Can You Play Poker In New York?

New York is home to 12 live poker rooms across commercial casinos, tribal resorts, and private clubs, with locations spanning from Buffalo to NYC. In-person poker is fully legal at licensed venues, and home games are allowed as long as no one profits from hosting. New York online poker remains unregulated, but New Yorkers can legally join offshore sites like BetOnline. This page breaks down how to play poker in New York, every legal poker option in the state, including the closest room to your city, home game laws, and more.

New York Online Poker Rooms

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100% match up to $1,000 + 8 days of free tournament tickets

Is Poker Legal In New York?

In-person poker is legal in New York at licensed tribal casinos and private social settings. Regulated poker rooms can be found at upstate casinos like Resorts World Catskills and Turning Stone, operating under the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) and tribal gaming compacts. Additionally, social poker games (played amongst friends in private) are generally permitted under N.Y. Penal Law § 225.00, provided the organizer doesn’t benefit financially.

Online poker, however, remains in a legal gray area. While proposals to legalize real-money online poker have circulated in Albany for years, none have passed. The New York Penal Law Article 225 broadly criminalizes unlicensed gambling, but offshore poker sites fall outside state regulation. Thus, individual players are not targeted, and playing on these legal online poker sites that accept New York is not against the law.

What Is The Legal Poker Age In New York?

In New York, the legal age for poker is 21, as specified by N.Y. Penal Law § 220.00 and 230.00. This applies to in-person gambling, and violating this age requirement can lead to criminal penalties, including fines or imprisonment. New York poker sites that are offshore, like BetOnline, legally accept players who are at least 18 years old.

Play New York Online Poker At BetOnline

Live Poker Rooms In New York

New York offers a mix of live poker rooms across casinos and card clubs, each with its own rules and amenities. The table below lists every live poker room currently in New York.

Casino/Poker Room Name Address Phone Number URL
Turning Stone Resort Casino 5218 Patrick Rd, Verona, NY 13478 (315) 361-8676 www.turningstone.com/gaming/poker-room
Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino 310 4th St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 (716) 278-6300 www.senecaniagaracasino.com/casino/poker
Resorts World Catskills 888 Resorts World Dr, Monticello, NY 12701 (845) 428-7200 ext. 1785 www.rwcatskills.com/casino/poker
Del Lago Resort & Casino 1133 State Route 414, Waterloo, NY 13165 (315) 946-1759 www.dellagoresort.com/casino/poker
Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady 1 Rush St, Schenectady, NY 12305 (518) 579-8800 www.riverscasino.com/schenectady/gaming/poker
Tioga Downs Casino Resort 2384 W River Rd, Nichols, NY 13812 (607) 699-3900 www.tiogadowns.com/gaming/poker
Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino 777 Seneca Allegany Blvd, Salamanca, NY 14779 (716) 945-3200 www.senecaalleganycasino.com/casino/poker
Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort 873 State Route 37, Hogansburg, NY 13655 (518) 358-2222 www.mohawkcasino.com/gaming/poker
Point Place Casino 450 NY-31, Bridgeport, NY 13030 (315) 366-9610 www.pointplacecasino.com/gaming/poker
Yellow Brick Road Casino 800 W Genesee St, Chittenango, NY 13037 (315) 366-9400 www.yellowbrickroadcasino.com/gaming/poker
Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino 1 Fulton St, Buffalo, NY 14204 (716) 299-1100 www.senecabuffalocreekcasino.com/casino/poker
NYC Poker Clubs 270 W 36th St., New York, NY 10018 (347) 471-1813 https://nycpokerclubs.com/

 

Closest Live Poker Rooms

Wherever you are, New York’s poker scene offers something within reach. For poker players across New York’s largest cities, there’s likely a room within driving distance.

  • In New York City, the most accessible option is NYC Poker Clubs, located in Midtown Manhattan, offering private club-style games just steps from Penn Station.
  • Buffalo players are closest to Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, conveniently downtown with easy access and a solid selection of cash games.
  • In Rochester and the Finger Lakes region, Del Lago Resort & Casino in Waterloo is the nearest full-service poker room.
  • Albany residents can head to Rivers Casino in Schenectady, only about 20 minutes away.
  • Those near Syracuse have two strong options: Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona and Yellow Brick Road Casino in Chittenango.
  • Western and Southern Tier players, including those in Binghamton, will find Tioga Downs Casino their most accessible destination.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) On How To Play Poker In New York

Can You Play Poker At Home For Money?

Playing poker at home for money is generally legal in New York, provided the game is truly social and no one profits from hosting it. The gambling laws in New York primarily target those who profit from gambling activities. Therefore, private, non-commercial poker games where no rake or house fee is taken are typically not prosecuted. Nonetheless, hosting games where the organizer profits could be considered promoting gambling under § 225.05

Can I Play On Borgata In New York?

Borgata Poker is not in New York, despite its large presence in New Jersey. If Borgata launched its real-money poker site for New York players, it would be very popular. They feature a tournament schedule that has Sit & Go’s, Mega Tuesday/Thursday events, and a Sunday $35K highlight. New players in NJ enjoy a 100% deposit match up to $600, so you can only imagine the online poker bonuses that New York residents would receive in the future.

Is BetOnline Poker Available in New York?

BetOnline Poker is legal for New York residents. The site accepts players from NY and operates as an offshore poker platform, free from New York-specific restrictions. New Yorkers can take advantage of BetOnline’s Bad Beat Jackpot, which rewards players across multiple tables when a qualifying bad beat occurs. BetOnline also supports fast-paced formats like Boost (fast-fold) and Triple Threat tournaments that mix bounties, jackpots, and prize pools. Daily Cash Game Leaderboards and the Telegram community add extra layers of competition and exclusive promos.

Is Ignition Poker Legal In New York?

Ignition Poker is not legal for New York residents. As of 2021, Ignition ceased accepting online poker deposits and offering services to players in New York due to legal uncertainty and increased restrictions anticipated by state lawmakers. Keep in mind, this decision has changed multiple times. So, if they ever allow access again, you'll find yourself with the largest U.S. poker network having soft tables filled with recreational players.

Is Bovada Legal In New York?

Bovada Poker is not legal in New York as the site restricts access to players due to legal concerns and updated terms of service. Although New York players can’t access it, Bovada stands out with its large U.S. player pool. Bovada was once available in NY, so this could change again in the future.