Is Rainbet Legal in NY? Stake, Sweepstakes Casinos and Offshore Sites in New York
Short answerNo. Rainbet, Stake, BetOnline, Bovada and similar offshore sites are not licensed in New York, and the Gaming Commission calls offshore sites and sweepstakes casinos unlawful. Under Racing Law § 912, sweepstakes casino games are banned, with fines of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation.
Last verified: October 28, 2026 against Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law § 912, Penal Law Article 225, the Attorney General’s June 2025 announcement and New York State Gaming Commission guidance
Is Rainbet legal in NY? No. Rainbet is an offshore crypto casino, and New York has not licensed any online casino, offshore betting site or sweepstakes casino. The same answer applies to Stake, BetOnline, Bovada and Rebet: none of them is on the state’s list of licensed sports wagering operators.
This page explains how New York treats offshore sites and sweepstakes casinos, what a 2025 state law changed, and what risks fall on you as a player. It is general legal information, not advice, and it does not recommend any site. For the licensed apps, see our page on which sportsbooks are legal in New York.
Key facts
- Licensed sports apps: nine operators on the Gaming Commission list, including BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics.
- Not on that list: Rainbet, Stake, Rebet, Fliff, BetOnline and Bovada.
- Commission position: online casinos, including ones that call themselves sweepstakes, prediction markets and offshore sites are unlawful in New York State.
- Sweepstakes ban:
Racing Law § 912, Chapter 605 of 2025, signed December 5, 2025. - Fines: $10,000 to $100,000 per violation, aimed at operators and their suppliers.
- Enforcers: the Gaming Commission, the State Police and the Attorney General.
Is Rainbet legal in NY?
No. Rainbet is not a New York licensee, and the Gaming Commission says offshore operators are not licensed to offer sports wagering here and operate unlawfully.
Only nine mobile sports wagering operators appear on the Commission’s licensed list: Bally Bet, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, theScore Bet, Fanatics Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, Resorts World Bet and Rush Street Interactive. A site that accepts New York sign-ups is not the same as a site New York has approved.
Is Stake legal in NY?
No. Stake does not appear on the licensed list, and New York licenses no online casino. If a Stake site uses a sweepstakes coin model, Racing Law § 912 bans it. If it is an offshore crypto casino, the Commission calls it unlawful.
Which model a given site uses can change, so check the licensed list rather than a site’s own legal page.
Are Bovada, BetOnline and Rebet legal in New York?
No. Bovada and BetOnline are offshore sites with no New York license, and Rebet is not on the licensed list either. The Commission names offshore operators and anything outside its lawful list as unlawful in New York State.
Is Fliff legal in New York?
No. Fliff was one of 26 platforms named in Attorney General Letitia James’s June 6, 2025 announcement, which said the operators agreed to stop selling sweepstakes coins in New York after cease and desist letters. Chumba, Global Poker, McLuck, Zula and Luckyland were on the same list.
What is the New York sweepstakes law?
Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law § 912 bans online sweepstakes games. Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. sponsored S5935A, which passed the Senate 57 to 2 on June 11, 2025. Governor Hochul signed it on December 5, 2025 as Chapter 605 of 2025, and it took effect immediately.
The law covers online games with a dual-currency system where players can exchange currency for cash prizes and the game simulates casino play, including table games like blackjack, roulette and poker, and lottery-style games. It also reaches payment processors, geolocation providers, platform providers and content suppliers that support the games.
| Type of site | Licensed in New York? | What the state says |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed sports apps (nine operators) | Yes | Lawful for adults 21 and older |
| Sweepstakes casinos and sweepstakes-style games | No | Banned by Racing Law § 912 |
| Offshore crypto casinos | No | Unlawful, per the Gaming Commission |
| Offshore sportsbooks | No | Unlawful, per the Gaming Commission |
| Prediction markets | No | Unlawful, per the Gaming Commission |
Can you be punished for playing on an offshore site?
The fines in section 912 target operators and suppliers, not players. The criminal law in Penal Law Article 225 mainly targets people who advance or profit from gambling. Penal Law § 225.00 defines a player as someone who gambles solely as a contestant or bettor and gets no profit beyond personal winnings.
| Offense | Level and sentence |
|---|---|
Promoting gambling, second degree (Penal Law § 225.05) | Class A misdemeanor, up to 364 days in jail (Penal Law § 70.15) |
Promoting gambling, first degree (Penal Law § 225.10) | Class E felony, up to 4 years in prison (Penal Law § 70.00) |
Sweepstakes game (Racing Law § 912) | Civil fine of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation |
The bigger risk for you is losing money. Unlicensed operators owe New York players no state dispute process, and the Commission warns they may lack identity checks and money laundering controls. It also notes some allow users as young as 18, while the legal betting age is 21.
New York City: the city follows state law. The same licensed list and the same ban apply in all five boroughs, and the city has no separate gambling license.
Timeline of sweepstakes and offshore rules
- January 8, 2022: licensed mobile sports betting launches.
- June 6, 2025: the Attorney General announces 26 sweepstakes platforms stopped selling coins in New York.
- June 11, 2025: the Senate passes
S5935A. - December 5, 2025: Chapter 605 of 2025 is signed and takes effect.
- May 2026: the Gaming Commission launches its “Unlawful Gambling = Risky Bets” web page and urges New Yorkers to avoid sweepstakes casinos, offshore sites and prediction markets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rainbet legal in New York?
No. Rainbet is an offshore crypto casino with no New York license. The Gaming Commission says online casinos and offshore sites are unlawful in New York State. Use only the nine licensed sports wagering operators on the Commission’s list, and only for sports betting.
Is Stake legal in NY?
No. Stake is not on the Commission’s licensed list, and New York licenses no online casinos. A sweepstakes version falls under the 2025 ban in Racing Law § 912, and an offshore version is unlawful under the Commission’s guidance.
Is Rebet legal in New York?
Rebet is not on the Gaming Commission’s list of licensed sports wagering operators. Only licensed operators may take sports bets in New York, so check the list before depositing and treat unlicensed apps as unlawful.
Is BetOnline legal in New York?
No. BetOnline is an offshore site and is not licensed by the Gaming Commission. The Commission says offshore operators are not licensed to offer sports wagering in New York and operate unlawfully.
Is Bovada legal in New York?
No. Bovada is not licensed in New York, and the Commission calls offshore gambling sites unlawful. Licensed apps such as FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM are the lawful choices for adults 21 and older.
Is Global Poker legal in New York sweepstakes?
No. Global Poker was on the Attorney General’s June 2025 list of 26 platforms that stopped selling sweepstakes coins in New York, and the 2025 law now bans online sweepstakes games. See our page on online poker in NY.
Are Fliff and other sweepstakes sites legal in New York?
No. Fliff was named in the Attorney General’s June 2025 announcement, and Racing Law § 912 bans online sweepstakes games with casino-style play. Fines of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation apply to operators and suppliers.
What changed on this page
- October 28, 2026: first publication, checked against
Racing Law § 912, billS5935A, Penal Law Article 225, the Attorney General’s June 6, 2025 announcement and Gaming Commission guidance. Spotted a mistake? See our corrections page and editorial policy.
If this affects you
To report an unlicensed site or a payout problem, contact the New York State Gaming Commission, file a consumer complaint with the Attorney General, or send a crime tip to the State Police. 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). For the bigger picture, read is gambling legal in New York or browse our gambling and betting section.
