Gaming law is generally the law that applies to the gaming or gambling industry, including casinos, lotteries, horse racing, dog racing, sports betting, card games, table games, social gambling, bingo, raffles, slot machines, scratch tickets, etc. Gaming law includes state and federal statutes, rules, and regulations—and legal principles from traditional areas of law, such as contract law, administrative law, constitutional law, criminal law, and regulatory law. For example, the federal statute prohibiting illegal gambling businesses is located at 18 U.S.C. §1955.

In New York, gaming law encompasses a variety of regulations and statutes that govern legal gambling activities within the state. The New York State Gaming Commission is the primary regulatory body overseeing gaming operations, including casinos, horse racing, lottery, and recently, sports betting. The state permits several forms of gambling: commercial and tribal casinos offer a range of games; horse racing is allowed at racetracks and via off-track betting; the state lottery runs multiple games, and charitable gaming like bingo and raffles is legal under specific conditions. New York has also legalized sports betting at certain locations and online sports betting with licensed operators. The federal statute 18 U.S.C. §1955, which prohibits illegal gambling businesses, operates alongside state regulations to curb unlawful gambling activities. It's important to note that while some forms of gambling are legal in New York, others, such as unauthorized bookmaking or unlicensed online gambling, remain illegal under both state and federal law.