A cock is the male of any type of domestic fowl, and cockfighting is a blood sport in which two (or more) cocks are placed in a ring or confined area and encouraged to attack or fight each other. Cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia—but remains legal in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Although cockfighting is illegal in all states, the potential punishment for the crime varies from state to state. In thirteen states, a first offense charge of cockfighting is a misdemeanor—including Alabama, California, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. But in California, Louisiana, and New Mexico, second, third, and subsequent offenses may be prosecuted as felonies.

And some states also prohibit possession of cockfighting tools (implements) such as a gaff or slasher; ownership and training of cocks for the purpose of cockfighting; and attending cockfighting events.
Cockfighting laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—and usually in the state’s penal or criminal code.

In New York, cockfighting is illegal and considered a serious crime. Under New York's Agriculture and Markets Law, Section 351, any person who engages in, attends, or promotes the activity of cockfighting is committing a criminal offense. The law specifically prohibits not only the act of cockfighting but also the possession of any fighting birds, the training of cocks for fighting, and the possession of any cockfighting implements such as gaffs or slashers. Being involved in cockfighting can lead to felony charges, with penalties that may include imprisonment, fines, or both. Additionally, New York law also criminalizes the attendance of cockfighting events, making it a misdemeanor offense. The state takes the issue of animal cruelty seriously, and as such, has stringent laws to deter and punish those involved in cockfighting activities.