginia.
The BetLucky.com site launched in West Virginia
2019:
March 7th – BetLucky.com ceases operations due to legal dispute between owner Delaware North and supplier, Mionmi. Bettors in the Mountaineer State left without mobile options until Aug.26.
March 13th – FanDuel launch retail sportsbook at the Valley Forge Casino.
May 3rd – Legal sports betting in Montana signed into law; launch pending regulations being finalized.
May 8th – Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signs a sports betting bill into law, allowing statewide wagering.
May 28th – Mobile betting begins in Pennsylvania with launch of SugarHouse Sportsbook betting app.
May 13th – Sports betting legalized in Iowa.
June – Parx Sportsbook and BetRivers online/mobile sportsbooks launch in Pennsylvania.
June 28th – Illinois Gov. J.B. Prtitzker signs sports betting bill into law, but industry not expected to launch until 2020.
July 1st – Legal sports betting starts in Arkansas at the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. Mobile wagering not allowed in the state currently.
July 1st – Online sports wagering legalized in Tennessee. All betting must be done online or via a mobile device as no casinos in the state. Expected launch in second half of 2020.
July 12th – New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signs sports betting bill into law. Target launch date is July 1, 2020.
July 16th – Almost six years after first becoming legal, New York sports betting becomes reality at the Rivers Casino, Schenectady. Mobile/online betting currently off the table, but that could change in 2020.
July 22nd – FanDuel Sportsbook PA goes live in Keystone State.
July 26th – Sports betting is legalized in North Carolina but only at retail locations initially. Early 2020 launch anticipated.
August 15th – legal sports betting – both retail and mobile – starts in Iowa at eight of the state’s authorized casinos (18 of the 19 casinos given approval). Bettors have to first register in person and through to Jan. 1 2021.
August 26th – FanDuel Sportsbook mobile app goes live in West Virginia.
August 27th – legal sports betting hits the West Coast with launch of retail sportsbook at the tribally-owned Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City.
August 28th – DraftKings Sportsbook mobile app goes live in West Virginia.
September 1st – retail sports betting starts in Indiana, with ceremonial first bets placed at the Caesars Indiana Grand Casino in Shelbyville by Gov. Holcomb.
September 4th – Rhode Island launches mobile sports betting at one casino with legal minimum age set at 18. Bettors have to first create accounts in person.
September 12th – Fox Sports launch FOX-Bet-branded app in Pennsylvania, the first of its kind by a U.S. media company.
September 24th – Kindred Group, in partnership with Mohegan Sun Pocono, launch Unibet-branded retail sportsbook.
European giants go live in New Jersey
October 3rd – Draftkings and BetRivers (Rush Street Interactive) launch mobile apps in Indiana.
October 3rd – Ted Leonsis, the owner of Capital One Arena, Washington D.C., signs deal with William Hill. Construction of sportsbook – the first inside a U.|S. Sports venue – to begin after all required regulatory approvals.
Get A $500 Risk Free Bet
October 11th – The Meadows officially becomes the 10th Pennsylvania casino with a retail sportsbook, following a soft launch two days earlier.
October 16th – Oregon State Lottery launches Scoreboard app, becoming first lottery in the U.S. to offer online sports betting.
October 20th – after a rocky start, the Scoreboard app hits one million dollars in wagers and despite absence of any NCAA games. Bettors must visit the Chinook Winds Casino to place these in person.
October 22nd – FanDuel launch mobile betting product in Indiana through a partnership with Blue Chip Casino and Belterra Casino.
As of 2019, October 24th, there are 13 U.S. states with legal, regulated sports betting industries (either retail, mobile or both), as follows:
Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Mississippi, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Arkansas, New York, Iowa, Indiana, Oregon and New Mexico*.
*not strictly legal but offered under existing tribal gaming compact.
Projected to legalize in 2020
11 states in total: Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio and Virginia.
Projected to legalize in 2021
Seven states in total: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland and Texas.
Legal sports betting nowhere in sight
14 states in total: Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
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