New York Online Casinos | Latest Updates December 2024

Online casino NY sites are still illegal in the Big Apple. When they do launch, we expect to see all the top names in the industry offering massive game libraries and lucrative sign up bonuses. For now, NY online casino players can enjoy all their favorite games at social and sweepstakes casinos. 

Are Online Casinos Legal in New York?

New York online casinos aren't legal yet. But many online casino NY sites do offer online action via social casinos. Social casinos are totally legal in New York and feature table games and slot machines based on the same games you’d find at a retail casino. The best sweepstakes casinos let you play all these games for free, so it’s not technically gambling as usually that involves real money – but you can win actual cash prizes via sweeps coins. Once you sign up and download the app, Chumba deposits a certain number of gold coins and sweeps coins in your account.

The gold coins are used for fun while playing games like blackjack or US slots sites. The sweeps coins give players the chance to win real money or other prizes that technically count as sweepstakes winnings. It’s all free and it’s a great alternative to online casinos NY sites.

We at Gambling.com have tried a variety of social casinos available in New York and tried various games. Our above list of the best social casinos is a great place for new players to get started.

Potential Launch Dates for Legal New York Online Casino Sites

While there’s still no set approval or date, New York has recently been quick to jump on new legislation for casinos. The state added provisions to allow commercial casinos in 2013. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo didn’t include any extra revenue sources in his April 2020 budget, but state Sen. Joseph Addabbo and other officials continue to push hard for legal NYC online casino gaming in 2021. 

We'll likely see numerous brands from New Jersey pushing to join the online gambling market in NY. Promotions will most likely resemble popular NJ online casino bonuses.

Even though the push for legalization in 2022 didn't go through, Sen. Joseph Addabbo is still pushing the iGaming bill in 2023. That would be big news for online gambling in New York, allowing brands to go live at some point in 2024. Still, there's a lot of ground to cover before we get an official launch date available.

Which Online Gambling NY Sites Should We Expect to See?

It’s hard to say exactly which NY online casino sites will launch as the legislation isn’t here yet. We do know that several of the best casinos in New York already offer social casinos and could presumably make a smooth transition once online gambling is legalized.

Online casino New York visitors who haven’t experienced the online side can easily get acclimated to these social casinos. They are totally free to use and completely legal. Top social casinos like Chumba even offer real cash prizes with sweeps coins, which they deposit into accounts for all new users. They’re easy to play via the mobile app and should be considered a great alternative to online casinos in New York, which could be available in the relatively near future

New York Online Casino Bill Details December 2024

New York Senator Addabo has introduced an Interactive Gaming Bill to authorize casino New York online sites. Overall, the bill would enable 24 licenses to be granted to brands. It also presents different licensing fee tiers, ranging from $2 to $10 million. On top of that, the bill proposes a quick launch, which would allow brands to go live 120 after the bill goes through. The brands that licenses would be reserved for are:

• Commercial casinos (sever in total, four upstate + three downstate)
• Tribal casino (Mohawk, Seneca, Oneida)
• Racetracks (Resorts World and the Empire City)
• Licensed sports betting operators (BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, BallyBet, WynnBET, BetRivers, PointsBet and Resorts World Bet)
• A bidding process would allow additional three licenses

The current bill status is "In Committee". If you're wondering whether it'll pass, it remains uncertain. There have been attempts in the past that were futile. However, this time, things might be different. The bill proposes plenty of things that would benefit the state. On top of that, the live dealer positions would be union jobs, providing more rights for the workers. 

When you consider that daily fantasy sports are legal, as well as mobile sports betting, one might think that it's time for NY online casino sites to join the party. Hopefully, the local legislators share the same opinion. 

Stay tuned for future updates. As soon as there's a new development, we'll keep you posted right here.

RELATED: Headed to New Jersey or Pennsylvania? Good news: You can register for an account at New Jersey online casino apps and Pennsylvania casino sites ahead of time, but you must be inside state lines to gamble.

Bonuses to Claim When NY Online Casino Sites Become Legal

One big advantage online casinos have over land-based New York casinos is the number of bonus offers and promotions for new players. These are sign-up incentives that players can use to their benefit once they make an initial deposit.

• Deposit match bonus - Matched deposits are a popular bonus offer at the best online casinos. These sites will match whatever amount you deposit up to a certain amount, like $500 or $1,000. That means you’ve essentially doubled your money right out of the gate. This is real money you can use to play table games and online slots right away, though these offers typically require a player to wager a certain amount before they can access the funds. Always read the terms and conditions.
• Bonus spins - Free spins are another good option for online slot enthusiasts. Basically the online casino rewards you with a number of credits or free spins for online slot machines. Players will keep any winnings they make from these free spins and don’t have to risk anything to play.
• Friend referral bonus - A refer-a-friend bonus is another good promotion. If you like a specific online casino and recommend one of your friends, the site will deposit bonus funds into your account as a “thank you” for bringing on a new player. The new player might have to wager a specific amount first before the bonus kicks in, but once it does that’s real money you can play with.
• No deposit bonus - Some online casinos offer a no deposit casino bonuses that goes into the player’s account as soon as they sign up with all the required personal information. You don’t even have to deposit any funds before the bonus arrives, though you will have to meet a playthrough requirement before you can withdraw the bonus cash. These bonuses come in bonus cash or bonus spins, depending on the operator.
• Loyalty promos - Big brands offer generous loyalty programs that offer a wide range of bonuses to active players. Usually, you'll receive loyalty points for playing, which you can later redeem. Some promos even include stays at fancy hotel resorts and other brand-exclusive amenities.

New York online casino players can expect all of these bonuses and more to become available once the legislation for online casinos goes through. Shop around and find the one that will give you the most bang for your buck.

Expected Games to Launch at NY Online Casinos

Online Poker

Many New York casino online sites offer 24-hour poker rooms with games and tournaments for popular poker styles like Texas Hold ‘Em. While online poker in New York isn’t legal yet, it will likely be included with future legislation for online casinos.

Online poker has the exact same rules and format as those you’ll find at a traditional poker room. The difference is you can’t see the other players, so it’s essential to closely follow wagering patterns and tendencies. Online poker is a great way to practice and play a bunch of hands in a relatively short period of time. It’s also a great way to profit once you’re good enough to understand and take advantage of all the nuances.

Lottery

New York became one of the first states to offer lottery with its inception in 1967. It’s still thriving today and could soon be available for online lottery play. State-run online lottery sites work just like the retail version. Users would create an account with the lottery website and download an app to their iOS or Android.

All you have to do from there is sign up and make an initial deposit. Then you can start buying online lottery tickets and pick your lucky numbers or choose an automated sequence.

Online Slots

Online slots are extremely popular across the U.S., while racinos and casinos in New York offer thousands of in-person options with varying stakes. This is basically just how it works with online slot machines. Players choose their credit amount from penny slots to high-stakes and spin away hoping to hit the jackpot.

New York casino players know the popular slot machines can get crowded, and no one wants to play with someone breathing down their neck. Online slots mean your favorite game is available 24/7 from your cell phone via a mobile casino app.

Online Blackjack

A traditional casino favorite, online blackjack is incredibly simple.

Online blackjack also provides plenty of repetition and practice. There’s no waiting for other players to finish their hands after you already hit 21. You can play hands at your own pace and you don’t have to fight the masses for a spot at a table with your preferred stakes.

It’s a great way to test your system and engrain best practices when it comes to playing certain hands. There is a mathematically advantageous way to play nearly every hand, whether it’s 14 against dealer showing 7 or choosing to split a pair of 8s. Players will get up to speed very quickly on trickier situations with online blackjack.

Online Roulette

Another game that makes for an easy transition via mobile app, online roulette should be readily available at online casinos in New York once they pass the proper legislation. The same roulette bet types apply – red/black, inside/outside, odd/even, high/low and any variation of individual or cornered numbers.

Methods like the James Bond strategy and Reverse Martingale apply to online roulette as well and can be employed the same way players would at any casino in New York. The difference is you have the table to yourself in a comfortable environment.

Live Dealer

Live dealer is an online casino niche in which there’s a real human being stationed at a control center dealing cards just as they would at a standard casino. The only difference is he’s not physically sitting at your table.

Live dealer regulation is tricky and isn’t necessarily available even in states that have legal online casinos. Some states like Pennsylvania allow for it, but options are few and far between. New Jersey, by contrast, has more options. It remains to be seen whether New York online casinos would include live dealer play with games like blackjack and baccarat.

Will There Be New York Casino Apps?

Online casinos in New York will certainly offer mobile real money casino apps once it becomes legal to do so. These mobile casino apps are easy to use and can be downloaded to your iOS or Android device just like any other app.

These apps are the most popular way to play casino games online nowadays. The best online casinos still offer robust layouts that work great on PCs and laptops and provide the same table games and slots you’re familiar with in an online casino.

Using mobile casino apps is a more convenient way to gamble as opposed to retail casinos. All the familiar slot machines and table games like blackjack, roulette and baccarat are now available right from your cell phone. You can play these games for hours at a time from the living room couch or sneak a few quick hands or spins during a lunch break.

With the best online casino NY real money apps, players will be able to get the full casino experience without having to fight for a chair at crowded blackjack tables or wait for their lucky slot machine to open up.

Land-Based Casinos in New York

Making Deposits and Withdrawals for Online Gambling

Top online casinos continue to evolve when it comes to payment options, however, there are still a few issues that you should be aware of. Credit/debit card payments should be accepted on the casino side, but some players still experience issues with declined deposits by their financial institutions at legal casino sites. Check with your bank if this is the method you prefer to make sure it’s a solid option.

Play+ cards are also offered at the highest paying real money online casino sites. Rather than make a deposit with the casino directly, you’ll add your money to a Play+ card. It’s essentially an online prepaid card that casino sites will accept once you’ve loaded up the initial deposit. It’s an easy workaround for typical debit/credit card issues. You can also withdraw from the card at ATMs and use the card at multiple online casino sites.

PayPal is another one that’s easy to use. If you already have an account, you should be able to easily transfer funds from your PayPal directly to the casino. If you don’t have an account, it’s easy and free to register.

Social casinos have their own system for users who want to buy more virtual currency or sweeps coins. Sites like Chumba don’t currently allow PayPal. But they do accept credit card payments, bank transfers and Automatic Clearinghouse (ACH) payments.

Top social casinos also accept Skrill – essentially an e-wallet that you can sign up for with a personal email. Then you can make a deposit to your Skrill wallet and transfer the funds to the casino.

Gambling Responsibly in New York

New York Council on Problem Gambling

New York State Gaming Commission

Office of Addiction Services and Supports

National Council on Problem Gambling