New York's online casino picture shifted on three fronts in June 2026: a stalled iGaming bill, a sweepstakes-casino ban that is now actively enforced, and three downstate land-based casinos cleared to break ground. Here's what changed — and what it means for players using the offshore sites we review.
Online Casino Legalization Stalls Again
New York's push to legalize regulated online casinos has collapsed for another year. State Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. confirmed in early June 2026 that he is no longer advancing Senate Bill S2614 — or its Assembly companion, A5922 from Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner — after concluding that Governor Kathy Hochul would not sign an iGaming bill even if it cleared both chambers. With the legislative session ending June 4 and online casino gaming left out of the state budget, New York will not have a legal, state-regulated iCasino market before the 2027 session at the earliest. The bill had proposed a 30.5% tax on online casino gross gaming revenue — well below the state's 51% online sports-betting rate. We broke down the bill's collapse in New York Online Casino Bill S2614 Dies as the 2026 Session Closes.
Sweepstakes Casino Ban Now in Force
New York's prohibition on dual-currency “sweepstakes” casinos is law. Governor Hochul signed S5935A in December 2025, empowering the New York State Gaming Commission, State Police, and the Attorney General to issue cease-and-desist orders and levy fines of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation — with liability reaching operators, payment processors, geolocation providers, and marketing affiliates. The statute followed Attorney General Letitia James's June 2025 cease-and-desist letters to 26 sweepstakes operators, most of which have already pulled out of the state. See our explainer, New York Bans Online Sweepstakes Casinos.
Three Downstate Casinos Cleared to Build
On the land-based side, the New York State Gaming Commission gave final approval on December 15, 2025 to three downstate casino licenses: Metropolitan Park at Willets Point in Queens (backed by Mets owner Steve Cohen), Resorts World New York City at Aqueduct in South Ozone Park, and Bally's in the Bronx's Throggs Neck. Resorts World aims to open the first phase of its expanded casino in 2026, while Metropolitan Park and Bally's are targeting 2030 openings. For the full list and license details, read New York Awards Three Downstate Casino Licenses.
What It Means for New York Players Right Now
For New York players using the licensed offshore casinos reviewed in our New York online casino rankings, none of these developments changes the day-to-day picture: deposits, withdrawals, and gameplay continue uninterrupted. The takeaway is that while New York keeps expanding land-based gaming and cracking down on illegal operators, a regulated online casino market remains stuck until at least 2027 — so offshore sites remain the only real-money online casino option for New Yorkers right now. For the full legal context, see our guide on whether online gambling is legal in New York.