Best New York Sportsbooks and Betting Sites April 2024

Top online sportsbooks in New York

Our expert team of researchers has conducted a comprehensive market analysis of the leading legal sportsbooks in New York, judging them based on various criteria. Our team taken a look at the welcome bonus, ongoing promotions, the odds offering, and the overall capability of each sportsbook. Let's take a dive into our findings.

Best New York betting sites

In this section, we dive straight into the list of the best New York betting sites based on our research. We evaluated the sites based on the following criteria:

• Sign-up Offers and Promos - We believe sportsbooks are only as good as the comfort they provide to both beginners and seasoned bettors. Lucrative sign-up offers followed by regular promos for returning players are vital in this industry.
• Sports Betting Markets - One of the non-negotiables in this space is the diversity of sports and betting types that a sportsbook provides.
• Mobile App Experience - In 2023, a friendly app experience is crucial to any business, and that holds true for New York betting sites.
• Payment Options - The core functionality of a sportsbook is heavily dependent on how easy it is to both deposit and withdraw your money - diverse options are vital to the experience.
• Safety and Security - Our team sets stringent requirements when we review the safety of personal information, financial information, and options available for those who exhibit problem gambling.

With that all said and done, let's get into our list of the best New York sportsbooks. 

1. BetMGM

BetMGM Sportsbook New York comes with a lot of prestige, seeing that it is housed under one of the biggest entertainment and casino brands to ever exist. We found that the brand’s attention to detail translated well into its online offerings.

As one of the best New York sportsbooks, BetMGM has deep coverage and betting markets for all major American leagues, promos throughout the season for NFL, NBA, and NHL, and offers an unparalleled rewards program that is redeemable across its vast offering of physical outlets.

Read: BetMGM review

2. FanDuel

3. Caesars

4. DraftKings

5. BetRivers

Why is BetMGM the best sportsbook in New York

To say BetMGM is in the top tier of betting brands in the USA is an understatement. Its attention to user experience is what makes it stand out to us. BetMGM features competent odds and lines, seamless real-time odds, an award-winning in-game betting feature, and a world-class bet builder.

As a leader among the best NY sportsbooks, BetMGM Sportsbook's interface is welcoming to all levels of bettors. The ease with which it caters to niche audiences - for example, those who are into professional darts - through a good discoverability interface is at the top level of industry standards.

You might occasionally have your limits changed if you're on a good run, but this is a double-edged sword in our opinion: the same system also protects users who are at risk of problem gambling. It's a trade-off we are OK with, as one of the most important dimensions of having legal online sportsbooks in New York is player safety.

New York betting sites with the best promotions

Many of the betting sites mentioned earlier in the article have got great promotions, but Caesars Sportsbook NY sticks out at the moment for its $1,000 bonus, which can be claimed using a promo code. It doesn’t get much better than this, but this offer is only available for select NFL Conference Round matches.

Top New York sportsbooks by sport

BetMGM has carved a name for itself by having a wide variety of sports on its menu. Most New Yorkers are likely to pay attention to the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL, but if they’re looking for other leagues and sports to bet on, BetMGM will almost certainly have something to offer.

You can visit the website and see the top sports menu on the left to get started on the top sports. If you want something more, there’s the A-Z option on the homepage sandwiched between the Favorites section and the Easy Parlay section.

Best New York sportsbooks for NFL

Two sportsbooks have been industry leaders for local sports: FanDuel and DraftKings. You can’t go wrong with either of these sportsbooks. The two sportsbooks have also got deals with various sports teams from New York. In fact, FanDuel’s main office is in New York.

If you are a local New Yorker, we recommend starting with these NY NFL sportsbooks. FanDuel might just have the edge here for newcomers since its office is located in the city. Readers who are uncertain about betting will feel reassured knowing that there’s an office just around the block.

Best New York sportsbooks for NBA

BetMGM is certainly one of the best New York sportsbooks for NBA. It’s hard to beat a sportsbook that streams games. BetMGM also has other features for NBA games like a one-game parlay builder, an editor, a live betting platform, and early cashout options.

BetMGM has become synonymous with NBA betting because of these features and it aggressively provides promos for NBA matches. Other features include a wide variety of banking options, lots of prop bets, reliable customer service, and an exciting welcome bonus.

Best New York sportsbooks for MLB

BetMGM doesn’t just stream NBA games, the sportsbook also streams MLB matches, and for many of the reasons mentioned in the NBA section above, it’s the best New York sportsbook for MLB matches.

BetMGM also has a long history with baseball, which is why it’s the go-to for many veteran MLB bettors. BetMGM’s MLB section offers in-play betting, parlay betting, and same-game parlay. All of this can, of course, be accessed through the BetMGM app. BetMGM also has a strong futures market and offers some great MLB promos all season long.

Best New York sportsbooks for NHL

Caesars Sportsbook NY’s promos, live betting, same-game parlay, and parlay options make it one of the better sportsbooks for betting on NHL matches – but once again, the reason it beats the competition is the live streaming option.

This sportsbook has a great selection of NHL markets, moneylines, and prop bets. They also boost the parlays throughout the season, which makes Caesars Sportsbook an attractive option. It currently provides a $1,000 promo offer at the moment, so there has never been a better time to bet on hockey matches in New York.

How to find the best betting sites in New York

There are eight sportsbooks in New York: FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM, BetRivers, Fanatics, Bally Bet, and Resorts World Bet. You should have a look at each of the websites closely before picking the site that works best for you. Be sure to follow the criteria we have laid out for what makes each sportsbook stand out, but also judge each one by your own specific betting preferences and needs. 

Make sure that it’s the official site – betting sites have to display their licensing information on the homepage. Once that’s done, you will have to sign in by entering your personal details. Follow this up by choosing a payment method, making the first deposit, and collecting the bonus.

How Oddspedia sportsbook ratings work

Moneyline, point spread, and total are the most popular types of bets that you can make, and the New York sportsbooks have certainly got these popular bet types.

A moneyline bet is just a bet on the result of the game, whereas a point spread bet is a bet on the margin of victory. A total is a bet on the total points scored by a team – a bet is placed on a team getting over or under the total score projected by the sportsbook.

These bet types are simple to follow and are ideal for beginners. Another great bet type for beginners is futures bets – this is a bet placed on events that take place much later in the season like the MVP and league Champion.

Experienced bettors like to make parlay bets. Parlays include multiple wagers in the same bet – they could include a mix of moneyline, point spread, and total.

What makes a good sportsbook?

Most of the sportsbooks mentioned in the piece are excellent, but they’re all quite different in terms of the overall experience. A good sportsbook should meet certain basic criteria like ease of use, reliable customer service, a favorable opening bonus, and a simple registration process.

A good sportsbook should, of course, offer a wide range of sports. The sportsbook should certainly have a market for major sports in New York like basketball, football, hockey, and baseball. A good sportsbook will have a market for many of the other major sports like soccer, golf, and tennis as well.

Why should you avoid certain sportsbooks?

The sportsbooks that have been mentioned in this piece aren’t the only sites that bettors from New York will find when they search for sportsbooks. Other sites without licenses, tedious deposit and withdrawal processes, limited offers, and poor customer service also exist and should be avoided. 

We strongly recommend that you look away from these sportsbooks because they might lead to serious security issues in the future. There are sportsbooks that also try to impersonate some of the sites that have been mentioned in this piece, and it’s important to double-check all the details before you make a deposit.

How to create a betting account in New York

Once you've made your choice of sportsbook, you must create a betting account to start wagering. Doing so is a simple and easy process. If you're unsure, just follow the steps below:

Find the right sportsbook for your needs and download the app. Downloading the official app is the easiest way to use these sportsbooks – the web links can sometimes be a bit slow.

Once the app is opened, there should be a ‘register’ or ‘sign up’ button. You will have to enter personal information like legal name, date of birth, and social security number – this is a verification process.

Once all the details have been entered, various payment methods like a credit card, PayPal, and Skrill should be available to you. Once a payment method has been chosen and the deposit has been accepted, you can start betting in New York.

Is Sports Betting Legal in New York?

The short answer is yes. Sports betting has been legal in New York since 2019. However, online and mobile sports betting has only been legal since 2021, when Governor Andrew Cuomo passed a bill that would permit the operation of mobile sports betting platforms. Between 2019 and 2021, players could only place sports bets at casinos and retail sportsbooks situated in the state. 

With the state of New York, and especially New York City, serving as the financial center of the United States, it made perfect sense to legalize sportsbooks and casinos as it would create opportunities for employment and revenue generation in a well-financed area. Several factors are needed to come together to legalize online sportsbooks in New York, which are covered in the next section of this guide. 

Sports Betting in New York: The Legal Situation

In New York, sports betting is legal but only at sportsbooks and casinos licensed by the New York State Gaming Commission.

A 2013 law paved the way for four upstate casinos to offer sports betting once it was legalized on a federal level.

Five years later, the Supreme Court struck down the same law that would allow sports betting in most states. 

The next year, Governor Andrew Cuomo passed a bill allowing these four upstate casinos to offer bets on sports.

Subsequently, in 2021, New York State also legalized online sports betting. The New York State Gaming Commission is responsible for overseeing sports betting in the state and issues licenses to platform providers in addition to its responsibilities of regulating the industry.

As of February 2023, there are nine sportsbooks available in the state, and this number is expected to grow as every top sportsbook in the country would be more than happy to line up for a slice of the Big Apple. 

New York Sports Betting Laws

In New York, bettors can enjoy wagering both online and in-person at retail sportsbooks and casinos. The state first legalized sports betting in 2019 when it allowed four upstate casinos to operate sportsbooks. 

Under current laws, nine sportsbooks have been granted licenses to offer mobile sports betting services to players around the state. While there are plenty of rumors about the addition of several more sportsbooks to the state, we have yet to hear any concrete announcements from reliable sources that can confirm this. 

The state of New York requires all bettors to be at least 21 years old and be physically present within state boundaries at the time of entering their wagers. New York’s betting rules come with a unique caveat that makes it illegal to bet on collegiate teams from the state. However, New York residents can freely place bets on college teams from other states. 

The state also has a self-exclusion program that can be used by players who might be at risk of problem gambling. Basically, the New York State Gaming Commission regulates the sportsbooks that operate in the state and enforces compliance with the laws and regulations. It is responsible for creating a fair and safe experience for state players.

New York Sports Betting Updates

The last major update to New York betting laws came in January 2022, when the state officially legalized online sportsbooks. However, this did not mean that sportsbooks could start offering their services just yet. 

Sportsbooks are required to apply for a license and can only begin operations once they receive clearance from the New York State Gaming Commission. As of February 2023, there are nine sportsbooks available in the state, and we’ll go over the best of them in more detail. 

If you’re looking to place your first bet from New York and don’t know where to start, don't worry. With nine different sportsbooks, each with unique strengths and weaknesses, you’ll be sure to find the one that appeals to you the most. 

Betting tax in New York

The current state tax of New York is dependent on what your annual gross income is. Unlike other states that have a flat percentage for everyone, the tax rate will vary on how much you earn. For example, if you are single and earn more than 21% a year you will pay 5.9% on your sports betting winnings. If you make more than $1 million a year you will have to pay 8.82%. So, even if you are in the highest bracket the tax rate is still quite fair, especially when compared to other states. The federal tax you have to pay is a flat 24%. This won’t change any time soon so you can rely on that being the same for now. 

In terms of actually paying your taxes, this will go two ways. For state taxes, the land-based casino you are using will submit your tax form (W-2G form) for you. All you have to do is provide them with some information about yourself like where to mail the form. You won’t have to really do anything for your state taxes as the casino keeps a record of all your sports betting wins and losses. However, you will still need to fill out the federal tax form yourself. This form is called the 1040, Schedule A. 

For both the state and federal taxes, irrespective of how much you earn every year, you will have to make more than $5,000 to pay tax. This means that if you made $5,000 cumulatively throughout the year on sports betting, you will then be charged a tax rate. So, if you are a casual punter who probably won’t make more than that then you need not worry about paying taxes on your wins. 

Regulatory Bodies and Key Gambling Legislation

• New York State Gaming Commission
• New York State Senate
• Times Union: 2023 New York bill tracker

US Legal State Betting

Best New York betting sites FAQs