Communicated Content – Online casinos have been offering exciting gaming opportunities for more than two decades. In 1996, the world had only 15 online casino platforms, while today, this number is close to 3,000.
The percentage of casual and passionate online gamblers is constantly on the rise, with people uncovering the thrill of playing interesting games from the comfort of their own home.
The US has seen a massive explosion of online casinos in recent years. However, each state has the power to decide whether to legalize this gambling form. States like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, West Virginia, and Michigan now have a flourishing iGaming market. In contrast, Mississippi, Illinois, Tennessee, and New York still have some things to work out.
Although New York State is a leader in many ways, online gambling isn’t one of them. In the following paragraphs, you can learn more about the current situation of the NY iGaming market.
Are Online Casinos Legal in the State of New York?
While the Empire State supports tribal and commercial casinos, retail betting, and, as of recently, online sports betting, the legalization and the launch of online casinos are not in sight.
Although the USA online casinos have made a big splash, NY residents will have to be more patient and wait for their state to decide whether iGaming sites will become part of the growing online gambling scene.
The closest that New York came to online casino legalization was in 2019, when State Senator Joseph Addabbo introduced a bill to regulate online gaming in NY. Senate Bill 17D was supposed to make online poker, sports betting, and casinos legal. Unfortunately, it never saw the light of day.
Consequently, online casinos are still illegal in NY, and we have no way of knowing if and when that will change.
What Gambling Options Do NY State Residents Have?
Although online casinos are still out of reach for all NY State residents, there are other ways you can try your luck or skills.
Players’ interests vary from one state region to another — for instance, Hudson Valley is big on esports, with community colleges introducing this gaming venture into their studies. On the other hand, some regions and counties build large brick-and-mortar casinos to reinvent gaming in the state.
Let’s look at what gambling options NY residents have at the moment.
Commercial and Tribal Casinos
At the moment, the Empire State houses 11 land-based casinos, 7 of which are tribal. In 1993, tribal gaming was legalized in the state, which allowed the growth of brick-and-mortar gaming facilities.
In 2013, the state made legal provisions that introduced 7 non-tribal casinos, 4 of which still operate today.
All the gaming locations provide patrons with various gambling options, including slot machines, live tables, poker rooms, and electronic table games.
Most recently, the state of New York announced that the first electronic gaming casino would break ground in the summer of 2021. The Resorts World Hudson Valley will be built in Newburgh. It is expected to feature over 1,300 electronic games.
Retail and Online Sports Betting
In November 2013, New York legalized sports betting. Naturally, it only went live after the PASPA federal ban was overturned in 2018. Currently, only four retail sportsbooks operate in the state, but there are none in New York City.
In April 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo introduced the state budget to provide New Yorkers with legal online sports betting. This is supposed to allow independent operators to offer mobile betting to the state’s residents.
However, there’s a possibility tribal retail sportsbooks will be excluded from the 2021 online sports betting deal, as federal law restricts mobile wagers on tribal lands.
Given that the state has yet to begin reviewing license applications, there’s still no official launch date.
Future of Online Gambling in NY
Gambling enthusiasts from all over the state are looking forward to gaining access to mobile sports betting, which would also mean they won’t have to cross the Hudson River and go to New Jersey to partake in this kind of pastime.
Unfortunately, the fate of online casinos is still uncertain. Given that the National Assembly took two years to resolve the matter of online sports betting, we have no idea how long it may take to legalize online casinos.
Until some changes appear on the horizon, passionate gamblers who want to venture into the iGaming world can still visit New Jersey and play fantastic online slots and table games.
