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Online poker in New York puts some of the best offshore platforms right at your fingertips — real-money games, strong traffic, and competitive promos all within reach across the Empire State. We’ve reviewed the top online poker rooms available to New Yorkers, highlighting their game variety, traffic, promotions, and software.
We’ll also break down the state’s poker laws, explore in-person poker venues, and more. So, whether you’re a casual player or a seasoned grinder, you’ll find a site that fits your style and bankroll.
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- Can I use a VPN to access an offshore online poker site from New York?
- Is it possible to play for real money online poker in New York?
- How do you play poker online?
- Who is the regulator of online poker in New York?
- How can I tell if an online poker site is trustworthy?
- What is the best online poker site in New York?
- Show Full Guide
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- Can I use a VPN to access an offshore online poker site from New York?
- Is it possible to play for real money online poker in New York?
- How do you play poker online?
- Who is the regulator of online poker in New York?
- How can I tell if an online poker site is trustworthy?
- What is the best online poker site in New York?
Is Online Poker Legal in New York?
Online poker isn’t yet legal in New York, so the Empire State doesn’t have any regulated online poker rooms of its own. There have been many proposals trying to introduce state-regulated poker sites, but none of the bills have stuck. At least so far, anyway.
Hopefully, online poker will be legalized in the near future. Until then, offshore casinos are an awesome alternative for those of you looking to play online poker. New Yorkers can create an account and play for real money on these sites.
Games are licensed and regulated by gambling authorities based outside of the United States, which means they’re not subject to the usual NY laws. These platforms are home to poker games from reputable providers. You can sign up and deposit safely, and the poker games are 100% fair. CoinPoker even uses provably fair blockchain technology, so you know every hand is 100% legit.
The registration process is simple and often requires just an email address and password to get started. This is significantly quicker than with traditional online poker sites.
New York Poker Laws: When Will New York Regulate Online Poker?
There have been a few significant changes to New York’s gambling laws in recent times. But Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. hasn’t given up, and is constantly trying to bring online poker back to NY. While online sports betting was regulated in 2021, bills related to online casinos have been dismissed. This includes House Bill S9226, which proposed the introduction of poker licenses. House Bill S9226 also featured details on taxes and responsible gambling tools.
There’s a quiet confidence that online poker in NY could be regulated as early as this year, especially following the signing of bill S5935A.
Regulations and Laws for Poker in New York
Here’s some useful information on the key bills relating to online poker in New York:
Key Facts About Poker in NYC
There’s a lot to take in when it comes to legal online poker in New York. To sum it up, check out the table below, which gives you a snapshot of the current situation.
| Is Poker Legal from Poker Sites Located in NY? | No |
|---|---|
| Top Poker in New York Online Site | CoinPoker |
| Regulated Online Poker | Plans to launch in 2026 at the earliest |
| Available Games | Texas Hold’em, Omaha & others |
| Legal Age | 18 |
Comparison of Online Poker Sites in New York
Before deciding which of the best sites for online poker in NYC to try out first, you should take the time to compare important points such as software, rake percentage, and rakeback on poker sites.
| Online Poker Room | Poker Software | Rakeback | Multi Table Events | Sit and Go Events |
| CoinPoker | Proprietary | 15% daily guaranteed rewards | ✅ | ✅ |
| ACR | WPN | 27%-65% | ✅ | ✅ |
| Stake | Proprietary | 3.5% | ✅ | ✅ |
| BCPoker | Proprietary | Up to 50% | ✅ | ✅ |
| Ignition | PaiWangLuo | 0.5%–1.5% equivalent | ✅ | ✅ |
Top 5 NY Online Poker Sites Reviewed
All of our NY online poker rooms are excellent choices for those of you who enjoy high-traffic sites and rewarding tournaments. But, to help you find the right one, we’ve summarized the pros and cons of each.
Take a look at our top five sites that are the best for online poker in New York:
CoinPoker is a true market leader in NY, with its popular pot-limit Omaha cash game tables offering everything from heads-up action to 7-seaters, with stakes from $0.01/$0.02 to $1,000/$2,000. You can also play 5-card pot limit Omaha (PLO5) from $0.10/$0.25.
- Poker Network: Proprietary
- Freerolls: Yes
- Poker Variants: Texas Hold‘em, Pot Limit Omaha, 5-Card Pot Limit Omaha
Even though CoinPoker isn’t known as a high roller site, it’s getting there. The Cash Game World Championship attracted pros like Nik Airball and co-founder Tony G. The latter even won the largest-ever online poker pot, worth $7.75 million.
CoinPoker’s rake, also known as ‘CoinRewards’, is linked directly to the site’s native CHP crypto token. It now features three different benefit systems: $1M Weekly CoinRaces, $500K Weekly Splash Pots, and 15% Daily Guaranteed Rewards. No need to opt in – playing real money cash games or tours gets the job done. This follows a 150% up to $2,000 welcome bonus, with a very reasonable 2x wagering requirement.
CoinPoker’s range of tournaments includes competitions for both casual players and high rollers. This includes an elite Sunday line-up, capped by the $100K GTD Nemesis. The site’s trademark ‘CSOP’ series also carries major prizes, with the latest version running over $6 million in combined guarantees.
Pros
- Processes all payouts instantly
- Cash games from microstakes to $2,500/$5,000
- 15% daily guaranteed rewards
- Major series like the CSOP
- CoinMasters promotion with over $250,000 worth of prizes
Cons
- No fiat deposits available for US players
If you’re looking for the biggest online poker tournaments in New York, check out ACR. It packs in over $9.2 million in guarantees every week.
- Poker Network: Winning Poker Network
- Freerolls: Yes
- Poker Variants: No Limit Texas Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, PLO
ACR allows you to play poker for real money on desktop and mobile. Downloadable software from the site formerly known as America’s Cardroom offers many variants, including Texas Hold’em and Omaha. Reshuffle technology provides a safe experience. Tournament tickets, double or nothing, and auto top-up features add to the appeal for players in NYC.
Blitz Poker is another option. It offers increased hand play rate, rewards, and a shared player system. ACR also offers one of the largest welcome bonuses, allowing you to claim a 100% bonus up to $2,000 after signing up.
There are plenty of tournaments for high rollers, which attract strong players. But there are also multiple $50 freerolls every day for beginners.
Pros
- Quick payouts
- Operating since 2001
- Mobile app for iOS and Android users
- $9.2M+ GTD every week
Cons
- Welcome bonus released in $1 increments
- Strong players in major MTTs
You’ve almost certainly heard of Stake before, but did you know it has some of the softest online poker games in New York?
- Poker Network: Independent
- Freerolls: Yes
- Poker Variants: No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha 5, Omaha 6
While the site is best known for slots and casino games, it also offers a solid selection of poker games, including Hold’em and multiple variants of Omaha, such as PLO5 and PLO6. Stakes are fairly low, and guarantees are limited, which ensures most of the players here are amateurs.
If you want to play in the biggest tournaments in NY, Stake won’t do it for you. But, if you want to play in a fun, recreational-friendly environment, it’s perfect.
Don’t forget to check out the bad beat jackpot, either.
Pros
- Lots of amateur players and easy games
- Bad Beat Jackpot for unlucky hands
- Incredibly easy access on mobile
- Fun features such as straddling and running it twice
Cons
- Mainly just low stakes action
- Limited MTT schedule
BCPoker is another experienced poker room available in New York with blockchain-verified fairness, a soft recreational player pool, and one of the most transparent VIP rakeback structures in online poker – all wrapped around the Be.Champ Series.
- Poker Network: Proprietary
- Freerolls: Yes
- Poker Variants: No-Limit Hold’em, Limit Texas Hold‘em, Pot-Limit Omaha, NLH, PLO
The Be.Champ Series is BCPoker’s biggest tournament festival to date, offering $150,000+ in guaranteed prize pools across a packed schedule. Buy-ins start as low as $3, with $0.10 satellites and daily freerolls letting you take shots at serious money without heavy bankroll commitment.
Traffic is largely from the US, which makes it perfect if you’re in NYC. Every account is automatically enrolled in BCPoker’s 18-level VIP system from day one, starting at Bronze I with 10% rakeback. As you climb through Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Royal, your rakeback rises steadily, hitting 50% at Royal III alongside a $825 monthly upgrade gift.
Beyond rakeback, the monthly Leaderboard pays out up to $25,500 for top performers across NLHE and Spin & Go, with a $850 daily prize pool. Plus, the Lucky Drop randomly awards up to $2,000 every day during NLHE cash game play, with no missions required. There is also the $700,000+ Jackpot for qualifying hands shared across the community.
Pros
- Up to 50% rakeback across 18 VIP levels
- Be.Champ Series $150,000+ guarantee with buy-ins from $3
- $25,500 monthly leaderboard
- Lucky Drop up to $2,000 daily
- $7,000,000+ in total bonuses, upgrade gifts up to $2,230, and 30% referral cashback
Cons
- Reaching top VIP tiers is demanding
- Spin & Go and MTT play do not earn rakeback
One of the standout features of Ignition Poker is the fact that you can play anonymously. Whenever you pull up a chair, you and your opponents will simply be labeled as ‘Player 1’, ‘Player 2’, and so on.
- Poker Network: PaiWangluo Poker Network
- Freerolls: Yes
- Poker Variants: Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi, Omaha Hi/Lo
This is great if you want a fresh start each time you play. It stops other players from keeping detailed notes on your style of play from previous sessions or looking up your ROI history to see if you’re a “good” player. In short, it’s much more like a live game with random players, where you figure things out as you go.
With many poker players in New York preferring to keep a low profile amidst the uncertain poker climate, it’s a popular choice with locals.
Ignition also has a very popular casino, and many players drift over without having loads of poker experience. Despite this, there are some significant guarantees on offer in Ignition’s weekly poker schedule. This includes a juicy $200,000 GTD MTT every Sunday, with a $162 buy-in and at least $20,000 for the winner.
Pros
- Totally anonymous tables
- Fast crypto withdrawals
- $200,000 GTD Main Event every Sunday
- Lots of soft opponents
Cons
- Lack of rakeback
- Lack of player notes will be a drawback for some
Online Poker Tournaments in New York
After taking a look at the best NY online poker sites and what they have to offer, it’s now time to dive into the various tournaments, looking at how they work and whether they’re right for you.
Satellite Tournaments
Instead of cash prizes, satellite tournaments award you entry into more expensive tournaments. This could be another online MTT or a live event.
For example, you could win a satellite tournament in NYC and get into the ‘Empire State Hold’em Championships’ at the city’s Turning Stone Resort Casino, which has previously boasted a $100,000 guarantee.
Multi-Table Tournaments
An MTT is a tournament with multiple tables running simultaneously to accommodate the players. The number of tables reduces as players are eliminated. Play continues until only one player remains. The winner takes the lion’s share, but roughly 20% of the field gets a prize.
ACR is one of the leading online poker sites in New York when it comes to MTTs, with over $9.2 million in weekly guarantees.
Deep Stack Tournaments
‘Deep’ or ‘Big’ stack tournaments are also popular in NYC. Typically aimed at high-stakes players, this format combines the very best of lucrative cash games and tournament poker.
Deep stack tournaments usually feature more than 100 big blinds and high antes. CoinPoker holds daily Deepstack events starting from just $1. You can easily find them in the lobby as the tournament name contains the word ‘Deepstack’.
How to Play Online Poker in New York: An NY Poker Site Sign-Up Guide
Before you can play online poker in NY, you’ll need to sign up with one of our recommended sites. To show you how easy it is to get started, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide below. We've used CoinPoker as an example, but the registration process is similar for each operator.
Choose a Poker Room
First, pick a poker site from our recommendations. Then, hit the ‘Register’ or ‘Signup’ button. When registering with CoinPoker, for example, you’ll find this icon located in the top right-hand corner of the homepage.
Confirm Your Account Details
You’ll then be prompted to provide a verifiable email and unique username. Your site will also ask for a password to help secure your new account.
Verify Your Account
Once confirmed, the site may send a verification message to the email provided. Click through the link included in the message to complete this process. Similarly, you may be required to verify your mobile number via SMS message, so make sure you pick the correct country code when providing your number. You’ll receive a verification message within minutes. Once that’s done, you can deposit funds to your account.
Start Playing
By now, your personal details and account should be verified, so it’s time to hit the tables. Use the game filters, such as “Hold’em” or “Cash Games”, to find the right event for you.
Bonuses on Offer at Online Poker Sites in New York
Part of the appeal of the best online poker sites in NY is the range of promotions offered. You can claim generous bonuses and other rewards not just as a newbie, but also as an existing player. For example, CoinPoker gives you 15% rakeback, and ACR is packed with loyalty rewards.
Each promo comes with specific terms and conditions. You may need to enter a code to be eligible. Other common T&Cs include minimum deposits, turnover requirements, and expiration dates.
Here are the most popular poker bonuses:
- Welcome Offer – The welcome bonus is often the first thing players will notice about a poker site. It’s usually triggered by your first deposit, and contains a matched deposit. For example, 100% extra up to $2,000. Some welcome packages also include tournament tickets.
- Rakeback – Rakeback is another important promotion for poker players, where you’ll earn a proportion of your rake back. The percentage varies between sites. CoinPoker awards 15% Daily Guaranteed Rewards. There’s no need to opt in. Just play real money cash games or real money tournaments.
- Weekly Leaderboards – Going up against other players to top the leaderboard adds to the excitement. You can earn a share of the prize pool by finishing in one of the top positions.
- Freerolls – You can join freerolls to play poker games without any financial risk. You could win cash prizes, entry to new events, merchandise, and more.
- Bad Beat Jackpots – This bonus type is available on selected poker sites. It’s triggered when your “good” hand is beaten by an even better one.
Francesca TurneriGaming Expert
Compare Bonuses at New York’s Online Poker Rooms
All of the NYC online poker rooms we’ve recommended offer generous rewards to new members. But each one will come with different terms and conditions. Always take the time to read the T&Cs to ensure you claim the offer that best suits you, including bonus expiry, deposit limits, etc.
To help you out, we’ve provided more information about the welcome offers at our top-recommended New York poker sites below:
| Online Poker Room | Poker Bonus | Rollover | Minimum Deposit | Bonus expiry |
| CoinPoker | 150% up to $2,000 | 2x the bonus value in rake | $10 | 30 days |
| ACR | 100% bonus up to $2,000 | $1 increments for every 27.5 points earned | $25 | 60 days |
| Stake | 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 GC | No purchase necessary | $0 | No fixed expiry |
| BCPoker | 10% First Deposit Bonus up to $200 | Bonus unlocked gradually in small increments ($0.0001) | $15 | No time limit |
| Ignition | Up to $3,000 for Casino and Poker | $1 for every 30 Ignition Miles earned | $20 | 30 days |
Best Poker Games in New York
Texas Hold‘em is the most popular at online poker sites in New York, but it’s not your only option. There are other types of poker games available online, each with its own distinct format and rules.
Here are the main poker games you’ll find at New York poker sites:
- Texas Hold’em: This is easily the most popular poker game in NYC. You receive two ‘hole’ cards and up to five ‘community’ cards. Your job is to make the best five-card poker hand possible, or trick your opponents into thinking you have.
- Omaha: Omaha is similar to Hold’em, except you get dealt four hole cards and must use precisely two, plus three of the five community cards. This means a lot more action, as it’s more common to make hands like straights and flushes.
- Omaha Hi-Lo: This version of Omaha is a split pot game in which the highest five-card hand wins exactly half the final pot, and the lowest five-card hand wins the other half. If you win both at the same time, it’s called a scoop.
- Seven Card Stud: Last but not least, we come to ‘Seven Card Stud’. This game doesn’t use any community cards. Instead, each player receives two cards face down and one card face up. Betting then takes place on a round-by-round basis (each round is referred to as a ‘Street’) and players receive three further ‘up’ cards and a final face-down card. You must pick the best five-card hand from your seven to win.
U.S. State Poker
Now you’re up to speed with how New York online poker works, but what if you’re out of state? Check out our guides below for information on poker in other US states.
| Online Poker Sites in Illinois | Michigan Online Poker Sites |
| Best Online Poker Sites in Florida | Best California Online Poker Sites |
| Online Poker in Texas | Poker Sites in Colorado |
Famous Poker Players from New York
The Empire State has produced a plethora of successful poker players over the years, including the current #1-ranked player. We take a closer look at some of the biggest names in poker that hail from New York.
Stu Ungar
Stu Ungar, born and raised in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, was regarded as one of the greatest poker players of all time. Introduced to gambling early through his bookmaker father, Ungar began playing gin rummy and won his first tournament at just 10 years old.
His switch to poker was legendary. He earned multiple WSOP bracelets, including back-to-back Main Event titles in 1980 and 1981 and a third in 1997. Despite winning over $30 million in his career, Ungar had many personal struggles. He passed away in 1998, leaving behind a legacy of both brilliance and tragedy.
Jesse Lonis
As recently as 2025, Lonis was ranked the world’s number-one poker player on the Global Poker Index (GPI). Before bursting onto the professional scene in 2020, he worked in construction in his hometown of New York City. In 2021, he made a deep run in the WSOP Main Event, finishing 25th.
The following year, he claimed his first WSOP bracelet in an online event, followed in 2023 by his second in the $50,000 PLO Super High Roller, earning over $2 million from that win alone. Lonis has already amassed more than $16 million in career earnings, with plenty more likely to come.
Bryn Kenney
Bryn Kenney, originally from Long Beach, New York, sits atop poker’s all-time money list with over $80 million in career earnings. His passion for cards began with competitive Magic: The Gathering before transitioning to poker, where he played his first major tournament in 2007.
Kenney captured his first WSOP bracelet in 2014 in the $1,500 Six-Handed 10-Game Mix, and his second in 2024 by winning the $2,100 Bounty NLH Championship online. He also holds one of the largest single poker payouts in history, earning $20,563,324 with his second-place finish at the Triton Million for Charity, having arranged a deal with eventual winner Aaron Zang.
Top 3 Land-Based Poker Rooms in New York
Although many players prefer playing at no-KYC poker platforms and other online gambling sites due to the number of benefits they offer, there are several brick-and-mortar casinos that currently feature poker rooms and host tournaments in the state. Here are our top three land-based poker rooms in NYC.
How We Rate Poker Sites
Final Thoughts on New York Online Poker
Offshore poker rooms allow residents in New York to play their favorite games and overcome the state’s strict gambling laws. Rakeback, knockout tournaments, freerolls, and other bonuses sweeten the deal.
CoinPoker is our number-one pick for online poker for real money in New York. With 15% Daily Rewards, limits to suit beginners and high rollers, and some incredible cash games, it ticks all the boxes.
We’ve put together several guides specifically for poker players below. Here, you’ll find the best poker strategies, advice on how to win poker, bankroll management tips, and much more.
Responsible Gambling
Whether you’re playing at land-based or offshore online poker rooms, it’s important to practice responsible gambling at all times. This means only gambling what you can afford to lose and keeping track of how much time is spent playing poker. If you or someone you know is showing signs of having a gambling problem, check out the sites below for more information and resources.
FAQs
Can I use a VPN to access an offshore online poker site from New York?
Is it possible to play for real money online poker in New York?
How do you play poker online?
Who is the regulator of online poker in New York?
How can I tell if an online poker site is trustworthy?
What is the best online poker site in New York?
References
- Senator Addabbo Sweepstakes Bill Signed into Law (The New York State Senate)
