New York is one of more than 30 states where sports betting is legal in the United States. Players must be at least 21 years old and in the state to make bets on mobile devices. This page covers New York sports betting in detail.
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History Behind Legalized Sports Betting in New York State
Tribal casinos have always played a big role in New York betting. For years, there were no commercial casinos, but this all changed in 2013.
That year, New York permitted the construction of four commercial casinos in the upstate region of the state. This law, passed by the New York Legislature, included the legalization of sports betting at all commercial casinos. Tribal casinos were also permitted to offer sports betting with the passing of this law.
Even though the New York Legislature passed this law, the fate of sports betting depended on federal legalization in the United States. The belief was that the US would legalize sports betting, but when construction started on commercial casinos, it was still illegal throughout most of the country.
In 2018, New York officially allowed sports betting in its state when the Supreme Court legalized sports betting throughout the country. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was unconstitutional. This act was originally passed in 1992 and served as a prohibition on state-sponsored sports betting. Once it was deemed unconstitutional, sports betting was off and running in New York state.
The New York State Gaming Commission finished writing its preliminary rules for sports betting on Jan. 28, 2018, and in June, the regulations were formally approved. At first, sports betting was only available in a brick-and-mortar capacity. It was later legalized online.
Financial History Behind Legal Sports Betting in New York State
New York casinos that established sports betting thought that it would lead to massive revenue for their businesses. When casinos had to begin the application process for sports betting, they had to give the state an estimated revenue figure. Most sportsbooks were off by nearly 50% of their estimated revenue from sports betting.
Casinos believed that the introduction of sports betting would lead to massive increases in their profits. They thought players would be very excited about legal sports betting in the state. Revenue is rising every year for New York sports betting, but it is not as high as states that offer mobile betting options to residents.
Some casinos do better than others. This is no surprise, but these figures are based on the 10% of taxes that the state takes in sports betting revenue from the casinos that offer the feature to their players.
Most of the New York sports betting action comes from mobile betting apps. Over $10 billion a year in handle is recorded in the state. The tax rate is 51%, meaning that the state coffers receive nearly $1 billion a year from mobile sportsbooks, based on a 10% hold.
Sportsbook Apps in New York State
There are nine legal New York sports betting apps. Most of the major players operate in the state. Welcome bonuses are available at many online sportsbooks including BetMGM, Caesars, and DraftKings.
- Bally Bet
- BetMGM
- BetRivers
- Caesars
- DraftKings
- Fanatics
- FanDuel
- Resorts World
- WynnBet
Retail Locations to Bet on Sports in New York State
Retail locations are the only brick-and-mortar places where people in New York can legally bet on sports. Sports betting is legal at four commercial casinos and seven tribal casinos in New York.
Here’s a list of the current locations where sports betting is offered.
- Rivers Casino Schenectady – Rivers Sportsbook operated by Rush Street/Kambi
- Tioga Downs – FanDuel at Tioga Downs operated by FanDuel
- Del Lago Casino – DraftKings at del Lago operated by DraftKings
- Resorts World Catskills – Sportsbook 360 operated by Genting
- Point Place Casino – The Lounge with Caesars Sports operated by Caesars Entertainment
- Turning Stone Casino – The Lounge with Caesars Sports operated by Caesars Entertainment
- Yellow Brick Road Casino – The Lounge with Caesars Sports operated by Caesars Entertainment
- Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino – Sports Lounge operated by Kambi
- Seneca Allegany Casino – Sports Lounge operated by Kambi
- Seneca Niagara Casino – Sports Lounge operated by Kambi
- Akwesasne Mohawk Casino – Sticks Sports Book operated by The Stars Group
Enjoy the Sportsbook Experience
These sportsbooks are primarily located in upstate New York, which makes accessibility an issue for many residents in the highly populated metro area. If people have an urge to bet and are in the area of one of these casinos, it’s definitely worth the trip. However, there is little reason to do that anymore with the legalization of New York online sportsbooks.
Many provide an epic experience for sports bettors to lock in wagers and enjoy the game all in one place. In the tribal category, no casino does it better than Rivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino in Schenectady.
This was the state’s first sportsbook that was put into place, and it is still a frontrunner for the best gaming experience. It has a 53-inch LED video wall that features 22 screens to watch mainstream and non-mainstream sporting contests. It also has 14 betting kiosks and six windows if you’d rather place a face-to-face bet with a teller.
DraftKings at del Lago in the del Lago Casino is a resident and visitor favorite throughout the state for commercial casinos. This sportsbook includes 23 betting kiosks, which are accessible 24/7.
It also has four windows with tellers. It has a massive board showing real-time odds, which makes live betting easy, and over 1,000 square feet of LED video screens.
Sports Teams to Bet on in New York
New York is the third-ranked state in America when it comes to professional sports teams. There are eight franchises in the state across the four major sports leagues. If you include the Giants and Jets, which have New York in their names but play their home games in New Jersey, there are 10 total teams.
Two NFL Teams
The professional football teams with the state in their name are the New York Giants and New York Jets. Despite this, both teams play in East Rutherford, NJ, at MetLife Stadium.
The Giants have been more successful than the Jets, but each team has at least one Super Bowl victory in their franchise history. The Jets won Super Bowl III back in 1968. The Giants have won four titles in the Super Bowl era, with their last two coming in 2007 and 2011.
The Buffalo Bills are the only native franchise in New York state. The Bills have a rich history but haven’t been very successful in the 21st century until they drafted Josh Allen. This was perfect timing with the introduction of sports betting in the state in 2018.
Two MLB Teams
The New York Yankees and New York Mets are the two MLB teams in the state. The Yankees have a rich history with 27 world championships, but they haven’t been able to finish in the postseason since sports betting became available in New York.
The Mets have been more inconsistent than the Yankees but were the last New York team to play in the World Series. They won the National League pennant in 2015 but were defeated by the Kansas City Royals in the World Series.
Two NBA Teams
The Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks are New York’s two NBA franchises. The two teams play in different boroughs, but they both call New York City home. The Knicks are currently the more popular team amongst New Yorkers, but both teams provide bettors with successful wagering opportunities.
Three NHL Teams
Three NHL teams are native to New York: The Buffalo Sabres, the New York Islanders, and the New York Rangers. Hockey is an 82-game season, so with three teams in New York, bettors will be able to wager a New York team almost every night from October to March.
NCAA Wagering Permitted
Betting on NCAA sporting events is legal in New York, with one exception. No bets may be accepted on in-state college teams or events held in New York between out-of-state teams. Bettors wishing to do this must drive to a neighboring state, like Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
FAQ for Betting in New York State
Here’s everything you need to know about betting in New York.
Is sports betting legal in New York?
Yes, sports betting is legal in New York. It was legalized in 2013 and fully passed in 2018 after the Supreme Court ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was unconstitutional. Bets may be made online and at retail sportsbooks.
Are mobile sports betting apps available in New York?
There are nine legal and licensed sports betting apps available in New York.
What is the legal age requirement to bet in New York?
To bet at a New York sportsbook, you must be 21 years of age.
What sports can I bet on at New York sportsbooks?
This varies depending on the sportsbook, but all mainstream sports are offered as well as many overseas sports like Euro Basketball, etc. DraftKings and FanDuel offer the same betting options to players at their brick-and-mortar shops as they do on their mobile apps unless it involves New York college teams.
Can I only bet on professional sports?
No, you can bet on college sports as well. There is one exception. At a New York sportsbook, you’re unable to place a bet on any New York colleges that are competing or any collegiate sporting event taking place in the state.