Is Sports Betting Legal in New York?
Yes, sports betting is legal within the state of New York, both retail and online. The Empire State currently hosts 11 retail sports betting locations along with 9 formally regulated online sportsbook apps. The BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino Schenectady was the very first retail sportsbook to launch in the state back in July 2019. Online sports betting followed in January 2022.
New York formally legalized sports betting way back in 2013. Then Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act to preemptively permit retail sports betting at four Upstate casinos when and if PASPA was officially repealed. That occurred in May 2018, when The Supreme Court of the United States overturned the prohibition on sports betting outside of Nevada in a landmark 7-2 ruling.
Mobile sports betting within the state began on January 8th, 2022, when four sportsbook apps – FanDuel, BetRivers, DraftKings, and Caesars – commenced operations.
How to Get Started with Online Betting in New York
The formal regulation of NY online sportsbooks has made it easy for new customers to register for a new account and begin placing bets online. Here is our step-by-step beginner’s guide for how to start betting sports online in New York:
Satisfy the age and geolocation requirements. You must be at least 21 years old and physically located within New York’s borders to legally place sports bets online.
Select one of the legal, regulated online sportsbooks that we recommend here. By choosing one of the online companies that we promote, you can rest assured that you will be placing legal sports bets within the Empire State. This is important and will safeguard against predatory offshore entities that attempt to pass themselves off as state-regulated betting sites.
Register for a new account. By law, New York online sportsbooks must request personally identifiable information in order to verify one’s age, geolocation eligibility, and identity. You’ll need to provide your full name, telephone number, email, date of birth, physical address, and US Social Security Number (SSN) upon registration.
Receive your welcome bonus. Some NY sports betting sites may ask for a specific promo code to unlock a welcome bonus. Check our review pages to make sure you follow the correct steps to release your bonus offer.
Make a deposit. Now that your new account status has been verified and you have been deemed eligible for the welcome bonus, you can make your first deposit. Some of the most common deposit methods for online sportsbooks in New York include major debit/credit cards, online wallets, or PayNearMe to deposit in cash at qualified retail locations.
Place your bets. Keep in mind that some betting types (such as Odds Boosts or heavy favorites) may not be eligible for your welcome bonus offer. Once your first bet has been selected, it will appear on your virtual Bet Slip, and you can confirm it.
A wide range of New York sportsbook apps bonuses is available for first time customers. Here is a list of the types of bonuses that customers typically receive as a first time online sports bettor.
Bonus Bet Offers
Bonus Bets are betting vouchers awarded upon placing your first bet, often regardless of whether it wins or loses. These offers can expire within a certain period of time.
Also keep in mind that the Bonus Bet amounts themselves are not typically included in any winning payouts. If your Bonus Bet loses, that amount is subtracted from your remaining bonus vouchers. If your Bonus Bet wins, you receive the corresponding payout, but the stake amount is still removed from your remaining bonus.
Second Chance Bets
A Second Chance Bet only activates if your first wager was graded as a loser. If you lose, you’ll get a bonus bet of the same value, up to a certain limit. If the first bet wins, then the Second Chance Bet deactivates, but you receive the winnings from your bet.
Deposit Match Bonuses
Deposit Match Bonuses match a percentage of your initial deposit amount in site credit or bonus bets that can be used in the future. Some deposit match bonuses only award a smaller percentage of the customer’s initial deposit amount in bet credits, but you can find offers that match 100%. The larger your initial deposit, the greater the amount you’ll receive in credits – up to a certain limit.
No Deposit Bonuses
A No Deposit Bonus means you can receive bet credits without any real money commitment. While these bonuses rarely exceed $20, they represent a great way for hesitant sports bettors to try online sportsbook products on a trial basis, without having to make any deposit. Normally, any winnings from a No Deposit Bonus will likely require a subsequent real money deposit in order to withdraw the funds.
What Sportsbook Apps Are Available in New York?
The legal online sportsbooks in the state of New York all have mobile apps. This means that you can place online sports bets from the comfort of your smartphone or tablet..
Below, you’ll find a list of our most highly rated mobile sportsbook apps in New York.
FanDuel - 4.9/5 (iOS); 4.8/5 (Android)
Caesars Sportsbook - 4.6/5 (iOS); 4.4/5 (Android)
DraftKings - 4.8/5 (iOS); 4.7/5 (Android)
BetMGM - 4.8/5 (iOS); 4.5/5 (Android)
BetRivers - 4.0/5 (iOS); 3.0/5 (Android)
PointsBet - 4.0/5 (iOS); 3.5/5 (Android)
What Betting Markets Are Available in New York?
The betting markets available in New York are as plentiful as they are diverse. No matter what you’re in the mood to place a wager on, NY sportsbooks will have you covered.
Here are some of the most common betting markets that you’ll be able to participate in while in New York.
Moneylines
A moneyline bet is a pure wager on which team will win a specific sports contest. The payout odds reveal which team is favored and which team is the underdog. For example:
New York Knicks (-200)
Detroit Pistons (+250)
The minus sign for the NY Knicks represents the bet amount necessary to claim every $100 in payouts. The Knicks are the favorites, so you’ll need to wager $200 to receive a $100 profit in the case of a Knicks victory.
The plus sign shows how much a winning bet will be awarded for every $100 wagered on an underdog. The Pistons are underdogs in this contest. If they win, the bettor will receive a profit of $250 for every $100 that was bet, for a total payout of $350.
The win or loss margin is irrelevant for a moneyline bet. You’re simply betting on which team will win. A moneyline bet is very easy to grasp and is among the most popular betting markets not only in New York, but worldwide.
Point Spreads
A Point Spread bet is dependent on the margin of victory or loss of one team. Underdogs are given points, and favorites have points deducted from them. Typically, point spreads are designed to make both sides of the wager equally attractive to a bettor. The precise Point Spread line will be determined by each sportsbook, and is subject to change in the days, hours, and minutes leading up to the start of the contest.
Let’s look at our previous matchup as a hypothetical Point Spread bet:
In this example, you’ll receive $100 in profit for every $115 wagered on the Knicks as long as New York wins by ten points or more at the end of regulation or overtime. Similarly, a $115 wager on the Pistons point spread will award $100 to the bettor if Detroit loses the contest by nine points or fewer.
The expression, “Good teams win; great teams cover” has its roots in Point Spread bets.
Totals
Totals bets refer to the combined score at the end of a sports contest. Your NY sportsbook app will determine the line for each game, and the odds are likewise intended to make both teams equally attractive to bet on. Let’s take another look at our previous example:
Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks
Over 220.5 (-115)
Under 220.5 (-115)
A $115 wager will award $100 in profit to all bets on “Over” if the final score combines for 221 points or more. Or, a $115 bet will payout $100 in profit to all bets on “Under” if the combined final score is 220 points or less. Who wins or loses – and by how much – is irrelevant when placing a Totals bet.
Prop Bets
Proposition bets revolve around a specific team or player’s performance during a single season, game, or period/quarter of play. Prop bets are completely removed from win/loss outcomes. They instead focus on stats-based performances.
In New York, you’ll find prop bets on everything from how many touchdowns an NFL player or team scores to how many steals a player might achieve in a single quarter. Teams or players within the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL all commonly have prop bets available for their season or game-based performances.
Here’s what a proposition bet might look like in New York:
Aaron Judge (NY Yankees): Total Home Runs for MLB regular season
Over 38.5 (-115)
Under 38.5 (-115)
Basically, you’re predicting whether Aaron Judge will hit more than (the “Over”) or fewer than (the “Under”) 38.5 Home Runs for the next MLB regular season. If Judge knocks 39 or more pitches out of the park, the Over wins. If Judge hits 38 or fewer home runs during the regular season, the Under bet will be victorious.
Parlays
A parlay wager is a combination of bets that must all be successful in order for the bettor to receive a relatively large payout (compared to other betting markets). If any one of the “legs” on a parlay bet is graded as a loser, then the entire bet is unsuccessful. However, if ALL legs of a parlay bet are hit, then the bettor is in for a high-percentage payout.
Let’s look at a hypothetical parlay bet that might award an enormous payout if all legs of the bet are successful:
PARLAY PAYOUT ODDS +15000 (if)
New York Giants to win Super Bowl (and)
New York Knicks to win NBA Finals (and)
New York Yankees to win MLB World Series (and)
New York Rangers to win Stanley Cup
If all these events wind up occurring during the relevant season, then this hypothetical bet would payout $15,000 in profit for every $100 wagered!
Futures
A Futures bet is a prediction of a team or individual’s performance in the future. Will the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup? Will the New York Yankees win 90 or more games during the upcoming MLB regular season? They are both futures bets.
Live Betting
Commonly referred to as in-play betting, Live Betting represents wagers that are placed while an event is happening live. Examples of live betting are whether the next pitch will be a ball or a strike, who will win the next point in a tennis match, whether the next football play will be a run or a pass, and so on.
The best way to enjoy placing Live Bets is while you’re streaming a game live, as it happens through one of the legal NY sportsbook apps.
What Can You Not Bet On in New York?
New York has prohibitions on certain teams and events. The following bets are not allowed:
High School sports and other amateur sports (Pop Warner League, Little League, and youth events).
Scripted entertainment programming, including professional wrestling and awards ceremonies such as the Grammys and Oscars.
Political elections – this includes individual candidates, ballot propositions, ordinances, or any other political movement that is up for a ballot vote.
Betting on eSports is prohibited at this time.
College Sport Betting in New York
Betting on college sports is legal in the state of New York.
However, you cannot place any bets on NY-based college teams or on any collegiate game that is taking place at a venue located within New York’s physical borders. Also, prop bets on all college teams and players are prohibited in New York.
There are some pretty well-known college football and basketball teams based in New York. So please keep in mind that ANY sports bets on the following teams (as well any other NCAA team that calls New York its home) are outright prohibited
St. John’s Red Storm
Syracuse Orange
Army Black Knights
Hofstra Pride
Colgate Raiders
Columbia Lions
New York Sports Betting Facts
| New York Sports Betting Quick Facts |
|---|
| Online launch date | January 8th, 2022 |
| Legal betting age | 21 |
| Retail tax rate | 10% |
| Online tax rate | 51% |
| Retail sportsbooks | 11 |
| Online sportsbooks | 9 |
| Betting on College Sports | ✅ |
| Online casino | ❌ |
| Online poker | ❌ |
How Does New York Online Sports Betting Compare to Other States?
Once legal online sports betting launched in New York, the state immediately became the highest-grossing revenue jurisdiction in the country.
New York is, by far, the largest retail and online sports betting market in the United States. It eclipsed over $2 billion in total handle during the month of October 2023, and the tax revenue collected by the state historically is in excess of a billion dollars. In fact, New York collected over $900 million in taxes from legal sports betting revenue during the 2022 calendar year alone, according to NY Governor Kathy Hochul’s office.
The legalization of online New York sports betting means that customers no longer have to commute over the George Washington Bridge from Manhattan to New Jersey just to place a legal sports bet. As far as retail sports betting goes, it's limited to Upstate New York casino properties.
New York’s retail sports betting tax rate is 10%, while the tax rate for Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) of online sports bets stands at a whopping 51%. The online tax rate is among the highest in the country for online sports betting; right up there with Rhode Island’s 51% tax for online sports betting companies.
New York is the highest-grossing statewide sports betting market in the United States. But the astronomical online sports betting tax, along with the retail restrictions that only allow Upstate facilities to book in-person bets, could result in less favorable odds for NY customers. The online sportsbook tax rate specifically may move “evenly matched” wagers from traditional -110 levels to -115 in New York.
New York Sports Betting News and Updates
The road to legalized sports betting in New York was paved more than a decade ago. Preemptive legislation made it possible for New Yorkers to bet at retail sportsbooks once PASPA was repealed by SCOTUS. Online sports betting took a bit longer to approve, but residents and visitors of New York can now place sports bets online without having to make the trek over the Hudson to New Jersey.
Here is a timeline of relevant events linked to legal and regulated New York sports betting:
Sept. 6, 2024 - According to Newsday, ESPN Bet announced it will soon be ready to launch in New York.
Aug. 1, 2024 - New York's sports betting market changes - WynnBET exits, while ESPN BET is expected to enter in the Fall.
July 31, 2024 - New financial terms from TwinSpires after reaching a contractual impasse with Churchill Downs Inc.
July 4, 2024 - According to PlayNY, an anonymous plaintiff is suing DraftKings, accusing the sportsbook of allowing personal data to be stolen.
June 7, 2024 - New York's monthly revenue surpasses $200 million in May, marking the second-highest total since online sports betting went live in January 2022.
May 28, 2024 - New York Senator opposes Steven Cohen's bid to bring a casino to Queens, resulting in a major setback for the Mets' owner.
May 23, 2024 - The New York Lottery renewed its deal with scratch-off game provider Scientific Games. The partnership has been in place since 1976.
May 15, 2024 - New York sports betting handle rose to $1.96 billion in April, up 5.9% from March and 26.4% year over year.
May 15, 2024 - New York Sen. Joe Addabbo introduced S9044, a bill to raise the legal age for fantasy sports contests from 18 to 21.
May 13, 2024 - US Congressman Paul Tonko of New York recently told LSR he is fine-tuning new federal legislation that targets advertising, affordability, and AI in the sports betting industry.
May 8, 2024 -New York Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. introduced a bill - S9226, that would legalize online poker in the state and allow up to ten online poker sites.
May 8, 2024 — In a recent earnings call, PENN CEO Jay Snowden reiterated that ESPN Bet plans to launch in New York before the start of the 2024 NFL season.
April 26, 2024 - New York's online sports betting surges 109% week-over-week, bringing in $57.3 million in wagers for the week ending April 21.
April 19, 2024 - New York sportsbooks' revenue decreases nearly 36% week-over-week, ending the eight-week streak of earning at least $30 million.
April 10, 2024 - According to PlayNY, The New York Racing Association announced a new DraftKings as a new betting partner of Saratoga Race Course and the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
April 3, 2024 - Bet365 announced a partnership with 1/ST Technology. The deal will result in a new horse betting app, 1/ST Bet, launching in the state.
March 21, 2024 – Rep. Paul Tonko has called for a federal law to ban in-game gambling ads and ban certain language from appearing in spots.
March 15, 2024 – According to PlayNY, the New York Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee advanced three bills that addressed responsible gambling.
March 11, 2024 – NY sports betting handle hit $1.77 billion in February, down 9.6% from January but up 20% year-over-year.
Feb. 14, 2024 - PrizePicks to pay $15m as part of settlement with New York’s regulator.
Feb. 13, 2024 - PENN and Wynn make a $25 million deal to put ESPN BET in New York. It's expected to launch in 2024 pending approval from the NYGC.
Feb. 12, 2024 - New York breaks its online sports betting revenue record in January, netting $211.5m in GGR.
Jan. 25, 2024 - New York's sports betting handle reached $490 million for the week of Jan. 15-21, despite fewer NFL Playoff games. This is the 15th consecutive week with over $400 million in wagers in the state.
Jan. 16, 2024 - Gov. Kathy Hochul released the executive budget for 2024, leaving out iGaming.
Jan. 15, 2023 - Gov. Kathy Hochul reports that New York generated $1.75 billion from online sports betting in 2023.
Jan. 10, 2023 - NY lawmakers have introduced bills that would legalize fixed-odds horse betting and kiosks at sports venues.
Dec. 19, 2023 - PENN Entertainment is reportedly working to buy a sports betting license for ESPN Bet in New York.
Dec. 7, 2023 - For the second month in a row NY sports betting handle exceeded $2 billion. The $2.1 billion handle broke the previous month's record.
Nov. 17, 2023 - New York Gaming Commission figures reveal that – for the first time ever – a US state has surpassed $2 billion in total handle for a single month (October 2023).
Nov. 15, 2023 - Bally Bet relaunches in New York after a five-month break.
Nov. 14, 2023 - ESPN Bet launches in NY and 16 other states.
Oct. 3, 2023 - The New York Gaming Commission passes a vote to outright ban Daily Fantasy Sports contests that are similar to sports proposition bets.
March 2023 - Efforts to legalize online casinos and online poker are once again frustrated as New York S4856 does not find its way into the state’s budget.
July 7, 2022 - Bally Bet becomes the ninth online sportsbook in New York as it commences operations.
May 2022 - NY Gaming Commission numbers show that New York has eclipsed $1 billion in total handle for a fourth consecutive month (January through April 2022).
March 3, 2022 - Resorts World Bet launches in New York – becoming the eighth legal online sportsbook in the state.
Feb. 4, 2022 - WynnBET online sportsbook launches in New York.
Jan. 24, 2022 - PointsBet Sportsbook launches its online platform in New York.
Jan. 17, 2022 - BetMGM Sportsbooks opens in New York. It is the fifth online sportsbook in the state.
Jan. 8, 2022 - Online sports betting officially launches in New York as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, and Caesars Sportsbook all take online sports bets for the first time within the state.
April 2021 - NY Governor Andrew Cuomo includes tax revenue from online sports betting in the state’s budget for the next fiscal year. This paves the way for legalized online sports betting in the state.
July 2019 - Rivers Casino Schenectady and FanDuel are the first two retail sportsbooks to open following the SCOTUS repeal of PASPA.
May 14, 2018 - The Supreme Court of the United States deems the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act to be unconstitutional. This allows states other than Nevada to formally legalize and regulate the activity of sports betting if they decide to do so.
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