Is Online Gambling Legal in New York?
New York online gambling industry is still in its infancy; however, land-based casinos in the state hold an advantage when it comes to competition and can likely launch their own online casinos as soon as the industry expands in New York. Furthermore, several sweepstakes casinos provide New York residents an opportunity to try their hand at casino gaming without risking their own funds.
Launch of sports betting in New York State was an extremely telling signal of its future iGaming landscape. Since that year, many top-tier iGaming operators such as DraftKings Sportsbook NY, PointsBet Sportsbook NY, BetRivers Sportsbook NY, FanDuel Sportsbook NY and Caesars Sportsbook NY have set up shop here, not to mention retail casinos such as Rivers Casino & Resort, Tioga Downs & Casino and Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway offering plenty of action to satisfy sports betting enthusiasts alike.
However, New York online casino industry faces several significant hurdles before its success can begin to flourish. One such obstacle is legal gambling age in New York state which currently stands at 21 – many anticipate this will remain unchanged when online casino games launch there; others argue for reducing it to 18.
No matter the legal gambling age, the challenge lies in making sure iGaming platforms are safe for players – essential in maintaining player retention and attracting new ones. Many top iGaming operators in the US offer player protection programs including identity theft protection services as well as fraud related services; many offer dedicated helplines as an additional safety net in case any issues or concerns arise.
Another key concern regarding New York’s iGaming market is how its taxes will work. Given New York has an extremely high sports betting tax rate, many worry this might extend to online casino operations as well. However, most experts agree that tax rates would likely mirror those seen in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
New York’s current infrastructure presents another barrier to online casino development in New York. Unfortunately, its fiber-optic network doesn’t support the type of data transmission required for casinos; while upgrades to New York’s infrastructure will eventually enable online casino expansion across its borders.
Even with these challenges, the New York online casino industry seems poised to thrive in due time. New York was quick to approve sports betting and may soon follow suit with online casinos; neighboring states such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania may help hasten this process along. New York lawmakers will need to decide how best to regulate this industry; New Jersey and Pennsylvania provide guidance in this regard.