New York Sports Betting

Welcome to New York! NY sports betting is underway, but only in fits and starts. It is not up to its potential by any measure, and efforts to move things in that direction have more often led to frustration than success.

Part of the problem with New York is the sheer size of its population. Buoyed by New York City, the Empire State is the fourth most populous state in the country. With greater size comes greater complexity. It’s no accident that none of the three states with more people than New York have sports betting, either, while (mostly) smaller states are continuing to launch.

Sports betting in New York, like many intricate issues, continues to be a contentious debate in the State Assembly and within the electorate. However, things are moving, and you have found the best resource around for all the latest information regarding online sports betting in New York.

NY sports bettors can download sports betting apps in NY and bet in NJ. Once you’re in NJ, you can place your bet and head home, or hang out and watch the game. You do not need to be in NJ to collect your winnings, only to bet. 

Download betting apps in NY and bet on sports in NJ

Latest Updates

Last updated: Jan. 12, 2021

Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow have released their mobile sports betting bill’s, S 1183 and A 1257. Similar in nature, both bills are identical to their 2019-20 versions. Each calls for a number of things including, official league data, royalty fee’s and a 12% tax rate.

Additionally, NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to include mobile sports betting in his 2021 policy proposals for the state. The governor also endorced the state lottery at the entity to run mobile wagering should it become a reality.

This isnt the first time the governor has made remarks pertaining to mobile sports betting in New York. In 2018, Cuomo said an amendment to the state constitution was needed in order to allow mobile wagering.

When will NY sportsbook apps launch?

In 2021 – maybe. For once, there is cause for hope in the Empire State for online sports betting. As is the case in most states, money talks.

In December 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo mused about ways to solve New York’s multi-billion dollar budget shortfall. He mentioned sports betting as one possibility for a way to do so.

Given Cuomo’s resistance to the idea up to this point, the statement represents an optimistic reversal of course for the governor. He also mentioned that he’d be even more interested if it turned out that New York would not receive federal stimulus funds to address the shortfall in Spring 2021. As it turns out, there will be no stimulus to New York’s budget, so Cuomo might be even more inspired if you asked him today.

Lawmakers in New York who are in favor of online sports betting, like State Sen. Joseph Addabbo, have already signaled their intention to move forward earlier than the governor’s spring timeframe. Addabbo has correctly expressed concern that waiting until the spring will cause New York to miss out on revenues from the Super Bowl and March Madness – two of the biggest sports betting times of the year.

All in all, New York has never had this many promising signs about online sports betting before. If it is going to happen, it is likely to happen quite quickly, both in terms of legalization and launch. Mobile operators are undoubtedly champing at the bit to claim their piece of market share.

So, stay frosty. New Yorkers might be able to bet on their favorite sports from their homes before very much longer.

Which online sportsbooks are expected in New York?

Though sports betting is both legal and active in New York, it is not permitted in the online space just yet. Lawmakers are undoubtedly pushing to expand into the virtual world, but nothing in New York politics and law moves particularly quickly.

However, the legal delays don’t mean that we can’t take a few guesses about which online sportsbook apps will lead the charge into the Empire State once the approvals happen. There are already several prominent gambling companies with visible fingerprints and footprints in New York, and it’s not a stretch to think that they’ll be quick to launch when online sports betting comes.

Best NY Sports Betting Apps for 2021

None of the following sportsbook apps have launched in New York yet. However, each of them has either signaled a clear intent through a partnership or statement, or it has related businesses in New York and has been early to launch elsewhere. All of the apps below are available for NJ sports bettors, so you can download the apps in NY and place your bets in New Jersey.

1. DraftKings: DraftKings has long since shed its reputation as just a DFS provider. The company in black and green is now one of the top online sportsbook companies in the US, and has been at the forefront of sports betting’s spread across the country. DraftKings has a partnership deal with the del Lago Resort & Casino in New York, and already operates its retail sports betting operation. The partnership deal also extends to online services, so it’s just a matter of legality until New Yorkers can see why DraftKings is so popular.
2. BetRivers: BetRivers is the online sportsbook brand for casino operator Rush Street Interactive, which owns several land-based and online casino properties in the US, primarily in northeastern states. One of those properties is New York’s Rivers Schenectady, so Rush Street clearly has an interest in the Empire State. BetRivers has been one of the first to arrive in many sports betting states, and there’s no reason to assume the situation will be different when New York finally opens the gates.
3. PointsBet: PointsBet is an Australian sportsbook that has recently come across the Pacific to launch (quite successfully) in the US. Its signature product, PointsBetting, offers a unique twist on the traditional spread bet and lends enough novelty to be worth at least a try from most bettors. PointsBet also has a partnership with Tioga Downs in place, and is certainly an early adopter in states that legalize.
4. FanDuel: FanDuel often gets painted as a novelty with its daily fantasy sports background. However, through a concerted effort to offer both excellent customer service and a fantastic slate of promotions, FanDuel has risen to become one of the best sportsbooks in the country. In addition to its DFS provision in the Empire State, FanDuel is also the brand associated with the retail operation at New York’s Tioga Downs. Now, Tioga Downs does have a partnership for its online operations with PointsBet, but there is a possibility that an online sports betting bill will allow for more than one skin. In that event, or in the event that FanDuel looks elsewhere in New York, New Yorkers could soon be placing their wagers with FanDuel.
5. Fox Bet: Fox Bet is a joint venture between Flutter Entertainment (which owns PokerStars) and media giant Fox Sports. As such, you cannot find a greater degree of synergy between an online sportsbook product and a major television broadcast. Fox Sports personalities routinely discuss their picks during the course of broadcasts and even submit their picks for various games throughout the week. Fox Bet has a partnership with New York’s Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort, so as soon as online sports betting goes live, so will Fox Bet.
6. Caesars: Few names have more immediate cachet in gambling than Caesars. The world-famous brand has casinos all over the world and is responsible for some of the biggest properties in gambling, including operating major retail and online sportsbooks. Caesars is already powering the sportsbook at the Turning Stone, Point Place and Yellow Brick Road casinos, and there’s no reason to assume that the casino giant won’t extend into the online space, at least in some form.
7. William Hill: The uncertainty about Caesars is due to the tremendous amount of corporate flux surrounding it, Eldorado Resorts and top sportsbook William Hill. William Hill could very well end up the subject of a sportsbook rebrand at those three properties in the future and could end up being the brand name for the casino’s online sportsbook. This arrangement comes due to William Hill’s deal with new Caesars owner Eldorado, which has agreed that all sportsbook properties under its umbrella would be branded as William Hill locations. William Hill is, of course, a venerable sportsbook brand in its own right, but this deal could have major implications for New York’s online sportsbook market.
8. Bet365: Bet365 is one of the lesser-known major sportsbook brands that is expected to launch in New York at some point. The UK-based company is often overshadowed (perhaps unfairly) by William Hill, and is not nearly as familiar a commodity in the US. However, New Yorkers (and others) who try Bet365 could be in for quite the treat. The flexible app contains numerous options, including for international sports, and a handy bet-editing function that gives players much more control than usual. Bet365 has a longstanding deal with Resorts World Catskills, and will be its online sportsbook provider as soon as online sports betting is available in the Empire State.

Other sports betting apps in New York

There are two other apps that have the potential to launch or will launch without as much fanfare in New York. The first to mention is Penn National Gaming’s Barstool Sports app.

Penn National Gaming has quickly risen in the past few years as a powerhouse gambling company. The company owns or operates a slew of casino properties across the US. It recently acquired a major stake in sports blog Barstool Sports, and plans to use the brand as the face of its online sportsbooks.

A company with Penn National’s pedigree is unlikely to be on the outside looking into a state like New York, so don’t be surprised if a Penn National deal announcement occurs sometime in the near future.

The other sportsbook product that is likely for New York is the in-house brand for the three casinos owned and operated by the Seneca Nation of New York. The tribe has already launched retail sportsbooks at its properties and is expected to follow with online sports betting as soon as it can.

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How online sports betting works in New York

Unlike residents of some states that are diving into sports betting, New Yorkers are not unaware of how sports betting works. Even if we put aside the long history of underground bookmaking in the state, New Yorkers have been able to bet at upstate casinos since 2019 and cross into New Jersey to wager since 2018.

In fact, it seems likely that residents in the New York City area are much more likely to have bet online than live if they’ve bet at all. With more than a dozen sportsbooks available on their phones the minute they cross into the Garden State, there’s no reason to drive all the way to Atlantic City to wager. Heck, it’s not even worth it to go to the Meadowlands most of the time.

So, for a state without online sports betting, New York is uniquely accustomed to how it works. However, if you haven’t made the journey across the George Washington Bridge, through the Lincoln Tunnel or through the Holland Tunnel, here’s how online sports betting works, and how it will work in New York.

Pros and cons of using an online sports betting app

Nothing in life is perfect — not even online sports betting apps. So, while there are many wonderful things about placing sports bets online, there are some ways that you’ll be missing out versus the retail sports betting experience. Here are a few of the ups and downs about using a sports betting app:

Pros

• Convenience — Obviously, you can’t beat the fact that you can bet through your mobile device for convenience. Even if you live next door to a sportsbook, it’s still easier to wager from your couch. You don’t even have to wear clothes, though we’d vastly prefer that you did.
• Player control — There are so many more options for betting online than in a traditional sportsbook. You can even tell the sportsbook what you want to bet, in many cases, and the computers behind the site can handle the request and set odds for it. Some sportsbooks even allow you to change your bet during the game, and that’s before we talk about live betting. Retail sports betting simply can’t keep up.
• Promotions — Retail sportsbooks don’t feel the need to keep players loyal because, by and large, if they’re already there, they’re interested. Online sportsbooks have to negotiate the problem of having their competitors a few seconds away at all times. So, no matter when you play, you can cash in on hundreds of extra dollars through the promos that sportsbook apps offer.

Cons:

• Tech and support issues — At the end of the day, the human touch matters. You can usually work out any problem that you have with a flesh-and-blood cashier in a retail sportsbook. However, it may be much more difficult to get any kind of satisfaction from an app. Even if you manage to get a human on the phone, that person is disconnected from the situation, and it can be a pain to explain everything.
• Complexity — Not everyone is a fan of technology. Even if apps are designed to be as navigable as possible, you can still get turned around, lost or overwhelmed by all the features and functions that you find. For some, having to place a wager through their phone and have it cost real money from an actual bank account is unnerving — much more so than placing an equivalent wager with cash.
• Social — Though gambling is a largely solitary activity at its core, it is a social endeavor in land-based casinos and sportsbooks. You place a bet, then ride out your fate with fellow bettors. If you happen to be betting the same way, well, you might just strike up a friendship. Unfortunately, you don’t get the same effect online. If you’re betting while sitting in a parking lot, there’s precious few who can share in your triumphs or heartbreaks.

In this day and age, most people own smartphones or tablets. So their most common method to access an online sportsbook would be through a dedicated app. It is almost standard for sportsbooks to offer app versions to Apple and Android users, so you should be able to find something that works.

If you happen to be a person who prefers to use a computer, however, you may still be in luck. Many sportsbooks do offer a browser-based option, and you might be able to use it. Check each sportsbook to make sure before you sign up, though.

Now, regardless of how you choose to access an app, you’ll have to perform four steps to get started. We’ll describe them in greater detail below, but if you’re pressed for time, here they are in brief:

• Download the app to your device and install it.
• Register for an account and make sure to activate any bonuses.
• Deposit from your bank account or one of the other options
• Make your first bet.

If you need more information, though, keep reading.

Download and installing a NY sports betting app

Obviously, step one of playing on a sportsbook app in New York is to get the app on your device. The best way to begin this process is to choose one of the links above. Make sure to write down and save any bonus codes we have listed before you do, though. You’ll need them in just a bit.

The link above should take you to a screen for either choosing your format or beginning your download. If necessary, click the logo for your device’s format — either Apple (iOS) or Android.

Apple users will soon discover that the procedure for downloading and installing a sportsbook app is largely identical to that of any other type of app. Once you reach the download page, click the “get” button to start the process, and the installation should take care of itself.

As for Android users, there is one other step before you can move forward. Because Google maintains a ban on gambling apps through the Google Play Store, it is necessary to set your device to accept downloads from unknown sources so that you can download the .apk file directly. You can accomplish this by going into your settings menu under security and toggling the “allow downloads from unknown sources” option.

After that, our link should take you to the sportsbook site. The sportsbook site should detect that your phone is an Android device and automatically prompt you to begin the download. Once the download happens and installation begins, you may have to continue through a warning pop-up, but it’s all right because you’re the one who initiated the action.

Once you have the app on your device, the process is the same for everyone.

Downloading New Jersey apps from New York

One thing you may not realize is that you don’t have to wait to start downloading apps in New York. New Jersey was the first non-Nevada state to offer online sports betting, and there are dozens of sportsbook apps that you can download right now.

By right now, we mean right now. From your home in New York. There is no prohibition against downloading a New Jersey sportsbook app from almost anywhere in the country. In fact, you can do almost every function on the app that you like. You can register, make a deposit, and select wagers that you’d like to make.

The only thing you cannot do is complete the bet. You’ll have to slip across the state line to do that. But there’s nothing stopping you from setting up everything you need from the comfort of your home, your car or a local coffeeshop.

However, keep in mind the introductory bonus offers. Sportsbooks are rarely more generous than when they want you to join and start playing, so try not to register for an account until you’re actually ready to play. Otherwise, your offers could expire, and you could miss out on the opportunity to pick up some free cash or bets.

Registering for a New York sportsbook account

The next step in the process is to register for an account. There should be a large and brightly colored button in the top right of your display, no matter your format. The button should say something like “sign up,” “join,” or “register.” If it says something else, don’t sweat it — there’s really not going to be another button the same size.

Once you select the button, you will be whisked to the registration area for the sportsbook. This area will either be a single screen or a group of screens with various blanks on them.

The blanks are to be filled with your personal details. Almost every single blank will be mandatory for you to register, so don’t leave anything out. Typical information that you will need to submit includes:

• Your name*
• Mailing address
• Email address
• Phone number
• Date of birth
• Social Security number (or last four digits)
• Username choice
• Password choice

* We recommend using your full, legal name here. We did not, and it’s added an extra headache for verifying our account later.

 

You may also have to select security questions from a dropdown menu. These questions will be specific personal questions, like your favorite teacher, your first pet’s name or the street upon which you grew up. Choose the question you want to answer, then put the answer in the blank.

One last thing — before you hit that button to submit your information, look for a space for bonus codes. It’s usually the only blank marked as optional. If our link indicated that there was a no deposit bonus or some other type of bonus that required a code to trigger, you’d enter it here. Make sure that you enter it carefully, especially with regard to capitalization. Even a single typo might keep you from realizing the value of the offer. Sometimes the language will change. For example to get the bonus at MGM, they’ll ask for a BetMGM bonus code, while William Hill uses promo code.

Remote registration

One surprisingly contentious issue in states that have legalized online sports betting has been the question of remote registration.

It’s impossible to know how New York will behave when it comes to allowing residents to register remotely when online sports betting finally goes live. We hope that remote registration is permitted, of course — New York is a large state by area, and it would save tons of time. However, with any good fortune, New York legislators will understand the need to allow remote registering when the time comes.

New York sportsbook bonuses and rewards

The registration screen is your first opportunity to take advantage of one of the best parts about online sportsbooks — bonuses. The bonuses, promotions and rewards opportunities are a distinct feature of online sportsbooks versus their land-based cousins, and a definite advantage.

One thing that’s important to understand, though, is the different types of bonuses you’re likely to encounter. Not all bonuses are equal, and each type of bonus bears its own pros and cons. We’ll run through the different types in just a moment, but let’s first discuss some of the nuts and bolts about sportsbook bonuses in New York.

Types of rewards for New York sportsbook bonuses

The first thing to understand is that the bonuses you see are a bit misleading. Most of them will advertise some sort of monetary value to your account. However, except in rare instances, the sportsbooks will not be passing out cash to players who achieve certain goals.

Instead, they will typically reward you with either site credits or free bets.

Site credits are often called bonus dollars or bonus money because of how they operate. They are a form of currency the site issues that allows you to bet and play. Unless you’re paying attention, site credits are indistinguishable from actual money, but you won’t be allowed to withdraw them. There’s nothing wrong with site credit, and you’re sure to use it at some point. However, it’s not cash, and you have more work to do if you want it to be cash.

Free bets are what they sound like. They are site vouchers that give you the ability to place wagers for free. Free bets always come in specific denominations and will be displayed with the dollar value front and center.

The major difference between free bets and regular ones (or site credits) is that you have to use the full value of the free bet when you wager. Any wagers under the limit will result in a loss of the remainder of the bet. They are not divisible, so don’t make that mistake.

Both types of non-cash are subject to various terms and conditions. We’ll discuss those next.

Bonus terms and conditions

It’s no accident that sportsbooks choose to reward you with site credits or free bets. In doing so, they are able to mandate that you keep playing before you’re able to cash out.

If you look at the terms and conditions of a bonus offer, you should be able to find language about what’s known as a playthrough requirement. It is sometimes called a wagering requirement, or is not explicitly named at all. However, you’ll know what it is because it is the multiple of your bonus amount that you must bet to release the bonus funds as cash.

The best you can hope for is a requirement of one single turnover. In other words, for every dollar of bonus you receive, you need only wager the same amount to release it.

However, sportsbooks are often not so charitable. It is not uncommon to find playthrough requirements of 25 times the bonus amount or more. To put it in perspective, you might have to make $250 in bets to release $10 in site credits as cash.

Now, you don’t have to lose $250, per se. But you have to put that much at risk.

You also have to be quick about it. Most bonuses come with a time limit, and any unreleased funds revert back to the sportsbook when you hit the threshold.

Now, if it’s a 1x playthrough requirement you’re trying to meet, then betting that amount in a week is usually no problem. However, if you have $250 to bet and you’re usually a $5 bettor, then the aforementioned $250 might be a problem to bet in a week. You’d either have to play more hours than you’re used to playing, or you’d have to up your bet. Neither option is a good one, and both could have negative effects on your life.

So, be realistic about how much of the bonus you can realize.

The good news is that most site credits come to you as drips, rather than an all-or-nothing chunk of money. As you accomplish more of the playthrough requirement, the sportsbook releases your credits to you in increments, so even if you don’t make the time, you can still get something.

On the other hand, you should probably do some math to figure out what is the realistic value of the bonus you can secure. That amount, rather than the advertised bonus, is the value of the offer.

Anyway, now that you have an understanding of how bonuses work on New York sports betting apps, here are the various types of bonuses that you’ll come across:

• No deposit — No deposit bonuses do not require any investment on your part besides your time. They are most common as an enticement for you to register on the site.
• Deposit bonus — The sportsbook app pledges to match all or part of your deposit. The amount of bonus money you can receive will always be capped, but can be hundreds of dollars. This type of bonus usually has the most stringent playthrough requirements.
• Cash back/insurance — Cash-back bonuses help you recover your losses. For a specific period of time or a specific game, the book will refund any net negatives you experience. However, you have to show a net loss — individual losses don’t get a refund if you end up in the black.
• Event repetition/drip — Sports have numerous events that happen repeatedly. The number of times they will happen in a game changes, however. For this kind of bonus, you pay a flat fee upfront, then the sportsbook drips a nominal amount of money back to you each time the event happens. So, for instance, you pay $25, but get $3 back every time a team makes a 3-pointer in basketball.
• Rewards/loyalty — A rewards or loyalty program is a common promo at both live and online sportsbooks. You earn points that you can redeem for prizes, perks and other benefits as you play. Most clubs also have status tiers that they use to grade and reward loyal customers.
• Odds boosts — Odds boosts are extremely common promotions that are often their own tab on sportsbook apps. They involve the sportsbook artificially inflating the payouts on certain bets slightly. Usually, a boost is not enough to make a bet worthwhile that wasn’t before, but they can be a nice bump to the payout potential.

Depositing and withdrawing funds at New York sportsbooks

Once you’ve finished registration, your next stop is likely to be the cashier. Even if you receive a no deposit bonus and have some site credits to your name, it’s a long shot to assume that you’d never make a deposit.

Even if you manage to be one of those blessed few never to put your own funds into your account, you’ll still want to withdraw them sometime. The following section will walk you through all the options that you’ll have for banking with New York sportsbooks.

Sportsbooks have a vested interest in making sure transactions are as painless and flexible as possible, so they offer as many ways to deposit and withdraw as their systems allow.

You should be able to find at least one method that works for you. If not, that’s a perfectly legitimate reason to look elsewhere for a sportsbook. Given the fact that there are even ways to deposit (and sometimes withdraw) with cash, it’s silly to waste your time and money on a book that can’t get it together.

Here are the most common methods of depositing into a New York sportsbook app.

• Credit and debit cards
• Electronic checks
• Electronic wallets
• Online banking and wire transfers
• Prepaid cards
• Cash 

Many of these methods will also work for withdrawals. However, be prepared for the fact that withdrawal methods are usually a bit sparser. Call it a result of the sportsbook wanting to take in money more than it wants to give it out, if you like, but it’s a universal reality on all apps.

What bets are available at NY online sportsbooks?

If you’ve traveled to one of New York’s land-based sportsbooks, you have a decent idea about the offerings you’ll find online. However, online sports betting is far more dynamic and intricate than retail sports betting, and you may be surprised to find several types of wagers that are foreign to you.

Here are the types of wagers that you’ll find online:

• Point spreads
• Moneylines
• Totals (over/unders)
• Propositions
• Parlays
• Live betting
• Teasers
• Round robins

Of course, most of these bets are also available at retail locations — at least, in terms of the types of wagers. However, the addition of live betting means that the vast majority of bet options during a game appear only in online settings.

Online sportsbooks also permit action to occur before a bet settles. Several books have a cash out option, which may open the chance for you to close a bet early. Some sportsbooks even have an “edit my bet” choice, where you can alter the terms of your wager while the game is in progress.

Betting on futures in NY

One type of wager to which you should pay special attention is the futures bet. Futures wagers are already available at New York’s retail sportsbooks, and they are undoubtedly part of any online sportsbook plans, too.

Let’s start with a quick definition of a futures wager. A futures bet involves the possibilities that may occur at the end of a tournament or season of play. Bets about championships and end-of-year awards are prime fodder for this type of bet.

Here are some futures bets that you might come across in New York:

• Bet on the Jets, Bills or Giants to win the Super Bowl or their respective conference championships. You could also bet on players from these teams to win awards like MVP and Super Bowl MVP.
• Bet on the Knicks or the Nets to win the NBA Finals or the Eastern Conference You could also bet on players to win MVP or All-NBA, or be selected to the All-Star Game.
• Bet on the Mets or Yankees to win the World Series or their respective pennants. Players from these teams might also be in the running for MVP or Cy Young
• Bet on the Rangers, Islanders or Sabres to win the Stanley Cup. You could also bet on a player from one of these teams to win the MVP award, the Norris Trophy or one of the other end-of-season awards.
• Bet on the numerous colleges and universities to challenge for NCAA championships.

Futures bets are almost always moneylines and are usually a long list. Because there are so many competitors for each end-of-season award or championship, it’s not uncommon to see odds for every single team in the league — even if some of them have virtually no chance of winning.

One thing you’ll notice, though, is that it’s not unusual to see a futures bet option with no favorites listed. In other words, every single moneyline on the board is positive. That’s not an accident; it’s due to the incredible amount of variables that can affect the outcome of the bet. Even for a favorite with the best chance of winning out of any team, the chances of anyone else winning are usually greater. It’s hard to win things.

It’s hard to win futures bets, too. They can be a fun bet to make and an extremely casual way to show support for your favorite team. However, make sure that the bets you make on futures are not for rent payments or other necessities — there are just too many ways for things to go wrong.

Horse betting in New York

Of course, some types of sports betting have a long tradition in New York. Legal horse race betting is not just a reality in the Empire State, but an institution.

Obviously, the best-known example of a horse race in New York is the Belmont Stakes. The annual race is the traditional third leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown and has borne witness to some of the greatest horse races of all time. New York is also home to the Travers Stakes — perhaps the most prestigious non-Triple Crown race in the country.

In all, there are 11 active horse tracks in New York. They are scattered throughout the state, including one in New York City proper. New York has also been home to off-track betting locations since 1971. There are very few states with as many locations as the Empire State. Dozens of OTB parlors are available.

New Yorkers can also bet on horse racing online. There are several great horse betting sites, but the cream of the crop, in our estimation, is TVG.

TVG has been offering simulcast betting options for decades. It is also a full-service broadcast network dedicated entirely to betting on horse racing. If you’re looking for a comprehensive experience and to better yourself as a handicapper, TVG is the place to be.

Legal sports bets you can make in New York

At heart, most sports bettors are sports fans. They have their favorite teams, and those favorites are usually the nearest teams to their homes. It’s almost human nature to root for the hometown squads, and sports betting allows you to support them in more material ways.

New York is home to a plethora of professional sports teams from the four major leagues in the US. In addition, there are numerous colleges and universities across the state that compete at the highest level of intercollegiate play.

There’s no doubt that New York sportsbooks see more action on these teams than others. Once online sports betting comes to the Empire State, there will be even more betting like this, even if the odds may not really justify it. Regardless here are the home-state teams for New York sports bettors.

NFL betting in New York

New York itself is home to a single NFL franchise in Buffalo. However, in what will always be a bit of an oddity, two other NFL teams represent New York, but play their games at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

• Buffalo Bills: Bills Stadium, 1 Bills Drive, Orchard Park, NY
• New York Giants: MetLife Stadium, 1 MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, NJ
• New York Jets: MetLife Stadium, 1 MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, NJ

NFL games are the most popular betting vehicle in the US and one of the most flexible, in terms of the bets that are available. You will be able to bet the point spread, moneyline and totals with ease. In addition, every NFL game likely will have dozens of live betting opportunities.

NBA betting in New York

Only two NBA franchises call New York home. Both are located in areas of New York City, and both compete for the hearts of the Big Apple.

• Brooklyn Nets: Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, NY
• New York Knicks: Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY

Like NFL wagering, betting on NBA games is not a difficult thing to do. The high point totals in each game lend themselves to multiple uses for bookmakers, including the popular spreads, moneylines and totals. The NBA also features tons of statistics, and it’s always easy to find in game wagering options.

MLB betting in New York

The situation for MLB teams in New York is similar to that of the NBA teams. There are two teams, and both are in New York City. In fact, both New York MLB teams are among the most storied franchises in all of baseball.

• New York Mets: Citi Field, 41 Seaver Way, Queens, NY
• New York Yankees: Yankee Stadium, 1 E. 161st St., Bronx, NY

Betting on baseball games is certainly an option, but the relatively low scoring presents a bit of a quandary for some types of bets — notably, the spread bet. Sportsbooks in New York will usually offer the run line instead.

The run line sets the spread at a fixed 1.5 runs for most games. As bets come in, rather than moving the line itself, the book will move the payout ratios. As such, the run line bet is a sort of hybrid between spread betting and betting on the moneyline.

However, straight moneyline betting is always available on MLB games.

NHL betting in New York

Like most states in the northern portion of the country, New York is no stranger to cold weather or hockey. In fact, the Empire State has more NHL teams to bet on inside its borders than any state other than California. There are three teams that New Yorkers can call their own — two in New York City (as usual) and a third in Buffalo.

• Buffalo Sabres: KeyBank Center, 1 Seymour H Knox III Plaza, Buffalo, NY
• New York Islanders: UBS Arena, 2150 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY
• New York Rangers: Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY

Like baseball, hockey games tend to be low-scoring affairs in comparison to sports like basketball and football. Sportsbooks in New York and elsewhere use the puck line to function the same way as baseball’s run line. The spread is set at a standard 1.5 goals, and betting influences the payout ratio, rather than the line itself.

College betting in New York

New York is home to 22 universities with sports teams in the NCAA’s Division I, the highest level. Unfortunately, New Yorkers will not be able to wager on any of them unless they leave the state to do so.

According to New York State Gaming Commission rules, “(a)n operator shall not offer wagers on any prohibited sports event, as defined in (the) Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law section 1367(1)(f).” A quick check of that law defines a prohibited sports event as “any collegiate sport or athletic event that takes place in New York or a sport or athletic event in which any New York college team participates regardless of where the event takes place.”

It’s important to note that this rule does not just affect New York-based universities. Any college that plays a game in New York is affected. For bettors who want to wager on, say, a bowl game or March Madness, this rule could present a big problem.

Although it’s possible that the same prohibition might only be for retail sportsbooks, the reality is that there’s probably a philosophical disagreement at play here. Many other states, including nearby New Jersey, have similar prohibitions.

Funnily enough, it may soon become necessary to cross into New Jersey to bet on New York colleges and cross into New York to bet on New Jersey colleges. That’s a lot of time in tunnels or on bridges, but there’s no other option for the enterprising college sports bettor.

What you can’t bet on in NY

In addition to the prohibitions on collegiate athletics, there are also a few other types of events that are strictly forbidden as material for wagering purposes. The most notable type of event that is not permitted is the “non-sports” event, as the law calls it.

From a practical perspective, that means that bets on awards shows and political elections are off the table. There is no specific mention of these events, but they are the obvious target.

Less clear is whether esports count as a “non-sports” event. The answer to that question is likely to come with the advent of online betting in the state.

You also cannot wager on high school sports in New York. However, this rule is no surprise — it’s universal to every state with sports betting.

Finally, there is language in New York law that gives the NYSGC a great deal of latitude and flexibility when it comes to sports bets. It maintains the right to allow or disallow almost any form of betting, so creative sportsbooks will have to make sure to sell their case before they launch.

New York online sports betting partnerships

Casinos are not stupid. They recognize that certain activities are in their wheelhouse, but others are best left to the experts, so it is quite common for casinos to partner with existing sportsbooks to run their retail and online sports betting endeavors.

Depending on the state law, they can sometimes even partner with more than one. Each online sports betting law has to address the number of “skins” its licensees can host, and each allowance means more potential profit for the casino (in theory, anyway).

All that is to say that there are already some of these partnerships that have formed around the land-based sportsbooks in New York. Whether the partnerships extend to the online versions varies from deal to deal.

For now, we can only speculate on which companies might be introducing their brands to the Empire State in the future.

Confirmed online sports betting partnerships

Below are the online sports betting partnerships that we’re sure exist. They have made clear-cut company announcements to that effect or are in-house products.

• BetRivers Sportsbook — Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady
• PointsBet Sportsbook — Tioga Downs Casino Resort
• DraftKings Sportsbook — del Lago Resort & Casino
• Bet365 Sportsbook — Resorts World Catskills
• Fox Bet Sportsbook — Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort
• William Hill Sportsbook/Caesars Sportsbook — Turning Stone/Point Place/Yellow Brick Road

Likely sportsbooks without online partnerships

Here are the land-based sports betting partnerships that haven’t mentioned an online component just yet. However, based on convenience and familiarity alone, we expect an expansion of the relationship to occur when online sports betting goes live.

There are also several sportsbooks that always seem to be in the mix in other sports betting states. Some of these may have connections to New York already, but they don’t have a firm commitment for online sports betting.

• FanDuel Sportsbook
• BetMGM Sportsbook
• Barstool Sportsbook
• theScore Sportsbook
• Seneca Nation Sportsbook

As the situation in New York crystallizes, we will update this list accordingly. However, the main takeaway is that there will certainly be plenty of options for New Yorkers when online sports betting goes live.

New York retail sports betting

New York is currently home to eight retail sportsbooks. You can place a wager at any one of these facilities:

• DraftKings Sportsbook at del Lago Resort Casino, 1133 Highway 414, Waterloo, NY
• FanDuel Sportsbook at Tioga Downs Casino Resort, 2384 W. River Road, Nichols, NY
• The Lounge with Caesars Sports at Turning Stone Casino Resort, 5218 Patrick Road, Verona, NY 13478
• The Lounge with Caesars Sports at Point Place Casino, 450 Highway 31, Bridgeport, NY
• The Lounge with Caesars Sports at Yellow Brick Road Casino, 800 W. Genesee St., Chittenango, NY
• Rivers Sportsbook at Rivers Schenectady, 1 Rush St., Schenectady, NY
• Sportsbook 360 at Resorts World Catskills, 888 Resorts World Drive, Monticello, NY
• Sticks Sportsbook and Grill at Akwesasne Mohawk Casino, 873 Highway 37, Hogansburg, NY

New York sports betting laws

Despite its relative lack of initiative as far as getting sports betting off the ground, New York has had statutes to legalize sports betting on its books since 2013. A successful referendum to amend the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding law cleared the way for retail sports betting to occur in the event that it became legal at the federal level.

Of course, that’s exactly what happened when the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018. So it’s been a bit frustrating to watch the slow pace of New York regulators to create industry rules and get everyone started.

As is often the case with states that have both commercial and tribal casino interests, the law only legalized sports betting at the four commercial properties. However, because of language in the state’s compacts with its three main tribes — the Seneca, the Oneidas and the Mohawks — the tribes can offer any game that is available in the commercial casinos.

The law and compacts mean that New York could be home to as many as 11 casinos eventually. However, without an online law on the books, it’s impossible to know how many online sportsbooks might be on the way.

Geolocation

One hurdle that confronts any state considering online sports betting is the notion of how to ensure that sports betting on its apps takes place only inside state lines. Due to federal law, placing a sports bet across state lines is strictly prohibited, and the onus is on the sportsbooks and regulators to ensure that there are no violations.

 

Regulators accomplish this goal by requiring sportsbooks to employ geolocation verification software as part of their online offering. Before any bettor can place a wager, the app needs to pinpoint the bettor’s location inside New York (or wherever) reliably.

Geolocation software, for its part, is actually quite accurate these days. It can effectively create a virtual fence around the state in question.

As New York gets closer to online sports betting, a similar provision will no doubt be part of the law and/or rules. Don’t expect to be able to bet from outside the Empire State.

New York sports betting laws

Voters approved legalized sports betting in 2013. However, it wasn’t until the fall of PASPA in 2018 that casinos were finally able to implement sports betting into their properties.

Sports betting operates within the parameters of standard NY gaming law, with a few exceptions:

• No mobile wagering
• No bad-actor clause
• No integrity/royalty fee

New York state does not permit online casinos and NY poker games; however, daily fantasy sports (DFS) sites are allowed. DFS sites include DraftKings, FanDuel, Fantasy Draft and Yahoo!