Is Online Poker Legal in NY? New York Rules for Real-Money and Sweepstakes Sites

Last verified: October 26, 2026 against Penal Law Article 225, Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law § 912, and New York State Gaming Commission guidance

Is online poker legal in NY? Not as a licensed, regulated product. New York State has authorized online sports betting, but it has never passed a law that licenses real-money online poker rooms, and the Gaming Commission lists poker nowhere among the lawful online options. A bill to change that sits in a Senate committee.

This page explains where online poker stands in 2026, what happened to “sweepstakes” poker sites, how home games are treated, and what penalties apply. It is general legal information, not advice, and it does not recommend any site or operator.

Is real-money online poker legal in New York?

No licensed real-money online poker exists in New York, which makes online poker unregulated and unauthorized here. The state constitution bans gambling except a few listed forms, and no statute opens online poker to licensed operators.

New York Constitution Article I, § 9 says no lottery, pool-selling, bookmaking or any other kind of gambling is allowed, with exceptions for state lotteries, pari-mutuel betting on horse races, and casino gambling at no more than seven facilities as the legislature authorizes. Online poker is not one of those exceptions.

The Gaming Commission names the lawful online options: licensed sports betting, advance deposit wagering on horse racing, online raffles run by authorized charities, licensed interactive fantasy sports, and lottery subscriptions or tickets bought through licensed couriers. The Commission says everything else, including online casinos and offshore sites, is unlawful in New York State.

What is the status of online poker legalization in New York?

Legalization is proposed but not law. Senate Bill S2614, sponsored by Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr., would authorize interactive gaming and lists poker tournaments among the games that could be offered.

The bill would tax licensees at 30.5 percent of base taxable gross gaming revenue. Its last recorded action on the Senate website was a referral to the Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee on January 7, 2026. It has not passed either house, so nothing about real-money online poker has changed.

Are sweepstakes and “gold coin” poker sites legal in New York?

No. A sweepstakes poker site that uses coins you can turn into cash prizes is treated as unlawful gambling, and a 2025 law now bans online sweepstakes games outright.

On June 6, 2025, Attorney General Letitia James announced that 26 sweepstakes platforms had stopped selling sweepstakes coins in New York after cease and desist letters. Global Poker was on that list. The Attorney General said that under New York law, betting cash-redeemable virtual coins on games of chance counts as gambling, however the operator describes the coins.

Then the legislature acted. Senate Bill S5935A passed the Senate on June 11, 2025 and the Assembly on June 17, 2025. Governor Hochul signed it on December 5, 2025 as Chapter 605 of 2025, and it took effect immediately. It added Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law § 912.

The law covers games that use a dual-currency system and let players exchange one currency for cash prizes. It counts poker among the table games a sweepstakes game can simulate. The Gaming Commission, the State Police and the Attorney General can enforce it, and each violation carries a fine of $10,000 to $100,000.

Whether a particular brand, such as WPT Global or another poker app, fits that definition depends on how its coins and prizes work. The statute does not name brands, so check the Commission and Attorney General before you deposit anything.

Is it legal to play poker for money at home in New York?

A friendly home game is usually not a crime for the players, but running one for profit can be. Penal Law § 225.00 defines a “player” as someone who gambles solely as a contestant or bettor, without receiving or becoming entitled to receive any profit from the game.

The law adds that a person who gambles at a social game of chance on equal terms with the other participants is still a player, even if they invite people or let the game use their home. A host who takes a rake, a seat fee or a cut of every pot is no longer just a player, and that is how a home game turns into promoting gambling.

What are the penalties for illegal poker in New York?

Penalties fall on people who advance or profit from unlawful gambling, and online sweepstakes operators face civil fines. Penal Law Article 225 sets the criminal offenses.

Offense	What it covers	Level
Promoting gambling, second degree (Penal Law § 225.05)	Knowingly advancing or profiting from unlawful gambling, such as running a paid game	Class A misdemeanor
Promoting gambling, first degree (Penal Law § 225.10)	Bookmaking above set limits, or lottery and policy schemes above set limits	Class E felony
Possession of a gambling device (Penal Law § 225.30)	Knowingly making, selling or possessing a gambling device	Class A misdemeanor
Online sweepstakes game (Racing Law § 912)	Offering a banned sweepstakes game	Civil fine, $10,000 to $100,000 per violation

Under Penal Law § 70.15, a class A misdemeanor carries a fixed jail term of up to 364 days. Under Penal Law § 70.00, a class E felony carries a maximum prison term of up to 4 years. First-degree promoting is aimed at bookmaking and lottery operations, not ordinary poker players.

What are the New York City rules?

New York City follows state law. The same ban on licensed real-money online poker applies in all five boroughs, and no city rule opens a separate path. Whether you play from Queens or Albany, the Commission, the Attorney General and the State Police enforce the state rules.

Timeline of online poker and sweepstakes rules in New York

• January 8, 2022: mobile sports betting launches, the only major online wagering expansion. See our page on legal sportsbooks in New York.
• June 6, 2025: the Attorney General announces 26 sweepstakes platforms, including Global Poker, stopped selling coins in New York.
• June 11 and 17, 2025: the Senate and Assembly pass S5935A.
• December 5, 2025: the Governor signs it as Chapter 605 of 2025, effective immediately.
• January 7, 2026: S2614, the interactive gaming bill, is referred to committee.

Myths and facts

• Myth: If a poker site accepts New York players, it is legal. Fact: The Commission licenses no poker operator, and offshore sites are unlawful.
• Myth: Sweepstakes poker avoids gambling law because it is “free.” Fact: The Attorney General says cash-redeemable coins make it gambling, and Racing Law § 912 now bans it.
• Myth: Players can be charged like operators. Fact: The criminal offenses target people who advance or profit from gambling, not players.

What should you do if a poker site will not pay you?

Save screenshots of your account, deposits and messages. File a complaint with the Gaming Commission and the New York State Attorney General, and send a crime tip to the State Police if you suspect fraud. Because unlicensed sites owe New York players no legal protections, getting money back may be hard. See our money and consumer section for related issues.

Frequently asked questions

Is online poker legal in New York in 2024, and has that changed?

No licensed online poker existed in 2024, and none exists in 2026. Bill S2614 is still in committee, so the status of regulated real-money online poker has not changed. The big change was the 2025 ban on online sweepstakes games.

Is real money online poker legal in NY?

Not through any New York-licensed site. The Gaming Commission has licensed sports betting operators but no poker rooms. Offshore sites that take New York players are described by the Commission as unlawful and unregulated.

Is Global Poker legal in New York?

Global Poker was one of 26 platforms that stopped selling sweepstakes coins in New York after Attorney General cease and desist letters in June 2025. A 2025 state law also bans online sweepstakes games, with fines of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation.

Is poker legal in New York at all?

Yes in limited forms. A social game on equal terms with no profit to the host is treated as ordinary play. Paid or house-run games can be promoting gambling. Online, no licensed poker is available.

Will New York ever legalize online poker?

It is possible but not certain. Bill S2614 would license interactive gaming, including poker, and tax it at 30.5 percent. It has not passed either house.

Can I be arrested for playing online poker in New York?

The criminal offenses focus on people who advance or profit from unlawful gambling, not on players as such. Still, playing on an unlicensed site gives you no legal protection, and operators and promoters face serious charges.

What changed on this page

• October 26, 2026: first publication, checked against Penal Law Article 225, the New York Constitution Article I, § 9, Racing Law § 912, bills S5935A and S2614, and Gaming Commission guidance. Spotted a mistake? See our corrections page and editorial policy.

If this affects you

For a payout problem or a complaint about a site, contact the New York State Gaming Commission or the Attorney General. 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 or crime and courts section.