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New York Smashes Sports Betting Records in Year One

Perry Sandra

Updated on January 10, 2026 at 11:52 AM EST, this article is a quick read at 1 minute and 64 seconds. For more information, visit the Twitter and Google News links provided.

ELMONT, NEW YORK – JUNE 11: Fans line up at the betting window during the 154th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 11, 2026 in Elmont, New York. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP

Legal mobile sports betting in New York has now been in operation for a year, and it has been a remarkable year indeed!

Ever since its debut on January 8, 2026, The Empire State has dominated as the leading sports betting jurisdiction in the nation by a significant margin.

New York sports betting operators broke numerous records in 2026 and achieved unprecedented success, a feat that may not be surpassed until states like California, Texas, or Florida legalize their own sports betting platforms.

On Tuesday, the New York Gaming Commission released data that showcased the remarkable success of sports betting sites in the state, setting a new standard that may be difficult to surpass in the first year of legal sports betting operation in any state.

Handle, Revenue Records Shattered

It comes as no shock that New York has surpassed New Jersey as the leading state for sports betting in America. Before the legalization of mobile sports betting in New York, approximately 25% of New Jersey’s revenue was generated by bettors from New York who were traveling across state lines to place bets with sportsbooks in the Garden State.

In 2026, the New York sports betting industry broke several records, including a yearly handle of $16.2 billion and gross revenues of $1.36 billion for the state’s sportsbooks. Despite concerns about a high 51% tax rate, the industry thrived throughout the year.

More on That Tax Rate …

Nine mobile sports betting operators in New York faced a $25 million licensing fee to operate in the lucrative legal sports betting market. With a 51% revenue take rate and high fees, only the most successful providers could afford to participate.

However, the $1.36 billion in gross revenue demonstrated that the risk was justified for the majority of providers in the Empire State market.

Caesars Underscoreg, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, BetMGM, Bally Bet, WynnBet, Resorts World, and PointsBet all made profits while collectively generating a record $693 million in tax revenue for the state.

Almost all of the $693 million has been allocated towards enhancing educational programs within the state.

More Numbers From the Empire State

New York broke the national record for monthly handle right from the start. In its inaugural month of operation, starting on Jan. 8, New York generated an unprecedented $1.69 billion in revenue, a figure that remains unbeaten.

In 2026, New York’s legal sports betting industry surpassed $1 billion in revenue for 10 out of 12 months, outperforming all but three other states in reaching this milestone in a single month.

FanDuel Crushes the Competition

It comes as no surprise that some of the top players in the U.S. legal sports betting industry were able to lead in both handle and revenues generated in 2026.

FanDuel wasted no time in taking the lead, capturing 40% of the total money collected by New York’s mobile sports betting providers. FanDuel NY raked in an impressive $6.5 billion in 2026.

Following DraftKings in New York sports betting handle for 2026 was Caesars with a 17% share ($2.8 billion) and BetMGM with an 8.0% share ($1.3 billion).

Written By:
Perry Sandra
Perry Sandra and betting go hand-in-hand. Both are characterized by “odds”. Dave fancies himself as one of the most dedicated sports and pop-culture junkies around, to the chagrin of his family and friends. Following sports for 50 years and writing about it for 20, Dave hasn’t found a sport yet that can’t contribute to 2-3 straight hours of couch time. That search remains ongoing. As a good old Canadian boy, hockey is in Dave’s heart, as is curling sadly. But evolution is a real thing and that’s why football, baseball, and just about every sport on the planet has become a passion. Dave isn’t afraid to kill some time obsessing over politics or the far-too-frequent awards shows the consume the airwaves.