New York Online Poker Legal
Playing poker games for real money is legal in New York but only if done in gambling facilities licensed by the state. Since the state has not regulated online poker, those looking to play a few hands online will not find any legal poker sites operating in New York. In the absence of proper laws to regulate online poker, residents can legally register at online poker sites.
- New York Online Poker Legal Forms
- New York Online Gambling Laws
- Online Poker Legal In New York
- New York Online Gambling Legal
- New York Online Poker Legally
The current state of online poker in New York is that it’s actually considered to be quite the illegal operation. This falls in line with the legality of online casino gaming, which is also considered not to be a legal activity according to the laws of the State of New York and wording of same (Article 225 of the New York Penal Law. Online poker in New York is still awaiting legalization. Although there have been some positive movements in the Senate in 2016, it seems that interest in the Assembly is quite lacking. New York is one of the most interesting potential states for legalized online gambling simply because of the size and influence it holds.
This page discusses the legalities of playing land-based and online poker in New York. Besides citing reasons why playing poker, both on land and at online poker rooms, is legal in New York, we have listed several legal online poker rooms for New York players.
None of New York’s laws specifically state that playing poker at offshore poker sites is illegal. Since the state cannot prosecute residents for breaking laws that do not exist, one can safely state that it is safe and legal for residents to play poker online at New York friendly online poker rooms.
Residents will not find any legal poker sites licensed and regulated by New York because the state does not issue online poker licenses. It is illegal for operators to run online poker businesses within the state’s jurisdiction.
Learn More:Gambling Laws + Statutes In New York
Best Online Poker Rooms That Take New York Residents
We have listed the best online poker sites that accept New York players on this page. We have carefully researched these online poker rooms and found them all to be licensed and regulated. The highlights of these online poker rooms include excellent customer service, 100 percent security, fair gaming, generous bonuses, and lucrative promotions.
| Rank | Legal Poker Sites | Bonus Rewards | Find Out More |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BetOnline Poker | Up To $1,000 Free / 200% Match | Visit BetOnline |
| 2 | SportsBetting Poker | Triple Up On First Deposit To $1,000 | Visit SportsBetting |
Where Can I Play Poker In-Person In New York?
New York offers some legal ways to play real money poker. New York poker players can legally play online poker for cash at licensed Indian casinos. Since social gambling in New York is not outlawed, residents can organize and participate in home poker games as long as they make sure that nobody profits from those games. Currently, there are no charity poker tournaments in the state of New York.


Poker Laws In New York
New York Online Poker Legal Forms
New York poker laws are quite simple. Playing poker for real money is legal only in state-licensed gambling facilities, not under any other circumstances. Since the law permits home poker games, players can legally take part in such private games. The law is quite lenient toward players, and so far, the state has not prosecuted any resident for playing poker illegally. However, operators of illegal poker outfits will have to face several charges, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies.
New York is interested in online poker legalization since it sought clarification regarding the Wire Act of 1961 from the Department of Justice (DoJ), shortly after which the DoJ clarified that the Wire Act does not apply to online poker and online casino gaming. Governor Cuomo is very eager to expand the state’s casino gaming options. Since the state is densely populated and gambling friendly, LegalGamblingNewYork thinks it is likely to legalize online poker in the near future.
New York online poker has been a topic of discussion that is gaining momentum as state officials consider the possibility of legalizing state-sponsored New York online gambling within the state of New York. So far poker seems to have the most potential in reaching legal status with a potential online gambling offering in the state. This page was created to provide NY residents and visitors with insight into the state’s legal poker options. We will discuss both New York online poker and the land based options that are available. We will provide information on the legality of this venue as well as how to locate safe, reliable, and legitimately licensed online poker destinations that welcome New York players. It is our hope that every one of our visitors walks away from this guide more informed and knowledgeable than they arrived.
Is New York Online Poker Legal?
At the time of this writing it is currently illegal to own and/or operate any type of online gambling site within the state of New York. This includes online poker. What New York poker players may not realize is that there are multiple legally licensed Internet poker sites which are licensed, regulated and located overseas. A handful of the legitimate offshore poker sites accept players from the United States, including those from New York. There are no state or USA gambling laws which prohibit NY players from participating in legally licensed and certified gambling websites which are located outside of the US. So while state sponsored NY online poker is non-existing at this point, there are legally sanctioned alternatives that New York players have access to. We will go into greater detail concerning these options a little further down on the page. You can get more detailed information concerning the gambling laws in the Big Apple by visiting our page on NY online gambling laws.
Our Recommended Online Poker Sites For New York Players
Below you will see the results of our careful review process. The selection of online poker brands that you see represented each exceeded our minimum requirements for inclusion in this guide and have been verified to provide players with a safe and enjoyable online poker opportunity that is both legal and legitimate. Their bonus offers have been included in the table for your convenience, as well as direct one click access to ensure that you arrive at your poker destination securely. We have confirmed that each of them is legally licensed and certified, and that their level of security ensures the protection of your sensitive financial data at all times. Each brand offers a free play option that allows you to try out the user interface and gaming performance prior to placing any real money wagers. This is a great way to make sure you like the poker site that you are at before investing, and also a great way to learn a new game that you never played before, improve your skills at a game you have played, or try out a new playing strategy to see how works, all without spending a dime.
| Site Name | Bonus | Rating | Type | USA | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | Poker | Visit Site | |||
| $1000 | Poker | Visit Site | |||
| $1000 | Poker | Visit Site |
Other New York Gambling Pages
Where Can I Find Legitimate New York Online Poker Options?
We hope that every player considering participating in an online poker platform will contemplate this question very seriously. Performing your due diligence before selecting an Internet gambling site at which to play cards at will determine the type of destination you end up at and the type of experience you have. Randomly selecting a web-based gambling opportunity from the results in a Google search is a very unwise approach to this. However, relying on the input of industry professionals who have carefully reviewed the many card playing opportunities in operation on the Internet significantly reduces if not eliminates the risk of landing at an undesirable, questionable, or simply low quality poker room.
This guide was created by a team of online gambling professionals who have extensive experience in the poker venue. They placed the many poker brands in operation through a very intensive review process which resulted in the list you see below of legitimate online poker sites. Each brand has been verified to be legally operating within the industry and to hold compliance certifications issued by respected governing jurisdictions. They all utilize industry-leading security technology and protocols and operate using the most reliable and secure software solutions. Their banking suites are secure and efficient, processing transactions timely for both deposits and withdrawals.
Their customer support staff has proven to be responsive and knowledgeable, effectively addressing and resolving player issues. Their bonus offers and promotions are legitimate and the wagering requirements associated with each offer are reasonable. Their game menu, number of cash games per 24-hour cycle, and tournament schedule all exceeded our minimum requirements for inclusion in this guide. There are many more elements which required investigation however these are the most critical components reviewed which determine a brand’s legitimacy and quality. Once each of these items has been verified and meets our standards, the gaming site in question is then approved for further review and possible inclusion in our guide.
New York Online Gambling Laws
As you can see this is not a fast or flipped process and it requires a great deal of industry knowledge, time, and effort. Of course it’s not all work. Testing their software, game selection and tournament activity are among the more fun parts of the review process for our team. As seasoned players ourselves, we want to see a feature-rich interface and lots of cool and helpful player tools. We are not easily impressed in our minimum requirements are not easily met. If a brand is included here, it is because it is exceptional. This same review process applies to all of the NY gambling platforms, including NY online casinos and sports betting.
Online Poker Legal In New York
What Games Are Available At NY Online Poker Sites?
Most online poker rooms offer a larger selection of US friendly online poker games than brick and mortar poker establishments are able to. Players are also able to play many more hands of poker in online games than they are in the traditional live poker environments. The most commonly found games at these sites include Omaha, Stud Poker,Texas Holdem and HORSE.
Can I Play Online Poker From My Mobile Phone in New York?
New York Online Gambling Legal
Despite being the nanny state, New York has made no moves to prohibit its residents and visitors from playing online poker from their smartphones and tablets. The online poker sites listed on this page offer a well designed, user friendly mobile poker application that accommodates the most popular operating systems and devices. You will find browser based, mobile optimized poker apps that do not require any type of download, and you will also find that some sites offer a downloadable mobile poker app designed especially for a specific operating system. The web based poker apps can be used by Android, iOS, Windows and Blackberry users thanks to the utilization of responsive technology. The downloadable apps will specify a designated operating system that it supports.
Is Legal, State Regulated Online Poker A Possibility In NY?
We are anticipating that this year’s legislative session agenda includes discussions concerning online gambling within the state. Thus far poker has received the most interest for potential state-sponsored online gambling and seems to be the most likely venue to be considered by the state. We believe that state-based New York online poker is a possibility, though it may take some time before it’s actually in place. With discussions just beginning on the official level, it could be a minimum of a year or two before legislation is brought forward, approved, and voted on to legalize this type of gaming entertainment. We will be closely watching the situation to see what transpires and how much of a reality this possibility actually is. We are hopeful that legalizing online card games will be just the beginning for the state of New York’s online gambling industry.