When Will New Yorkers Be Able to Legally Bet on Sports Online?

After years of watching neighboring New Jersey rack up millions of dollars in tax revenue — many of which came from New York residents crossing the border — from online sports betting and iGaming, New York finally legalized online gambling and should launch soon.

The question residents and travelers alike are wondering: When? What's the date users will be able to sign up, deposit, and bet from the comfort of their NY homes?

The answer: Things are still up in the air, although New York State Senator Joe Addabbo has said this fall that the goal is to have legal online betting prior to the Super Bowl on February 13, 2022.

With the NFL playoffs beginning in January, the state and operators alike are highly incentivized to get live as soon as possible to start accumulating tax revenue. All in all, we expect adults in New York to be able to place bets sometime in January or early February.

Sportsbooks Launching in New York

It was unclear until just a few months ago which operators would be given licenses in New York. Several groups put together proposals or bids, of which NY regulators chose two, giving out a total of nine licenses. The winning sportsbooks will be allowed to operate for the next 10 years.

The operators approved for online access are as follows:

Of note, Rush Street is the parent company of both BetRivers and SugarHouse, which operate collectively in 10-plus states currently.

Some notable absences include Penn National, including Barstool Sportsbook, as well as some of the European operator powerhouses like Unibet and bet365. More sportsbooks could be added down the road, but it's unclear on the timeline or which operators are next in line to get approved.