Are Online Casinos Legal in New York? Real-Money Apps, Slots and Blackjack in 2026
Short answerNo. Real-money online casinos are not legal in New York. The state licenses no online slots, blackjack or roulette, and Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law § 912 bans sweepstakes casinos. Licensed sports betting apps are legal, and casinos are legal in person.
Last verified: October 31, 2026 against Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law § 912, Penal Law Article 225, NY Constitution Art. I, § 9 and the Senate bill record for S2614
Are online casinos legal in New York? Not yet. You can play at a licensed casino building, bet on sports through a licensed app and buy lottery tickets, but no company holds a New York license to run online casino games for real money.
This page covers online slots, online blackjack, casino apps and sweepstakes-style sites, what the penalties are and whether a change is coming. It is general information, not legal advice, and it does not recommend any operator.
Key facts
- Real-money online casino: not licensed anywhere in New York.
- Sweepstakes casinos: banned by
Racing Law § 912, with fines of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation for operators and suppliers. - Legal in person: commercial and tribal casinos, with three downstate licenses approved in December 2025.
- Legal online: licensed sports wagering for adults 21 and older, plus a few other lawful forms.
- Pending: bill
S2614would license online casinos but has not passed.
Is online casino legal in NY?
No. NY Constitution Art. I, § 9 bans gambling except for the lottery, pari-mutuel horse betting and casino gambling as the legislature authorizes. New York has authorized casino gambling at licensed facilities, not on websites or phones, and no law creates an online casino license.
The New York State Gaming Commission treats online casinos as outside its list of lawful online gambling. That list covers licensed sports wagering, horse race wagering, authorized charity raffles, licensed fantasy sports and lottery sold through the NY Lottery. Our page on whether gambling is legal in New York covers each category.
Are casinos legal in New York in person?
Yes. Voters approved casino gambling at up to seven facilities in November 2013. Upstate commercial casinos, tribal casinos and video lottery facilities are open, and the state approved three downstate licenses in December 2025 for Resorts World in Queens, Metropolitan Park in Queens and Bally’s in the Bronx.
| Type of casino play | Legal in New York? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed casino building | Yes | Gaming Commission licensed, age rules apply |
| Tribal casino | Yes | Run under federal Indian gaming law |
| Real-money online casino | No | No license exists |
| Sweepstakes casino with a dual currency | No | Banned by Racing Law § 912 |
| Offshore casino website | No | Not licensed in New York |
| Licensed sports betting app | Yes | Sports only, 21 and older |
Are online slots legal in NY?
Not for real money. Online slots are a casino game, and no New York license covers them. A free game with no cash prize is a different thing: the sweepstakes ban applies to games that use a dual-currency system that lets you exchange the currency for cash prizes or cash equivalents.
Is online blackjack legal in NY?
No, not for money. Blackjack is lawful at licensed casino tables in the state, but New York has not licensed any online blackjack, poker or roulette site. Our page on online poker in New York explains the same gap for card rooms.
What casino apps are legal in New York?
No real-money casino app is licensed. The legal apps are sports betting apps run by operators on the Gaming Commission’s list, and those offer sports wagering only. See which sportsbooks are legal and the sports betting rules before you download anything.
An app that offers slots, blackjack or roulette for real money and says it is legal in New York is not licensed here. A claim on a website or app store page does not change that.
Are sweepstakes casinos like Crown Coins legal in NY?
No. Governor Hochul signed S5935A on December 5, 2025 as Chapter 605 of 2025, and it added Racing Law § 912. The law defines an online sweepstakes game as a casino-style game that uses a dual-currency system the player can exchange for a cash prize or cash equivalent, which is how coin-based sweepstakes casinos work.
It is unlawful to operate, conduct or promote these games in New York, and unlawful for payment processors, geolocation providers, platform providers, content suppliers and media affiliates to support them. A site such as Crown Coins is judged by how its coins and prizes work, not by its marketing. Read the offshore and sweepstakes sites page for the Attorney General’s actions.
When will online casino be legal in NY?
There is no date. Bill S2614, sponsored by Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr., would license interactive gaming, with a tax of 30.5 percent of gross gaming revenue, a $2 million one-time fee for each casino or video lottery operator and $10 million for a branded platform provider. The sponsor memo estimates about $150 million in license fees and about $1 billion a year in state revenue.
Pending bill: the Senate record for S2614 shows referral to the Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee on January 21, 2025 and again on January 7, 2026, with no vote. Press reports in June 2026 said Senator Addabbo gave up on the bill for the year because the Governor had not backed it. Online casinos remain unlawful until a new law is passed and signed.
What are the penalties in New York?
The criminal law mainly targets people who run or profit from unlawful gambling. Penal Law § 225.00 defines a player as someone who gambles only as a contestant or bettor and gets no profit beyond personal winnings. Operators face the larger risks.
| Who | Law | Exposure |
|---|---|---|
| Sweepstakes operators and suppliers | Racing Law § 912 | $10,000 to $100,000 per violation, loss of gaming license eligibility |
| Anyone who advances or profits from unlawful gambling | Penal Law § 225.05 | Class A misdemeanor, up to 364 days in jail (Penal Law § 70.15) |
| Promoting gambling in the first degree, such as bookmaking above set daily limits | Penal Law § 225.10 | Class E felony, up to 4 years in prison (Penal Law § 70.00) |
The Gaming Commission, the State Police and the Attorney General can enforce § 912, including with cease and desist letters and subpoenas. Players on unlicensed sites also have no New York regulator to protect deposits or settle disputes.
New York compared with New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut all license online casinos, which is why many New Yorkers ask the question. Those licenses apply only to people physically inside those states. A New York resident cannot use an out-of-state license from home, and geolocation tools block play from New York.
What are the New York City rules?
New York City follows state law. There is no city casino license, and the same ban on online casinos applies in all five boroughs. In-person play in the city is limited to licensed facilities such as Resorts World New York City in Queens.
Timeline of online casino law in New York
- November 5, 2013: voters approve casino gambling at up to seven facilities.
- January 8, 2022: mobile sports betting launches.
- January 21, 2025:
S2614is introduced and referred to committee. - December 5, 2025: Chapter 605 of 2025 bans online sweepstakes games.
- December 2025: three downstate casino licenses are approved.
- January 7, 2026:
S2614is referred to committee again. - June 2026: reports say the sponsor ended the push for the year.
Frequently asked questions
Are any online casinos legal in NY?
No real-money online casino holds a New York license. Licensed sports betting apps, horse wagering sites and the NY Lottery are lawful online, but they are not casinos. Sites offering slots or blackjack for money are not licensed in the state.
Is online blackjack legal in NY?
Not for real money. You can play blackjack at licensed casinos in person, but New York has issued no license for online blackjack. Sites that offer it to New York residents operate without state approval.
Is it illegal to play at an online casino in New York?
The Penal Law mainly targets those who advance or profit from unlawful gambling, and treats a pure player differently. Even so, the Gaming Commission calls these sites unlawful, and you would have no consumer protection if a site kept your money.
Are casino apps legal in New York?
Only sports betting apps from licensed operators are legal, and they cover sports only. Any app that offers real-money slots, roulette or blackjack is not licensed here. Check the Gaming Commission’s operator list before you deposit.
Are online slots legal in NY?
Real-money online slots are not legal. Free games with no cash prize fall outside the sweepstakes definition, but any game that lets you turn a purchased currency into cash prizes is banned under Racing Law § 912.
Will New York legalize online casinos soon?
No timetable exists. Bill S2614 has not passed, and reports in June 2026 said its sponsor stopped pushing it for the year. A new bill would have to pass both houses and be signed before any license could be issued.
What changed on this page
- October 31, 2026: first publication, checked against
Racing Law § 912, Penal Law Article 225,NY Constitution Art. I, § 9and the Senate record forS2614. Spotted a mistake? See our corrections page and editorial policy.
If this affects you
For a complaint about a licensed operator, 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. For free, confidential help with problem gambling, call 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369). Browse more topics in our gambling and betting section.
