While the state is liberal in its stance on gambling, all betting practices are strictly regulated by stringent laws. The rules for governance vary from option to option, but as with all income in the USA, winnings from players are taxed at both state and federal levels. The laws for the various legal betting practices can be summarised as follows:

• Horserace betting: Gamblers, aged 18 years and older may participate in track betting on horses alone (Greyhound racing is illegal). There are currently 4 operating Live race venues in the state, including Belmont Park (the oldest), Saratoga Racecourse, Yonkers Raceway, and Aqueduct Racetrack. Off-track betting is allowed with prominent bookmakers, like TVG, TwinSpires, BetAmerica, and XpressBet.

• Racino casinos: All the Live racing tracks, along with a handful of defunct ones offer casino-like entertainment on their grounds. They are restricted to offer only electronic-type offerings (VLTs) and commonly provide slot machines, lottery machines, video poker games, and other electronic table games. Players must be older than 21 years old to bet on these games and cannot smoke on the gaming floors.

• Commercial Casinos: Commercial business may apply to the state for casino licenses to run betting venues in upstate New York. These venues are not limited to electronic gaming options and may offer traditional card games, dice games, roulette, and sports betting in addition to slots, video poker, and other electronic table games. No smoking is allowed in public buildings and all players must be 21 years or older to participate in this form of gambling.

• Tribal Casinos: Tribal casinos are regulated in accordance with the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. These operations are hosted on reservation grounds and do not have a limit on the type of casino games they may offer to patrons. Unlike commercial casinos, smoking cigarettes is allowed on tribal casino floors, but the age restriction for gambling remains 21 years of age.

• Lottery: All residents of the state that are older than 18 years of age may play lotto scratch games and participate in draws, whether they are state-run, or countrywide draws, like Powerball and Mega Millions. Billions of dollars have been raised for education at public schools in the state thanks to the lottery.

• Charitable Gambling: Charitable gambling can be conducted by registered Non-Profitable Organisations in New York, as per the Charitable Gaming Act of 2017. While there is no set age restriction on playing bingo, tab games, or participating in raffles, there are other strict provisos that must be held to by hosting organisations. The NPO must be in existence for a year before offering gambling and must report on winnings and prizes to the state if they top $30,000. Large scale raffles will also require a license to operate.

The New York State Gaming Commission regulates all aspects of gaming activity in the region, including commercial and tribal casino gaming, horserace betting, lottery,  and charitable gambling. It has been in existence since 2013 and was formed to govern the increased gambling climate within the state.

The commission’s mission statement is concise and explains their duties and ethos in full:

“The New York State Gaming Commission's mission is to ensure that all lawful gaming and horse racing activity conducted in this State is of the highest integrity, credibility, and quality. Operating in the most efficient and transparent manner, the Commission conducts the New York Lottery and serves the best interests of the public by providing responsive and effective state gaming regulation. The Commission strives to ensure that all stakeholders in the gaming and horse racing industries, including the consumers who wager on activities regulated or operated by the Commission, are treated in an equitable and responsible manner and to promote the health and safety of horses and all participants in racing.

By consolidating various regulatory functions into one oversight body with broad powers, the Commission seeks to ensure fair and strict regulation of all gaming activity while reducing costs and regulatory burdens to the gaming industry. The Commission aspires to provide the regulatory structure necessary for New York gaming activity to operate effectively in a global, evolving and increasingly competitive marketplace to generate revenue for aid to education and for the support of government, and to contribute to overall economic development and job creation in New York.”

Licenses are required for all operators of gambling entertainment, even if they are for charitable reasons. The vetting process is strict and includes thorough background checks, including criminal checks and financial suitability investigation. The regulator leaves no stone unturned in ensuring that responsible gambling protocols are practised by all and that gambling consumers are suitably protected from abuse.