Legal Poker For New York Residents
Unregulated gambling is forbidden by law in New York. In other words, players can legally gamble only in state-licensed facilities. The state does not have any online poker laws, nor do they penalize residents who play real money online poker at offshore poker sites. This page provides comprehensive information about New York’s gambling laws, especially about the legality of playing real money poker at offshore online poker rooms. We have also presented a list of well-researched New York friendly offshore online poker sites.
New York Poker Laws & Statutes
According to Section 225.00(2) of New York law, a person is considered to be gambling when he/she wagers anything of value on the outcomes of “a contest of chance” or any other event that is not under his/her control on the agreement that he/she will get something of value in case of a certain outcome. Section 30-19.1(B) states that “a contest of chance” is any game, contest, gaming device, or gaming scheme, the outcome of which is dependent on luck. This holds true even if players need skill and strategy to win the game or contest.
Wagering anything of value on games of chance is illegal even if players require skill in order to win these games. If New York players want to gamble, they must do so in gambling outlets running with the state’s approval and license. Gambling under any other circumstance is against the law and those caught playing or organizing illegal games can be penalized.
New York’s gambling laws exempt social gambling to a certain extent, provided the social game or home game is organized purely for pleasure, and not for financial gain. Since home game laws do not specify stake levels, players are free to organize home poker games at any stake as long as they ensure that nobody makes a profit.
Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in New York?
New York’s gambling laws chiefly focus on the legality of wagering on games of chance at live gambling facilities. No part of the law deals directly with online gambling issues although it can be argued that existing land gambling laws in New York apply to online gambling too. However, no part of New York’s gambling law clearly states that it is illegal for players to sign up at offshore online poker rooms and play online poker games for real money. Simultaneously, it is worth noting that New York’s gambling laws were used against the operators of major online poker rooms in the US following the federal government crackdown of April 2011, a day commonly referred to as Black Friday of online poker.
Although the state of New York says that it does not permit its residents to play poker for real money online, it does not have any laws making it illegal for players to play poker online. New York poker players can therefore sign up at their favorite offshore online poker rooms and play real money poker without worrying about being penalized.
Can I Get into Trouble for Playing Online Poker New York?
New York poker players will never get into trouble for playing online poker at offshore online poker rooms simply because the state has no law preventing players from doing so. The state cannot use a non-existent law against its residents. Besides, the state has so far not penalized any of its residents for playing real money online poker.
It may be argued that New York’s existing laws can apply to online gambling too. But players must remember that New York’s gambling laws are directed at operators and not players. The state’s focus is on curbing the activities of illegal operators; accordingly, the state will penalize only operators violating its laws and players will not be held liable. New York players can therefore safely play real money online poker at offshore online poker sites.
Legal Poker Sites That Accept New York Players
Despite a love of legal online poker, many New York residents are hesitant about signing up simply because they do not know where to begin looking for a quality online poker room. Rest assured that on this page, information to finding several legal, legitimate and fun poker sites is well within reach. In fact, it’s just below.
SportsBetting Poker - Most Trusted Online Poker Room For New York
Our advice for all New Yorkers is to start with the very best in SportsBetting. In just about 10 years of service, this online poker room for New York residents has built up a steady and loyal fan base of hundreds of thousands of avid poker players. When playing online with SportsBetting, there need not be any worries about whether or not they know how to serve US citizens simply because the folks at SportsBetting have been at it for a very long time, and in that time, they have grown into one of the very best legal poker sites in the world.
With a SportsBetting account, players not only gain access to some of the most readily available poker games in the business, but a wealth of resources at their fingertips from which they can learn and grow as a player. In addition to an in-depth poker glossary that includes any term even the most proficient poker aficionado could come up with, this fantastic online poker room offers many tools that help the player analyze their own game and improve. For instance, within an account, every hand ever dealt, how it ended, and the percentage of success from that hand in saved and archived. In this manner, whenever you do make the inevitable mistake, you can rest assured that you will learn from it. With SportsBetting's online poker room is not only fun and profitable, but educational.
BetOnline Poker - All New York Players 18+ Welcome Here
If you wish to keep looking, you may want to peek your head in on one of the fastest growing online poker rooms currently in the business. Dozens of New York residents are finding new perks and benefits to signing up to play poker with this superior poker client every day, and they are all learning one thing: when playing with BetOnline poker, the players calls the shots. This legal poker site offers one of the most customizable experiences a New York resident is likely to ever find, whether they want high stakes tournament play, to wager mere pennies in real time by hand or anything in between, players of all skill levels can play (and win!) poker in a variety of ways with a BetOnline account.
To show the level of devotion this legal poker site is willing to offer its customers, merely consider BetOnline’s poker startup deal. When an initial deposit into a new account is made, up to 200% of that deposit, all the way up to $2000, can be claimed in free bonus money simply from ensuring the account remains active by participating in poker games. Check with BetOnline’s promotion page for more details, but don’t let this great deal expire!
| Legal New York Poker Sites | Welcome Bonus | What To Play | Site Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Poker Play / Sign Up | $1,000 FREE - 100% Match | Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo - Stud Hi/Lo |  |
| BetOnline Poker Play / Sign Up | Maximum $1K: 200% Rate | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| SportsBetting Play / Sign Up | 200% Match / $1,000 Max | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| 5Dimes Poker Play / Sign Up | Vary Weekly - Check Website | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo |  |
Does New York Have Legal Land-Based Poker?
New York players are permitted to gamble at any gambling facility licensed and approved by the state. The state has several licensed tribal and commercial casinos, and it is perfectly legal for New York poker players to play real money poker at the poker rooms of these casinos. Since New York laws exempt social gambling, it is legal for New York poker players to take part in home poker laws.
While New York gambling laws allow some forms of charity gambling, poker does not appear in the list of games that can be legally conducted to raise funds for charity. Poker players will, therefore, not find any charity poker tournament in New York.
Legal Land-Based Poker Rooms For New York Players
New York is home to several licensed casinos, which have live poker rooms where poker players can legally play real money cash games and tournaments. Some of the best licensed land-based casinos for poker are Seneca Salamanca, Seneca Niagara, and Turning Stone Resort.
The top online poker rooms in the industry such as Bovada, and a few others no longer choose to accept New York players because of the unfavorable state and federal poker laws. But New York players need not despair because there are several excellent offshore online poker rooms, such as the ones listed below, which accept players from New York and allow them to play for real money.
Future of Poker/Online Poker in New York
Considering the fact that New York recently requested the US federal government to clarify the legality of selling lottery tickets online, one may assume that the state might be interested in legalizing some forms of online gambling, including poker. A number of New York legislators actually support the legalization of online poker, especially now that Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada have passed online poker laws. At the same time, online poker legalization is being opposed by several parties, including tribes owning land casinos. Recently, the senate suggested legalizing online poker to boost state revenue and even included a provision for the same in the state budget, but this did not work out and the provision had to be removed.
