New York Gambling Laws – Can You Gamble There?

New York gambling laws are some of the most interesting in the entire United States. While in general, they are quite liberal, cracks are showing in certain areas. Clearly there is something going on with NY gambling, and it’s time to find out what. In this article, we will explore the legal situation of all major types of gambling. Furthermore, we will also provide information on some compelling topics, painting a clear picture about the NY gambling scene.

New York State Gambling Laws and Regulations

New York gambling laws have not changed much and by looking at them, we can identify certain trends just like when it comes to gambling laws in Ireland. When compared to many other states, New York is quite liberal with its gambling sector. Most types of gambling are available in one form or another, including casino gaming, horse racing, poker, etc. Charitable gaming is also on the menu for organizations looking to draw in some extra cash.

One thing that stands out is that while many gambling products are legal in their land-based version, it is not the same case with their online equivalent. New York has not passed any meaningful online gambling laws, and for now, the state is limited only to retail gambling. While its neighbour New Jersey is experiencing a swelling online gambling scene, New York seems to have fallen behind.

Casino Gambling in New York

New York gambling laws on casino gaming have changed somewhat over the last few years. For the longest time, New York lobbyists have been trying to get casinos legalized and running. They finally had a breakthrough in 2013 when the state allowed the construction of several new gambling establishments. Since then, five commercial casinos have opened in different cities in the state.

Unlike previous venues, these were full-fledged casinos, offering all tables games and slots. They are regulated by the New York Gaming Commission and draw in tens of millions on a monthly basis. In February 2020 alone, the five casinos reported $37 million in revenue from slots, with $54 million across all games they offer.

In short, New York residents are quite happy with these new venues and seem to frequent them regularly. Judging by the current trend, New York casino gambling will only become larger and it is only a matter of time until it starts to rival some of the larger betting scenes in the country.

Horse Racing and Sports Betting in New York

New York has a long history of horse racing, and there are at least 8 horse racing tracks within state lines. Many of these have been in operation since the 1940s, with the Yonkers Raceway dating as far as 1899. It is no overestimation to say that New Yorkers love their horse races.

Something notable about NY racetracks is that they also double down as casinos, at least in a limited capacity. Just about every one of the eight tracks features table games and slots. Thus, they have been dubbed as ‘racinos’. Of course, the gambling games are nowhere near as extensive as those in a proper casino, but they provide just enough entertainment for those looking for a different thrill. As such, they are excellent additions even if they are not the main attraction.

Charitable and Social Gambling in New York

New York state gambling laws on charitable gaming allow for several products. Specifically, the state permits pull-tabs, bingo, raffles, and casino games. Nearly 20,000 organizations are registered for hosting charitable gaming events in the state. As a result, this type of gambling is a major source of revenue for those organizations and the state, as well.

According to New York gambling laws, organizations looking to host charitable gambling functions have to pay a flat fee for each event. Moreover, the state also takes 3% of all net profits from these events, with the funds used to train state employees.

The prizes from charitable gambling events vary depending on the type of gaming. Bingo players can win up to $5000 at a time. Bell jar players can bring in up to $1000. On the other hand, casino games can provide prizes up to $500 per game. In all cases, there are strict betting limits for those who participate. Despite the more casual nature of these events, players must still meet the US legal gambling age to participate.

State of Online Gambling in New York

New York online gambling laws are somewhat lacking when compared to states such as New Jersey or Pennsylvania. Whereas those two states have fully legal and thriving online gambling scenes, New York has yet to take that step forward. This is quite a shame, considering how large and profitable a NY online betting industry could be.

While online gambling is still a long way off, NY residents make do with social casinos. These are an alternative to traditional online casinos. Social casinos provide the same gaming products but do not take real-money bets. Therefore, you can still have fun playing slots and table games, but without the risk of losing actual funds. For some players, this is perfectly fine, but others will still crave the excitement of ‘real’ gambling.

As far as the future goes, New York lawmakers are not really interested in online gambling. Few politicians are even considering the idea, while many more are indifferent to it or against it. As it happens, there is not enough support among elected officials to make a NY online gambling scene a reality. Still, nobody knows what the future holds and New Yorkers might not get to experience the best online US casino sites any time soon.

Native American Casinos in New York

The New York tribal casinos have been going strong since 1993 when they were first allowed to operate. At the moment, only three of the eight recognized tribes offer legal gaming. These are the Seneca Nation, the St. Regis Mohawks, and the Oneida Indian Nation. Together, these tribes have opened multiple casinos and gambling halls in their respective territories. There are dozens of them currently active, with customers travelling to these resorts throughout the year. Here are some of the notable establishments run by the Native tribes:

Since the tribes are more or less self-governed, the state and the federal government rarely meddle in their business. As a result, the tribes can operate their businesses freely. For a while, the tribal casinos had a monopoly on New York casino gaming, but since 2013 commercial casinos were permitted in the state. Now, the tribal establishments have much broader competition and have to go head to head with major companies. Of course, this bodes well for New York gamblers, as they now have more venues to visit, all competing for their business.

FAQ About New York Gambling Laws

Now that we have done an overview of New York state gambling laws, we are prepared to answer your questions. In the FAQ section below, we will go over all vital aspects on the topic. We hope that the answers provided will be sufficient and will expand your knowledge on the subject.

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