New York is a true dual-market state: pari-mutuel horse racing has run here for generations — anchored by world-famous Saratoga — and mobile sports betting went live on January 8, 2022. Eight licensed sportsbooks now operate statewide under the highest tax rate in the country (51% of gross gaming revenue), regulated alongside racing by a single body, the New York State Gaming Commission.

Bettors must be 21+ for sports wagering and 18+ for pari-mutuel horse racing. Belmont Park reopens in September 2026 after a $455M rebuild, with the Belmont Stakes returning there in 2027.

Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in New York (2026)

All major US Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) apps operate in New York. Each lets you bet every New York track plus US, UK and international racing from one account. Minimum age 18.

1. 1
   ★ TOP PICK

   AmWager

   ★ 4.8 / 5

   New York is the sport’s biggest stage — Saratoga in summer, plus Aqueduct and Belmont Park — and AmWager carries all of it alongside 250+ tracks worldwide. For New York players the appeal is the economics: a 6–8% rebate on every wager, win or lose, on top of true track odds, with HD streaming and a one-to-two-day cashier.

   $50 DEPOSIT MATCH 6-8% REBATES LIVE STREAMING 250+ TRACKS
   Sign up at AmWager → Bonus: 100% deposit match up to $50
   18+. New AmWager customers only. Limit one signup bonus per person. Match applies to first deposit only, up to $50. To unlock the full bonus, deposit $50 and place qualifying wagers totaling $50 within 30 days. Cancelled or refunded bets don't count. Bonus credited in single deposit within 7 business days of meeting requirements. Bonus credits are non-withdrawable; winnings are cash and withdrawable. Unused bonus expires after 30 days. · Full AmWager review
2. 2

   NYRA Bets

   ★ 4.3 / 5

   Best for: NYRA tracks. NYRA Bets is New York’s home team in the truest sense — it’s run by the New York Racing Association, which operates Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct. No app offers better coverage of the NYRA circuit, from the Travers to the Belmont Stakes, and it now powers BetMGM Horse Racing as well.

   Bonus: $200 in cash rewards after $400 in wagers · Min age 18
3. 3

   FanDuel Racing

   ★ 4.6 / 5

   Best for: Live streaming. FanDuel Racing — the TVG platform owned by Flutter — pairs with the FanDuel sportsbook that launched in New York on day one in 2022. It carries the NYRA tracks (Saratoga, Aqueduct, Belmont) plus Finger Lakes and the national menu, with expert daily picks and a first-bet refund up to $500.

   Bonus: Up to $500 back on first wager if it loses · Min age 18
4. 4

   TwinSpires

   ★ 4.5 / 5

   Best for: Triple Crown. Churchill Downs Inc.’s TwinSpires brings deep Triple Crown and stakes coverage to New York, from the Derby trail through Saratoga’s summer Grade 1s. The official wagering partner of the Kentucky Derby, it carries the full NYRA calendar plus Finger Lakes.

   Bonus: $200 bonus after $500 in wagers · Min age 18
5. 5 1/ST BET
   Choice of three options up to $500
6. 6 DRF Bets
   100% deposit match up to $200
7. 7 Xpressbet
   $500 cash-back package on first 30 days
8. 8 BetMGM Horse Racing
   Up to $200 first-deposit match

Best Sportsbook Apps in New York (2026)

Licensed online sportsbooks operating in New York, regulated by the state gaming authority. Minimum age 21.

1. 1
   ★ EDITOR'S PICK

   FanDuel Sportsbook

   ★ 5.0 / 5

   FanDuel was one of four books live on New York’s January 8, 2022 mobile launch and has led the market ever since — remarkable given the state’s 51% tax rate, the highest in the nation. The product carries it: the cleanest app in the country, the deepest same-game parlays, and the current Bet $5-a-day-for-7-days, $350-guaranteed offer.

   BET $5 GET $350 SAME-GAME PARLAY LIVE STREAMING
   Sign up at FanDuel → Bet $5 for 7 days, Get $350 in Bonus Bets — Guaranteed
   21+. New customers only, 21+ (18+ in DC, KY and WY) and present in eligible states. First online real-money wager only; place a $5+ wager on each of 7 consecutive days to receive $50 in Bonus Bets per day ($350 total, guaranteed). $5 first deposit required. Bonus Bets are non-withdrawable and expire 7 days after receipt. See full terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. · Full FanDuel Sportsbook review
2. 2
   ★ BEST LOYALTY PROGRAM

   BetRivers

   ★ 4.5 / 5

   Rush Street’s BetRivers launched on New York’s opening day in 2022, anchored by retail at Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady. Its iRush Rewards loyalty program is among the most generous in US betting, paying out on every wager rather than only at sign-up.

   UP TO $500 2ND CHANCE BET PROMO CODE USBTRV iRUSH REWARDS iCASINO LINK
   Sign up at BetRivers → 2nd Chance Bet up to $100
   21+. New York customers only. $10 minimum deposit. First wager placed within 30 days qualifies; if it loses, BetRivers returns the stake up to $100 as a single Bonus Bet (NY-specific cap due to state regulations). Bonus Bet expires after 30 days, 1× playthrough requirement. Use promo code USBTRV at signup. 21+. T&Cs apply. · Full BetRivers review
3. 3

   DraftKings

   ★ 4.8 / 5

   Best for: Daily fantasy + sportsbook. DraftKings went live on New York’s January 8, 2022 launch day and runs neck-and-neck with FanDuel for the state handle lead. It absorbs the nation’s steepest 51% tax on the strength of the deepest prop menus and a daily-fantasy funnel rooted in its New York-area following.

   Bonus: Bet $5, Get $200 · Min age 21
4. 4

   Caesars

   ★ 4.5 / 5

   Best for: Caesars Rewards. Caesars was a New York day-one book on January 8, 2022, launching with the market’s most aggressive welcome promo. The lasting draw is Caesars Rewards — New York bets earn the same tier credits as a stay on the Las Vegas Strip.

   Bonus: $1,000 first-bet · Min age 21
5. 5 BetMGM
   $1,500 first-bet offer
6. 6 theScore Bet
   $1,000 First Bet Reset · rebranded from ESPN BET (Dec 1, 2025)
7. 7 Fanatics Sportsbook
   Bet and Get up to $2,000
8. 8 Bally Bet
   See app for current promotion

New York’s five racetracks — addresses & live cards

Signature stakes races at New York’s tracks

Beyond the everyday cards, each New York track hosts at least one feature stakes race that draws statewide attention — most are bettable through every ADW listed above.

New York’s state-bred incentives

Notable horses bred in New York

Active New York runners are searchable on our racing data section.

1. ★

   Funny Cide

   THOROUGHBRED · b. 2000

   The first New York-bred to win the Kentucky Derby (2003), also taking the Preakness — a gelding who became a statewide folk hero and just missed the Triple Crown.

2. ★

   Tiz the Law

   THOROUGHBRED · b. 2017

   New York-bred star of 2020 who won the Belmont Stakes and the Travers at Saratoga before finishing second in the Kentucky Derby.

3. ★

   Fourstardave

   THOROUGHBRED · b. 1985

   The “Sultan of Saratoga” — won at least one race at the Saratoga meet for eight consecutive years (1987–1994). Saratoga’s Grade 1 turf mile is named in his honor.

4. ★

   Commentator

   THOROUGHBRED · b. 2001

   New York-bred gelding and two-time winner of Saratoga’s Whitney Handicap (2005, 2008), a beloved fixture of the meet.

How New York compares to neighboring states

Who regulates horse racing & sports betting in New York

New York uses a single combined regulator — the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) licenses and oversees both pari-mutuel horse racing and mobile sports wagering.

New York horse betting — frequently asked questions

Is online horse racing betting legal in New York?

Yes. Pari-mutuel betting has been legal in New York since 1940, and online ADW betting is fully permitted. NYRA Bets (New York’s own app) plus every major US racing app operate here. You must be 18 or older.

What's the best horse racing app in New York?

Our editors rate AmWager the top choice for New York bettors — it covers Saratoga, Belmont and Finger Lakes plus 250+ tracks worldwide, pays 6–8% rebates on every wager, and runs a 100% deposit match up to $50 for new accounts. Sign up at AmWager. NYRA Bets, FanDuel Racing and TwinSpires are also strong choices for New York racing.

Why is New York's sports betting tax so high?

New York taxes mobile sportsbooks at 51% of gross gaming revenue — the highest rate of any US state. The rate was set when the state awarded its mobile licenses in 2021 and helps fund education and youth sports programs.

Can I bet on New York college teams?

No. Wagering on in-state college teams — and on any college game played in New York — is prohibited under the state’s mobile sports wagering rules.

When does Belmont Park reopen?

Belmont Park reopens on September 18, 2026 after a $455 million reconstruction. It will run downstate racing year-round, host the 2027 Breeders’ Cup, and welcome the Belmont Stakes back in 2027.

What happened to Aqueduct Racetrack?

Aqueduct ran its final card on June 28, 2026 after roughly 130 years. Downstate racing consolidates at the rebuilt Belmont Park, and the Aqueduct site is slated for redevelopment.

What's the minimum age to bet in New York?

18 for pari-mutuel horse racing and 21 for sports betting. Geolocation software in every licensed app verifies you’re inside New York before accepting a bet.

New to horse betting in New York? Explore our guides for clear answers to the most common questions — explained by veteran horse racing commentator Mike Brunker of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.