Gambling in New York is defined as an act of “staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under a person’s control, upon an agreement that he/she will receive something of value, given a certain event.” At the time of writing, the licensing process is ongoing. In 2022, it was announced that the remaining three licenses would be made available for downstate, opening up the possibility of casinos in New York City, long the Holy Grail for casino operators. Four Upstate New York licenses were granted in 2014, and the new casinos were completed in 20. The amendment allowed for up to seven gaming licenses. The construction of commercial venues was authorized in 2013 when voters approved the required constitutional amendment proposed by Gov. Three New York tribes negotiated their compacts with the state soon after the federal government passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) in 1988, and they built their casinos throughout the nineties. New York State boasts a robust gambling industry, which consists of 18 tribal casinos, four Las Vegas-style commercial casinos, nine racinos, and the biggest state lottery in the US by revenue.
