New York Online Casinos
You can play a wide variety of online casino games today in New York via sweepstakes sites and it is completely legal to do so! In this guide we tell you about all the top online casinos that operate in the state and what you can expect from each one.
Last updated: September 25, 2024
New York is the fourth-most populous state and is the home of the Big Apple (NYC) 🍎. The Empire State is also one of the biggest jurisdictions where you can play online casino games and win real money prizes.
While only a handful of states, including neighboring Pennsylvania and New Jersey, have regulated online casinos, New Yorkers can also play online casino games in their state — via sweepstakes casinos. These operate under a different set of laws but they are legal and safe.
In this guide we will explain how sweepstakes casinos work, and introduce you to the top operators available to players in New York.
Can I play online casino games in New York?
Yes, online casinos are available to players in the Empire State! Sweepstakes casinos offer games of chance to New Yorkers. Players receive free entries, either online or through the mail, to participate in a wide variety of casino-style games. Sweepstakes casinos award prizes that can be redeemed for real money — without requiring direct wagers. We recommend High 5 Casino as the best sweepstakes casino in the state.
| Online Casino Gaming in New York: Key Facts | |
|---|---|
| 📢 What’s Legal | Social casinos, including sweepstakes casino sites |
| ✨ Main Highlights | Sweepstakes casinos offer prizes that can be redeemed for real money prizes | 😎 Top Site | We recommend High 5 Casino as the top sweepstake online casino site |
| 🔮Real Money Online Casinos (Regulated) | Likely a few years away, but legislation was introduced in 2024 |
| 🃏 Available Games | Slots (including progressive jackpots), table games, and live dealer games |
| 🔞 Legal Age | Players must be at least 18 years of age | 👥 NY Population | 19.6 Million (ranks 4th) |
The Best Online Casinos in New York
Sweepstakes casinos operate legally in New York because they offer what are considered games of chance. Players can participate by receiving free entries, usually through a mailed-in postcard or online. These entries are then used to play various casino-style games. Sweepstakes casinos often award prizes or cash payouts to winners without requiring direct wagers, making them an attractive entertainment option in most US states, including New York.
Here is how they operate. For starters, players can purchase an operator’s digital products. These are a virtual currency that is usually called Gold Coins, and are used for free-play games on the sweepstakes casino site. As a reward, operators issue a second type of currency, Sweeps Coins. These are free entries into a sweepstakes, and players use them to play games that award prizes that can be redeemed for real money.It’s important to note that you don’t have to make any purchase to play online sweepstakes casinos. Some operators award Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins to players every day that they log in to the site. Players can also receive both when they sign up, or for sending a mail-in postcard. Sweeps Coins can never be purchased directly.
Here are short descriptions for four sweepstakes online casino sites that we recommend in New York:
High 5 Casino
High 5 Casino has a deep library of casino games, with more than 800 unique titles. The platform boasts more than 1,200 games in total. Most of the games on High 5 are slots, but players will also find live dealer and table games like blackjack and roulette.
Since High 5 is a game development studio, most of the games on the platform were developed in-house. But well-known titles from other developers, including IGT and Pragmatic Play, are also available.
Video slot fans are certain to like the leaderboards and jackpot titles available on High 5 Casino.
Read our full review of High 5 Casino »
Funrize Casino
Funrize Casino launched in 2022, making it a relatively new platform. Consequently, it doesn’t offer as many games as other platforms — it currently has about 90 game titles in its portfolio, all of which were developed by NetGame Entertainment.
Daily slot races on Funrize Casino give players a chance to compete against others on the platform. Players can earn extra rewards on Daily Races for performing better than other players.
Funrize has a clean interface and offers games in two unique gameplay modes. One big downside is that the platform doesn’t have table games or live dealer games. However, there are several unique slot titles available to players in the Empire State.
Read our full review of Funrize Casino »
No Limit Coins Casino
No Limit Coins is another relatively new sweepstakes casino site, having launched in 2021. NetGame Entertainment developed all of the 90-plus game titles on the platform.
Despite the small number of game titles, No Limit Coins offers daily slot tournaments with large prize pools. It also has progressive jackpot slots and several “fishing” games that function like an arcade game, but the platform doesn’t offer table games.
Tao Fortune Casino
Tao Fortune Casino is another relatively new sweepstakes casino site, having launched in 2022. Its game portfolio currently stands at more than 100 titles.
Like its sister sweepstakes casinos is owned and operated by A1 Development, and its games were developed by NetGame Entertainment. Similarly, Tao Fortune Casino also has an exciting stable of slots and fishing games, but there are no table games.
Sweepstakes Online Casinos in NY: What To Expect
Live Dealer Games
Not many sweepstakes casinos have live dealer games. Of the four sites described above, only High 5 Casino features live dealers.
The games offered by High 5 include baccarat, roulette, Casino Hold’em Poker, and four variants of blackjack — clubs, diamonds, hearts, and (low-limit) limitless blackjack. All of the live dealer games on High 5 are powered by Vivo Gaming.
Live dealer games give players the chance to capture some of the same excitement they get from sitting at a table in a brick-and-mortar casino, from the comfort of their own home. Everything that’s used in a real brick-and-mortar casino — gaming tables, cards, roulette wheel, etc. — have been set up in a studio and streamed live, in real time.
Real dealers and croupiers are ready and available to get a game started at any time. A virtual interface allows bets to be placed immediately; winnings are paid immediately, too.
Bonuses and Promotions
Like traditional online casinos, sweepstakes casinos offer bonuses and promotions. But bonuses are set up differently on the latter so that they comply with sweepstakes laws.
For example, online sweepstakes casinos do not offer traditional deposits, nor do they offer traditional deposit match offers or anything similar. Players instead purchase virtual coins (aka Gold Coins on most platforms) and receive Sweeps Coins as a free gift.
Most sweepstakes casinos offer new players a boost when they make their first purchase. Some also offer free Sweeps Coins when players first sign up.
Similarly, promotions must also be structured a little differently on sweepstakes casinos in order to comply with sweepstakes laws.
While the most common promo found on a sweepstakes casino site is one where players receive Sweeps Coins for free with any purchase of Gold Coins, the most valuable promo is one where players can receive a certain number of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins for free on a daily basis.
Sweepstakes casinos have slot leaderboards and tournaments, which function the same as those found at traditional online casinos. Players can either play the same game or several games at once — with points awarded based on the wagered total, the overall amount won, the biggest win multipliers, and other metrics.
How to Sign Up to Online Casinos in New York State
It’s easy to get started playing sweepstakes online casinos. Creating an account is a simple process that usually takes about one minute.
Most sweepstakes casinos allow players to sign up with their existing Facebook and Google accounts. If you decide to sign up this way, you’ll just need to click one button to allow access. You will receive an email with a confirmation link. After clicking it, you’re on your way.
Although it’s simple process to sign up, keep in mind that this is just for the free-play side of the sweepstakes casino site — you will need to provide much more information to verify your identity before you can play games with prizes that can be redeemed for cash. There are some sweeps casinos that require this additional information at the sign-up stage.
Step-by-step Guide to Signing Up to Sweepstakes Casinos
- Visit the site you want to play. Use the links on our site to get exclusive bonus offers.
- Click on the “Sign Up” or “Join” button.
- Select the way you want to join: using your existing Facebook or Google account or setting up a separate account via an email of your choice.
- After completing the previous step, check your email inbox for the verification link.
- Click on the link, and your account will be set up.
- At this stage, you will now be able to purchase Gold Coins and receive Sweeps Coins as rewards for your purchases and other activities on the site.
- Remember that if you want to redeem real cash prizes, you will need to fill in your account profile with your full information (e.g., name, surname, mailing address) and complete the operator’s verification procedures.
Real Money Online Casinos in New York
New York does not have a regulated market for real money online casinos.
Efforts to establish such a market date back to 2013. Each time, legislation either did not have enough support in the New York State Legislature or was not on the radar of the last two Democratic governors — Andrew Cuomo and (since August 2021) Kathy Hochul.
Mobile sports betting launched in New York in January 2022 and was, naturally, a roaring success — consider that the state has a population of 19.6 million, making it the nation’s fourth most-populous state.
Online casino gaming would be the next logical step for expanded igaming, and proponents like Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon) and Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) have pointed out that the state needs the additional revenue and that expansion would extend consumer protections to New Yorkers.
To date, lawmakers and the governor have been more focused on the citing of three land-based casinos in the NYC area. Consequently, regulated online casinos in New York seems a few years away at best.
New York Online Casino FAQ
Does New York have online casinos?
Yes, in New York State, you can play casino games online and win prizes redeemable for cash! We recommend sweepstakes casinos, four of which — High 5 Casino, Funrize Casino, No Limit Coins Casino, and Tao Fortune Casino — are explained earlier in this guide. You can also refer to our in-depth analysis on Best Sweepstakes Casinos in the US.
How do I play online casinos in New York?
You will need to create an account with the sweepstakes online casino. You will need to provide some personal information, just so the casino can confirm your identity. That’s all you need to do — no purchase is ever required on a sweepstakes casino site, and traditional deposits are not accepted. Operators give players Gold Coins (for free-play) and Sweeps Coins (for prize play) just for logging in to the site.
What online casino games are available in New York?
Sweepstakes slots are the most popular game, by far. Some operators offer table games like baccarat, blackjack, and roulette. Live dealer games are also available, as are video poker games, scratch-offs, and arcade-style games like fishing.
How are online casinos allowed to operate in New York?
Online casinos that operate under sweepstakes law are legal in the Empire State, and most other states. Sweepstakes law differs from laws enacted in states with regulated igaming. For example, no purchase is ever required to play on a sweepstakes casino.
Sweepstakes operators are also not allowed to accept or match deposits and their bonuses are structured slightly differently from those in regulated igaming state, including neighboring Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Is online gambling legal in New York?
New York launched online sports betting in January 2022. Aside from sweepstakes poker and casino sites, no other forms of legal online gambling are available in the Empire State.
Are there land-based casinos in New York?
As of September 2024, there were six commercial land-based casinos in New York, five of which are Upstate. Seven racinos and eight Class III tribal casinos are also open for business in the Empire State.
When will real money online casinos be legal in New York?
That’s a good question. Lawmakers have tried to pass a bill to expand igaming beyond sports betting for the last few years, but each time the effort did not receive enough support in the New York State Legislature, or with the governor. The earliest a market could be set up would be late 2025, but that’s a very optimistic prediction.
Can I play offshore online casino sites instead?
We don’t recommend playing online casino games on offshore sites because they do not provide the same level of consumer protections as sites that are legal and regulated in the US. Players are at risk of identity theft when they play on offshore casino sites. Federal officials have also warned US citizens not to play on such sites because they have no legal recourse for recovering any winnings owed to them.