The Short Answer
New York does not have legal, regulated online poker — but it's closer than most non-regulated states. The state has active iPoker legislation, a proven track record with mobile sports betting, and strong political champions for internet poker. It is widely considered the most likely next state to legalize online poker after the current batch of regulated markets.
Until that happens, New York players access online poker through offshore operators. The PokerSites.org review team's top picks for New York players in May 2026 are BetOnline Poker and Bovada Poker.
Best Offshore Poker Sites for New York Players (May 2026)
1. BetOnline Poker — Best Overall for NY Players
- 100% deposit match up to $1,000 on first crypto deposit
- Crypto withdrawals cleared in 18–36 hours in reviewer testing
- Daily tournament guarantees from $1K to $50K
- Cash games running 24/7 from micros to $25/$50
Visit: Read our full BetOnline review
2. Bovada Poker — Best for Recreational NY Players
- 100% deposit match up to $500
- Anonymous tables prevent HUD tracking
- Zone Poker (fast-fold) available
- Integrated sportsbook and casino
Visit: Read our full Bovada review
3. Americas Cardroom — Best Tournament Value
- Venom tournament: $10M guaranteed
- 100% deposit match up to $2,000
- Strong mid-stakes cash game traffic
- Crypto withdrawals in 48–72 hours
Visit: Read our full Americas Cardroom review
New York Online Poker Legal Status
Current Law
New York gambling law is primarily governed by the New York Penal Law Article 225 (Gambling Offenses) and the New York Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law:
- Penal Law § 225.00 — Defines gambling broadly but targets operators ("advancing gambling") and those who profit from operating games ("profiting from gambling"). Individual players are not the statutory target.
- Penal Law § 225.05 — "Promoting gambling in the second degree" is a Class A misdemeanor. This applies to operators, not players.
- Constitutional amendment (2013) — New York voters approved an amendment allowing up to seven commercial casinos. Four have been licensed and built; three downstate licenses remain unawarded.
No New York statute specifically addresses internet poker. The state's approach has been to pursue operators (PokerStars was among the operators targeted in the 2011 Black Friday indictments, filed in the Southern District of New York) rather than individual players.
Legislative Efforts — The Real Timeline
New York has the most active iPoker legislative effort of any non-regulated state:
- 2014–2016: Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow introduced the first NY iPoker bills. Senate companion bills followed.
- 2017–2019: Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. became the primary Senate champion. His bills (S 18, S 1195, and successors) have been reintroduced in every session since. Bills have passed the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee multiple times.
- 2020–2021: COVID-19 shifted legislative priorities. iPoker was sidelined while mobile sports betting (a higher-revenue opportunity for the state) advanced.
- 2022: New York launched mobile sports betting under a high-tax model (51% GGR). The revenue success strengthened the case for other online gambling products.
- 2023–2025: iPoker bills continued to advance through committee but did not receive full floor votes in either chamber. The core obstacle is not opposition to poker specifically — it is legislative bandwidth and the governor's office prioritization.
- 2026: As of May 2026, Senator Addabbo's latest iPoker bill (S 1908) is in the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee. An Assembly companion bill is pending. No floor vote has been scheduled.
The Tax Rate Question
New York's mobile sports betting operates under a 51% tax on gross gaming revenue — the highest in the nation. This model works for sports betting because the operator's margin is thin but volume is enormous. It would not work for poker, where the operator's revenue (rake) is much smaller per dollar wagered.
Any realistic NY iPoker bill would need a significantly lower tax rate — most proposals have suggested 15–25% of gross poker revenue, similar to New Jersey (14.25%) and Pennsylvania (16%). This is a technical detail, but it's one that legislative analysts watch closely as an indicator of whether a bill is serious or performative.
What Would NY iPoker Look Like?
If New York legalizes online poker, the likely structure would be:
- Licensed operators tied to the state's existing commercial and tribal casinos
- Geolocation-verified play restricted to within NY state borders
- Probable entry into the MSIGA shared-liquidity pool (which would make NY the largest state by population in the agreement)
- Tax rate in the 15–25% GGR range
- Minimum player age of 21
The addition of New York to MSIGA would be transformative for US regulated poker — New York's 19.5 million population would roughly double the combined population of the current MSIGA states.
Banking for New York Players
| Method | Availability | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin / crypto | All 3 recommended sites | Deposit: instant. Withdrawal: 18–72 hours |
| Voucher / P2P | Bovada, ACR | Deposit: 1–4 hours. Withdrawal: 24–48 hours |
| Money order / check | BetOnline, ACR | Deposit: 5–10 days. Withdrawal: 7–14 days |
| Credit/debit card | Limited success | Major NY bank issuers block transactions |
Cryptocurrency is the recommended method. New York has an additional complication: the BitLicense regulatory framework makes crypto exchange access slightly more restrictive than in other states. Coinbase and Kraken operate in New York; some smaller exchanges do not.
Live Poker in New York
New York has a growing live poker scene across commercial casinos, tribal casinos, and private clubs:
- Turning Stone Resort Casino (Verona, NY) — The largest poker room in the state. Hosts WSOP Circuit events and the Turning Stone Classic series.
- Rivers Casino & Resort (Schenectady) — Active poker room with daily tournaments and cash games up to $10/$25.
- Resorts World New York City (Queens) — VLT facility with a poker room. Convenient for NYC-area players.
- Private clubs in NYC — Several members-only poker clubs operate in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Legal status varies; some have faced enforcement actions.
Many New York players also travel to neighboring New Jersey for regulated online poker. NJ's proximity to NYC means that physically crossing into NJ to access PokerStars NJ or WSOP.com NJ is a practical (if inconvenient) option for serious players.
Responsible Gambling — New York Resources
- New York Council on Problem Gambling — 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) — 24/7 helpline
- National Council on Problem Gambling — 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
- NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) — state-funded treatment referrals
- Gamblers Anonymous — gamblersanonymous.org
For the full PokerSites.org responsible-gambling policy, see our Responsible Gambling page.
Last reviewed: 14 May 2026 by Jason Murphy, Senior Editor. Next scheduled review: 14 August 2026.
Affiliate disclosure: PokerSites.org receives a referral commission when readers register with operators we link to. Our ratings are set before any commercial relationship and are not negotiable. See our editorial policy for the full disclosure.