Sports Betting in New York: Complete 2026 Guide

Last Updated on August 6, 2026 by author

Sports betting in New York has developed into one of the largest regulated wagering markets in the United States. Residents and visitors can place legal bets through state-licensed mobile sportsbooks, while retail betting is also available at authorized commercial casinos.

However, New York’s market has several rules that differ from those in neighboring states. Bettors must be at least 21, must be physically located within New York when placing a mobile wager and cannot bet on games involving New York college teams. The state also maintains tighter control over player proposition bets and approved wagering markets than many other jurisdictions.

New York Sports Betting: Quick Facts

Mobile sports betting officially launched in New York on January 8, 2022, after retail sportsbooks had begun accepting legal wagers in July 2019. New York law requires mobile wagers to be made from within the state and transmitted to equipment located at a licensed commercial casino.

Is Sports Betting Legal in New York in 2026?

Yes. Both online and in-person sports betting are legal and regulated in New York.

The New York State Gaming Commission licenses operators, approves permitted sports and wagering markets, monitors financial reporting and investigates regulatory violations. The Commission—not individual sportsbooks—ultimately controls which leagues, competitions and bet types may be offered.

Legal mobile sportsbooks can operate throughout New York, including New York City, Long Island, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, Syracuse and other parts of the state. Bettors do not have to be permanent New York residents, but they must be physically located within state borders when confirming a wager.

New York awarded its mobile sportsbook operators 10-year licenses under a regulatory framework established by legislation passed in 2021. The first four mobile operators launched on January 8, 2022, with the remaining approved operators entering the market later that year or through subsequent brand transitions.

Who Can Bet on Sports in New York?

You must be at least 21 years old to open and use a legal New York mobile sportsbook account.

During registration, sportsbooks normally ask for information such as your:

• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Residential address
• Email address
• Mobile telephone number
• Social Security number or partial Social Security number

The operator must verify your identity through Know Your Customer procedures before allowing unrestricted account use. Account holders must also confirm that their information is accurate, that they are not prohibited bettors and that nobody else will be permitted to use their accounts. Similar identity checks may be conducted when a customer requests a withdrawal.

Allowing an underage person to use your account is not a harmless workaround. It breaches sportsbook terms, undermines New York’s age restrictions and can result in account suspension, withheld transactions or regulatory scrutiny.

Do You Have to Live in New York to Place a Bet?

No. Visitors can legally use a New York sportsbook provided that they:

1. Are at least 21 years old.
2. successfully complete the operator’s identity checks.
3. Are physically located within New York when placing the wager.

Your home address can be in another state or country. The important requirement is your physical location at the moment the bet is submitted.

You may generally create an account, review odds or manage certain account settings while outside New York. However, the sportsbook’s geolocation system must confirm that you are inside the state before accepting a real-money wager.

How Mobile Sports Betting Works in New York

Getting started with a regulated New York sportsbook usually involves five steps.

1. Select a licensed sportsbook

Use only an operator recognized by the New York State Gaming Commission. An attractive website, mobile app or social media advertisement does not prove that a platform is legal.

2. Register and verify your identity

Enter accurate personal information and complete any requested identity-verification process. Providing incorrect details can delay deposits and withdrawals.

3. Enable location services

New York sportsbooks use approved geolocation technology to determine whether a device is within state borders. Mobile users may need to enable precise location access. Desktop users may be asked to install a geolocation plug-in.

Virtual private networks, remote desktop software and other location-masking tools may cause the check to fail. A sportsbook can reject the wager even when the user is genuinely inside New York if the software cannot confidently verify the location.

4. Fund the account

Available payment methods vary by operator. Common possibilities include debit cards, online banking, electronic wallets, PayPal, ACH transfers and cash deposits through participating locations.

Before depositing, check the minimum transaction amount, processing time and withdrawal rules. A deposit method may not always support withdrawals.

5. Choose a market and confirm the bet

Add the selection to the bet slip, enter the stake and review the odds, potential return and market rules before confirming. Once accepted, most wagers cannot be cancelled simply because the bettor changes their mind.

Legal Sports Betting Apps in New York

The New York State Gaming Commission’s current revenue-reporting page lists nine mobile sports wagering operators:

• Bally Bet
• BetMGM
• Caesars Sportsbook
• DraftKings Sportsbook
• theScore Bet
• Fanatics Sportsbook
• FanDuel Sportsbook
• Resorts World Bet
• Rush Street Interactive, commonly associated with BetRivers

The state’s financial reports identify theScore Bet as the successor brand to ESPN Bet from the week ending December 7, 2025. Wynn Interactive had previously discontinued New York operations in July 2024 before that market access transitioned through later operator arrangements.

The presence of nine licensed choices does not mean every app is equally suitable for every bettor. Instead of selecting a sportsbook solely because it advertises the largest headline promotion, compare the following:

Promotional offers change frequently. The meaningful value of a bonus depends on the minimum odds, qualifying deposit, wagering requirements, withdrawal restrictions and expiration date—not simply the amount shown in large text.

What Sports Can You Bet On?

New York sportsbooks generally offer markets on major professional competitions, including:

• NFL football
• NBA and WNBA basketball
• MLB baseball
• NHL hockey
• MLS and international soccer
• Professional golf
• Tennis
• Boxing
• Mixed martial arts
• Auto racing
• Lacrosse
• Rugby
• Volleyball
• Selected esports or other approved competitions

New York does not automatically allow every event offered in other states. The Gaming Commission evaluates leagues and bet types and maintains authority over the wagering menu. It may restrict markets that create integrity concerns or depend on unclear or subjective outcomes.

Common Types of New York Sports Bets

Moneyline bets

A moneyline wager is a bet on which team or competitor will win. The point margin does not matter.

Negative American odds identify the favorite, while positive odds normally identify the underdog. For example, odds of -150 indicate that a $150 stake would produce $100 in profit, while +150 indicates that a $100 winning stake would produce $150 in profit.

Point spreads

A point spread gives the underdog a theoretical advantage and the favorite a theoretical disadvantage.

A wager on a basketball favorite at -5.5 requires that team to win by at least six points. A bet on the underdog at +5.5 can win when the team wins outright or loses by five points or fewer.

Totals

A totals wager, commonly called an over/under, concerns the combined score.

When the total is 47.5 points, an over bet wins if the teams combine for 48 or more. An under bet wins if the combined score is 47 or fewer.

Parlays

A parlay combines multiple selections into one wager. Every included leg normally has to win for the ticket to pay out.

Parlays can produce larger potential returns than single wagers, but their probability of winning falls with each additional selection. They should not be treated as an easier route to profit simply because the displayed payout is larger.

Player proposition bets

Player props focus on an individual performance, such as points scored, passing yards, rebounds or shots on goal.

New York applies additional scrutiny to proposition markets. The Commission generally favors wagers based on official, objectively recorded statistics and may reject markets involving negative actions, subjective decisions or heightened integrity risks.

Futures

Futures concern an outcome that will be decided later, such as a league champion, division winner or regular-season win total.

Because the money may remain tied up for weeks or months, bettors should consider whether the potential return justifies the waiting period.

Live betting

Live or in-play betting allows wagers after an event has started. Odds update as the game develops.

The fast pace can encourage impulsive decisions, so it is sensible to decide on a maximum live-betting budget before the event begins.

What Sports Bets Are Prohibited in New York?

New York has some of the country’s most important college-betting restrictions.

Games involving New York college teams

You cannot bet on an athletic event involving a New York college team, regardless of where the game takes place.

For example, a game involving Syracuse, St. John’s, Columbia, Cornell, Army, Fordham or another New York-based college cannot be offered by a legal New York sportsbook merely because the contest is being played in another state.

College events held in New York

A college tournament or neutral-site game held in New York may be eligible for betting when no New York college team is participating in the particular event.

College player proposition bets

New York has not generally authorized player-specific proposition bets on approved college events. A sportsbook might therefore offer the game result, spread or total while excluding individual player statistics.

High school sports

Betting on high school sports is prohibited.

Entertainment and subjective awards

New York’s sports wagering law does not provide general authorization for betting on entertainment awards such as the Oscars, Grammys or Tony Awards. The state has also rejected sports-related outcomes determined by subjective voting, including awards such as Most Valuable Player, the Cy Young Award and the Heisman Trophy.

Certain negative-statistic props

The Commission has historically disallowed several markets based on negative actions, including missed field goals, turnovers, penalties, fouls, baseball errors, double faults and missed putts. The exact menu can change as the regulator reviews integrity risks.

Can You Bet on New York Professional Teams?

Yes. Legal sportsbooks can offer approved markets on New York’s professional franchises, including the Yankees, Mets, Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Islanders, Sabres, Bills and New York-area NFL teams.

The college restriction does not apply to professional teams. Standard markets such as moneylines, spreads, totals, futures and approved professional player props may be available.

How Large Is New York’s Sports Betting Market?

New York continues to generate enormous mobile wagering activity.

During the state fiscal year running from April 2025 through March 2026, licensed mobile operators accepted approximately $26.16 billion in wagers. Gross gaming revenue reached roughly $2.60 billion, while reported net revenue directed to education totaled about $1.33 billion.

For the first three months of fiscal year 2026–27—April through June 2026—the official statewide report recorded approximately $6.55 billion in handle and more than $288 million in net revenue directed to education.

These figures describe the amount wagered and operator revenue, not the amount individual bettors earned. “Handle” represents total stakes accepted, including money that may be repeatedly wagered after being returned to customer balances.

How New York Taxes Sportsbooks

New York applies a 51% tax to mobile sports wagering revenue. This is a tax on operator revenue, not a 51% tax charged directly against each bettor’s winning ticket.

Most of the resulting state revenue supports public education. The state also directs funding toward sports programs for underserved young people and problem-gambling education and treatment. The fiscal year 2026–27 statewide report identifies $12 million for problem-gambling education and treatment and $5 million for youth sports activities and education grants.

Are Sports Betting Winnings Taxable?

Yes. Sports betting winnings are taxable income.

For federal purposes, bettors must report gambling winnings even when they do not receive a Form W-2G. Beginning with the 2026 tax year, the federal deduction for gambling losses is limited to the lesser of:

• 90% of gambling losses, or
• The amount of gambling winnings.

The deduction is generally available only to taxpayers who itemize and maintain adequate records. This creates the possibility that a bettor who finishes close to break-even could still have taxable gambling income because only 90% of losses may be deductible federally.

New York also requires taxpayers to report the full amount of applicable gambling winnings rather than simply reporting the difference between wins and losses. The latest published New York Form IT-196 instructions state that gambling losses cannot exceed winnings and must be claimed separately as an itemized deduction. Because final state instructions for the 2026 tax year may change, bettors should verify the rules when filing or consult a qualified tax professional.

Maintain a clear record containing:

• Date of each betting session
• Sportsbook used
• Amounts deposited and withdrawn
• Stakes placed
• Winnings and losses
• Account statements
• W-2G forms
• Relevant bank or payment records

Sportsbook account statements are useful, but taxpayers remain responsible for reporting their income accurately.

How to Choose a Safe New York Sportsbook

A safe sportsbook should first be licensed in New York. Avoid treating licensing in another country or state as a substitute for authorization from the New York State Gaming Commission.

Before depositing, review:

Regulatory status

Confirm that the operator appears on the Gaming Commission’s current sports wagering or revenue-reporting pages.

Complete promotion terms

Read the conditions before opting into an offer. Look for minimum odds, qualifying markets, play-through requirements, expiry dates, maximum bet limits and withdrawal restrictions.

Withdrawal procedures

Check whether the sportsbook supports withdrawal through the same method used to deposit. Identity reviews may be required before the first payout.

Betting limits

Sportsbooks may impose different minimum and maximum stakes. Operators can also limit individual accounts under their internal risk-management policies.

Account security

Use a unique password and activate multifactor authentication where available. Never share an account, verification code or payment method with another person.

Offshore Sportsbooks and Prediction Markets

A platform accessible from a New York internet connection is not necessarily legal.

The Gaming Commission has warned consumers about offshore gambling businesses and unlicensed prediction markets. In July 2026, New York officials announced legal action against Kalshi, alleging that its sports-related prediction markets constituted unlicensed gambling under state law. The case illustrates why bettors should verify state authorization instead of relying on a platform’s own description of its products.

Unregulated sites may not provide the same consumer protections, complaint procedures, data standards or responsible-gambling controls required of licensed New York operators.

Responsible Sports Betting in New York

Sports betting should be treated as paid entertainment, not as an income source or solution to financial problems.

Practical safeguards include:

• Set a fixed budget before depositing.
• Keep betting money separate from household expenses.
• Avoid increasing stakes to recover a loss.
• Do not bet while intoxicated, angry or distressed.
• Use deposit and wagering limits.
• Take regular breaks.
• Avoid borrowing money to gamble.
• Review your account history rather than relying on memory.
• Use a time-out or self-exclusion tool when betting stops being enjoyable.

New York operates responsible-gambling programs through cooperation between the Gaming Commission, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports and the New York Council on Problem Gambling. Confidential support is available through the state HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY to 467369.

FAQs

Can I bet on sports in New York City?

Yes. Licensed mobile sportsbooks can accept wagers from users physically located in New York City, provided they are at least 21 and pass identity and geolocation checks.

Can tourists bet in New York?

Yes. New York residency is not required. A visitor must be 21 or older, create a verified account and be inside the state when placing the wager.

Can I place a New York bet while in New Jersey?

No. A New York sportsbook must confirm that you are within New York. When you are in New Jersey, you would need to use an operator authorized under New Jersey rules.

Can I bet on the New York Yankees or Buffalo Bills?

Yes. The restriction involving New York teams applies to colleges, not professional franchises.

Can I bet on Syracuse basketball?

Not through a legal New York sportsbook. Betting on an event involving a New York college team is prohibited even when the game is played outside the state.

Can I bet on March Madness in New York?

Yes, but not on games involving New York college teams. Eligible tournament games involving only out-of-state schools can be offered.

Are sports betting bonuses taxable?

Cash winnings generated through bonus bets or promotional credits can contribute to taxable gambling income. Keep complete records and seek professional tax advice when necessary.

Is using a VPN allowed?

A VPN can interfere with mandatory geolocation checks and may violate sportsbook terms. Legal operators must determine your genuine physical location before accepting a wager.

How many sports betting apps are available in New York?

New York’s current state revenue reports list nine mobile operators, although individual brands can change following acquisitions or rebranding.

Final Verdict

Sports betting in New York is legal, widely accessible and tightly regulated in 2026. Adults aged 21 or older can use approved mobile sportsbooks from almost anywhere inside the state, but every wager is subject to geolocation and identity-verification requirements.

The most important restrictions concern college sports. Games involving New York college teams are unavailable, high school betting is prohibited and college player props are generally excluded. Bettors must also understand that gambling winnings are taxable and that federal loss deductions became less favorable in 2026.

Choose only a sportsbook recognized by the New York State Gaming Commission, compare the complete terms rather than headline promotions and establish firm spending limits before placing a wager. Legal access improves consumer protection, but it does not remove the financial risks associated with