New York Casinos
New York and red tape seem to go hand in hand, and the push for legal online casinos will head into next year as no legislation was passed in the one-house budget proposals. The landscape is however changing both online and offline. While currently there are four casinos in the state, each located upstate and a long distance from New York City, there are plans for three more.
Current Upstate Casinos
Two of the three new locations are already known, with Resorts World New York City opening in Queens and the Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers (potentially rebranded as MGM Empire City). However, it's the third that's in question, with many big names in the mix and various locales being touted.
Potential Downstate Developments
It's no secret that huge industry names such as Las Vegas Sands, Hard Rock, Wynn and Bally's all have their names in the hat. There's talk of opening up in Queens or even Times Square, with Belmont and Coney Island also being mentioned. So while things are progressing on the bricks-and-mortar front, what about online New York casinos?
Online Casino Legislation
Due to the New York State constitution forbidding games of chance, it means that laws need to be passed—and we're all aware that takes time and patience. Legislation in 2022 and 2023 failed; however, with plenty of support and many big names waiting on the sidelines, it seems it's a matter of when, not if. Caesars, Golden Nugget and MGM each now have their online product and would each be likely to apply for a New York online casino license, as would the likes of FanDuel and DraftKings.
Offshore and Social Options
There are many social-style casinos and sweepstakes games and apps for New Yorkers; however, for real money action it's the same as it's ever been, and players will continue to flock to the regulated offshore casinos that serve them, of which there is a huge choice.