New York has spawned some of the biggest legends in poker who have gone on to become major champions - players like Erik Seidel and Stu Ungar - and in 2020 New Yorkers are enjoying real money poker online every day.

While live poker has traditionally been restricted to backroom clubs in the heart of New York City, moves are afoot to regulate online poker for NY residents AND introduce major new land-based casinos in the state. Soon, you'll be able to play at legal poker sites in New York that are regulated by the state.

Empire State players may have to wait for fully legalized Internet poker sites of their own, but they can still enjoy real-money tournaments and cash games at dozens of online rooms in 2020.

Online Poker In New York

Online poker in New York carries no penalties or risks of legal persecution for individual players. New York has had a very long and tenuous relationship with online poker. On one hand, the online poker landscape was changed forever when the district attorney of Southern New York, Preet Bharara, brought charges against PokerStars, Full Tilt. Every poker room that is legal for players in the United States to play at will have varying bonus options. If a high bonus is what you are looking for when playing online poker, a high bonus is what you get from BetOnline. The amount of $900 on a maximum bonus for players in New York sounds good. Underground poker rooms do still exist in New York City, but they are run tighter security than rooms did earlier in the decade. New players will only get in via the recommendation of another player, and then only after they have been checked out by security. However, one must remember that these rooms are all underground rooms and still illegal.

The poker rooms are in Upstate New York or by Niagara Falls. The poker rooms all offer great action and are comparable to poker rooms found in large cities. Casinos that do not serve alcohol. The fact of the matter is that why online poker laws exist, there are still legal and legitimate ways for players living in the United States to create accounts at poker rooms to play. Learn why this is, plus get the answers to many of the most popular questions asked, and where the future of online poker is the United States might be heading.

Around 2005, many of the popular rooms were raided and shut down. Now many people are wondering if there are any live poker options for New York City.

New York City Laws Pertaining to Gambling

The New York State Constitution states the following in Article 1, Section 9:

[N]o lottery or the sale of lottery tickets, pool-selling, book-making or any other kind of gambling [except state-run lotteries and state-sponsored pari-mutuel betting on horse races] shall hereafter be authorized or allowed within this state; and the legislature shall pass appropriate laws to prevent offenses against any of the provisions of this section.

Of course, many people state that poker is not gambling. They state that poker is a game of skill and therefore does not apply to this law. However, New York law has a different opinion.

New York Poker Sites

New York's Definition of Gambling

The New York Penal Code under section 225.00(2) gives their own definition of gambling:

A person engages in gambling when he stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.

As you can see, poker is gambling under New York state law. You put something of value up on something that is not under your control. You cannot control the turning of the cards or the outcome of the hand. As a result, this constitutes gambling in New York.

Underground Poker Rooms

Underground poker rooms do still exist in New York City, but they are run tighter security than rooms did earlier in the decade. New players will only get in via the recommendation of another player, and then only after they have been checked out by security.

However, one must remember that these rooms are all underground rooms and still illegal. There have been instances in the last couple of years of robberies at these card rooms that have resulted in the death of players. For a while, the card rooms ceased operations, but eventually people ventured out wanting to get their poker fix.

Also, these card rooms are still subject to raids by the authorities. When these raids occur, kiss your money goodbye.

Online Poker Legal In Ny

If you want to play poker and you live in New York City, the best 'legal' way to go about it is to take a ride over to Foxwoods in Connecticut or to Atlantic City. Otherwise, you are taking a risk with both your money and potentially you life.