Betr is not legal to use in New York. The company does not hold one of the state’s mobile sports wagering licenses, so its real-money betting features are geofenced off for anyone inside the state. Its daily fantasy sports product, Betr Picks, is blocked by a separate problem: New York adopted a rule in late 2023 that prohibits the pick’em-style contests at the core of that product. Both sides of Betr’s business are effectively unavailable to New York users.
Betr Sportsbook Is Blocked in New York
New York authorizes mobile sports betting under the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law, which requires every operator to hold a license from the New York State Gaming Commission before accepting wagers from people inside the state.1New York State Senate. New York Code PML 1367 – Sports Wagering Betr does not have one. The app uses geofencing to detect when you are inside New York and locks the wagering interface. You will see a notice that the sportsbook is unavailable in your area.
The media side of the app, including sports content and commentary, still loads. Only the real-money betting is cut off. If you travel to a state where Betr is licensed (currently Ohio, with plans to expand to a handful of other states), you can place bets through the app while you are physically there. The moment you cross back into New York, those features shut off again.
Betr, co-founded by Jake Paul and Joey Levy, specializes in micro-betting, which lets users wager on individual plays within a game rather than final outcomes. The format does not change the licensing picture. Micro-bets are sports wagers under New York law, and offering them without a license is illegal regardless of the bet size.
Why Betr Picks Is Prohibited Too
Betr Picks is a daily fantasy product where you predict whether individual athletes will go over or under a projected stat line. New York legalized daily fantasy sports under Article 14 of the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law, classifying them as skill-based contests rather than gambling.2New York State Senate. New York Code PML 1400 – Interactive Fantasy Sports But the law draws a line between traditional fantasy roster contests and formats that look too much like sports betting.
In October 2023, the Gaming Commission adopted Rule 5602.1(a)(4), which prohibits fantasy contests based on proposition betting or contests that mimic it. The rule specifically bans contests where a player must choose whether an athlete or single team will exceed a statistical threshold, such as points scored. That description fits Betr Picks almost exactly. The over/under-on-a-stat-line format that defines the product is precisely what the regulation targets.
The Commission’s reasoning: picking whether a player will score over or under 27.5 points is functionally a prop bet on a player, not a roster-building skill contest. New York’s fantasy sports law was written to protect contests where outcomes depend on assembling a full roster and comparing it against other players’ rosters. Single-stat predictions do not meet that standard. Platforms that offer prohibited formats risk fines and cease-and-desist orders from the Commission, and Betr Picks is unlikely to become available in New York unless the company redesigns the product to comply.
Sportsbooks You Can Legally Use in New York
New York has nine licensed mobile sports betting operators:3New York State Gaming Commission. Sports Wagering
- Bally Bet
- BetMGM
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- ESPN Bet
- Fanatics Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- Resorts World Bet
- Rush Street Interactive
These are the only apps authorized to accept mobile sports wagers from people in New York. Mobile sports betting launched in the state in January 2022, and the market became one of the highest-revenue in the country within its first year.
Why Betr May Not Arrive in New York Anytime Soon
New York’s licensing framework is one of the most expensive and restrictive in the country. Every platform provider must pay a one-time licensing fee of $25 million before receiving its license, with that money deposited into the state lottery fund for education aid.4New York State Senate. New York Racing Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law PML 1367-a Licenses last up to ten years. On top of that entry fee, operators pay a 51% tax on gross gaming revenue, tied for the highest rate in the nation.3New York State Gaming Commission. Sports Wagering Most states charge between 10% and 20%.
The statute does not set a hard numerical cap, but it structures the bidding process so the Commission awards licenses to the highest-scoring applicants and may approve additional operators only if doing so serves the state’s interests.4New York State Senate. New York Racing Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law PML 1367-a The result is a field of nine well-capitalized operators, and the combination of steep fees, a punishing tax rate, and an already-crowded market makes it hard for a younger company like Betr to break in.
If You Bet on an Unlicensed Site Instead
When a product like Betr is not available in your state, the temptation is to look for an offshore or unlicensed site that does not bother with geofencing. That is where people get burned. Offshore sportsbooks operating without a New York license have no obligation to pay you, no regulator to complain to, and no legal mechanism for you to recover lost funds.
Federal law adds another layer of risk. The Wire Act makes it a crime for anyone in the business of betting to use wire communications to transmit bets or wagering information across state or international lines, with penalties of up to two years in prison.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 1084 – Transmission of Wagering Information; Penalties Enforcement typically targets operators rather than individual bettors, but the law explicitly states it does not provide immunity from state criminal prosecution. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act separately prohibits gambling businesses from processing payments connected to illegal online betting, which is why your bank or card issuer may block transactions to offshore sites.
Licensed platforms in New York must hold player funds in segregated accounts, use independently tested software, and submit to regular audits by the Gaming Commission. None of those protections exist with offshore operators. If a licensed platform fails, your deposited funds have regulatory safeguards. If an offshore site disappears, your money goes with it.
If Gambling Has Become a Problem
New York offers a voluntary self-exclusion program covering every form of regulated gambling in the state, including sports betting, casinos, lottery, horse racing, and daily fantasy sports. You can enroll for one year, three years, five years, or a lifetime ban.6New York State Gaming Commission. Voluntary Self-Exclusion Enrollment requires a form and a recent photograph, submitted in person at a licensed gaming facility, by notarized mail to the Commission’s Schenectady headquarters, or in person at those offices during business hours. Once enrolled, any winnings obtained during the exclusion period are forfeited, and entering a licensed facility can lead to a trespassing arrest. When a non-lifetime term ends, you are automatically removed from the list unless you submit a new form within 30 days to extend.
For immediate support, the state’s HOPEline is available at 1-877-846-7369, or you can text HOPENY to 467369. Free financial counseling, peer support, community meetings, and professional counseling are available at no cost through the Office of Addiction Services and Supports.7New York Office of Addiction Services and Supports. Gambling Harms