New York is the largest legal sports betting market in the United States. Mobile sportsbooks went live on January 8, 2022, and the state has since led the nation in handle — the total amount wagered — routinely topping $2 billion in a single month during football season.
How sports betting became legal
The path ran through Washington and Albany. In 2018 the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA, the federal law that had blocked most state sports betting. New York had already authorized retail sportsbooks at its commercial casinos via 2013 legislation, and those upstate books opened in 2019. The big step came in the 2021 state budget, which authorized statewide mobile sports betting. The New York State Gaming Commission then ran a competitive bid and selected the operators that launched in January 2022.
The licensed operators
Nine mobile sportsbooks are licensed to operate in New York:
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- BetRivers Sportsbook
- Fanatics Sportsbook
- ESPN Bet
- Bally Bet
- Resorts World Bet
These are the only sportsbooks licensed and regulated by New York State. The offshore books we review, such as SportsBetting.ag and BetOnline, also accept New York players but are not part of the regulated market.
The 51% tax rate
New York charges licensed operators a 51% tax on gross gaming revenue — the highest sports betting tax rate in the country. That rate has funded hundreds of millions of dollars for education and youth sports, but it also squeezes operator margins, which is why New York promotions are sometimes less generous than in lower-tax states. Senator Addabbo has floated reducing the rate if more operators are added, but the 51% figure remains in place.
Key rules for bettors
- You must be 21 or older to bet on sports in New York.
- You must be physically located in New York when you place a bet. Apps use geolocation to confirm this — you do not need to be a resident, just inside state lines.
- Betting on in-state college teams and on individual college player props is restricted.
- Winnings are taxable — see our guide to taxes on gambling winnings.