Best Casinos in New York City

New York is on its way to becoming a bonafide gambling hub. The state has a variety of online sportsbooks, and online casinos could become legal in NY in the near future. As of this writing, you can play at a handful of retail casinos near NYC if you’re on the hunt for table games or slots. 

On this page, we’ll cover the best casinos in NYC and provide a brief overview of the state’s history with regard to gambling. 

Closest Casinos to NYC

New York City is divided up into boroughs, and one of them has a casino. If you’re living in or near New York City, there are a handful of retail casinos you can visit that won’t require multiple hours of travel. 

The Empire State has a variety of casino properties, though most of them are upstate. NYC dwellers would need to take a hefty road trip to reach many of the state’s gaming locations. However, there are a few options close to the city proper. Here are the best casinos in NYC or close to it. 

Resorts World New York City

Location: 110-00 Rockaway Blvd. Jamaica, NY 11420

Looking for retail casinos in NYC? Resorts World is the only casino within the city itself. It’s located in the Queens borough, and it offers a lot of gambling options for NYC players. 

Resorts World NYC has a full hotel complete with 400 rooms, plus a fitness center and access to multiple dining options. 

The casino is split into two levels: Times Square and Fifth Avenue. Each level has different games you can try. 

The casino floor is jam-packed with gaming options. Resorts World NYC has more than 6,500 slots from the world’s best developers. You’ll find penny slots, progressive jackpots, popular themes, bonus features, and more. If you’re a slots enthusiast, chances are Resorts World has a game (or many games) for you. 

Video Poker is on offer at the Fifth Avenue level of the casino. 

As for table games, Resorts World NYC has 1,300 of them. They’re all electronic, though. Table games include:

Simply put, Resorts World NYC is the city’s premier casino destination. It’s easily accessible for tourists and locals alike. 

Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel

Location: 3635 Expy Dr N, Islandia, NY 11749

Jake’s 58 is located on Long Island, which makes it a bit more of a trek than Resorts World NYC. Still, the casino has a lot to offer. 

Jake’s 58 boasts two floors of gaming action. The property has more than 1,000 video gaming and slot machines. Popular themes are available on the casino floor, such as Wheel of Fortune, Lock It Link, 88 Fortunes, and many more. 

Electronic table games are also on offer. There are 100 of them at the casino, including blackjack, craps, baccarat, roulette, and three-card poker. You can play these at the Interblock Stadium located on the casino floor. 

Jake’s 58 notably doesn’t have any live table games, so you can’t play with an actual dealer at a typical Vegas-style game. This is a knock in the “cons” column for Jake’s 58, though it still does have a wide variety of games to enjoy. 

One bonus is Jake’s 58’s off-track betting area, which allows gamblers to bet on horse races in New York. Pretty much any race around the world is available, all from a state-of-the-art betting lounge. The OTB room is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m.

There are 200 hotel rooms at Jake’s 58, plus a full-service restaurant (Bistro 58) and a grab-and-go coffee shop. 

Empire City Casino

Location: 810 Yonkers Ave, Yonkers, NY 10704

An MGM property, Empire City is located in Yonkers. It’s a Racino, combining horse races with traditional casino gaming. It’s one of the closest casinos to NYC outside of Resorts World and Jake’s 58.

Empire City Casino has more than 4,600 games, including slots, video poker, keno, and electronic table games. Like the other casinos near NYC, Empire City has electronic blackjack, baccarat, craps, roulette, and more. 

There’s also a full race track at Empire City, where you can bet on numerous horse races. 

Dining options include four restaurants at Empire City: Empire City Chophouse, The Pub, Lil’ Cocina, and The Big Kitchen. 

Empire City doesn’t have a hotel on-site. 

Comparing NYC Area Casinos at a Glance

CasinoLocationSlotsTable GamesHotelRacing
Resorts World NYCJamaica, NYYesElectronic OnlyYesNo
Jake’s 58Islandia, NYYesElectronic OnlyYesOff-Track Betting
Empire CityYonkers, NYYesElectronic OnlyNoYes

These three casinos are the closest retail gambling options to New York City. The state has other casino gaming options, though they require a trip upstate or across the border. 

Upstate New York Casinos

We’ve already covered the NYC casinos, but there are numerous properties elsewhere in the state. Here’s a quick look:

Casino
LocationDistance From NYC
Tioga Downs Casino

2384 W River Rd, Nichols, NY
208 miles
Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino777 Seneca Allegany Blvd, Salamanca, NY 14779362 miles
Resorts World Catskills

888 Resorts World Dr, Monticello, NY 12701
96 miles
Rivers Casino & Resort1 Rush St, Schenectady, NY 12308
171 miles

Saratoga Casino & Raceway

342 Jefferson St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
183 miles
Vernon Down Casino & Hote4229 Stuhlman Rd, Vernon, NY 13476
259 miles
Turning Stone Resort Casino5218 Patrick Rd, Verona, NY 13478262 miles
Yellow Brick Road Casino800 West Genesee St, Chittenango, NY 13037
257 miles
Point Place Casino450-452 New York Route 31, Bridgeport, NY 13030
260 miles
Del Lago Resort & Casino1133 Route 414, Waterloo, NY 13165
268 miles
Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack5857 Route 96, Farmington, NY 14425
314 miles
Batavia Downs8315 Park Rd, Batavia, NY 14020
358 miles
Hamburg Gaming At The Fairgrounds5600 McKinley Parkway, Hamburg, NY 14075
369 miles
Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino1 Fulton St, Buffalo, NY 14204372 miles
Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino310 4th St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303408 miles

All distances are approximate and based on driving directions from New York City. 

As you’ll see from this at-a-glance look, you don’t exactly have easy access to other NY casinos outside of the three casinos in NYC or near to it. The closest option is Resorts World Catskills, about 100 miles from the city. 

Online Casinos in New York

Online casinos remain prohibited in New York, though recent legislative activity is promising. New York could eventually legalize online casinos, as it did with sports betting last year. This could bring a lot of competitors to the marketplace, making it a prime state for online gamblers to visit. 

For now, though, there are no online casinos available in the state. 

Popping across the border remains a viable option for New Yorkers who want to play casino games. New Jersey is one of the most mature and populated online casino markets in the country. The best part? You don’t need to live in NJ to play at the state’s online casinos. You just need to be physically located in the state while you play online casino games. If you travel across the NY-NJ border into the Garden State, you can play at any of New Jersey’s online casinos. 

New York City Casinos FAQ

Are there casinos in or near NYC?

Yes. Resorts World NYC is located in the Queens Borough of NYC. There are two other nearby casinos: Jake’s 58 in Long Island and Empire City Casino in Yonkers. These are the three closest casinos to NYC. 

How old do I need to be to play at NYC casinos?

21 years or older. That’s the minimum age requirement to gamble in New York. NYC Casinos and other properties in the state will check your ID at the door before letting you in. 

Do NYC area casinos have rewards programs?

Yes. You can sign up for rewards programs to earn credits and perks when you play at NYC and nearby casinos. 

What games can I play at NYC casinos?

You can play slots and electronic table games at NYC-area casinos. You can’t play live dealer games at these properties, as they only have electronic table games. 

Empire City offers racing, and Jake’s 58 offers off-track betting. Horse race bettors can get in on the action at these locations.

How far from NYC is the nearest casino?

The closest casino to NYC is actually in NYC: Resorts World. It’s located in Jamaica, NY, which is nestled in the Queens borough. 

How can I gamble in New York City?

You can visit one of three casinos in or near NYC: Resorts World, Jake’s 58, or Empire City. Or, if you like sports betting, you can download a New York sportsbook and gamble online. 

About the Author

Cole Rush

Cole Rush is New York Sports Day's News Editor. Cole is a Chicago-based writer in the gambling, media, and entertainment space. His work has been showcased in various gaming industry magazines and online columns.

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