New York Downstate Casinos
You can play slots, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and other popular games at the best casinos in downstate New York.
This guide breaks down the various options at your disposal, from Resorts World New York City to Jake’s 58 on Long Island. We will also discuss how to play online casino games in New York, and we will highlight some other attractions and amenities in the area too.
What qualifies as downstate New York?
Some New Yorkers would argue that the term “downstate” simply refers to New York City and Long Island. However, others include the Lower Hudson Valley, the Mid-Hudson Valley, and the Catskill Mountains.
New York state law has conflicting definitions of the downstate area, so we decided to use the Business Network International (BNI) definition as our guide. The BNI splits the state into three distinct regions – upstate, downstate, and western New York – and downstate covers these counties:
- Bronx
- Dutchess
- Kings
- Nassau
- New York
- Orange
- Putnam
- Queens
- Richmond
- Rockland
- Suffolk
- Sullivan
- Ulster
- Westchester
According to this classification, there are currently five land-based casinos in downstate New York. They are in five separate counties: Orange, Queens, Sullivan, Suffolk, and Westchester.
However, we should see more casinos in downstate New York in the future. In April 2023, elected officials in Albany authorized up to three commercial casinos in downstate New York, covering New York City, Long Island and Westchester County.
Companies hoping to build casinos in downstate New York have submitted 11 separate proposals, and the licensing bid deadline is June 27, 2025. The licenses could be issued by the end of 2025, allowing three large new casinos to be built in the region.
Explore our comprehensive guides on upstate NY casinos and western NY casinos for a complete overview of the commercial casino options available across the state.
Retail casinos in upstate New York
Downstate New York is currently home to one Las Vegas-style commercial casino and four racetrack casinos. Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway was the first to open in 2006, followed by Resorts World New York City at Aqueduct Racetrack five years later.
Resorts World Catskills became the first major commercial casino in the region when it opened for business in 2018, offering slots and table games. It is one of just four Las Vegas-style casinos in New York, along with Rivers Casino Schenectady, del Lago in Waterloo, and Tioga Downs in Nichols.
- Address: 888 Resorts World Dr, Monticello, NY 12701
- Year opened: 2018
- Ownership: Genting Group
- Games offered: Slots, blackjack, craps, table poker, roulette
Resorts World Catskills is a commercial casino located in Sullivan County. The resort hosts more than 1,600 slot machines, plus over 150 live table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Three Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow Tiles, Mississippi Stud, and Crazy 4 Poker.
There is also a 6,000 sq. ft. sportsbook on-site, with kiosks open 24/7. The poker room at Resorts World Catskills features 19 tables, covering Texas Hold’em, Seven Card Stud and Omaha, with betting starting at $3-$6 for limit poker and $1-$2 for no-limit poker.
Genting Group opened this casino in 2018 after gaining one of just four commercial casino licenses authorized in New York. The resort also features an array of restaurants for every palate, from Asian fine dining and an Italian-inspired steakhouse to many grab-and-go options.
Visitors will also find several bars, a golf course, live DJs on Friday and Saturday nights, a wedding venue, and an events space. There are two hotels: the Resorts World All-Suite Hotel, and The Alder.
For regular visitors, there is a loyalty program called Genting Rewards. Members gain access to monthly promotions, events, free rooms, and other perks.
- Address: 1401 NY-300, Newburgh, NY 12550
- Year opened: 2022
- Ownership: Genting Group
- Games offered: Slots, electronic table games
Resorts World Hudson Valley is a casino located inside a shopping mall in Newburgh, a city in Orange County. The venue has 1,200 slot machines and 82 electronic table games, including classic blackjack, single deck blackjack, multi-hand blackjack, Blazing 7s Blackjack, bubble craps, and various roulette games.
The old Monticello Raceway had a video lottery terminal license, allowing it to host slot machines. However, that racino ceased operations after Genting Group opened the nearby Resorts World Catskill in Monticello.
The New York State Gaming Commission allowed the company to transfer its old video lottery terminal license to this site, which is 45 miles east of Monticello. Resorts World Hudson Valley opened in 2022, with a 65,000 sq. ft. gaming floor.
There is also a Resorts World Sports Bar, which offers food and beverages, and live DJs play from 9 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The casino offers a wide range of bonuses, including a new member offer, and it operates a special VIP Club for verified Newburgh residents too.
- Address: 110-00 Rockaway Blvd, Jamaica, NY
- Year opened: 2011
- Ownership: Genting Group
- Games offered: Slots, electronic table games
This huge casino opened on the site of Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens back in 2011. Resorts World New York City hosts more than 6,500 slot machines, spread across two vast gaming floors.
You will also find more than 1,300 electronic table games, including baccarat, blackjack, Big Six Wheel, craps, roulette, Three Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. Some games feature real cards, but they are dealt inside a machine, without human dealers.
In 2013, the government-owned Nassau Off-Track Betting Corporation was given permission to run a casino with up to 1,000 slots. However, instead of opening a casino in Nassau County, Nassau OTB licensed its right to Aqueduct Racetrack to enable an expansion of Resorts World New York City.
Aside from slots and table games, this venue hosts bars, a food court, and restaurants such as RW Prime, Sugar Factory, and Good Friends Noodle House. There is live entertainment at Bar 360 on Friday and Saturday night each week too. Meanwhile, Aqueduct runs some of the most prestigious races in the country, including the G1 Wood Memorial Stakes and the G1 Cigar Mile Handicap.
If you would like to stay overnight, Hyatt Regency JFK Airport at Resorts World New York City is billed as “New York City’s first and only casino-hotel.” There are lots of promotions and prize draws at Resorts World NYC too, and it is part of the Genting Rewards program.
- Address: 810 Yonkers Ave, Yonkers, NY 10704
- Year opened: 2006
- Ownership: Vici Properties, MGM Resorts International
- Games offered: Slots, electronic table games
Empire City Racetrack was founded in 1899, and it was renamed Yonkers Raceway 51 years later. It became a racino in 2006 after the owners unveiled Empire City Casino following a $225 million renovation.
The first phase of the project added 1,870 slot machines, but the total number of slots increased to 5,300 by the time the third phase was completed in 2007. There are now approximately 4,600 slots at the casino, with betting limits ranging from $0.01 to $100 per spin. You can also play electronic table games, including blackjack and roulette.
Empire City Casino is now owned by Vici Properties, a real estate investment trust, but it is operated by MGM Resorts International. The Las Vegas-based company is renowned for running some of the world’s most famous casinos, including Bellagio and MGM Grand. As such, Empire City Casino is part of the MGM Rewards program.
Harness racing is held on a regular basis at Yonkers Raceway. Visitors can also enjoy live entertainment on Fridays and Saturday nights in the lounge. Dining options include Empire City Chophouse, The Pub, Lil’ Cocina, and The Big Kitchen. The venue does not have a hotel, but you can stay at the nearby Hampton Inn & Suites Yonkers or Hyatt Place New York/Yonkers.
- Address: 3635 Express Dr N, Islandia, NY 11749
- Year opened: 2017
- Ownership: Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation
- Games offered: Slots, electronic table games
This Long Island casino offers 1,000 video gaming machines, including almost 900 slots and more than 100 electronic table games. They include blackjack games, craps, baccarat, roulette, and Three Card Poker.
Suffolk OTB, one of five regional, government-owned corporations that run off-track betting on horse races in New York, owns Jake’s 58. The casino takes its name from the nearby Exit 58 of the Long Island Expressway.
A 2013 law gives Suffolk OTB the right to place 1,000 video gaming terminals within county lines. Suffolk OTB purchased Jake’s 58 from a company called Delaware North for $120 million in 2021.
There is a sports bar and grill called Bistro 58, and it hosts live entertainment from local performers each week. You can stay at the hotel, which has 200 rooms.
There is also a Player’s Club, which allows you to rack up tier points whenever you play games. You can redeem the points for dining or concessions at Jake’s 58, and there are lots of promotions too.
Online casinos in the New York City area
Online casinos have not been legalized in New York. However, anyone aged 18 or older can play at social and sweepstakes casinos in the New York City area.
These sites and apps look like regular online casinos, but you cannot play with real money. They offer two currencies:
- Gold Coins: These standard coins have no monetary value. You simply use them to play slots and table games for fun.
- Sweeps Coins: These are premium coins, which can be redeemed for cash prizes or gift cards if you satisfy a playthrough requirement. You cannot buy Sweeps Coins, but you can earn them for free via bonuses or as a free gift when you purchase standard Gold Coins.
Sweepstakes and social casinos offer similar games to traditional online casinos. They comply with prize promotion regulations in New York, along with various federal laws.
Alternatively, players aged 21 or over in the New York City area can drive over the border into New Jersey. There are lots of high-quality, legal online casinos in the Garden State, including BetMGM, BetRivers, DraftKings Casino, and FanDuel Casino.
You can play slots and table games for real money at those online casinos if you are physically located in New Jersey. Many of their customers live in New York.
Other attractions in downstate New York
New York City offers an embarrassment of riches for visitors: Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, the 9/11 Memorial, Rockefeller Center, Yankee Stadium… The list goes on and on.
However, there are also some lesser-known gems in the downstate New York area, many of which are located close to the region’s casinos. Here are some interesting attractions and restaurants to visit:
Downstate casinos FAQ
There is currently just one casino in New York City: Resorts World NYC in Queens. This is a racetrack casino located at Aqueduct Racetrack, so it offers video lottery terminals and electronic table games, but you cannot play regular table games there.
Licenses should be issued for real casinos in New York City by the end of 2025. However, the winning bidders will then need to build the casinos, which could take several years. They may decide to open temporary casinos, offering slots and table games, while they work on building the real casinos.
No, you cannot play at New Jersey online casinos if you are physically located in downstate New York. You will need to drive over the border into New Jersey to play at online casinos like BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings. Those apps require you to turn on your phone’s location services to prove you are in New Jersey when playing.
Yes, you can play online casino games for real money if you cross into New Jersey or Pennsylvania. They simply require you to be 21 or older and physically located within state lines. You do not need to be a resident of New Jersey or Pennsylvania to use those apps or websites.
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