Online poker is not regulated in New York, and the state has not approved any real money online poker platforms. That means there are no licensed in-state poker sites available to players right now.
However, many New York residents choose to play on offshore poker platforms that accept customers from the state. These sites operate outside of New York’s regulatory system and offer real money cash games, tournaments, and full poker lobbies. While they are not overseen by the New York State Gaming Commission, many operate under established international licenses and use encrypted payment systems and certified gaming software to support account security and fair gameplay.
New York Poker Legality Overview
State-Regulated Sites
❌ No
Online poker is not regulated in New York. Bills such as SB 2614 and AB 6030 were reintroduced in January 2026, but no legislation has passed and no launch timeline is in place.
Offshore Poker Sites
✅ Yes
Offshore poker platforms operate outside of New York jurisdiction and accept residents from the state. These sites are not regulated by New York authorities.
Sweepstakes Poker
⚠️ Restricted
In late 2025, the New York Attorney General issued cease-and-desist orders to multiple sweepstakes platforms. Many operators exited the state or shifted to free-play models without cash prizes.
Live Poker Rooms
✅ Yes
Available at licensed tribal and commercial casinos including Turning Stone (Verona), Resorts World Catskills (Monticello), and Rivers Casino (Schenectady).
Home Games
⚠️ Limited
Permitted under New York Penal Law 225-00 only if no organizer profits from operating the game (no rake or house fee).
Players in New York will not find state-regulated online poker sites like PokerStars, PartyPoker, BetMGM Poker, WSOP.com, or BetRivers, since online poker is not currently regulated in the state. However, offshore poker sites still accept New York residents and offer real money cash games and tournaments while operating outside New York jurisdiction.
Top Sites for Online Poker in New York
Players in New York have several solid real money online poker options that combine accessibility, poker bonuses, and game variety. Below are three standout platforms catering to different player types, each offers access from New York, fast banking options, and a strong community reputation.
BetOnline: Best Poker Site for Beginners in NY
ACR Poker: Biggest Bonus for NY Poker Players
Ducky Luck: Best for Bonus Hunters & Light Casino Poker
High traffic with active cash games and tournaments.
100% up to $1,000 bonus with tournament tickets.
Fast crypto payments with no fees.
Many tournament options, including PKOs and Sunday Majors.
Min Deposit
10
Payout Speed
1 Day
Best Poker Site for Beginners in NY
BetOnline is a great fit for New Yorkers who want a mix of poker and sports betting under one roof. The platform offers frequent promotions, soft tables, and beginner-friendly tools like prop builders and parlay customizers. Poker newcomers will find the interface clean and easy to navigate, while more seasoned users can take advantage of multiple formats, including Boost Poker and sit & gos. With crypto support and fast banking, it’s a rewarding choice for regular play.
Massive daily & weekly tournament schedule with high guarantees
Daily freerolls & leaderboards for casual players
Fast Bitcoin withdrawals (1-8 hours)
Min Deposit
10
Payout Speed
1-24 hours
Biggest Bonus for NY Poker Players
ACR is a go-to platform for serious tournament grinders in New York. With an aggressive bonus structure, deep tournament lineup, and high-hand traffic of over a million hands daily, it delivers consistency for players chasing volume. The site’s rakeback deal and regular leaderboard promos sweeten the deal for frequent users. It may not be ideal for total beginners, but for those already comfortable at the tables, it offers one of the most rewarding ecosystems legally accessible in the state.
Ducky Luck offers a focused lineup of poker-style casino games, including Tri-Card Poker, Ride ’em Poker, and live dealer Casino Hold’Em. While the selection is smaller than other platforms, it covers the most popular casual poker variants that appeal to recreational players. New players benefit from a massive 600% crypto bonus up to $3,000, though table games contribute only 20% toward the 40× wagering requirement. For New York players seeking approachable poker-style games with one of the most significant crypto bonuses in the market, Ducky Luck stands out.
1,500+ games, including jackpot and high-RTP titles
300 free spins with your first deposit
Daily promos, free spins, and VIP rewards
Players find the interface easy to use
Can be used with a VPN
Min Deposit
$10
Payout Speed
Up to 5 days
Best for Casino Poker Variants
Super Slots excels with one of the most diverse collections of poker-inspired casino games, featuring eight table variants such as Let It Ride, Tri Card Poker, Bonus Texas Hold’Em, Caribbean Poker, 6 Up Poker, Oasis Poker, Big Rollover Poker Hold’Em, and Triple Edge Poker. Live dealer options like Bet On Poker and Six Plus Poker add more authenticity.
Website runs smoothly and games load quickly on desktop and mobile
25+ banking options, including crypto
Several casino tournaments every month
Min Deposit
$20
Payout Speed
5–10 business days
Best for High-Value Casino Poker Play
Wild Casino delivers New York players’ most robust casino poker experience, offering the full 8-game lineup plus live dealer poker like Bet-On Poker and Six Plus Poker. The platform complements this variety with one of the most generous welcome offers: a 300% match bonus up to $3,000 plus 200 free spins. Though table games contribute only 10% toward the 45× wagering requirement, Wild Casino’s substantial bonus pool provides strong value for poker-variant players who want maximum bankroll support.
Overview of Online Poker in New York
Online Poker
⚠️ Offshore Only (Sweepstakes platforms restricted as of late 2025)
Commercial Poker
✅ Legal (Expansion to NYC/Downstate underway in 2026)
Legal Gambling Age
21+ for Casino & Poker; 18+ for Lottery & Horse Racing
State Gambling Regulator
New York State Gaming Commission
Is Online Poker Legal in New York State?
Online poker is not currently legal or regulated in New York. While no bills have passed into law, many New Yorkers continue to play real money online poker through offshore sites that accept players from the state.
Can You Play Online Poker for Real Money in New York State?
While New York does not regulate online poker, residents can access offshore poker platforms that accept players from the state. Nevertheless, residents of New York can still enjoy poker games by participating in regulated offshore poker sites. These provide a secure and accessible way to engage in online poker while adhering to the current legal landscape.
Latest New York Online Poker and Gambling Developments
New York has been exploring the legalization of online poker for nearly a decade, with repeated legislative efforts led by key state lawmakers. While bills have historically struggled to gain traction, 2025 marked a renewed push amid growing fiscal pressures and broader support for regulated iGaming.
2026
In January 2026, Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. and Assemblywoman Woerner reintroduced SB 2614 and AB 6030 to legalize online poker and other online casino games in New York. Lawmakers are pushing the bill as a way to help address expected budget gaps in 2027.
The proposal sets a 30.5% tax rate and would allow New York to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), which would let players compete against people in states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
2025
In 2025, Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. reintroduced legislation (S2614) to legalize online poker and broader iGaming in New York, including table games and tournaments. Addabbo pointed to New York’s looming multi-billion-dollar deficits in 2026–27 as a key reason to act, arguing that online gambling could generate sustainable revenue. His bill allocates $11 million annually to gambling addiction services and $25 million to support casino jobs, addressing common concerns about social impact and casino cannibalization.
Though New York hasn’t yet joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), Addabbo expressed support for interstate poker, warning that without a competitive product, players will turn to illegal or out-of-state options. New York is now one of eight states considering online poker in 2026, alongside Virginia, Massachusetts, Indiana, Maryland, Wyoming, Hawaii, and New Hampshire.
2020
The start of 2020 brought another attempt at an online poker bill from Senator Addabbo. He reintroduced S.18 from last year, as permitted by New York’s legislative rules. Assemblyman Pretlow brought his A.4924 back as the companion bill as well. It is not likely that the bills will be pursued. The lawmakers want to keep them alive just in case.
Meanwhile, Addabbo also introduced S.17D to move sports betting into the mobile and internet realm. This is something he admitted will take precedence over online poker and any other form of internet gaming. If he finds success with his sports betting goals, he may bring online poker along with it. However, it is not a priority this year.
2019
By mid-May 2019, it became clear that neither bill would find any success. As in so many other states, the priority had become sports betting, and Addabbo turned his attention to offering mobile sports wagering. He admitted as much in the summer months and said that online poker would only be addressed “once we have proven ourselves in treating all the issues for mobile sports betting.”
Sports betting is legal in New York, and the first bet was placed by Pretlow in July 2019. However, any movement toward online or mobile options remains uncertain as 2019 comes to a close.
2018
In April 2018, Assemblyman Clyde Vanel emerged as a new champion for the online poker legislation. Vanel claimed he could garner 60-70 co-sponsors for the bill and planned to put it up for a vote in June. He cited the dozens of legislators who supported putting online poker in the budget. Within weeks, Vanel had secured nearly 50 co-sponsors for the Assembly’s online poker bill, and the process was continuing into May. As the Chairman of the Internet and New Technology Subcommittee, he was in prime position to push the legislation.
In early June, Bonacic moved his Senate bill forward. S.3898 passed the Finance Committee, though the companion proposal in the Assembly had to move quickly to get through several committees before the session ended on June 21. Even with Vanel’s help, however, Pretlow had not been able to advance A.5250 whatsoever.
By the end of session on June 21, both online poker bills died. Sports betting was among those that did not advance, along with online poker. Online poker appeared to face an uphill battle in 2019, as Bonacic retired. During the first week of January 2019, though, a new champion for online poker in New York emerged as Senator Joe Addabbo introduced S.00018, a bill to legalize online poker only by classifying it as a game of skill. Nearly one month later, Pretlow proposed A.04924, which was a carbon copy of Addabbo’s bill.
2017
However, the same two lawmakers introduced bills in 2017 as well. The Senate passed the bill in June by the margin of 54-8. A companion bill in the House failed to progress, again, as happened the previous year. Pretlow initially expressed optimism for widespread support of the bill that year. The bad actor clause caused division in the ranks. The bad actor clause held back the California online poker debate for years, and it seemed to have caused concern in New York this year as well.
The clause punishes online poker operators who continued to serve US customers after the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passed and became law, and the company that will want to enter the US market under this status is PokerStars. PokerStars operates in New Jersey under full compliance and heavy scrutiny. It dominates the market, so some want to bar it from their state.
2016
In 2016, New York took a major step forward as by State Senator John Bonacic in the Senate and Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow in the House of Representatives sponsored an online poker bill. The bill sought legal and regulated online poker only, without online casino games like in New Jersey. The bill died in the Assembly when Pretlow expressed doubts about the safety of the games due to concerns from fellow legislators.
A person engages in gambling when he stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.
Definition of Contest of Chance
Any contest, game, gaming scheme or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of the contestants may also be a factor therein.
Definition of Player
A person who engages in any form of gambling solely as a contestant or bettor, without receiving or becoming entitled to receive any profit therefrom other than personal gambling winnings, and without otherwise rendering any material assistance to the establishment, conduct or operation of the particular gambling activity.
Online Poker/Gambling
Online poker is not currently legal or regulated in New York. Lawmakers have introduced legislation over the past decade, but no bill has passed or launched a state-regulated online poker market.
Live Poker
Poker rooms are open at licensed tribal and commercial casinos across New York. In December 2025, the state approved new downstate casino licenses, and Resorts World NYC and MGM Empire City are expanding into full casinos. Live table games in the NYC area are expected to begin in late 2026.
Casinos
There are Native American casinos, racetracks with casino games (called racinos), and video lottery terminal establishments in some areas of New York. Casinos will replace some of the VLT locations in the coming years as the state considers larger commercial casinos in areas like New York City.
Sports Betting
New York voted to legalize sports betting long in 2013, and retail outlets began opening in 2019 after the US Supreme Court decision to overturn PASPA. Online sports betting sites began launching at the start of 2022.
DFS
The legislature passed a law to regulate daily fantasy sports in 2016.
Other Forms of Gambling
Horse and harness racing, off-track pari-mutuel wagering, bingo, lottery, charitable gambling, social gambling in private settings.
Making Online Poker Accounts From New York
New York does not license real-money online poker sites. Players who want to play for real money usually use offshore platforms that accept New York residents, and many of these sites use cryptocurrency for payments. Sweepstakes-style poker sites were restricted in New York after cease-and-desist actions in late 2025. Many of those platforms have since left the state or switched to free-play games that do not offer cash prizes.
New York State Law and Online Poker
New York law defines gambling as risking “something of value” on a future outcome beyond one’s “control or influence” with the understanding that they might receive “something of value” if a “certain outcome” occurs (Section 225.00(2)).
The state law of New York also offers a definition of a contest of chance: “Any contest, game, gaming scheme or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of the contestants may also be a factor therein” (Section 225.00(1)).
There are no criminal penalties for persons who act only as players in illegal gambling activities. There may be other crimes stemming from the activity (tax avoidance, for example). But, the criminal penalties in New York state gambling law are directed squarely at those who run and profit from the business of illegal gambling.
Regulated Gambling Activity in New York
When other states moved to expand regulated gambling in the mid twentieth century with pari-mutuel betting and lotteries, New York followed suit. The lottery opened in 1967, horse racing got underway in 1970, and tribal casinos opened in the 1990s. Race tracks then blossomed into racinos by adding some casino games in the early 2000s.
In 2013, voters of New York approved an amendment to the state’s constitution so non-tribal casinos could be built and operate all casino games. From there, four casinos were granted licenses to operate around the state.
Sports betting was actually legalized in 2013 as well. Although, it wasn’t allowed in casinos until the 2018 US Supreme Court decision. This overturned PASPA and allowed each state in America to legalize sports betting. At that point, the New York legislature updated that law and implemented it. The first sports wagers at New York casinos were placed in 2019.
Famous New York Poker Players
New York card clubs, mostly operating underground, are responsible for many of today’s most successful poker players. Many of them, like Erik Seidel, started playing backgammon at clubs like the Mayfair Club, but they soon found that poker also employed skill and poker hand analysis. Players began to emerge from the Mayfair in droves in the 1980s and 1990s, as names like Dan Harrington, Howard Lederer, Steve Zolotow, Stu Ungar, Jason Lester, Paul Magriel, and Mickey Appleman were forever tied to the Mayfair.
Many players from New York also got their start in the game via online poker. Players like Isaac Haxton, Scott Seiver, and Andrew Lichtenberger began playing during the poker boom of the early 2000s and became big stars in the game.
Bryn Kenney leads all New York players, and the world, with over $75 million in live tournament earnings. Erik Seidel, one of the original Mayfair legends, remains at the top tier with nearly $48 million, behind Isaac Haxton, whose blend of online and live prowess has earned him over $51 million. Rounding out the state’s top ten are William Alex Foxen, Scott Seiver, Nick Schulman, Andrew Lichtenberger, Jesse Lonis, Dan Shak, and Shaun Deeb—a diverse group representing both the old-school grind and the modern high-roller circuit.
As of 2026, these are the top ten live tournament poker pros from New York:
1. Bryn Kenney ($75,778,350) 2. Isaac Haxton ($51,624,776) 3. Erik Seidel ($47,928,322) 4. William Alex Foxen ($45,721,004) 5. Scott Seiver ($27,077,061) 6. Nick Schulman ($23,085,497) 7. Andrew Lichtenberger ($21,454,853) 8. Jesse Lonis ($15,805,808) 9. Dan Shak ($14,143,374) 10. Shaun Deeb ($12,996,242)
Play Online Poker Responsibly in New York
In order for online poker to remain a fun and healthy pastime, it’s important to stay in control, set limits, and know when to take a break. Learn how to keep your play responsible or where to find help if you start feeling overwhelmed through the resources below:
While online poker in NY is not yet regulated at the state level, New Yorkers can still access trusted offshore sites that offer secure, real-money games. Whether you're experienced or just starting out, these platforms provide generous bonuses, fair competition and reliable payouts.
Explore our recommended New York online poker sites, pick the one that suits you best, and enjoy playing from the comfort of your own home.
Jennifer Newell is a freelance writer at LegalUsPokerSites. She has two decades of experience in the iGaming industry. She is a respected poker media member, contributing to publications and websites like USA Today, PokerStars, and PokerScout. Her knowledge spans gambling legislation and the broader online gaming world. She has spent years advocating for diversity, most notably gender equity in the traditionally male-dominated poker sphere.
FAQs
Is online poker legal in New York in 2026?
No, online poker is not legal or regulated in New York in 2026. Although legislation such as SB 2614 is active during the 2026 session, the state has not issued licenses to operators like PokerStars or BetMGM, and no regulated market is live.
Can I play on Global Poker or other sweepstakes sites from NY?
No, most major sweepstakes poker platforms no longer operate in New York. Following cease-and-desist actions issued in late 2025, many sites withdrew from the state or shifted to free-play models without cash prizes.
What is the legal age to play poker in New York?
You must be at least 21 years old to play poker at licensed casinos in New York. Some other forms of gambling, such as the lottery and horse racing, permit participation at age 18.
Will New York join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA)?
Not at this time. Proposed 2026 legislation includes provisions that would allow New York to join MSIGA and share player pools with states like New Jersey and Michigan, but this would only happen if online poker legislation passes.
Where can I play live poker in New York?
You can play live poker at licensed tribal and commercial casinos in New York. Current venues include Turning Stone Resort and Resorts World Catskills, with expanded live gaming expected in the New York City metro area beginning in late 2026 following new downstate casino licenses.
Sources & Citations For This Article on New York Online Poker
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