New York Upstate Casinos
You can enjoy slots, table games, poker tournaments, sports betting, fine dining, and world-class entertainment at the best casinos in upstate New York.
This guide highlights all of the options at your disposal, including commercial casinos, tribal casinos, and racetrack casinos. We will discuss the online casino options available to New Yorkers too, along with some of the other key attractions in the region.
What qualifies as upstate New York?
New Yorkers often struggle to agree on what qualifies as “upstate.” Some claim the term covers everywhere in the state apart from New York City and Long Island, while certain Manhattanites refer to anywhere north of 14th Street as upstate.
Even New York state law has conflicting definitions of upstate and downstate, 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 upstate encompasses these counties:
- Albany
- Clinton
- Colombia
- Delaware
- Essex
- Franklin
- Fulton
- Greene
- Hamilton
- Harkimer
- Jefferson
- Lewis
- Madison
- Montgomery
- Oneida
- Onondaga
- Oswego
- Otsego
- Rensselaer
- Saratoga
- Schenectady
- Schoharie
- St. Lawrence
- Warren
- Washington
There is a commercial casino in Schenectady and a racetrack casino in Saratoga. Upstate New York is also home to five commercial casinos. Two are located in Oneida County, and the others are in Franklin, Madison, and Onondaga.
Retail casinos in upstate New York
There are seven retail casinos in upstate New York. Turning Stone Casino became the state’s first tribal casino when it opened in 1993, and four more tribal casinos have launched in upstate New York since then.
In January 2004, Saratoga Raceway became the first racetrack in the state to introduce video lottery terminals. Voters then approved a ballot measure permitting commercial casinos, and Rivers Casino opened in Schenectady on Feb. 8, 2017.
- Address: 1 Rush St, Schenectady, NY 12305
- Year opened: 2017
- Ownership: Rush Street Gaming
- Games offered: Slots, blackjack, casino poker, craps, roulette, baccarat
Rivers Casino & Resort is one of four commercial casinos that voters approved at the ballot boxes in November 2013. The other three are classed as either downstate New York casinos or western New York Casinos, according to the classification we are following.
Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming owns this resort. Rivers Casino Schenectady hosts more than 1,150 slot machines, plus a wide range of table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, Blazing 7s blackjack, baccarat, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, Mississippi Stud, Heads Up Hold’em, and Rising Phoenix.
There is also a BetRivers Sportsbook and a 160-seat poker room. Amenities include five restaurants, two bars, live entertainment, and an event center. The four-star Landing Hotel at Rivers Casino & Resort has 165 rooms and suites, plus a fitness center.
Players will earn Rush Rewards points when playing games. This rewards program also covers Rivers Casino venues in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Virginia. Additional promotions include new member bonuses, discounts to shows, prize draws, and leaderboard contests.
- Address: 342 Jefferson St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
- Year opened: 2004
- Ownership: Saratoga Harness Racing, Inc.
- Games offered: Slots, video poker, keno, electronic table games
This is the only racetrack casino in upstate New York. The harness racing track was opened in 1941, and it became a racino when video lottery terminals were added in 2004. Thousands of New Yorkers descended upon Saratoga Springs to usher in the new era, as it was the first racino in the state.
There are now 1,200 slot machines at Saratoga Casino Hotel, including popular titles like Wheel of Fortune, Quick Hit, and Monopoly. The venue is not permitted to host regular table games, but visitors can play electronic table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and Three Card Poker.
Keno and video poker are available too. Horseplayers can also enjoy live racing, along with simulcast racing, which allows you to bet on live races from across the country.
The four-star hotel has 117 rooms and suites, along with a pool and spa. Restaurants include Morton’s The Steakhouse. There is also a lobby bar, marketplace, fitness center, and more than 3,000 sq. ft. of event space.
- Address: 873 NY-37, Hogansburg, NY 13655
- Year opened: 1999
- Ownership: Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
- Games offered: Slots, blackjack, craps, table poker, roulette
This is the northernmost casino in New York, located close to the Canadian border in Franklin County. Akwesasne Casino is also the only tribal casino owned by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.
Guests can explore a 130,000 sq. ft. gaming space, featuring more than 1,200 slot machines, a sportsbook, and a bingo hall. Table games include classic blackjack, single deck blackjack, double deck blackjack, craps, roulette, Mississippi Stud, Let It Ride, and Three Card Poker.
Restaurants include Maple Steak & Ale, Native Harvest Buffet, and Sticks Sportsbook & Grill, and there is also a bar, lounge, and coffee shop. The on-site entertainment center hosts concerts and other live shows.
You can stay at the 3.5-star hotel, which has 150 rooms and a pool, or The Player’s Inn, which is adjacent to the resort. There is an RV park too.
- Address: 5218 Patrick Rd, Verona, NY 13478
- Year opened: 1993
- Ownership: Oneida Nation of New York
- Games offered: Slots, blackjack, craps, table poker, roulette, baccarat, Sic Bo, Casino War
Turning Stone Casino is the preeminent tribal casino in New York. The Oneida Nation opened the venue on July 20, 1993, offering bingo, keno, table games, and various mechanical and video slot machines.
This was the only tribal casino in the Empire State until the Seneca Niagara Casino opened for business in 2002. Turning Stone remains the Oneida Nation’s flagship property, and it hosts a huge variety of gaming options.
Visitors can play more than 2,000 slot machines, plus over 90 table games. They include blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Caribbean Stud, Mississippi Stud, Spanish 21, Texas Hold’em Bonus, The Big Six, Sic Bo, Casino War, and Beat the Dealer.
There is also a sportsbook, a bingo hall, and a 32-table poker room, which hosts WSOP tournaments. Blackjack and Let It Ride tournaments are available at Turning Stone too. You will also receive a TS Rewards card, which can unlock a wide range of perks.
If you would like to stay overnight, there are several options: The Lodge at Turning Stone, The Tower at Turning Stone, The Hotel at Turning Stone, The Inn at Turning Stone, an award-winning RV park, and Sandstone Hollow Inn, which is located on Turning Stone’s golf course.
The venue boasts a large entertainment center, a spa and fitness center, nightlife and lounges, a meeting center, a wedding venue, a shopping mall, and an events center. There are loads of restaurants, spanning fine dining, casual dining and quick bites, including TS Steakhouse, the AAA 4-Diamond Wildflowers, Peach Blossom, Pino Bianco, The Upstate Tavern, and many more.
- Address: 450-452 NY-31, Bridgeport, NY 13030
- Year opened: 2018
- Ownership: Oneida Nation of New York
- Games offered: Slots, blackjack, craps, table poker
The Oneida Nation of New York opened this casino in Madison County back in 2018. Point Place Casino is located northeast of Syracuse, close to the banks of the picturesque Oneida Lake.
This casino has a 65,000 sq.a ft. gaming space, featuring 500 slot machines, 20 classic table games, and a sportsbook. The Oneida Nation is working on a $50 million expansion, which will double the size of the gaming floor, add a 100-room hotel, and increase the range of amenities.
Current dining options include TS Sports, The Burgers of Madison County, Fireside Lounge, and Perfect Pour Café. Live DJs and local artists perform every Friday and Saturday night.
This casino also offers a variety of promotions, which include prize draws, and free-to-play games. Point Place Casino is covered by the TS Rewards loyalty program too.
- Address: 800 W Genesee St, Chittenango, NY 13037
- Year opened: 2015
- Ownership: Oneida Nation of New York
- Games offered: Slots, blackjack, craps, casino poker
YBR Casino is located in Chittenango, approximately 20 miles west of Turning Stone Casino and 10 miles south of Point Place Casino.
This venue is more casual than its sister casinos, offering more than 400 slots, plus blackjack, craps, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Spanish 21, and Big Wheel 6. However, it also hosts New York’s largest retail sportsbook, which features VIP fan caves.
As YBR Casino & Sportsbook is owned by the Oneida Nation, you will earn TS Rewards points there, and there are unique promotions too. The dining options are laid-back, including Brickhouse Kitchen, Bar West, and Wicked Good Pizza & Plates. There is also a bowling alley.
- Address: 301 Park Ave, Sylvan Beach, NY 13157
- Year opened: 2020
- Ownership: Oneida Nation of New York
- Games offered: Slot machines
This resort straddles the banks of Oneida Lake, offering spectacular views. The gaming space is modest, featuring just 100 slot machines and no table games, so serious players will head to the nearby Turning Stone Casino or Point Place Casino instead.
However, Lake House Casino Sylvan Beach is well worth a visit. There is a picturesque restaurant, offering seasonal food and an extensive selection of beers, wines, and cocktails, plus live DJs at the weekends.
Sylvan Beach is also full of entertainment options, including boating, watersports, golf courses, spas and wellness resorts, and cottage vacation rentals, so it is a charming place to spend a few days.
Online casinos for upstate New Yorkers
Online casinos are not legal in New York. However, anyone aged 18 or older can play at sweepstakes and social casinos.
These sites and apps are similar to traditional online casinos, as they host a range of popular slots and table games. However, you cannot play them with real money. Instead, they offer two currencies:
- Gold Coins: These coins have no monetary value. They simply allow you to play slots and table games for fun. Most sites refer to them as Gold Coins, so that’s what we’re calling them.
- Sweeps Coins: These coins can be redeemed for cash prizes if you win. You cannot buy these coins, which are usually known as Sweeps Coins or Sweepstakes Coins. You can earn them for free via bonuses, as a free gift when you purchase standard coins, or – amazingly – by requesting them directly from the site.
Most sites have a minimum cash prize redemption limit of 100 Sweeps Coins, which equates to $100. In New York, you cannot win a prize worth more than $5,000 from a single spin or hand at social and sweepstakes casinos.
Other attractions in upstate New York
We could write an entire book about the wonderful attractions in upstate New York. However, in the interests of brevity, we have highlighted some of the must-visit attractions that are located in close proximity to the casinos mentioned above:
Upstate casinos FAQ
Yes, there are commercial casinos, tribal casinos, and racinos in upstate New York. Some of the largest land-based casinos in upstate New York include Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady and Turning Stone Casino in Verona. However, online casinos have not been legalized in New York.
You can play slot machines, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, and many more casino games in upstate New York. There are also land-based poker rooms, bingo halls, and sportsbooks, along with pari-mutuel betting at racetracks.
Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady and Saratoga Casino & Raceway are the easiest upstate casinos to access from New York City. You can also visit Turning Stone Casino in Verona if you travel slightly further. Tioga Downs Casino Resort in Nichols is also pretty close to NYC, but we classify that as western New York.
Yes, you can play at upstate casinos in New York if you’re from Canada, provided you are 21 or older. The closest upstate New York casino to Canada is Akwesasne Mohawk Casino in Hogansburg. There are also lots of casinos in western New York, which are close to the border with Ontario.
Yes, New Yorkers must pay federal and state income tax on any profits earned when playing at upstate casinos. If you live in New York City, you will also need to pay local income tax on your gambling winnings. Your tax liabilities will be different if you live outside of New York and you win at upstate casinos. For detailed information on New York gambling taxes, visit this resource.
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