New York City does not have any in-person sportsbooks, but Big Apple residents soon will be able to place bets from the comfort of their homes. In the meantime, NYC sports betting enthusiasts need to visit Upstate New York to place a legal bet.
The closest sports betting facility is the FanDuel Sportsbook at the Meadowlands Racetrack, which shares a parking lot with MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed mobile sports betting into the state budget in April 2021, so there is hope that online sports betting will come to the state by early 2022 and in time for Super Bowl LVI. It would be a highly profitable move for the state, which has been losing sports betting revenue to New Jersey.
The New York State Gaming Commission received bids from some of the top sportsbooks in the US in August after releasing a Request for Applications (RFA). Its goal is to announce the sportsbook that will be issued licenses by Dec. 6, 2021.
Best Sportsbook Apps For Bettors In New York City
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FanDuel Sportsbook
The FanDuel Sportsbook is New York City’s closest retail sports betting location. While DraftKings is the official betting partner of the New York Giants, it does not have a retail sportsbook in the Meadowlands Sports Complex.
The FanDuel Sportsbook at Meadowlands is located at Victory Sports Bar, which includes three separate sports betting and viewing areas. It boasts 20-foot screens, a huge food and drink menu. You only have to cross the parking lot to get to MetLife.
FanDuel is a popular sportsbook and is likely to launch in New York once apps officially launch.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings launches in almost every state where sports betting is legal, making it a likely contender for New York online sportsbooks once apps officially launch in early 2022.
The DraftKings Sportsbook uses the same iOS and Android app for both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. That means you can download the app from New York and register, then place bets whenever you’re in either neighboring state.
There is a DraftKings retail location at Del Lago Resort & Casino in the Finger Lakes area, and it is a great destination for sports betting. Bettors have over 6,000 square feet of space and more than 1,000 square feet of LED TV screens.
The five-hour drive will likely take you through Pennsylvania, where you can bet on the DraftKings mobile app.
BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers is a partner of Rivers Casino, which has locations in several states. In New York, there’s a Rivers Casino in Schenectady.
The BetRivers Sportsbook app is making huge strides in the industry despite not having the same name power as FanDuel and DraftKings. Anyone who’s been to a Rivers Casino is familiar with the brand’s commitment to quality, and that applies to sports betting. Competitive odds and a unique set of promotions set them apart. It is likely that a BetRivers online sportsbook will launch in New York.
New York City Sports Betting: Why No Downstate Sportsbooks?
When New York approved in-person sports betting in June 2019, it made a rule that only the four commercial casinos in Upstate and the seven tribal casinos that also are located Upstate could offer sports betting. The state’s largest casino Resorts World Casino in New York City was not allowed to offer sports betting.
That means that despite living in the largest metropolitan area by population and square miles, Downstaters must travel Upstate to place bets in New York or wait for the launch of legal online sportsbooks early in 2022.
Status Of Online Sportsbooks In New York
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed online sports betting into the state budget in April 2021. The New York State Gaming Commission will award up to four licenses to legal online sportsbooks. It released an RFA in July and announced the list of sportsbooks that submitted a bid to launch mobile sports betting in the state.
Lawmakers are hopeful that New York bettors will be able to place bets in time for Super Bowl LVI.
What Choices Do New York Sports Bettors Have?
In the meantime, New Yorkers can travel to the retail sportsbooks. The closest one is at the Meadowlands across the bridge in New Jersey. The nearest in-state sportsbook is at Resorts World Catskills.
New Yorkers can also download a sports betting app that is available in New Jersey or Pennsylvania and travel over the state border to place a bet. As long as you’re at least 21 years old and physically located in the state, it doesn’t matter if you’re a New York City resident.
New York’s Neighbors: How Betting Works In Bordering States
Gambling In New Jersey
When people think of gambling in America, they likely think of Nevada first and New Jersey second. The home of Atlantic City, the Garden State is a premier destination for every type of betting, from casino games to sports betting.
New Jersey is also one of only a few states that have legalized every form of online gambling: casinos, sports, and poker. Not even Nevada can compete with that. Online casinos are not legal in the Silver State.
New Yorkers can legally play at any of these online casinos, sportsbook apps, or poker sites as long as they’re physically located in New Jersey.
Gambling In Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is another state that legalized every form of online gambling. While their online poker doesn’t share a player pool with other states, its massive population compensates for it.
Like in New Jersey, New Yorkers are free to download Pennsylvania sportsbook apps and register from the Big Apple. But you need to be physically located in Pennsylvania to place bets.
Much of the same options are available in both PA and NJ, and many are some of the highest quality sports betting apps and sites on the planet. These include DraftKings, FanDuel, FOX Bet, William Hill, Unibet, and Bet365.
The Best Way To Place Bets Online In New York City
Online sports betting is expected to launch by early 2022 once the New York State Gaming Commission awards licenses to sportsbook operators. In the meantime, New York City residents have limited options for betting online:
1. Find The Right Sportsbook App
A good example of a high-quality sportsbook app is DraftKings, and the same app can be used in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It’s easy to jump on the PATH train from Manhattan to place your bets, then head straight back to watch them come to fruition.
2. Register With The Proper Identification
When you register, make sure you use the name that matches your ID, as you’ll likely need to upload a photo of your ID to verify your age and identity and complete registration. You can do this from New York City.
Make sure to also allow the app to know your location. It’s a requirement so that the sportsbook can confirm you’re in an applicable state.
Important: Read all terms and conditions before opting in for a promotion. There may be a limited window between registration and when the promotion expires, so you’ll want to hold off on registration until the day you’re going to place bets.
3. Deposit And Take Advantage Of Promotions
From New York, you can also make a deposit and take advantage of any promotions that don’t involve betting, such as a deposit-matching bonus.
Deposit options at sportsbook apps include debit and credit card, direct bank transfer, PayNearMe retailers, and e-wallets like Skrill and PayPal.
4. Place Bets
Once you’re physically located in a state where you can legally bet on your chosen sportsbook, you can bet without limits. This includes props, futures, and parlays. Traveling to a neighboring state is the only way to bet on New York-based college sports, which will be the case even when New York launches online betting apps early next year.
5. Withdraw Winnings
Withdrawing winnings can be done from outside the state as well. That means you can travel to New Jersey to bet with the DraftKings app, then turn around and head home before the game ends.
If you win, you can cash out in a few different ways. The most common are direct bank transfer, check in the mail, and e-wallet like PayPal or Skrill.
Top 3 Sports Bars In Hoboken For Sports Betting
While sports bars that aren’t at a racetrack or casino can’t offer sports betting, New Yorkers can travel to New Jersey and bet from any bar in the state. All you have to do is register at a New Jersey sportsbook like DraftKings, and you’re good to go once you’re in the state.
The most conveniently located New Jersey city to Manhattan is Hoboken, which is accessible via a ten-minute ride on the train. Here are the top three sports bars located a short walk from the PATH station:
Wicked Wolf
In terms of atmosphere, it doesn’t get much better than Wicked Wolf on gameday. Just be sure you’re ready to be in a lively and crowded environment.
Black Bear And Grill
Wings, beer specials, nightly events, and a huge wall of televisions ensure you’ll always see the action.
Texas Arizona
Possibly the closest bar to the PATH station, Texas Arizona is in the top three purely because of the unrivaled convenience. But they still have good food, drinks, and plenty of TVs. What else could you want?
Betting In New York Vs. Neighboring States
If you compare retail sportsbooks in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, you’ll find that they’re virtually the same. You’ll see some difference in the odds and the food and drink offerings. But overall, the setup is relatively identical:
- Limited sports bar hours (with full food and drink menus)
- Limited betting window hours
- 24/7 betting kiosks
- A wall or two of giant LED TVs
- Leather chair seating as well as bar stools
However, you cannot bet on in-state schools in New York. That means no Syracuse University or Buff State. It also means playing March Madness pools is relatively limited to free-to-play promotional tournaments or office pools.
In both states, the following types of bets are legal:
- Straight moneyline bets
- Points spread
- Over/Under
- Futures
- Prop bets
- Parlays
- Teasers and Pleasers
In all three states, in-game betting is legal, meaning you can place bets after the game has begun. Sportsbooks can also offer an unlimited number of prop bets, from player performances to general game events, such as the number of field goals.
New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania also restrict gambling on esports contests with players under 18, any amateur sports, politics, TV competitions, and the weather.
Most Common Questions About NYC Sports Betting
No. The closest retail sportsbooks to NYC is in Upstate New York. New York City residents will eventually be able to bet on sports online now that the state has legalized mobile sports betting. Apps are expected to launch by early 2022.
Zero. Manhattan does not have any legal sportsbooks, and neither does any other part of New York City.
FanDuel Sportsbook at Meadowlands. The closest sportsbook from anywhere in New York City, at least by distance, is the FanDuel Sportsbook located in the Meadowlands Racetrack, which shares a parking lot with MetLife Stadium.
Yes. In April 2021, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed online sports betting into the state budget. The New York State Gaming Commission will review and award licenses bringing online apps to bettors’ phones by early 2022.
Yes. You do not need to be a state resident to join an online sportsbook in New Jersey or Pennsylvania. The only requirement for sportsbook registration in both states is that you’re at least 21 years old. To place a bet, you also need to be physically located in the state, and the app verifies that using geolocation.
Yes, but you cannot use the DraftKings Sportsbook to bet online in New York yet. You can, however, download the app, register, make deposits, and withdraw from your account while in New York City or anywhere else in the state. You must be physically located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or another accessible state to place bets using the DraftKings Sportsbook app.
No, but the retail FanDuel Sportsbook is located at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, making it the closest retail sportsbook to New York City. You can also cross the river into New Jersey and bet using the FanDuel Sportsbook app anywhere in the state. It is completely legal to do so as a New Yorker.
Hopefully. Now that online sports betting in New York is legal, NY bettors are anticipating online sportsbooks to launch in time for Super Bowl LVI in early 2022.
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