New York online poker: not legal in 2026, so here's where you can play
The New York Senate passed an online poker bill 53–9 back in 2017. Nine years later, there's still no licensed site in the state, and the latest bill died without a vote in June 2026.
Is online poker legal in New York? No licensed site exists
Real-money online poker is not legal in New York. The state has never issued an online poker license, so no site can legally deal you a hand of Texas Hold’em for money while you’re in the state.
Live poker is a different story. It’s fully legal at several New York casinos, and private home games are legal when nobody takes a cut. Here’s where each stands, and why online play keeps missing out.
| Type of poker | Legal in NY? |
|---|---|
| Real-money online poker | No |
| Sweepstakes poker (cash prizes) | No, banned Dec. 5, 2025 |
| Live poker at licensed casinos | Yes |
| Home games with no rake | Yes |
| Play-money apps | Yes |
The bill history: nearly a decade of bills in Albany
New York came closer to legal online poker than most people remember.
- 2017: Sen. John Bonacic’s S3898A, a poker-only bill, passed the Senate 53–9 on June 13, 2017. It died in the Assembly.
- 2018: the same bill went back to the Senate, cleared two committees again and stalled in the Rules Committee.
- 2022–2024: Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. moved to wider iGaming bills that bundled poker with online casino games: S8412, S4856 and S8185. All three died in committee.
- 2025–2026: Addabbo’s S2614 would have legalized online poker, slots and table games for players 21 and over, taxed at 30.5%. It never left the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee.
On May 24, 2026, Addabbo said he wouldn’t push the bill because “the governor would probably not sign it.” The session ended June 4, and S2614 died with the two-year session. The full story is in our New York online casino guide.
What legal online poker in NY would look like under S2614
The bill gives a clear picture of what New York’s lawmakers have in mind:
- Players: 21 and over, physically located in New York.
- Operators: commercial casinos, VLT facilities, tribes with compacts and the licensed mobile sportsbooks could apply, each paying a one-time $2 million fee.
- Tax: 30.5% of gross gaming revenue, with at least $11 million a year for problem gambling programs.
- Games: online poker alongside slots, table games and live dealer games, regulated by the NY State Gaming Commission.
Any 2027 bill could change those terms. Unions, the governor and tribal compact talks will shape what comes next.
Why NY isn’t in MSIGA, and why that matters
Online poker lives on player traffic. The Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) lets member states pool their players into shared games, so tables fill faster and tournament prize pools grow.
MSIGA has six members: Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Michigan, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was the most recent to join, with Gov. Josh Shapiro signing on April 23, 2025, and shared games starting April 28, 2025, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
New York can’t join because it has no legal online poker to share. Cardplayer has noted that New York’s roughly 20 million residents would be a major boost to the compact if the state ever legalized online play.
Live poker rooms: where to play legally in the state
These New York casinos run live poker rooms, according to Cardplayer’s poker room directory:
| Casino | Location | Type | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turning Stone Resort Casino | Verona | Tribal (Oneida Indian Nation) | 18 |
| del Lago Resort & Casino | Waterloo | Commercial | 21 |
| Resorts World Catskills | Monticello | Commercial | 21 |
| Rivers Casino & Resort | Schenectady | Commercial | 21 |
| Tioga Downs | Nichols | Commercial | 21 |
Turning Stone is the state’s best-known poker destination and has hosted World Series of Poker tournaments. See our Turning Stone venue guide and Resorts World Catskills guide for directions and amenities.
Game schedules and limits change often, so check with the poker room before you drive.
New York City’s first full casino, Resorts World NYC in Queens, opened live table games on April 28, 2026, with blackjack, craps, baccarat and roulette.
Visiting New Jersey or Pennsylvania? Real-money poker sites there
You can play legal online poker today. You just need to cross a state line first.
In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, regulated poker sites accept any adult who is physically inside the state, resident or not. Names you’ll recognize include PokerStars, BetMGM Poker and Borgata Poker in both states, and WSOP.com in New Jersey.
The rules are simple:
- Be 21 or over.
- Be physically in the state. Every hand is geolocated, and the software blocks you once you’re back in New York.
- Verify your identity. Expect a Social Security number check and possibly a document upload.
Because NJ and PA are both MSIGA members, some of their sites pool players with other states, so the games run deeper than either state could support alone.
Home games: what the law allows
A friendly home game is legal in New York, as long as nobody profits beyond their own winnings.
New York Penal Law §225.00 treats someone who gambles “at a social game of chance on equal terms with the other participants” as a player, not an organizer. Inviting people, hosting the game and supplying cards and chips doesn’t change that, provided you do it “without fee or remuneration.”
The line is crossed when the host makes money from the game itself:
- taking a rake from pots
- charging seat or entry fees that the house keeps
- selling time at the table
At that point, the host “advances” or profits from gambling, which is the offense of promoting gambling in the second degree under §225.05, a class A misdemeanor.
Sweepstakes poker and offshore sites: why they’re off the table
Sweepstakes poker used the same two-coin model as sweepstakes casinos. Global Poker was one of the 26 platforms that stopped selling sweeps coins in New York in June 2025 after cease-and-desist letters from Attorney General Letitia James. The statewide sweepstakes ban followed on Dec. 5, 2025.
Offshore poker sites still take New Yorkers. They hold no U.S. license, so no New York agency can help if a site withholds your balance. They also give no protection against bots, collusion or a disappearing operator.
Legal ways to bet online in NY while you wait
If you want real-money action on your phone in New York, these are the licensed options:
- Mobile sports betting: 8 licensed apps are live. Compare them in our NY sportsbook rankings.
- Horse racing: ADW apps such as NYRA Bets, TVG and TwinSpires.
- Daily fantasy sports: draft-style contests from 13 permitted operators.
Our guide to New York gambling laws covers each one in detail.
Internet poker in New York FAQ
Can you legally play poker online in New York?
No. New York has never licensed real-money online poker. The latest bill, S2614, died in committee when the 2026 session ended.
Can I play online poker in New York for real money?
Not legally. Any site dealing real-money poker to players in New York is offshore and unregulated. You can play legally on regulated sites if you’re physically in New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
Where can I play live poker in NY?
Turning Stone in Verona, del Lago in Waterloo, Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, Rivers Casino in Schenectady and Tioga Downs in Nichols all run poker rooms.
Are home poker games legal in New York?
Yes, if nobody takes a rake, seat fee or other cut. The host can invite players and supply equipment without breaking the law, as long as they don’t profit from running the game.
Is New York part of the multi-state poker compact?
No. MSIGA’s members are Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Michigan, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. New York would need to legalize online poker first.
When will online poker be legal in NY?
There’s no date. A new bill would have to pass both houses and be signed, starting with the 2027 session at the earliest.
21+ and physically in New York. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-877-8-HOPENY (467369).