Whats The Gambling Age In New York

• New York Gambling Law
• Online Gambling New York

• Year New York Regulated Gambling: Racing (1959), Lottery (1966), Off-track betting (1970), Tribal Casinos (1993), Racinos (2001), Commercial Casinos (2013)
• Estimated Tax Revenue from Gambling: $4.2 billion
• Estimated Gambling Revenue: $10.8 billion
• New York Gambling Age: 18 for lottery and racing, 18-21 for casinos. No minimum age for charity gaming.
• Smoking ban: New York bans smoking in all indoor businesses. It does not apply to tribal casinos.
• New York Online gambling: Horse racing is the only form of legalized online gambling in New York

New York’s minimum gambling age varies based on the gambling option chosen. 18-year-olds can participate in pari-mutuel wagering, the lottery, charitable gambling, and play at racinos, and some casinos.

New York's minimum legal gambling age policies are quite liberal, allowing most players access to gambling entertainment at age 18, with the exception of some tribal casinos that offer poker and betting which require players to be 21. The Upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act (Chapters 174 and 175 of the Laws of 2013) outlines the procedure and process for siting destination gaming resorts in New York State. The primary provisions of the Act are included in Article 13 of New York's Racing, Pari.

New York Casino Locations: New York City, Hogansburg, Batavia, Yonkers, Hamburg, Farmington, Union Springs, Akwesasne, Monticello, Ozone Park, Saratoga Springs, Salamanca, Buffalo, Irving, Cuba, Niagara Falls, Nichols, Verona, Vernon and Chittenango. With 14 New York casinos, and more on the way, there are plenty of gambling options for residents and visitors.

New York gambling is one of the most profitable industries in the country. It’s lottery sales are in the $9 billion range each year. Resorts World is the most profitable slots-only New York casino in the country.

New York voters approved a massive gambling expansion in November 2013. This will add seven more New York casinos in resort corridors within the state. The licensing process began in 2015. There are already nine New York racinos and five Native American casinos.

New York also permits horse racing and charity gaming. There are four tracks that hold regular races. Several others continue with off-track betting to maintain racino status.

Paying Gambling Taxes in New York

Did you know that your gambling income is taxable? OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos has gathered everything you need to know about paying your gambling taxes straight from a Certified Public Accountant. For more information please visit our exclusive Gambling Taxes article.

New York Casinos Map & Guide

• Resorts World
• Empire City
• Turning Stone
• Seneca Buffalo Creek
• Hamburg Gaming

• Number of B&M Casinos: 14
• Number of Poker Rooms: 6
• Number of Indian Casinos: 5

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Types of New York Online Gambling Allowed

The only form of legal online gambling New York is off-track betting on horses. TVG, TwinSpires, BetAmerica, and XpressBet all accept these types of bets. There are some restrictions on races held within New York. Those are off the board to encourage attendance at the tracks.

Daily fantasy sports are illegal in New York, according to State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. He declared the contests illegal in November 2015. DraftKings and FanDuel were ordered out of the state. These two sites decided to challenge the opinion. The courts issued a stay that permitted the companies to remain in the state. It seems that a decision has been made and DFS sites can legally operate in New York.

Online casinos, poker, and sports betting sites that accept New York players are not licensed. These websites are widely believed to be illegal in the state.

Types of Live New York Gambling

• Slots: Yes
• Blackjack: Yes
• Poker: Yes
• Craps/Roulette: Yes
• Horses: Yes
• Lottery: Yes

The New York Lottery is among the most profitable in the country. It sells instant games through scratch-offs and lotto drawings. There are statewide lotto games that include Take5, Win 4, and Pick 10. The New York Lottery also sells lotto tickets for interstate drawings. These include Mega Millions and Powerball. There are more than 18,000 lottery retailers in the state.

There are four New York racetracks that offer live racing; Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, Yonkers Raceway, and Aqueduct Racetrack. Off-track betting and slots, video poker and electronic table games are also available at these venues. There are five other mostly-shuttered tracks that also offer New York racinos.

There are five Native American casinos in Upstate New York that offer casinos. These establishments are permitted to offer more casino games than the tracks. In addition to slots, video poker and electronic table games, these venues may offer live poker, craps, roulette, blackjack and other table games that use cards and are banked by the house. There are plenty of other New York casinos spread throughout the state that players can visit.

The only other form of gambling legal in New York is through charities. Raffles, bingo, and pull-tab games are permitted.

New York Gambling Laws

The New York Constitution only permits forms of gambling that are specifically legalized by voters. Other than that, New York gambling laws state that games of chance are illegal. Most gambling crimes are a misdemeanor in the state. Promoting gambling is a ClassE felony. The state attorney general of the U.S. Attorney’s Office may initiate charges against individuals or companies that commit crimes related to gambling.

New York gambling laws forbid sports pools and games determined by a material degree of chance. This is the language that daily fantasy sports sites are fighting. These companies claim that the outcome of daily fantasy sports contests is mostly skill and not any material degree related to chance.

The New York Constitution permits state lotteries, live horse racing, off-track betting, Native American casinos, and racinos. In 2013, voters approved the addition of seven resort New York casinos.

List of New York Casinos

There are four New York racetracks that offer live racing and race books, and six other racetracks that offer full casino services. There are other Native American New York casinos that are spread throughout the state, with plenty of casinos in Upstate New York.

Find the casino nearest to you by looking at our general guide below, or use our New York casinos map for more detailed directions.

History of New York Gambling

Gambling in New York was first recorded in 1655. That is when a horse track at Newmarket located in the Hempstead Plains opened. That area is known as Queens today. Horseracing did not remain legal from that time, however, Belmont Park, one of the most well-known tracks in the world, opened in 1905 and has operated ever since.

Betting at Belmont Park did not become fully legal until 1959. It was the first form of legalized gambling in the modern era in New York.

A state lottery was created by voters in November 1966. It passed by more than a 60 percent margin. The first tickets were sold the following year. It has since raised more than $35 billion for the state’s public schools.

New York became the first state outside Nevada to permit off-track betting on horses. This type of wagering would become a staple in New York City. That local government opened more than 100 betting shops that accepted wagers on races across the country. These were a part of life in the largest city in America. TV shows like Seinfeld and Law and Order regularly featured these establishments. Regional casinos, including one at Aqueduct, cannibalized the revenues once enjoyed by New York’s OTBs.

The expansion of gambling machines to tracks like Aqueduct put an end to these businesses. The last New York OTB betting shop closed in 2010. There have been some private attempts to reopen the most profitable storefronts in recent years.

New York was home to the most infamous online gambling bust in the world. Preet Bharara of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York filed indictments against the three largest U.S.-facing online poker rooms on April 15, 2011. This action shut down Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker. It ran PokerStars, the largest poker site in the world, out of the U.S. market. This generated $547 million in fines for the U.S. Government. The action was called Black Friday.

In November 2013, New York voters approved the addition of seven commercial casinos in the state. These licensees will be able to spread the same games as Upstate New York casinos.

In November 2015, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman determined that daily fantasy sports violated state law. FanDuel and DraftKings dispute this opinion. Both filed suit against the state for declaratory judgment. The case is working its way through the court system. In the meantime, the companies received a stay that allows them to remain in the New York market. Payment processors have run for the door while the legal battle continues.

New York Casinos & Gambling FAQ

New York has legalized live horse racing, off-track betting, a state lottery, tribal casinos, racinos and commercial casinos.

The minimum New York gambling age is 18 years to play the lottery or bet on horses. The minimum gambling age in New York for casinos is 18 years; unless alcohol is served, then it is 21 years. Charity gaming has no minimum age.

The only form of legal online betting in New York is off-track betting on horses.

TVG, TwinSpires, BetAmerica and XpressBet are all licensed to accept wagers in New York.

Racetracks with gaming licenses may spread slots, video poker and electronic table games.

The state’s tribal casinos and future commercial ones may spread slots, video poker, electronic table games, live poker, craps, roulette, blackjack, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Pai Gow, baccarat and any other table game approved by regulators.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara of the Southern District of New York filed indictments against PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker on April 15, 2011. The charges were connected to illegal payment processing. The action put Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker out of business. Full Tilt was bailed by PokerStars through a $731 million settlement. Absolute Poker players and those that deposited through UltimateBet were stiffed.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman published an opinion that daily fantasy sports sites are illegal in November 2015. FanDuel and DraftKings refute this assertion. The case is working its way through the court system. In the meantime, daily fantasy sports sites remain in the market.

Introduction to New York Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

New York slot machine casino gambling consists of eleven tribal casinos, eight pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines, four casino resorts, and two nearby Canadian casinos.

A theoretical payout limit exists for the seven Class III tribal casinos. Return statistics are publicly available for the eight racinos and four casino resorts.

This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in New York*

The minimum legal gambling age in New York depends upon the gambling activity:

• Land-Based Casinos: 21/19/18
• Poker Rooms: 21
• Bingo: 18
• Lottery: 18
• Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18

The legal gambling age is 21 for casinos owned by the Seneca Nation of Indians, but 18 for other casinos in New York. At Canadian casinos in the province of Ontario, the minimum legal gambling age is 19. For the province of Quebec, it’s 18.

Until 1993, tribal casinos in the state of New York had only Class II bingo halls. That year, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe negotiated a state-tribal compact for Class III Vegas-style slot machines.

As a result, all Class III tribal casinos have video lottery terminals (VLTs) controlled by the New York State Lottery. While these electronic games appear to be typical video slot machines, the results of a bet are instead determined off-site by a central lottery system.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in New York

It is legal to own a slot machine privately in the state of New York if it is 30 years old or older.

Gaming Control Board in New York

Created in 2012, the New York State Gaming Commission has merged from the New York State Division of Lottery and the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.

Currently, this Commission regulates all aspects of gaming activity in the state of New York including charitable gaming.

Casinos in New York

There are eleven tribal casinos, eight pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines, and four casino resorts in the state of New York.

The largest casino in New York is Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway with 5,300 gaming machines.

The second-largest casino is Resorts World Casino New York City with 4,995 gaming machines.

The State of New York has an extraordinary gaming industry because of the many types of casinos available to its residents. New York has tribal casinos with and without tribal compacts, casino resorts, racinos, cruise ships, and even readily accessible international casinos just across the border to Canada.

Commercial Casinos in New York

The eight racetracks with slot machines (racinos) in New York are:

1. Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel located in Batavia found 44 miles east of Buffalo.
2. Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway found 22 miles North-northeast of New York City.
3. Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack located in Farmington found 64 miles west of Syracuse.
4. Hamburg Gaming at The Fairgrounds found 13 miles south of Buffalo.
5. Jake’s 58 Hotel & Casino located in Islandia found 50 miles east of New York City.
6. Nassau Downs at Resorts World Casino New York City located in Jamaica, Queens found 17 miles east of New York City.
7. Saratoga Casino Hotel located in Saratoga Springs found 139 miles east of Syracuse.
8. Vernon Downs Casino Hotel located in Vernon found 39 miles east of Syracuse.

The four casinos resorts in New York are:

1. del Lago Resort Casino located in Waterloo found 47 miles west of Syracuse.
2. Resorts World Catskills located in Kiamesha Lake found 96 miles northwest of New York City.
3. Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady found 128 miles east of Syracuse.
4. Tioga Downs Casino Resort located in Nichols found 102 miles south of Syracuse.

Tribal Casinos in New York

The seven tribal casinos with Class III Vegas-style slot machines in New York are:

1. Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort located in Hogansburg found 176 miles northeast of Syracuse on the Canadian border.
2. Point Place Casino located in Bridgeport found 15 miles northeast of Syracuse.
3. Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel located in Salamanca found 63 miles south of Buffalo.
4. Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino located in Buffalo.
5. Seneca Niagara Casino located in Niagara Falls found 19 miles northwest of Buffalo on the Canadian border to Quebec.
6. Turning Stone Casino Resort located in Verona found 35 miles east of Syracuse.
7. Yellow Brick Road Casino located in Chittenango found 16 miles west of Syracuse.

The four tribal casinos with Class II bingo-style gaming machines in New York are:

1. Lakeside Entertainment located in Union Springs found 41 miles southwest of Syracuse.
2. Seneca Gaming – Irving located in Irving found 29 miles southwest of Buffalo.
3. Seneca Gaming – Oil Spring located in Cuba found 69 miles southeast of Buffalo.
4. Seneca Gaming – Salamanca located in Salamanca found 63 miles south of Buffalo.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying New York slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering New York is:

• North: The Canadian Provinces of Ontario and Quebec
• East: Connecticut Slots, Massachusetts Slots, and Vermont Slots
• South and West: Pennsylvania Slots and New Jersey Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to New York.

Canadian casinos are across the international border from the State of New York in the Niagara Falls region near Buffalo as well as in Montreal near upstate New York.

Otherwise, cruise ships with onboard casinos depart from the New York Manhattan Cruise Terminal for international destinations.

Our New York Slots Facebook Group

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in New York? If so, join our new New York slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.

There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in New York. Join us!

Payout Returns in New York

Each casino type in New York has its own gaming regulations, so theoretical payout limits and return statistics have several varieties. I’ll review them.

• Class II competition-style gaming machines at tribal casinos are subject to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, a federal law, which does not set payout limits nor require public reporting of return statistics.
• Class III Vegas-style slot machines at tribal casinos are subject to tribal-state gaming compacts stating VLTs are controlled off-site by the New York State Lottery. These VLTs have a minimum theoretical payout limit of 92%. No return statistics are publicly available.
• Commercial casino resorts do not have theoretical payout limits. Return statistics are publicly available as weekly and monthly reports. See the Commercial Gaming Reports tab at the NY State Gaming Commission.
• Commercial racetracks with their video slot machines do not have theoretical payout limits. Return statistics are publicly available as weekly and monthly reports. See the Video Gaming Reports tab at the NY State Gaming Commission.

Regarding monthly return statistics for the commercial sites, player win percentage is available only after performing a simple calculation. Specifically, divide Credits Won by Credits Played and then multiply the result by 100% to get Player Win%.

The monthly Player Win% for February 2020 at each casino resort was:

New York Gambling Law

1. del Lago: 90.4%
2. Resorts World Catskills: 90.7%
3. Rivers: 90.8%
4. Tioga Downs: 91.6%

In February 2020, the highest return for a casino resort was at Tioga Downs with 91.6% while the lowest return was at del Lago with 90.4%.

The monthly Player Win% for February 2020 at each commercial racetrack with video slot machines was:

1. Batavia Downs: 91.6%
2. Empire City: 93.4%
3. Finger Lakes: 92.1%
4. Hamburg Gaming: 91.5%
5. Jake’s 58: 93.8%
6. Nassau Downs: 97.4%
7. Saratoga: 92.2%
8. Vernon Downs: 91.8%

In February 2020, the highest return for a pari-mutuel racino was at Nassau Downs at Resorts World New York City with 97.4% while the lowest return was at Hamburg Gaming with 91.5%. For the same month, the overall state total was 94.1%.

Summary of New York Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

New York slot machine casino gambling consists of eleven tribal casinos, eight racinos, four casino resorts, multiple cruise ships sailing out of New York City to international destinations, and two nearby casinos across the border to Canada.

VLTs at Class III tribal casinos have a minimum theoretical payout limit of 92%. None of the tribal casinos offer return statistics, but casino resorts and racinos have weekly and monthly reports available online.

Annual Progress in New York Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Over the last year, there has been little change in the slots gaming industry in the state of New York.

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Online Gambling New York

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