Online sports betting sites are now live in New York. Residents in the state can now place sports bets online. These have been available since January 8, 2022.
In addition to online sportsbooks, bettors have other betting options in NY. Retail sportsbooks are still available, while racetracks and racinos are legal too. However, there are no legal online casino sites in the state.
As a result of live online and mobile sportsbooks launching in New York, some of the big names in online gambling have been set up in the state. Bettors now have more sports betting options than ever before and they can access accounts remotely. New players can also take advantage of some of the New York betting sites’ promos and offers.
Below, we provide an overview of the online gambling options currently available for residents in the Empire State.
Is Sports Betting Legal in New York?
It is no surprise that New York has welcomed different forms of sports betting. In the state, there are multiple popular sports teams, including college sports. Also, fans in the state are extremely passionate about sports.
New York was quick to act after the US Government repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018. In 2019, four New York casinos launched retail sportsbooks. In addition, some of the tribal casinos entered into partnerships with sportsbook operators to launch retail locations.
Ultimately, the quick acceptance and launch of retail sportsbooks paved the way for New York online betting sites to set up a few years later.
Do New York Online Betting sites include sportsbooks?
Although retail sportsbooks in New York have been open since 2019, NY bettors had to wait for online sportsbooks to launch. But, in early 2022, the first online sportsbooks started taking bets from residents in the Empire State.
Following the launch of some of the big names in the betting market initially, more platforms have joined the action. The first companies to get started were FanDuel and DraftKings, which launched their online sportsbooks on January 8, 2022. Quick to follow was FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, and BetRivers, who set up just two days later. WynnBet is also ready to launch its app this year.
Already, there are signs of success for New York online betting sites. Incredibly, the first 26 days of online sports betting saw customers place more than $1.6 billion on bets through sportsbooks alone.
With the market gaining traction already in the Empire State, more sportsbooks could enter the scene in the coming months. This is good news for bettors, who will have more choice and value available.
Betting on horse racing in New York
Historically, horse racing has been popular in New York. State racetracks have been in operation since the 1930s and Saratoga and Belmont Park are two of the most famous tracks in the US.
In particular, Belmont Park is a world-renowned track. It is host to the third leg of the Triple Crown every year via the Belmont Stakes. This race draws the attention of a global audience each year.
Some NY racetracks are still in operation today. Most offer live racing options throughout the year. Also, there are some special race days that award prizes to the millions.
Along with the established and historic New York racetracks, off-track betting locations are also available. These venues give gamblers a chance to place a bet on a local race or one from dozens of tracks around North America.
Do New York online betting sites offer horse racing?
New York Racing Association has an online horse betting site, NYRAbets. These platforms, similar to DRF Bets or Twinspires, allow players to bet by way of live streaming from tracks across the United States and Canada.
However, with the launch of New York online betting sites, players now have more horse race options. Some bookmakers provide wagers for a host of US horse races. Indeed, others also run bets for international races in the UK and Europe.
However, not every operator runs bets for horse racing. One of the biggest and most popular online horse racing sites is TwinSpires. Linked to Churchill Downs, this operator has one of the most extensive online horse books in the market.
Casino Gambling in New York
Casino gambling is very popular in New York state. A combination of racinos, tribal casinos, and privately-owned facilities exists in the Empire State.
Today, there are more than 20 land-based casinos in the state. Downstate New York areas are also developing more physical casinos in the state. Currently, the largest in-person casino in NY is Resorts World Casino New York City. This establishment has 175,000 square feet of gaming floor space. In addition, it has nearly 5000 gaming machines and around 500 tables.
Each of the state racetracks has been given the chance to add slots to their properties too. This has helped the tracks operate and generate revenue.
When will Online Casinos launch in New York?
Although New York online betting sites have expanded to allow mobile and internet sportsbooks, the same can’t be said for casinos. Despite a thriving land-based casino scene, and a rapidly growing online sportsbook market, casino platforms are not in development just yet.
As commercial casinos only launched in 2013, it appears that online casinos remain some way behind. However, some state legislatures and statesmen seem eager to push for online casinos. In particular, Sen. Joseph Addabbo is an advocate of online casino betting.
But, because online sportsbooks have recently launched, it seems unlikely that another big development will take place in the coming years. Perhaps once the benefits and success of online sports betting have been measured, there may be scope for online casino games.
For now, though, New York bettors must stick to in-person gambling at land-based casinos. Alternatively, state residents can access social casinos, where players wager for virtual coins instead of real money.
New York Lottery
New York was one of the first US states to run a lottery. In 1967, the New York State Lottery launched and it has now been operating for over 50 years.
Fans of the lottery can head to one of the hundreds of official retailers in the state to purchase scratch tickets. Players can purchase these for $1 each. Alternatively, bettors can choose from one of the many available draw games. Some games, like Powerball, involve drawing players from across the entire country.
The proceeds from all these lottery games are put back into the state by way of programs to help the less fortunate. Funds are used to improve state education, infrastructure, and other social enterprises.