It can be overwhelming picking just one of the best sites for online poker in New York to sign up to. However, if you know what to look for, you can narrow down the truly excellent places. Here, at PokerScout, we’ll show you the top online poker tournaments in NY, state legalities, and more.
| No 1 Crypto Poker |
CoinPoker |
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| Play Hi-Lo Stud |
Americas Card Room |
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| WSOP Qualifiers |
Black Chip Poker |
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| Play 7 Card Stud |
Ya Poker |
Poker Bonus of 100% up to $2,000 |
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Ya Poker
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Reviews of Online Poker NY Rooms for September
Based on hours of grinding, we suggest trying these US poker sites if you’re looking for the best online poker NY has to offer:
1. CoinPoker – Best Overall Online Poker New York Site
| Poker Network | License | Payout Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Independent | Curaçao eGaming | Within 24 hours |
- Poker Games Variety 9/10 – The selection of 5 Card Omaha and Hold’em is plentiful to play online poker for real money in New York. But we’d like to see Stud games in the future.
- Poker Tournaments 9/10 – It’s hard to criticize a New York online poker site that has ₮2,500 freerolls and Sunday MTTs paying out ₮600,000.
- Traffic and Player Base 9/10 – Unlike other popular New York poker rooms, CoinPoker isn’t part of a network. That makes it more appealing because the executives at CoinPoker have full control over the games they run, unlike networked operators. This means players get more of what they like, which increases traffic.
- Software Quality 10/10 – No other New York online poker sites come close to CoinPoker in terms of software because it offers anonymous payments and blockchain-powered games.
- Betting Limits and Payments 10/10 – You can play MTTs for just ₮0.01 at CoinPoker and make crypto payments using BTC, USDT, and other popular tokens. It also has a dedicated token (CHP) that gives holders access to special bonuses.
- Mobile Friendliness 9/10 – You can access crypto payments, rakeback, and great games via CoinPoker’s Windows and Android app.
CoinPoker is the ideal place to play Omaha. We regularly ante up in the 4-max cash games, and there’s always a ton of action at the 5 Card Omaha tables. Hold’em hasn’t been excluded from the mix, so don’t worry if Omaha isn’t your thing.
You do need to know how crypto payments work, but there are plenty of guides online for that. Once you know how to transfer BTC and other tokens, you’ll have access to daily freerolls, ₮100,000 guaranteed MTTs, and 33% rakeback.
You might even catch iconic poker pro Tony G playing one of his regular games on this New York poker site.
Read our detailed CoinPoker review to learn more about the platform.
Pros
- Anonymous payments
- 33% rakeback
- Fair blockchain technology
- Plenty of juicy Omaha games
Cons
- You can only make crypto payments
- Doesn’t have Stud or Draw Games
- Anonymous poker with easy registration
- Get 33% rakeback every Monday
- Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
2. ACR Poker – Best New York Online Poker Site for MTTs
| Poker Network | License | Payout Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Winning Poker Network (WPN) | Costa Rica | Within 48 hours |
- Poker Games Variety 9/10 – This operator is highly recommended for anyone who wants to play more than just Hold’em and Omaha because there’s a nice selection of Stud games. We love the $1/$2 Stud Hi/Lo cash games, but you might want to try the mid-stakes Stud 8 tournaments.
- Poker Tournaments 10/10 – ACR is one of the best online poker New York sites for players who enjoy MTTs because there is $10.7 million up for grabs every week. ACR also runs an annual series known as Venom, which has multiple MTTs with prizepools topping $12.6 million.
- Traffic and Player Base 9/10 – The Winning Poker Network is available in dozens of countries, which means there’s never a shortage of action at ACR. There is a decent number of pros who use ACR, but they mainly focus on MTTs costing $500+. At lower stakes, you’ll find a lot of fishy players attracted by the prospect of $1 million tournament payouts.
- Software Quality 7.5/10 – While ACR suffers from the occasional glitch and server outages, it’s still a safe place to play online poker in NY.
- Betting Limits and Payments 8/10 – The tournament team at ACR increased the number of low-stakes MTTs by 37% in 2024, so it’s a great place for novices to make fiat or crypto deposits from as little as $10.
- Mobile Friendliness 9/10 – Android users can download the slick mobile app, whereas iOS players have to settle for the optimized site for now.
ACR’s commitment to running record-breaking tournaments was clear for all to see at the start of 2024. In addition to adding more low-stakes MTTs, the team increased the site’s weekly guarantees by 13%.
Add the annual $20 million Venom series to the mix, and it’s hard to say ACR isn’t the best place for tournament poker in New York.
Pros
- Record-breaking $12.5 million MTTs
- Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud cash games
- Crypto, fiat, and player-to-player payments
- Native Android app
Cons
- Software issues in the past
- No iOS app
- WPN network with solid player base
- Blitz poker for speed and convenience
- Seven card stud poker available
3. Black Chip Poker – Top NY Poker Site for Cash Games
| Poker Network | License | Payout Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Winning Poker Network (WPN) | Curaçao eGaming | Within 48 hours |
- Poker Games Variety 9/10 – There are plenty of Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud games from $0.01/$0.02 to $2/$4 and above at this New York poker site.
- Poker Tournaments 10/10 – You’ll never be short of options at Black Chip, thanks to daily freerolls, $1 tourneys, and multi-million-dollar MTTs such as the Sunday Special, BIG10, and Venom.
- Traffic and Player Base 9/10 – Black Chip poker is available in multiple countries, including the US, UK, and Canada. This means you’ll find action at all times of the day or night. It also creates a diverse playerpool.
- Software Quality 7.5/10 – The software is reliable, but, personally, we’re not sold on the design. If we had our way, the predominantly black color scheme would be swapped for something less daunting. That being said, 2FA means your account is extra safe, and the ACR reshuffle significantly reduces the threat of collusion.
- Betting Limits and Payments 8/10 – Witn this online poker NY site, you’ll be able to make safe, anonymous, and lightning-fast payments from $20 using over 60 cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, and USDT.
- Mobile Friendliness 9/10 – Like ACR, Black Chip Poker doesn’t have an iOS app yet. However, the Android app has received positive feedback from players for its responsiveness, smooth transitions, and user-friendliness.
There are a lot of similarities between Black Chip and ACR because they share the same network. This means the MTT schedule is unparalleled in terms of seven-figure guarantees.
However, this online poker New York site stands apart from its stablemate because of its Elite VIP benefits, such as cash bonuses and free tournament tickets.
Read our full Black Chip Poker review to learn more about the NY online poker site.
Pros
- Accepts 50+ cryptocurrencies
- 27% rakeback
- Great selection of WSOP qualifiers
- Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud games
Cons
- Design might not suit everyone’s tastes
- Not many high-stakes cash games
- Play with other US poker players from all non-regulated states
- Winning poker network
- Seven card stud and 5 table PLO available
4. Ya Poker – Best NY Online Poker Site for Bonuses
| Poker Network | License | Payout Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Winning Poker Network (WPN) | Curaçao eGaming | Within 24 hours |
- Poker Games Variety 9/10 – Hold’em, Omaha, 5 Card Omaha, and two types of 7 Card Stud mean you’ve got access to a broader selection of cash games at Ya Poker than a lot of NY poker sites.
- Poker Tournaments 10/10 – We always sing the praises of ACR when it comes to tournaments, but Ya Poker is just as impressive in this department. As part of the Winning Poker Network, Ya Poker offers more than $10 million in weekly guarantees and plenty of MTT series.
- Traffic and Player Base 8.5/10 – Traffic is never an issue because WPN is a global network. Our only slight issue with Ya Poker is that it can attract a few more grinders than other sites, which makes the mid-stakes games a bit tougher.
- Software Quality 8.5/10 – We prefer Ya Poker’s aesthetic to that of its stablemate, Black Chip Poker. The downloadable platform is easy to use, but we’re not a huge fan of the way you have to select and unselect tabs to show and hide games.
- Betting Limits and Payments 10/10 – Cash games run from $0.01/$0.02 to $5,000/$10,000, so there are plenty of options for all bankrolls. It’s also nice to see fiat (USD) and crypto payment options, including BTC and ETH.
- Mobile Friendliness 9/10 – The interface could be slightly more refined, but the fact that you can download Ya Poker on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices is great.
The range of stakes you can play for, coupled with a steady stream of traffic, means you’ll never be short of action at Ya Poker. We are fans of the little touches such as deal-making, staking, 2FA, and stats courtesy of a native heads-up display (HUD).
If you’re a fan of MTTs, this is the NY poker site for you. In addition to weekly MTT, you’ll have the chance to play for $20 million prizepools in the Online Super Series, Moneymaker Tour Aruba, The Sunday Moneymaker, and Venom.
Pros
- Over $10 million in weekly guarantees
- Plenty of online and live tournament series
- Cash game stakes up to $5,000/$10,000
- Novel features, including native HUD
Cons
- Some cash games are tough to beat
- Navigation could be improved
- Step satellites for popular tournaments
- Check players at tables with rail tickets
- WPN - US friendly poker network
Green Flags at Online New York Poker Rooms
The following green flags will help you filter through all the online poker sites in New York and choose the perfect one for you:
You should only use legit sites if you’re going to play online poker with real money in NYC. Regulations are enforced by licensing agencies such as Curaçao eGaming, so a stamp of approval from these agencies ensures you’re in safe hands.
Positive reputations are forged in two ways: time and/or technology. ACR has been going strong since 2001, so it must be doing something right.
Conversely, although CoinPoker hasn’t been around as long, its blockchain technology ensures that all results can be publicly verified, which keeps its reputation in check.
As a standard, we look for New York online poker sites that offer Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud. There should be cash games, SNGs, jackpot SNGs, and MTTs for these variants.
It’s no use running these games if they’re not available to players at every level.
CoinPoker has MTTs that cost as little as 1 cent and as much as ₮1,000. Throw some freerolls into the mix and you’ve got a great NY online poker site.
The best online poker sites for New York players strive to give you something extra. These extras can be bonuses, rakeback, expedited withdrawals, and better customer service.
All of the New York State online poker rooms we recommend have unique features that set them apart from average gaming sites.
CoinPoker uses cutting-edge blockchain technology that no other New York online poker site has. Ya Poker has an impressive VIP rewards program, and other sites on the Winning Poker Network run record-breaking tournaments.
These are the types of extras you should demand when you play online poker in NY.
Popular NY Online Poker Games
All of the best sites for online poker in New York offer three games: Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud.
The observant among you will notice that Draw or niche variants like Razz, Badugi, or Mixed Games haven’t been included.
But if you like the idea of holding and exchanging cards, you can play Casino Poker variants such as Tri Card Poker and Video Poker are solid options.
Whereas, if you’d prefer to compete against other players, the busiest and best games online are Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud.
Texas Hold’em
Texas Hold’em is used for the biggest tournaments in poker, including the WSOP Main Event, and it’s the game that almost everyone learns first.
Each player receives two cards only they can see (hole cards). These cards can be combined with a set of communal cards (community cards). The aim is to make the best 5-card hand or win pots uncontested by making everyone else fold.
Texas Hold’em hands can play out over four betting rounds:
- A betting round (pre-flop) takes place, and if 2 or more players remain active, 3 community cards are dealt (the flop).
- Another betting round takes place at this point, and if 2 or more players remain active, a fourth community card (the turn) is dealt.
- A fifth community card (the river) is dealt if 2 or more players complete another betting round.
- A final betting round occurs after the river card is dealt, and a showdown takes place if 2 or more players call the last biggest bet.
There are tons of things to think about when you play Hold’em, but our top tip for beginners is to look at poker hands like stories. Your goal is to tell a believable story.
If you want to run a bluff, make sure people think you’re a tight player and start the hand aggressively. If you want to trap someone, feign weakness. Tell believable stories, and you’re more likely to get the outcomes you want.
Omaha
Omaha is an extreme version of Hold’em. By and large, the rules are the same. You need to make the best 5-card card or get everyone else to fold.
Hands also play out over four betting rounds, with up to five community cards being dealt in the same sequence as Hold’em. These are two differences that make Omaha an extreme version of Hold’em:
- Each player gets four hole cards.
- You must use two hole cards to make ranked hands.
These conditions require you to think of more hand combinations. More possible hand combinations create more variance, which places greater importance on hand selection, hand reading, and pot control.
Omaha comes in two main forms: Hi and Hi/Lo. The former requires you to make the best high hand, while Hi/Lo gives you two ways to win pots: with the best high hand or the best low hand.
The main tip for both types of Omaha is to start as you mean to go on. Specifically, make sure all four cards are closely related so that you’ve got a better chance of making strong hands after the flop.
Stud
Stud games, such as 7 Card Stud, don’t have community cards. Instead, everyone receives their own set of cards. Some are dealt face-down, and the rest are dealt face-up. For example, in 7 Card Stud, 3 cards are dealt face-down, and four are dealt face-up.
This means the hands you make are based on your cards. In turn, your decisions should be based on the cards in front of you and the ones on display around the table.
ACR has some juicy Stud games, and our tip is to learn the basics by playing small-stakes games where there are likely to be more newbies.
In addition to game selection, don’t run too many bluffs because most NY poker sites offer Limit games. It’s much harder to force people off made hands when the amount you can bet or raise is limited.
Poker Variations at the Best New York Online Poker Sites
Here’s a quick overview of the ways you can play online poker with real money in New York:
| NYC Online Poker Site | Social Poker | Hold’em | Omaha | Stud |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoinPoker | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| ACR Poker | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Black Chip Poker | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Ya Poker | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
How to Play Online Poker in NY
Here’s how to play online poker in NY once you’ve registered with a top-rated site like CoinPoker.
- Use our secure sign-up link to complete the registration process.
- Open the “Cashier” page and make a deposit (eg USDT or BTC).
- Open one of the following tabs: Cash Games, Tournaments, or SNGs.
- Filter the results by variants, buy-ins, and number of seats per table.
- Open a table and use the settings menu to adjust the layout, colors, and cards.
NY Online Poker Bonuses to Claim
Here are some of the top poker bonuses to look out for at our recommended New York online poker sites:
The best position you can be in when it comes to NY poker online is being a new customer because welcome bonuses contain the most added value.
In fact, this is why we tell people to join as many New York poker rooms as possible. As long as you do it responsibly, joining all of the best sites for online poker in New York gives you the chance to get thousands of dollars in site credit and tournament tickets.
Make sure you understand the wagering requirements and minimum deposit limits – you’ll need to hit specific rake targets (wagering targets) to convert bonus credits into cash.
Free tournament tickets aren’t just for new customers. You can get entry to special MTTs as an existing customer by claiming reload bonuses and earning VIP rewards.
The beauty of playing real money tournaments is that they pay cash prizes to the top finishers. Therefore, you can turn free tickets into cash prizes that aren’t locked away until you hit certain betting (rake) targets.
Not all multi-table tournaments (MTTs) have a buy-in. The best online poker sites in New York run free-to-enter called freerolls.
For example, you can log into CoinPoker on any given day and enter freerolls with prizepools ranging from ₮50 to ₮2,500.
You can even enter satellite freerolls that give the top finishers access to big buy-in MTTS. As it is with free tournament ticket bonuses, any money you win from freerolls is paid in cash and yours to keep.
There are plenty of qualities to consider before you join an online poker NY site. However, we often choose sites that offer rakeback because it can be extremely lucrative.
Rake is a small fee you pay each time you play cash game pots and enter tournaments. Rakeback allows you to claim back some of this money.
For example, CoinPoker offers customers 33% rakeback. If you played real money poker in NY at CoinPoker and paid $500 in rake, you’d get $165 back at the end of the week.
If rakeback isn’t available, we’ll look at websites for online poker in New York that offer VIP rewards. These rewards are similar in the sense that you earn points based on the amount of rake you pay.
Points determine your VIP status, and that unlocks a variety of rewards, including cash bonuses, free tournament tickets, and special prizes. Ya Poker is the best NY online poker site for VIP rewards.
Are There Real Money Poker Apps in New York?
Yes, there are two ways to play poker New York online cash games and tournaments: optimized poker apps and instant-play sites.
Some sites have optimized instant-play platforms, which means you can play from a mobile browser. Others, such as CoinPoker and ACR Poker, have a dedicated app for Windows and Android.
For example, CoinPoker operates much smoother on mobile than on PC with some updates hitting its app before the desktop version. The app offers some of the best cash games on the market, juicy prizepools and more.
There are many benefits to using a real money poker app in New York including exclusive mobile-deposit bonuses now-and-again, softer fields as many regs usually grind on their computers, and ease of playing anywhere, anytime.
What is the Best Payment Method for Online Poker New York?
Crypto is our preferred payment method of choice to play online poker for real money in NYC.
ACR et al. do accept fiat payments, but US gambling laws mean that transactions aren’t always guaranteed when you use debit/credit cards and bank transfers.
Ewallets such as Skrill are useful because they act as an intermediary between your bank and a poker site.
However, if you want fast, secure, and guaranteed transactions, look for crypto poker sites which accept Bitcoin, USDT, and other cryptocurrencies.
Can you play online poker in New York for free? Yes, New York free poker sites are legal in the state, and we’ll touch more on this further down the page.
There are free NY poker sites which comply with US sweepstakes laws because you play for virtual coins rather than cash. These coins can be redeemed for prizes, a bit like raffle tickets.
This is perfectly legal in the Empire State, which is why we recommend giving New York free poker sites if you’re a newbie.
New York State Online Poker Laws
Is online poker legal in New York? Not currently. However, there are two ways to play legal online poker in New York despite the lack of state regulations at the time of writing:
- You can use New York free poker sites (aka sweepstakes sites).
- You can play real money online poker in New York using offshore sites.
Let’s now discuss real money poker in New York.
The Changing Landscape of Legal Online Poker in New York
Historically, the Empire State has taken a hard line against all forms of gambling, including online poker. For example, in 2009, the Southern District of New York (SDNY) Action Against Online Poker Players ordered four banks to freeze payments owed to 27,000 poker players.
That action was based on an act known as UIGEA, a federal law that didn’t make online poker illegal. Therefore, the Southern District of New York’s legal action was based on payments rather than online poker as an activity.
Therefore, because online poker isn’t explicitly outlawed in New York, there are ways to play. Specifically, you can use offshore poker sites that process payments in a variety of ways, including via crypto transfers.
When Will Online Poker Be Legal in New York?
A new NY online poker bill was submitted by Senator Joseph Addabbo in June 2024. This New York online poker bill followed previous attempts to regulate the industry on a state level.
Despite a desire among some to regulate the New York online poker scene, no bills have been signed into law.
Therefore, at the time of writing, New York State online poker defaults to federal law, ie it’s not illegal to play poker online.
Can You Play Online Poker in New York for Real Money?
Yes, you can play online poker with real money in New York using offshore poker sites like CoinPoker, ACR, and Ya Poker.
In fact, some of the softest cash games and poker tournaments NYC has to offer are on these sites. So, if you want to play real money poker in NY, it’s worth checking out offshore platforms.
Are Poker Winnings Taxable in New York?
Gambling winnings are taxable in New York, but the current laws don’t apply to online poker as it’s not regulated. Also, online New York poker rooms are based offshore, which means they don’t report to US tax authorities.
Top Land-Based Poker Rooms in New York
Online poker in New York is great, but what if you want to spread your wings and ante up in live games? You’re in luck because there are plenty of fantastic live poker rooms in the Empire State.
- Address: 5218 Patrick Rd, Verona, NY 13478
- Opening hours: 24/7
- Number of tables: 32
- Poker tournaments options: $100 tournaments throughout the week + WSOP events
- Extras: Table-side dining and drinks, comps earned at $1-$1.50 per hour
Located in Central New York, Turning Stone is home to the state’s biggest poker room and several exciting facilities.
- Address: 1 Rush St, Schenectady, NY 12305, USA
- Opening hours: 10 am to 2 am Mon-Sun
- Number of tables: 16
- Poker tournaments options: Weekly events starting at $25
- Extras: Table-side dining and drinks, bonus hands, Rush Rewards Program
Part of the famous Rivers Casino empire, this poker room is great for low-cost tournaments and loyalty rewards.
Poker in Other States
The only way to describe the online poker landscape in America is fractured. Some states, such as New Jersey and Nevada, have their own regulations, and others, including Texas and California, are in progress.
There are arguments on both sides with regard to which states offer a better online poker experience. In our opinion, states such as New York and Florida are better for a few reasons:
- Offshore sites aren’t restricted to local playerpools, so there’s more action.
- More weak players use offshore sites.
- The bonuses are bigger.
- Tournament guarantees are much larger.
We’re not saying regulated states like New Jersey are bad for online poker players. However, the top New York online poker sites have more to offer with better products overall.
Play NY Online Poker – Key Takeaways
Hopefully, we’ve conveyed all the reasons why NY online poker is thriving.
Based on our experience, the games are great, and there are plenty of fun features at the best online poker sites in New York.
So, to recap, here’s why you (regardless of your experience) should play online poker with real money in New York:
- The top New York online poker sites are safe, regulated, and capable of processing payments.
- There are tons of soft games and generous tournament guarantees.
- Playing online poker in NY is fun and gives you the chance to compete against people worldwide.
FAQs – Play Online Poker in New York for Real Money
What is the best online poker New York site?
Is poker legal in NY?
Which NY online poker site has the best mobile app?
Can I use a VPN to access a New York online poker site?
References
- https://online.stanford.edu/how-does-blockchain-work (How do blockchains work)
- https://nordvpn.com/ (NordVPN)
- https://www.expressvpn.com/ (ExpressVPN)