- Online blackjack may be legalized in New York in 2026, opening the door for potential gaming apps to offer casino games in the state.
- There are currently in-person casinos in New York offering blackjack, but no locally regulated online casinos.
NEW YORK – A new bill has been filed by New York Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. which seeks to legalize locally regulated online casino games. A companion measure was also introduced by New York State Assembly member Carrie Woerner to aid in the effort for legalized online casinos.
There had been previous efforts to bring legalized online gaming to the state, but to no avail.
However, the bill may see more support than in previous times due to the rise of offshore online casino games, which have continuously cut into potential revenue for the state.
New York has multiple in-person casinos with blackjack available to play, but no locally regulated online options, making offshore online casinos the only viable way to play online blackjack games for New York residents.
Effects of The Bill
Active gambling operators in the state would automatically be granted online casino licenses, allowing the bill to take immediate effect. This includes commercial casinos, mobile sports betting apps, and slot machine operators.
Online blackjack would instantly be available for New York residents on a variety of domestically regulated apps, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, as well as commercial casinos that create their own apps if / when the bill is passed.
The bill proposes a 30.5% tax on gaming revenue, which seems steep but is actually lower than the state’s 51% tax on mobile sports betting, though it is a higher figure than other states with blackjack regulated locally.
Other provisions in the bill would require some of the tax revenue to be distributed between multiple facets of the state, including worker training and responsible gaming programs, as well as health programs and investments into the economy.