New York
Gambling Laws 2026

Sports betting is legal in New York, one of 36 states where it is, as of May 2026. Commercial casinos are legal, as they are in 24 states, and online casino gambling is illegal. New York has a state lottery, and horse racing is legal.

New York has a large and active gambling market. The state lottery is among the biggest in the country by revenue. Four commercial casinos operate in upstate New York — del Lago Resort and Casino, Resorts World Catskills, Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady, and Turning Stone Resort in Vernon. Tribal casinos, including Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino, also operate under federal compacts. Sports betting via nine licensed mobile apps launched in January 2022, and New York quickly became the highest-revenue sports betting state in the country by monthly handle.

The state authorized three downstate commercial casino licenses in 2023, with the application process targeting locations in the New York City metro area. Proposed sites including at Citi Field, Hudson Yards, and in Times Square have all been evaluated. A final decision on those licenses will shape the market significantly. Horse racing at Saratoga Springs is culturally important and draws national attention each summer.

For residents, sports betting by phone is seamless and the operator competition is robust. Large upstate commercial casinos are accessible. Online casino gambling is not currently legal in New York, which is notable given the state's overall gambling openness. The downstate casino licenses, when awarded, will bring major gaming facilities to the New York City area for the first time.

4 commercial upstate casinos + tribal. NYC sports betting launched 2022 — 9 licensed mobile apps. Lottery revenue is enormous.

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Also on New York: the full New York profile covers taxes, cost of living, crime and schools, and the county map lets you compare every county in the state. For related rules, read the New York sex laws guide and the New York country music guide.