The best online casinos in New York
Online casinos in New York aren’t legal (yet), but there’s a solution if you love casino games — sweepstake or social casinos.
These online casinos in NY allow players in the Empire State to play all the best games from roulette to online slots, and the best part is they’re free and 100% legal.
On this page, we’ll show you the best sites, bonuses, and casino games — and explore when online casinos in NY will become legal.
Let’s dive in with a list of the best online casinos in New York.
| Casino Logo | Odds rating | Bonus | Go to casino Button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
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94/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 92% Playscore based on |
1.5 million WOW Coins + 30 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
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2
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87/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 84% Playscore based on |
Up to 367,000 Gold Coins + 32.3 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
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3
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80/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 86% Playscore based on |
Daily Free Spins and Credit Bonus
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Play now |
Good to know
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4
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79/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 85% Playscore based on |
200 free spins + 25,000 free credits
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Play now |
Good to know
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5
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79/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 92% Playscore based on |
Up to 380,000 Gold Coins and 1,400 Fortune Coins
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Play now |
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6
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79/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 79% Playscore based on |
250 Gold Coins + 5 Sweeps Coins and 600 Diamonds
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Play now |
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7
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78/100 Expert rating by Charlie S. 86% Playscore based on |
1,050,000 Gold Coins + 3,999 Sweeps Coins
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Play now |
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8
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77/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 79% Playscore based on |
Up to 775,000 free coins and 700 promotional entries
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Play now |
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9
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76/100 Expert rating by Charlie S. 87% Playscore based on |
88,000 Tao Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
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Our above list doesn’t just take into account our expert rating — what we’re looking for is the best online casino experience for players in NY.
The online gambling NY scene is pretty limited, but you’ll find sweepstakes and social casinos are available. The number of games you can play at these sweeps casinos can rival some of the biggest USA online casinos.
Sweeps and social casinos — an alternative to online casinos in NY
Online casinos aren’t legal in the state of New York, meaning you can’t play for real money. Social and sweeps casinos do have their advantages over real money sites. First off, they’re free, and there are many bonuses and rewards up for grabs in the form of game coins and sweep coins. Sweepstakes casinos still allow you to win real money – you can trade virtual rewards for real cash.
- Social casinos usually boast a lot of game variety
- Play with friends on social casinos
- It’s completely free to play on social and sweeps casinos
- Most available on desktop and mobile
Can you play casino games online in New York?
It’s not legal to play online casino games in New York for real money. But there’s no reason why you can’t indulge in some online gaming for fun at social and sweeps casinos. These sites usually have a wide range of games on offer like online slots and poker.
At social and sweeps casinos like BetRivers.net, you can even find some of the same titles as are available on their real money site. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular game types at social and sweeps casinos:
Online slots
Want to play online slots in New York? They’re free to play on social casinos and generally earn you either gaming or sweepstakes coins. Some of the titles are popular mainstream real money casino games such as Gonzo’s Quest and Divine Fortune, but for free.
Live table games
There’s no reason why one can’t play your favorite live table games when there’s no real money making the rounds. Try your hand at live poker, online roulette, and live blackjack at select social and sweeps casinos like BetRivers.net. Once again the currency here will be gaming coins or sweepstakes coins.
Progressive jackpots
You can still experience the thrill of progressive jackpots even when real money isn’t (directly) involved. Take a spin at progressive jackpot games such as Ariel’s Song and Freaky Tik which can be played at Fortune Coins.
Video poker
Want to play Texas Hold ‘Em?, or how about a game of Jacks or Better? Just because you’re not playing with real money, doesn’t mean you can’t sharpen your skills at a social or sweeps casino. You’ll find titles from top studios like Evolution and Spin games at BetRivers.net.Mobile casinos in NY
Looking for casino in NY that’s 100% mobile compatible? All of the social sweeps casinos we rate offer offer mobile compatibility. Some legit mobile casino NY apps like Gambino Slots, offer dedicated apps you can download. Mobile versions of sweeps and social casino sites sometimes offer players the opportunity to play games that aren’t available on desktop. They can also offer exclusive mobile online casino bonuses and promotions.
As for the rest, everything remains the same — deposit and withdrawal times are identical on mobile as on desktop. Although the layout and imagery might change a little to adapt to the smaller screen, it will still be the same (or similar) user interface as on desktop.
- Exclusive mobile games
- Bonuses and promotions
- Play for free
Our recommendation: Gambino slots casino
- 95/100 Mobile rating in our review
- 200 free spins + 25,000 free credits sign up bonus
- New native app, with all games available
Bonuses at NY online casinos
What bonuses are available in NY? As there’s no money involved, you’ll mostly find no deposit bonuses at social and sweepstakes. There usually aren’t specific NY bonuses, but you’ll find free spins, daily virtual coins, and other sign-up bonuses at sweeps casinos like Gambino Slots and Fortune Coins.
Analyzing our picks based on the best online casinos New York and their top offers, one of our favorite bonuses in the state has to be Wow Vegas’s. The 2-tiered signup bonus means they’ve got double the number of bonuses for new players that everyone else does:
New York online casino legal updates — past, present, future
What’s legal and what isn’t when it comes to online casino games in New York can be quite confusing. But our experts are here to break it down for you.
The New York State Finance Law makes provisions for the New York State Gaming Commission to act as the governing body over the online gambling sites in the NY industry. They can be very strict, so ensure that you stay within all online casino New York rules and regulations.
Casinos in general, are generally no-gos, whether on-site or online. The New York State Gaming Commission has made a few exceptions. These exceptions include some land-based casinos as well as bingo and lottery games that are used to raise funds for charities and nonprofits.
In NY and want to swing by one of the on-site casinos? We’ve created a handy table for you of all the fully licensed and legal casinos to visit.
| Land-based casino | Type of casino | Launch date |
|---|---|---|
| Akwesasne Mohawk Casino | Native American | April 1999 |
| River Casino & Resort | Riverboat | February 2017 |
| Seneca Niagara Casino | Native American | December 2002 |
| Del Lago Resort & Casino | Native American | February 2017 |
| Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel | Racetrack & Mainstream Casino | September 1940 |
| Empire City Casino | Racetrack & Mainstream Casino | September 1899 |
| Resorts World Catskills | Mainstream Casino | February 2018 |
| Turning Stone Resort & Casino | Native American | July 1993 |
| Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino | Native American | May 2004 |
When will New York legalize online casinos?
Legalizing New York online casinos is well on the way. Senator Joseph Addabbo has already submitted a bill in February 2022 to make iGaming legal in the state. This will bring NY on the same level as the NJ online casinos, WV online casinos, PA online casinos, and MI online casinos industries which have seen rapid growth and success.
But this kind of legislation takes time to be formalized, so online gamers probably won’t be able to sign-up for online casinos in NYC (and New York state) within the next year.
Legalization will bring a few positive changes to the state:
- A class 3 license will allow casinos to “import” some much-loved casinos in other states to New York.
- It’ll bring a lot of extra revenue into the state (25% of proposed taxes according to the bill).
- Illegal bets are already happening. Legalization will allow for safe and regulated gameplay.
How to choose the best online casinos in NY?
There are a few things to consider when you look for the best online casinos New York. Some are things most players will be looking for — bonuses, the number of games offered, and payment methods available. As with our in-depth casino reviews we’ve covered all factors you should consider, so you can make an informed choice.
Slots and other games
All the best online casinos in NY that we rate (the sweeps and social casinos) offer slots as part of their library of casino games. Slots have a lower RTP% compared to rate table games like blackjack, but you can win bigger prizes with slots. You should expect to find at least 100 slots available at a social and sweeps casino. It’s also important to keep an eye out for top game providers such as NetEnt or Konami games. You can find these games at BetRivers.net where you’ll find classic titles like Starburst slot and Divine Fortunes.
Bonuses
Most online casinos in NYC (and NY as a whole) offer casino bonuses of some sort — but do they offer any free spins or virtual coins? These kinds of bonuses extend your gameplay. What’s great with social/sweepstake casinos, is that most of the time you’ll be offered a NY online casino no deposit bonus, just like at Gambino Slots. Always remember to read through those Ts & Cs as some bonuses can only be used on specific games. In terms of mobile casino NY apps, you should also be on the lookout for some exclusive bonuses that are not found on the desktop version.
Mobile and apps
You’re probably looking for an online casino in NY that offers mobile gameplay options. But quality should never be compromised. Our experts like to see top-class graphics on mobile games, just as it would be on the website. Nothing is as annoying as lags and slow loading times, so we prioritize online casino apps in New York that are as smooth as possible. Moreover, making a deposit or withdrawal on the go is important, so the process should be seamless.
Payments
Our experts view payment options as a cornerstone of New York casino sites. There should be plenty of options when it comes to both deposits and withdrawals. We’d expect the best sweeps casino to be Visa casinos and PayPal casinos — meaning those options should be available. We also like to see deposits be instant, and withdrawals no more than 1 week. This way, if you claim a big prize at a sweepstake casino, you will receive your funds quickly. Fortunes Coins is famous for its fast processing, therefore we recommend this operator in this department.
Full offering
What is the full offering? We’d expect to see things such as a user-friendly interface, a platform that’s easy to navigate, a safe and secure site that uses SSL encryption, and excellent customer support. If the site offers 24/7 live chat, you’ve hit the customer service jackpot.
Other products
Players from the Empire State can enjoy more than just sweepstakes. Sports betting is among the most popular ways to wager in the state, and you can bet on any kind of sport including live in-play betting. But the fun shouldn’t stop there though. The more options, the better. Our top choice is BetRivers.net. You can play all the casino games to your heart’s content, enjoy NY sports betting as well as play poker. It’s fair to say, real money betting aside, the platform has all your needs sorted.
FAQs
What is the best online casino New York?
From all our research, you can play at sweepstakes or social casinos. With that in mind, the best one to play at is BetRivers.net. It has the most games to play, as well as live games, so you will have the thrill of Vegas, from the comfort of your own home. Want to find out more? We’ve created a list of our top picks to help you find the best online casinos in NY.
Can I play at online casinos NY?
Absolutely. But you might find yourself a little restricted when it comes to playing with real money. Social and sweepstakes casinos are available, as online casinos NY aren’t legal (yet).
Will online casinos be legal in NY?
It’s too early to call, but it’s currently in the process after legislation was proposed in 2022. Although it would take a long time to catch up with NY neighbors like NJ and PA – changes could happen soon.
Are mobile casinos legal in NY?
All forms of real money online casinos are currently prohibited by state law. The only way you can enjoy mobile casinos in NY state is via sweepstake casinos.
Can you play online casino games in New York state?
Yes, but only at sweepstakes or social casinos. Simply pick your favorite on this page, sign-up, and start playing your favorite casino games.
Do I need to download anything to play at an online casino NY?
No, you don’t need to download an app to start playing at the best online casinos in NY and online casinos in NYC (meaning, social and sweeps casinos). You can download online casino apps in New York – but at most sites you can play directly on your browser at sweepstake casinos. Some of the operators we rate like Gambino Slots have native iOS and Android apps.