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The realm of online betting and casinos is a dynamic world which constantly changes and evolves. The same goes for the legal landscape, which has undergone significant changes concurrently with the development and expansion of online betting and casino options. With a growing demand, the legal sphere has had to keep up.

One state which is still evolving is New York. Currently, online betting is legal in New York, whereas online casinos are not. You can keep yourself up to date on the legal status in all the states in this overview made by plainenglish.io experts, since it is constantly updated according to the latest legislation.

The historical context for New York

For many years, New York has been known for its strict gambling laws, in which most forms of gambling have been heavily regulated or prohibited. However, in the past decade, the state has warmed up to lose these restrictions. This has especially been driven by the potential for substantial tax revenues from the winnings, but also the changing narrative among the public about gambling and betting.

The current legislation in New York

Sports betting

The biggest change for online sports betting in New York came in 2018 during the trial known as Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association. In this case, the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which then allowed all the states to legalize sports betting. The state of New York seized this opportunity in 2019, when retail sports betting was legalized at commercial and tribal casinos.

The development in New York continued in January 2022, when mobile sports betting was officially launched. This changed the betting landscape in New York, since residents could now place bets via their mobile devices. This broadened both access and convenience for sports bettors. To this day, New York State Gaming Commission oversees all sports betting activities to ensure compliance with state laws and regulations.

Online casinos

The realm of online casinos has not been developing at the same pace as sports betting. As of mid-2024, online casinos still remain illegal in New York. However, the continuous popularity of this type of gambling, and with the success of online sports betting entering the scene, the conversation about legalizing online casinos is gaining traction.

Proponents argue that this could generate significant tax revenue streams if implemented together with a safe and regulated environment for online gamblers.

Regulations and player protections

With the development of online sports betting and online casinos, it has been a need to regulate the platforms to ensure solid player protection. It is the New York State Gaming Commission that has the crucial role of regulating and overseeing all gambling activities in New York. This both includes to set up the necessary guidelines for operators to protect players, and to ensure operators adhere to these guidelines. The regulations cover various areas, including:

  • Responsible gambling measures. It is a requirement for operators to provide both tools and resources for players to manage their gambling activities. Such tools include self-exclusion options, limits to the number of deposits, and clear communication about access to gambling problem support services.
  • Fair play and security. To maintain control and ensure player protection, all licensed platforms must use certified software to ensure fair play. Furthermore, they also must implement robust security measures to protect player data and financial transactions.
  • Transparency. It is a requirement for operators to be transparent about both terms and conditions, such as payout rates and handling of player funds.

Concluding remarks

Even though the online betting landscape in New York is still somewhat restricted to only legalizing online sports betting, it does not mean this will continue to be the case. Online gambling is an evolving sector, and the legal aspect of the sector also continues to evolve with this.

If you or anyone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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