New York Sports Betting Laws
Sports betting in New York is fully legal, both online and at retail. The regulatory regime is among the most operator-restrictive in the United States - and the most lucrative in tax revenue. Below is the complete legal picture, from the 2013 PASUSA-era retail authorization through the FY 2021-22 budget that opened mobile, plus current rules on eligibility, tax, advertising, and responsible gambling.
Timeline
- 2013
Upstate Casino Act
New York voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing four upstate commercial casinos. The act laid the legal groundwork for retail sports betting, contingent on federal authorization.
- 2018
PASPA Struck Down
The US Supreme Court ruled the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act unconstitutional in Murphy v. NCAA, clearing the way for individual states to authorize sports betting.
- 2019
Retail Launch
Retail sports betting opened at four upstate commercial casinos (Rivers Schenectady, Tioga Downs, del Lago, Resorts World Catskills) and tribal venues. Mobile remained illegal.
- 2021
Mobile Authorization
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the FY 2021-22 state budget in April 2021, authorizing mobile sports betting. The bill mandated a competitive operator selection and the highest mobile tax rate in the US.
- 2022
Mobile Goes Live
Caesars, FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetRivers launched on January 8, 2022. BetMGM followed January 17. By July, all nine licensed operators were active and New York had passed New Jersey to become the largest mobile sports betting state in the US by handle.
- 2024–2025
Market Maturation
Fanatics acquired PointsBet's NY license (Feb 2024). PENN Entertainment rebranded ESPN BET back to theScore Bet (Dec 2025). Discussions of online casino legalization remain ongoing in Albany.
Regulatory Body: NYSGC
The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) is the sole regulator of all sports betting in the state. The NYSGC has unusually broad authority compared with other state regulators:
- Approves which sports, leagues, events, and bet types are permitted
- Reviews and approves all promotional offers before they can run
- Audits operators quarterly for handle, hold percentage, and tax compliance
- Publishes weekly handle and revenue reports for public transparency
- Investigates customer complaints and can fine or suspend operators
- Sets minimum responsible-gambling tooling requirements
Tax & Revenue
Tax revenue is allocated as follows: 97.5% to public education, with the remainder split between the state's problem-gambling fund and youth sports grants. New York has consistently led all US states in monthly sports-betting tax revenue since launch.
Eligibility & Rules
Who Can Bet
- Must be 21 or older (NY uses the 21+ standard, not 18+)
- Must be physically located in New York at the time the wager is placed (geolocation enforced by every operator)
- State residency is not required - visitors physically in NY can bet
- Must provide name, address, date of birth, and last 4 digits of SSN for identity verification
Who Cannot Bet
- Anyone under 21
- Anyone physically outside New York at wager time
- Athletes, coaches, owners, or referees on any sport they could influence
- Anyone on the NY voluntary self-exclusion list
- NYSGC employees and certain state officials
What You Can Bet On
- All major US pro sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, WNBA)
- College sports including player props (NY currently allows; states like NJ and MA do not)
- International soccer, golf, tennis, MMA, boxing, motorsport, esports (selective)
- Not allowed: high-school sports, in-state college events involving NY teams in some cases (rules updated periodically)
Responsible Gambling
Every NY operator must offer deposit limits, wager limits, time-out cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion. The NY Council on Problem Gambling operates the HOPENY helpline at 1-877-8-HOPENY, and operators are required to display the number on every betting interface.
Self-exclusion through the NY Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program blocks a user from all NY-licensed operators for a chosen period (1, 3, or 5 years, or lifetime). Once enrolled, no operator can knowingly accept wagers, and any winnings are forfeited.