New York may be one of the most influential states in the country, but New York online poker hasn’t quite caught up with the game’s popularity. Despite repeated efforts in the state legislature, online poker remains unregulated in the Empire State.
That said, many poker fans still find ways to play from home by joining offshore poker sites. These platforms legally accept players from New York and offer full poker lobbies, tournament series, and cash games.
On this page, we’ll break down the legality of online poker in New York, explore the best sites for players in the state, and provide answers to the most common questions about playing poker online.
Overview of Online Poker in New York
Online Poker
Available - Offshore Only
Commercial Poker
Legal — Available in licensed tribal and commercial casinos
Legal Gambling Age
18+ for Poker (21+ for casino gambling in most establishments)
State Gambling Regulator
New York State Gaming Commission
Can You Play Online Poker for Real Money in New York State?
Yes, you can play online poker in the state of New York, but it's important to note that online poker for real money has not been legalized as of yet. 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.
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
Juicy Stakes: Low-Stakes Action for New York Players
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.
Wide tournament variety with over 250 daily events
36% rakeback for regular players
200% up to $1,000 bonus with achievable playthrough
Soft competition, ideal for new players
Min Deposit
10
Payout Speed
5 Business Dayss
Low-Stakes Action for New York Players
Juicy Stakes offers a softer, more casual experience for online poker in New York. The site isn’t packed with massive tournaments but provides a steady flow of 250+ daily freerolls, low- to mid-stakes games, and crypto-friendly banking. It’s a fitting choice for players who want to avoid pro-heavy networks and grind at their own pace. With a 200% welcome bonus up to $1,000 and 36% rakeback, it’s a low-pressure alternative to more intense offshore poker rooms.
Is Online Poker Legal in New York State?
New York state authorities haven’t yet regulated online poker despite several legislative attempts over the years. 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. So far, no individuals have been prosecuted for using these platforms, as enforcement efforts focus on those operating illegal poker games within the Empire State’s borders.
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 marks a renewed push amid growing fiscal pressures and broader support for regulated iGaming.
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 2025, 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
For nearly a decade, several lawmakers have spearheaded a campaign to legalize online poker and (sometimes) online casino games. As of 2023, there has been no success in passing a bill or launching any type of state-regulated industry.
Live Poker
There are poker rooms in many of the state’s casinos that offer cash games and tournament poker.
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
Yes, players in New York can sign up and play at several reputable offshore poker sites. Despite the state not having legalized online poker yet, platforms like Ignition Poker, Bovada, BetOnline, ACR Poker, and Black Chip Poker all currently accept players from New York and allow real-money poker play.
While some sites may have restrictions due to historical banking issues tied to Black Friday, the top-rated poker rooms featured on our site have proven reliable for New York residents. Each offers a range of tournaments, cash games, and bonuses—with secure deposit options including Bitcoin, credit cards, and more.
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 2025, 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.
Sources & Citations For This Article on New York Online Poker
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