What Sportsbooks Are Legal in New York? Licensed Betting Apps in 2026
Short answerOnly sportsbooks licensed by the New York State Gaming Commission are legal. Nine operators hold licenses, including FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM, Fanatics and Bally Bet. You must be 21 or older and physically in New York, under Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law § 1367.
Last verified: October 26, 2026 against the New York State Gaming Commission operator list and Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law Article 13
What sportsbooks are legal in New York? The answer is a short, official list. New York allows online sports betting only through operators the Gaming Commission has licensed, and the Commission publishes who they are. If an app is not on that list, it is not a legal sportsbook in the state, no matter how well known the brand is elsewhere.
This page explains which betting apps are legal in NY, why some popular names are missing, what rules every licensed app must follow, and what the law says about unlicensed sites. It is general legal information, not betting advice, and it does not recommend any operator.
Key facts
- Regulator: New York State Gaming Commission.
- Licensed mobile operators: Bally Bet, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, theScore Bet, Fanatics Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, Resorts World Bet and Rush Street Interactive.
- Minimum age: 21.
- Location: you must be physically in New York when you place the bet.
- Tax: 51 percent of sports wagering revenue, with the money going to education aid.
- Launch date: January 8, 2022.
- Not legal: online casinos, prediction markets and offshore or “sweepstakes” sites, according to the Commission.
Which sports betting apps are legal in New York?
The nine mobile sports wagering operators listed on the Gaming Commission’s sports wagering page are the legal ones. The list below follows that page as of October 26, 2026.
| Licensed operator | Legal for NY sports betting? |
|---|---|
| Bally Bet | Yes |
| BetMGM | Yes |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Yes |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Yes |
| theScore Bet | Yes |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | Yes |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Yes |
| Resorts World Bet | Yes |
| Rush Street Interactive (BetRivers) | Yes |
Each operator is paired with a licensed platform provider and must follow the same Commission rules. Licensing is a state decision, so the list can change when the Commission approves or ends a license.
Is FanDuel legal in New York?
Yes. FanDuel Sportsbook is one of the nine licensed operators and was one of the four that began taking bets when New York’s mobile program opened on January 8, 2022. The Commission’s January 6, 2022 announcement named FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars Sportsbook and Rush Street Interactive as the first approved.
Is DraftKings legal in New York?
Yes, for sports betting. DraftKings Sportsbook is licensed and was also in the first group of four. The online casino side is a different story: the Commission says online casinos are unlawful in New York, so a casino product from the same brand is not covered by the sportsbook license.
Is bet365 legal in NY?
No. bet365 does not appear on the Commission’s list of the nine licensed mobile operators, so it is not a legal sportsbook for New York bettors. Being licensed in another state does not carry over, because each state licenses separately.
Are Hard Rock Bet and ESPN Bet legal in New York?
Neither Hard Rock Bet nor ESPN Bet appears on the Commission’s current list, so New York bettors cannot legally use them for sports betting. Bally Bet is licensed, and so is theScore Bet. Before you deposit with any app, check its name against the Commission’s list.
Why the list is so short: New York’s law set up a competitive bidding process, and the state chose a limited number of operators instead of opening licenses to everyone. A bill pending in the Assembly, A6013, would require more operators and change the tax scale, but it has not passed either house.
What rules do legal sportsbooks in New York follow?
Licensed apps must check your age, confirm you are in the state, and keep you from betting on banned events. These rules come from Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law §§ 1367 and 1367-a and Commission regulations.
- Age 21 or older. A person placing a wager must be at least 21.
- Physically in New York. The app has to confirm your location when you bet. Driving into New Jersey or Connecticut and opening a New York account does not work.
- No New York college teams. You cannot bet on any event in which a New York college team plays, wherever it takes place, and high school sports are also off limits.
- Limits on some props. Player props with a negative implication that one player controls can be rejected after Commission review.
- Responsible gaming tools. Licensed operators must offer tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion.
What about unlicensed and offshore betting sites?
The Commission says they are unlawful. Its public notice lists the legal online options as licensed sports wagering, advance deposit wagering on horse racing, authorized online charity raffles, licensed interactive fantasy sports and lottery purchases through licensed channels, and says everything else is unlawful.
That “everything else” includes online poker rooms (see is online poker legal in NY), online casinos, including ones that claim to be sweepstakes, as well as prediction markets and offshore sites. The Commission warns that these operators are not required to provide patron protections, age checks or dispute resolution, and that many set their minimum age at 18 while New York’s sports betting age is 21.
What are the penalties for illegal gambling in New York?
The criminal penalties target people who run or profit from unlawful gambling, not the licensed apps. Penal Law Article 225 defines a “player” as someone who gambles only as a contestant or bettor, and defines bookmaking as accepting bets from the public as a business.
| Offense | What it covers | Level |
|---|---|---|
Promoting gambling, second degree (Penal Law § 225.05) | Knowingly advancing or profiting from unlawful gambling | Class A misdemeanor |
Promoting gambling, first degree (Penal Law § 225.10) | Bookmaking: accepting more than five bets totaling over $5,000 in one day | Class E felony |
A class A misdemeanor carries a definite jail sentence under Penal Law § 70.15, and a class E felony carries an indeterminate prison term of up to 4 years under Penal Law § 70.00. Using an unlicensed site is still risky even if you are a bettor, because you would have no legal protection if the site refused to pay.
What are the New York City rules?
New York City follows state law. The same nine apps are legal in all five boroughs, and you can bet from a Brooklyn apartment or a Staten Island ferry as long as you are inside New York State and 21 or older. State law, not a city rule, governs online sportsbooks.
Timeline of legal sports betting in New York
- January 6, 2022: the Gaming Commission approves the first four mobile operators.
- January 8, 2022: mobile sports wagering launches. Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel and Rush Street Interactive are first.
- First 30 days: more than $1.98 billion in wagers and over $70.6 million in tax revenue, according to the Governor’s office.
- After launch: BetMGM, PointsBet and Wynn Interactive begin operating.
- 2026: the Commission lists nine licensed operators. Bill
A6013remains in the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee.
Myths and facts
- Myth: If an app works on my phone in New York, it is legal. Fact: Only Commission-licensed operators are legal, and many offshore apps still load.
- Myth: A sweepstakes casino is the same as a sportsbook. Fact: The Commission says online casinos, even sweepstakes ones, are unlawful.
- Myth: I can bet on the Syracuse game. Fact: Games involving New York college teams are banned.
What should you do if a betting app will not pay you?
If the app is licensed, contact its customer service first and keep screenshots. If that fails, file a complaint with the Gaming Commission. For an unlicensed site, the Commission suggests complaints to the Commission, the New York State Attorney General and, for crime tips, the New York State Police. See our money and consumer section for related issues.
Frequently asked questions
What sports betting apps are legal in New York?
The Gaming Commission lists nine: Bally Bet, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, theScore Bet, Fanatics Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, Resorts World Bet and Rush Street Interactive. You must be 21 or older and physically in New York to bet with any of them.
Is DraftKings casino legal in NY?
No. The Commission says online casinos are unlawful in New York. DraftKings Sportsbook is licensed for sports betting, but that license does not cover online casino games, so a casino product tied to the same brand is not a legal option here.
Is Bally Bet legal in NY?
Yes. Bally Bet is on the Gaming Commission’s list of licensed mobile sports wagering operators. The same age and location rules apply: you must be 21 or older and inside New York State when you place the bet.
Can you bet on New York college teams?
No. Wagers cannot be placed on any event in which a New York college team takes part, wherever the game is played. High school sports are also barred. A game between two out-of-state teams is allowed.
How can I check whether a sportsbook is licensed?
Compare the app’s name with the operator list on the Gaming Commission’s sports wagering page. The Commission also warns about sites with no customer service, no contact details, no age controls or no responsible gaming tools, and sites based outside the United States.
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 self-exclude from gaming opportunities across New York State through the Gaming Commission’s voluntary self-exclusion program.
What changed on this page
- October 26, 2026: first publication, checked against the Gaming Commission’s sports wagering and unlawful gambling pages, Racing Law §§ 1367 and 1367-a, and Penal Law Article 225. Spotted a mistake? See our corrections page and editorial policy.
If this affects you
For a payout dispute or a complaint about an 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 or crime and courts section.
