• New York Sports Betting. Sports betting is legal in New York due to a referendum approved by voters in 2013 permitting the state’s four upstate commercial casinos to operate retail sportsbooks pending a change in federal law. The Supreme Court took care of that with its landmark ruling against PASPA in 2018.
• New York could look to Rhode Island as a model where sports betting is operated by the lottery in partnership with IGT and William Hill, Morgan Stanley analyst Thomas Allen wrote.

NY sports betting is now up and running! It’s not online just yet, but a handful of upstate land-based casinos are now offering sportsbooks.

With that in mind, I’m an experienced sports bettor who is gearing up for the impending legalization of online sports betting in New York – and I want you to be ready for when this happens. As such, I’ve road-tested the best sportsbooks that will soon be available to New York bettors.

At the moment you can’t bet on any sports in New York. However, that situation will be changing very soon, as soon as the regulatory legislation is passed. And when it is, there is a whole wealth of New York sports just waiting to be bet on. There is possibly no other sporting state in the country quite like New York. Most adults ages 21 and over are allowed to bet on sports at New York casinos. The only exceptions are individuals registered on a gambling self-exclusion list and select people directly involved with professional or collegiate sporting organizations. New York Sportsbook Offers Sports betting is legal in New York, but only available in-person at four casinos update - the closest about 100 miles from New York City. Even pre-COVID-19, this forced many New Yorkers to continue betting illegally through offshore websites and local bookies.

In this article, I’m going to take a look at the top 5 sports betting sites in New York, and I’ll also explain exactly how sports betting works in this fine state. I’ll end by answering your most popular questions on NY sports betting.

Top 5 Sportsbooks In New York

Bear in mind that these 5 sites are land-based sportsbooks. For the moment, you cannot bet on sports online in NY. Instead, you could drive to nearby New Jersey, sign-up to one of these sites, and place a bet there.

How Online Sports Betting Works In New York

New York Sports Betting Launch

Sports gambling was legalized and launched in New York back in 2013. The state passed the upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act, and the measure allowed four (as then unbuilt) casinos to accept sports bets.

Up until that point, casinos were not allowed to accept sports wagers from customers.

Fast-forward to 2019, and the New York State Gaming Commission finally allowed more Upstate casinos to accept sports bets. As long as the casinos were able to obtain a license, they could open up sportsbooks. Rivers was the first casino in New York to get that license, and they were, therefore, the first land-based casino to accept a 100% legal sports bet.

As of the time of writing, there are plans in place to get online sports wagering in New York legalized too.

How To Bet On Sports?

If you’ve never bet on sports before, you might be thinking that sports wagering sounds a tad complicated. The good news is that it’s simple!

The first thing you need to do is find a legal sportsbook with everything you want (sports variety, good welcome bonuses, clean user interface, etc.). Then, just register an account.

Once that’s all done, you’ll need to make a first deposit before grabbing the welcome bonus. Next, take a look at the sporting events on offer. What markets and lines appeal to you? What type of bet do you fancy? I’ll be covering the different types of bets a little later in this article.

Once you’ve found a bet that you like the look of, the next step is to take a look at the odds. Is there value in this bet?

If there’s value and you want to press ahead, decide your stake. Once you enter your stake, the betting site will automatically calculate your potential winnings. For example, if the odds are 6/1 and your stake is $1, you will win $7.

If you’re satisfied, all you need to do next is place your bet and wait for the outcome.

Which New York Casinos Have Sportsbooks?

There are just a handful of upstate casinos that have been able to open sportsbooks:

Rivers Casino

Rivers was the first upstate casino that obtained a sports betting license. Their online sportsbook is called BetRivers, but if you’re within the New York area, you have to place your sports bets at their brick and mortar casino. If, on the other hand, you venture outside New York to a stage where sports betting is legal, you can place a bet at BetRivers.

Betting markets include all the popular ones, such as the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB, and the desktop and mobile versions of the site offer streamlined experiences.

Because Rivers hosts more table games than most other casinos in NW, it’s ideal if you want to flitter between the casino and the sportsbook. It’s a great place to make a whole day of it.

Tioga Downs (FanDuel)

Tioga Downs is a casino resort located in Nichols, New York. It added the FanDuel sportsbook in 2019 after sports betting was legalized in NY. You can access the sportsbook inside the Tioga Downs Casino Resort facility.

This means that you need to place your bets on paper slips provided by the house. Once you’ve written down your bet, you just need to take it to one of the betting windows.

FanDuel also has a website where you can play daily fantasy sports, but you need to be operating within a state where online sports betting is legal before you can place an online sports bet.

del Lago Resort Casino (DraftKings)

Del Lago Resort Casino is a popular land-based casino located in the Waterloo area of NY. The DraftKings sportsbook was added in 2019, and you just need to visit the casino to access the sports betting facility.

DraftKings is a huge name in the daily fantasy sites scene. Its sportsbook is open 24/7 inside the del Lago Resort Casino, and there are real-time live odds boards, as well as up-to-date statistics to help you make better, more informed bets. This makes it ideal for those who are serious about their sports and bets.

There are also more than 30 beers available on tap.

Syracuse (Turning Stone)

Turning Stone is an award-winning casino located in Verona, NY. It offers a diverse array of entertainment and events, and along with its casino and sportsbook, there are also dining areas for when you want to sit back and relax before placing your next bet.

Syracuse, which is located inside the Turning Stone casino resort, is New York’s biggest sports betting lounge. It’s a 9,000 square foot lounge that comes complete with a sports bar, and a gigantic 32-foot LED screen + 35 large screen televisions. It’s especially ideal for sports bettors who want to be able to relax and enjoy the games they’re betting on in a classy environment.

New York Online Sports Betting Partnerships

An online sportsbook will only be able to offer sports gambling opportunities once they’ve secured a gaming partner. As soon as sports wagering is 100% legal in New York, I’ll amend this section to know exactly who the New York online sports betting partnerships are.

What Can You Bet On Right Now In New York?

If you go into any of the aforementioned land-based casinos and visit their sportsbook, there is a whole wealth of sports you can bet on right now. These include but are not limited to:

• NBA
• NFL
• NHL
• MLB
• College football
• College basketball
• Soccer
• Golf
• Cricket
• Tennis
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Volleyball
• Handball
• Boxing
• UFC

Some sportsbooks, such as DraftKings, offer more sports variety than others. They also offer more lines. All sportsbooks offer lines on the most popular sports, however. So if you want to bet on American sports – for example – you can walk into any of the aforementioned casinos and take your pick.

What Bets Are Available At New York Sportsbooks?

There are numerous types of bets you can place at a New York sportsbook. These include:

Straight bet – The straight bet is the most popular type of sports bet. It’s usually used for sports like basketball, football, and even soccer. The sportsbook sets a betting line (point spread), and it’s then up to you to bet on the favorite of the underdog.

If you opt for the favorite, they have to win by more than the point spread for you to win your bet. If you opt for the underdog, they just have to win outright (or, at least, lose than the point spread).

Money line – This bet is similar to the straight bet. The only difference is that there’s no point spread. It’s a straightforward bet in which you pick either the favorite or the underdog to win a particular sporting event outright.

Total line bet – Another popular bet, the total line bet is a lot of fun. The sportsbook chooses a combined final score for a particulate sporting event (for example, let’s imagine the Lakers are playing the Clippers in the NBA. The sportsbook decides the combined final score will be 195). It’s up to you to determine whether the real combined final score will be higher or lower

Taking Advantage of Bonuses and Rewards

When online sports betting in NY is eventually legalized, you should look to take advantage of bonuses and rewards as soon as possible.

When signing up to a sportsbook, here are some bonuses and rewards you should look out for:

• Welcome bonus – The welcome bonus is the first bonus you get treated to. To claim it, you usually just have to create an account and make the first deposit. Sometimes, you just need to create an account.

Welcome bonuses vary in size and type from sportsbook to sportsbook. Generally, most sports betting sites offer a match deposit welcome bonus up to X amount. For example, a 50% match deposit bonus means you’ll get treated to $100 on the house if you make a first deposit of $200.

How To Bet On Sports In New York Online

• Reload bonuses – Some betting sites offer bonuses each time you make subsequent deposits. These bonuses are typically smaller than the first deposit bonus, but they still represent great ways to win more money without staking too much of your own.
• Bonus on losses – Sometimes, a sportsbook runs a reward scheme that reimburses a percentage of your losses on specific sports or events. For example, it might reimburse you 10% of all losses on March Madness
• VIP Schemes – The best sports betting sites, such as FoxBet, offer VIP schemes, or loyalty points. The idea is that you accrue more points each time you make a deposit or place a bet. Over time, you can redeem these points for perks, such as cash or free bets.
• Free spins – If you bet at a sportsbook-come-casino, the site in question may top up your account now and then with free spins that can be used on specific slots games.

New York Sports Betting Laws

Sports betting is legal in New York, but you must be aged 21 years to place a bet. You must also place a bet with a fully licensed casino/sportsbook, and you cannot place a bet online, either via desktop or your mobile device, in NY.

NY Sports Betting FAQ: Your Questions Answered

Is Sports Betting Legal In New York?

Sport gambling is legal in New York at land-based casinos and sportsbooks. Online sports betting is still illegal at the time of writing.

When Can New York Residents Start Placing Bets?

You can place bets right now at a licensed brick and mortar casino. However, if you want to place an online sports bet, you need to take a trip to a state that has legalized online sports betting, such as nearby New Jersey.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Legally Bet In New York?

21.

Is It Legal To Bet On New York Sports Teams?

Absolutely! If you want to bet on the Knicks, the Yankees, and so on, you’re free to do so. As long as you’re betting on legal sports, you’re free to bet on whoever you want.

Do I Have To Live In New York To Bet Online?

If you place a bet with a land-based New York sportsbook, you don’t need to be a resident.

Is Mobile Sports Betting Available In New York?

At the moment, mobile sports betting is prohibited in New York. Mobile sports betting will be available as soon as online sports betting is legalized.

How To Bet On Sports In Nyc Today

Conclusion

How To Bet On Sports In Nyc Right Now

NY sports betting is officially up and running, and online sports betting is expected to follow shortly. For now, you’re free to visit the land-based casinos and their sportsbooks, and you can also sign up to a site like FoxBet or DraftKings, but you must be within a state where sports betting is legal to place a bet.