With New Jersey on the cutting edge of gaming technology, including legalizing online poker and mobile sports betting, you’d think that their neighbor, the Empire State, would be nipping at their heels. However, online sports betting NY is a work-in-progress. A recently passed law promises to add more high-end casinos to New York, but legal sports betting decrees have yet to come to fruition.

Although you cannot gamble online legally yet, New York residents do have options when it comes to betting on sports. This page will explore where bettors in the state can bet, which sportsbooks are safe to use, and land-based casinos vs online betting sites.

Best Betting Sites for New York

NY Sports Betting Sites

Any of the sports betting sites from our above list are secure and offer a variety of betting types like moneylines, point spreads, props, futures, teasers, totals and parlays. Moreover, most sites offer live betting which allows you to bet on games and events while they’re in progress.

The top online betting sites for players from New York state offer English and Spanish language options. Additionally, you can bet in American dollars (USD).

Odds and Sports Offered

Most sportsbooks that cater to bettors from New York offer odds and lines on the big North American sports: NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA. You’ll also find college sports (NCAA football, NCAA basketball), soccer, golf, combat sports (UFC, boxing), motorsports (NASCAR, Formula 1) and tennis (men, women). Entertainment betting is also widely available, along with political odds.

You can also bet on esports, including huge events and competitions focusing on Fortnite, CS:GO and other popular games. Plus, most online sports betting NY sites provide their own racebook for horse racing and a casino section featuring table games, live dealers and poker rooms.

Deposit Options

You can fund your betting account in various ways such as Bitcoin and PayPal. When it comes to collecting your winnings, each sportsbook is different, but generally you can use the same method you used for depositing your money to withdraw it.

Bonuses and Rewards

Loyalty is a big thing for betting websites. Betting sites want to ensure that their New York customers are content and continue to use their betting services by offering bonuses and rewards.

Generally, when you sign up you’ll be offered a Welcome Bonus. This is usually a deal that matches your initial deposit up to a certain percentage. For instance, you may see an offer of 100 percent of your first deposit up to $100. That means if you add $50 to your account, you will get an additional $50 to play with. There are also free bets and sport-specific rewards to look out for.

Terms and conditions always apply, so please read the fine print before accepting any prizes.

Customer Service

When you bet on sports, there’s a possibility that something could go wrong with your account, and you want to be able to contact client services ASAP. The betting sites we recommend for New Yorkers provide 24-7 customer service in the form of live chat, email or telephone – some sites even offer all three options.

How to Create an Account at an Online Sports Betting Site

Whether you’re looking to bet on the Super Bowl, the World Series, or the chances of the Knicks winning … anything, you should use one of the sportsbooks we list above since we have vetted each one to ensure it is trustworthy and secure. Once you’ve decided on which website to use, click on Join. You’ll be prompted to input some information about yourself such as age and email address. Once you make your first deposit, you’re ready to start betting.

Gaming Laws in New York

In 2013, the New York State Racing and Wagering Board merged with the New York Lottery to form the New York State Gaming Commission to better oversee the horse racing, casino and gaming venues. Senators and other lawmakers from the state are working with the gaming commission to create a mandate to fully legalize mobile sports betting.

2019 Sports Betting Bill

State Senator Joseph Addabbo introduced a bill to allow online sports betting in New York. The senate approved the bill in June of 2019. Unfortunately, it stalled in the Assembly, delaying the vote until the new legislative year (January 2020). New York Governor Andrew Cuomo claims that in order to change internet gambling laws, an amendment to the state constitution is needed. This is good news for bettors in New York as it shows that legislators are looking to create universal online wagering laws that would allow you to bet on your favorite sports sooner rather than later.

Land-Based Casino Sportsbooks and OTBs

New York is home to several land-based casinos and off-track betting (OTB) establishments. OTBs are found across the state with the exception of New York City and its surrounding boroughs. Besides off-track organizations, there are three types of gambling venues that you can visit in NY:

1. Commercial which are operated by the state

2. Tribal which are run by Native Americans on their reservations

3. Racinos which are casinos designed for equine sports betting

The majority of these places have their own sportsbook or are affiliated with a daily fantasy sports association.

New York Lottery

The state became one of the first to establish a modern sweepstakes system. What started in 1967 has evolved into an entity that provides revenue for public education. National games such as Mega Millions and Powerball are available, as are local options like scratch cards, in-house draw games and video lottery. Although these draw and scratch games are different than legal sports betting, it does provide the people of the state with a chance to win real money.

In-Person Betting vs Mobile Sportsbooks

If you’re unsure if you should be betting online, in a bricks-and-mortar casino, or OTB, it all comes down to personal comfort. With mobile betting you can make your picks from anywhere. You could be sitting at the doctor’s office or on your couch and betting on the Yankees game. With a land-based sportsbook, you have to physically be there to place your wager. The choice is yours and Odds Shark will always be there to offer betting tips and recommendations no matter where you bet.

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