New York Online Poker

Do you want to play poker online in New York? Do you want to play Hold’em on your laptop and win real money? When it comes to internet poker, you’re currently out of luck. While the state’s restrictions on commercial casinos and online sports betting are being liberalized, online poker in New York has taken a second seat. What are the possibilities for online poker players in New York in 2021 and beyond?

Is Online Poker in New York Legal?

Underground cardrooms in New York State have a lengthy history of training some of the world’s top poker players. When it comes to internet poker, however, New York players have only a few legal options: They may play online in New Jersey or Pennsylvania by driving over the border.

You may also play sweepstakes poker games at sites such as Global Poker. These websites use a sweepstakes format where you may buy Gold Coins to use in games. Sweeps Coins are also available for usage in tournaments and cash games. You may exchange Sweeps Coins for rewards, including cash, if you collect enough.

Fortunately, a slew of new casinos have opened in New York in recent years. Every land-based casino in New York has a full poker area with 24-hour cash games and tournaments. In addition, several of New York’s current tribal casinos provide poker games. You still can’t play casino games at an internet casino in New York as of early 2021.

When to Expect Online Poker to be Legal in New York?

So, why isn’t internet poker permitted in New York? It’s not for a want of effort. Since the approval of commercial casinos and cardrooms in 2013, New York politicians have been trying to adopt an internet gambling bill. Nothing has made it into the state legislature thus far.

In New York, mobile and internet sports betting has finally been approved. With gamblers pouring across the border into New Jersey to bet, online poker in New York may soon follow. For the time being, hopes are riding on Bill S00018, which would make poker a skill game. This would have far-reaching consequences and might pave the way for more New York poker sites to start.

Senator Joseph Addabbo’s bill offers the following:

There are up to 11 New York online poker licenses available.
The New York State Gaming Commission will oversee the sites.
Each license allows for unlimited skins.
Players must be 21 or older.
Licenses are available for tribal casinos and video lottery operations.
A ten-year license costs $10 million up front.
GGR is subject to a 15% tax (Gross Gaming Revenue)

How Long Does It Take to Set Up Online Services After Legalization?

New York may allow online poker over the next several years. But how long will it take to start operations?

Companies must first apply for a gaming license with the New York State Gaming Commission. They may also be required to make arrangements with an existing land-based casino. It will be necessary to do appropriate background checks as well as software audits.

In New Jersey, for example, it took over a year from the passage of the gaming statute to the establishment of the first legal online poker site. For the first online poker room to open in New York, anticipate it to take that long.

Is Live Poker Available for Those Living in New York?

While New York online poker is still a distant dream, poker players may still experience the excitement of a live poker game at cardrooms around the state.

In 2013, the ban on brick-and-mortar casinos was loosened, enabling up to seven commercial casinos to be built. Live poker games are available at a few of New York’s new commercial casinos, as well as a few tribal casinos. Here are five of the state’s largest cardrooms:

Rivers Schenectady

Tables: 16

Offered: Tournaments, cash games

Turning Stone Casino

Tables: 32

Offered: Cash games, tournaments, single-table tournaments, bad beat jackpot

del Lago Resort & Casino

Tables: 14

Offered: Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud cash games and tournaments

Resorts World Catskills

Tables: 20

Offered: Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud, cash games, tournaments, bad beat jackpots

Seneca Niagara Casino

Tables: 23

Offered: Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud, cash games, tournaments, bad beat jackpots

Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud, cash games, tournaments, and bad beat jackpots are all available.

Can I Play Online Poker in New York from NJ Casinos?

No, a citizen or tourist from New York cannot play in a NJ online poker room from within the state. Residents of New York have had to go to New Jersey to play legal online poker for real money.

In February 2013, New Jersey made online poker legal. Players in the Garden State may now go on and play real money poker under the new law. Mobile poker sites are also available for use. However, to play online poker in New Jersey, gamers must be residents of the state. To ensure that its players are logged on lawfully within state borders, NJ poker rooms utilize sophisticated geolocation techniques.

There are no age restrictions for creating an account, thus any New York resident over the age of 21 can do so. You will, however, have to go to the Garden State before you can play.

What About Offshore Poker Sites?

Even in jurisdictions where internet gambling is prohibited, offshore online poker companies have long supplied online games to US players. While signing up for offshore poker sites and making deposits is doable, the procedure is plagued with difficulties. Sites aren’t licensed in New York, or even the United States, and you’re gambling with your money and personal information.

The RNG May Not be Accurate: To select which cards are dealt, all online poker sites employ a Random Number Generator (RNG). RNGs that are fully inspected by certified testing laboratories assure a fair shuffle of the deck. There’s no guarantee the RNG at offshore online poker sites is up to the task.

There is Little Protection Against Bots and Cheats: Bots make judgments for you automatically using pre-programmed software. Bots are currently prohibited at many regulated, legal online poker rooms in the United States, but not at offshore sites. Furthermore, when it comes to multi-accounting, there are less checks and balances in offshore poker venues.

Personal Data May Not be Secure: Legitimate poker sites protect your personal information using the greatest Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption available. Offshore poker operations have more lenient license agreements with their regulatory organizations. That means your personal information, such as your name, address, and credit card number, may not be adequately safeguarded.

You May Not Receive a Payout on Time: Winning in online poker is fantastic, but getting paid quickly is even better. Untrustworthy offshore poker rooms may keep earnings for longer than they should or refuse to pay out owing to bogus reasons such as bonus misuse.

Bonuses May Not be Honored: To entice players, most offshore poker sites provide a variety of promos. Deposit match bonuses, loyalty programs, and rakeback are just a few examples. Offshore sites may invent any number of excuses to refuse bonus money, even if the player is completely correct. And you’re out of options.

Funds Might Not be Segregated: One of the most crucial elements of a successful poker room is segregated funds. When funds are separated, your personal money are kept separate from the poker room’s running expenditures. That implies your funds will be protected even if the site goes bankrupt. Unfortunately, many offshore sites still do not separate their cash. If something goes wrong, there’s no way of knowing if you’ll collect your money. This will not be an issue if online poker sites in New York become available.

Customer Support is Poor or Non-Existent: Poor or non-existent customer service is critical in the event that something goes wrong. If the program fails or you lose money, you must contact a helpful customer care representative to resolve the issue. Not all offshore sites provide phone or live chat assistance, and you may not hear from the organization for weeks.

Famous New York Poker Players

Despite the fact that poker is generally illegal in New York, the state has produced some of the game’s top players.

Howard Lederer

Although Howard Lederer was born in New Hampshire, he spent much of his early poker career in New York City’s illicit gambling dens. Lederer switched from chess to poker and joined the city’s Mayfair Club, which is frequented by pros like as Dan Harrington, Stu Ungar, and Erik Seidel. Before Full Tilt Poker was restricted to US players in 2011, Lederer would go on to win two World Series of Poker bracelets and become one of the prominent faces of the site.

Erik Seidel

Erik Seidel, like Howard Lederer, came to poker through another famous game, in this case backgammon. He became a regular at the Mayfair Club, where he met other professionals who would go on to win many World Series of Poker bracelets. In 1988, Seidel made his mark on the poker world by finishing second in the WSOP Main Event to Johnny Chan. He went on to win eight World Series of Poker bracelets and the World Poker Tour.

Stu Ungar

“The Kid” Stu When Ungar was introduced to poker, he was one of New York’s top gin rummy players. Before being convinced to attend the WSOP Main Event, he was a frequent visitor to the Mayfair Club. Ungar won the World Series of Poker Main Event in 1980, his first ever Texas Hold’em tournament. A year later, he repeated the feat with a second consecutive triumph. Ungar would win the Main Event again in 1997, but he would succumb to years of gambling addiction and substance abuse. The Kid died in 1998 with no money in his pocket.

Isaac Haxton

Isaac Haxton was born in New York City and began playing poker in college after becoming interested in Magic: The Gathering as a child. Before going online, he studied the game at the Turning Stone Casino in New York. He immediately became one of the most successful online gamers of all time, crushing high-stakes cash games. Haxton is now ranked 16th in all-time money earners with approximately $28 million in live event earnings.

What Forms of Gambling Are Legal In New York?

Gambling has a long history in New York, and the regulations are getting increasingly liberal. There are approximately 30 casinos in New York, including tribal casinos and newer commercial casinos. Retail sportsbooks are now permitted as well.

After a protracted procedure, internet and mobile sports betting became legal in 2021. The New York State Gaming Commission will regulate the sector and decide who will be granted licenses. Any of New York’s commercial casinos or one of the state’s Native American tribes may submit winning bids. MGM Yonkers Raceway, for example, may establish its own online sports betting app.

Online casinos and poker are still illegal. That may change in the future, with many New Yorkers crossing the border into New Jersey to bet online.

New York Poker History & Laws

2001: New York legalizes tribal casinos and permits racetracks to become racinos.2-

2013: The Upstate NY Economic Development Gaming Act is passed, clearing the door for additional commercial casinos in the state of New York. As of January 2021, four commercial casinos are open. All of them provide legal poker and sports betting options.

2015: Sen. John Bonacic introduces the New York online poker bill S05302. The measure intends to legalize online poker but does not prohibit “bad actor” sites.

2019: Sen. Joseph Addabbo proposes Bill S00018, which aims to make poker a skill-based game. In New York, the plan contains 11 licenses for online poker.

2021: Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York says he favors mobile sports betting, which may be allowed by the end of the year. Online casino gaming was not considered in January, but that might change.

The Projected Path for Online Poker in NY

Other types of gambling may follow now that internet sports betting is allowed in New York. Illegal and legal poker rooms have long existed in New York. In addition, several of the state’s land-based casinos now offer Texas Hold’em or Omaha.

However, there are currently no legal online poker sites that accept players from New York. It’s been a long path to regulated mobile sports betting, and it might be years before casino games and poker are available online.

Players in New York Hold’em have two choices. They may travel into New Jersey or Pennsylvania and play internet games there. As long as you stay within state borders, online poker is allowed in those two states. Simply create an account online in New York, then log in with your smartphone or laptop as you cross the border.

You may also participate in legal sweepstakes poker games online. Sweepstakes sites employ a special currency called “Sweeps Coins,” which may be used in tournaments and cash games. Earn virtual coins and exchange them for real cash!