Is Sports Betting Legal in New York? Online and In-Person Rules for 2026
Short answerYes. Adults 21 and older can legally bet on sports in New York, online through nine New York State Gaming Commission-licensed mobile apps or in person at licensed casino sportsbooks, under Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law §§ 1367 and 1367-a. You must be inside New York when you bet.
Last verified: October 27, 2026 against Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law §§ 1367 and 1367-a, Penal Law Article 225 and the Gaming Commission sports wagering page
Is sports betting legal in New York? For adults, yes, as long as the bet goes through a licensed operator. The state has allowed in-person betting at casinos since 2019 and mobile betting since January 8, 2022. Sports betting outside that system, such as with a bookie or an offshore site, is not part of the legal program.
This page explains how legal sports betting works in NY, what the age and location rules are, which events are off limits, and where the criminal law still applies. It is general information, not betting advice, and it does not recommend any operator.
Key facts
- Regulator: New York State Gaming Commission.
- Minimum age: 21, for in-person and mobile wagers.
- In-person betting: in a sports wagering lounge at a licensed casino. First legal sports book opened at Rivers Casino in Schenectady in July 2019.
- Mobile betting: launched January 8, 2022. Nine licensed operators as of this check.
- Location: you must be physically in New York State when you place a mobile bet.
- Banned bets: any event with a New York college team, and high school sports.
- Tax: 51 percent of sports wagering revenue, paid by operators, with the money going mostly to school aid.
Is online sports betting legal in New York?
Yes. Mobile sports wagering is authorized by Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law § 1367-a, and the Gaming Commission says wagers must be made electronically from a location within New York. You need an account with a licensed operator, and each person can have only one active account per operator.
The law routes every mobile bet through a licensed casino. Operators’ servers must be physically located in a licensed gaming facility, and a bet counts as placed where the operator receives it. That structure is how New York set up online betting without a separate online-casino system.
Is in-person sports betting legal in New York?
Yes. Under Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law § 1367, a casino can run a sports pool with Commission approval, and the pool must operate in a sports wagering lounge at the casino. The same section sets the minimum age at 21.
The first legal sports book in the state opened at Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady, with a press release dated July 16, 2019. That was months after the Gaming Commission approved rules in June 2019. At that time the state said online wagering would need a constitutional amendment, so only casino lounges opened.
When did sports betting become legal in NY?
- June 2019: Gaming Commission approves sports wagering rules for casinos.
- July 16, 2019: first sports book opens at Rivers Casino in Schenectady.
- April 2021: the state budget authorizes mobile sports wagering.
- January 6, 2022: Commission approves the first four mobile operators.
- January 8, 2022: mobile betting goes live, and the Governor’s office reported more than $1.98 billion wagered in the first 30 days.
Who can bet, and what is off limits?
Only people 21 and older can place a wager, and operators must keep minors out. The law defines a “minor” as anyone under 21, which is higher than the 18 minimum some other sites use.
| Bet | Allowed in New York? |
|---|---|
| Professional games on the Commission-approved menu | Yes |
| College game with a New York college team | No, wherever it is played |
| College game with no New York team | Yes |
| College tournament event with no New York team in that event | Yes |
| High school sports | No |
Is sports betting still illegal anywhere in New York?
Partly. Betting outside the licensed system is still unlawful gambling. Penal Law § 225.00 defines gambling as risking something of value on a contest of chance or a future event you do not control, and it defines a “player” as someone who gambles only as a contestant or bettor.
The main criminal offenses target people who run or profit from unlawful betting. Promoting gambling in the second degree (Penal Law § 225.05) is a class A misdemeanor, and first degree (Penal Law § 225.10) covers bookmaking above five bets totaling over $5,000 in one day and is a class E felony. For the sentence ranges, see Penal Law §§ 70.15 and 70.00.
Offshore sites, sweepstakes casinos and prediction markets are not licensed sportsbooks, and online casinos are unlawful in New York too. Our pages on which sportsbooks are legal in New York and online poker in NY explain the Commission’s position in more detail.
What are the New York City rules?
New York City follows state law. A licensed app works in all five boroughs, so you can bet from the Bronx or from a Staten Island ferry deck, as long as you are 21 or older and inside the state. The city has no separate sports betting license.
Pending bill: A6013 (2025 session), introduced by Assemblymember Woerner and referred to the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee, would raise the minimum number of mobile operators and change how the tax rate is set. It has not passed either house, so current law is unchanged.
How does New York compare with New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania?
| State | Legal sports betting for adults 21+ |
|---|---|
| New York | Casino lounges since 2019, mobile since January 8, 2022 |
| New Jersey | Legal since 2018, in person and online |
| Pennsylvania | Legal since 2018, in person and online |
| Connecticut | Online and retail betting launched in 2021 |
Your account only works in the state that licensed it, so crossing into New Jersey means using a New Jersey account.
Frequently asked questions
Is sports betting legal in NY for 18-year-olds?
No. A person placing a sports wager in New York must be at least 21 under Racing Law § 1367, and operators must keep minors out. Eighteen-year-olds cannot open an account or bet in a casino sports lounge, even if another state or site would let them.
Is mobile sports betting legal in New York if I am traveling?
It depends on where you are. A New York-licensed app only accepts bets while you are physically inside New York. Visitors from other states can use a New York app if they are 21 or older and in the state, but your phone’s location must confirm it.
Is sports betting allowed in NY on college games?
Partly. You can bet on college games that involve no New York college team. Any event in which a New York college team takes part is banned, wherever it is played, and so are high school events. A collegiate tournament is allowed if no New York team is in that specific event.
When will sports betting be legal in New York?
It already is. Casino sports lounges opened in July 2019 and mobile betting began on January 8, 2022. Online casino games and online poker are different, and the Gaming Commission treats them as unlawful, so check our gambling pages before assuming another kind of site is allowed.
Who pays the 51 percent tax?
The operators do. The Commission says sports wagering revenue is taxed at 51 percent, with the money funding public schools, plus set amounts each year for youth sports programs and problem gambling education and treatment. Your own winnings are generally taxable income.
Where can I get help with problem gambling in New York?
Call 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or text HOPENY (467369) for free, confidential help. You can also join the Gaming Commission’s voluntary self-exclusion program, which keeps you out of gaming opportunities across New York State, and the Commission’s responsible gaming page lists more tools.
What changed on this page
- October 27, 2026: first publication, checked against Racing Law §§ 1367 and 1367-a, Penal Law Article 225, the Gaming Commission sports wagering page and bill A6013. Spotted a mistake? See our corrections page and editorial policy.
If this affects you
For a payout dispute or a complaint about a licensed app, contact the New York State Gaming Commission. For a gambling charge, talk to a New York-licensed criminal defense attorney, and the New York State Bar Association lawyer referral service can help you find one. Browse more topics in our gambling and betting section.
