Empire City Casino Online Gambling

The Empire City Casino has a long history, since its founding as a racing club in 1899 and transformation into a state-of-the-art harness racetracktrack and casino. It boasts a plethora of slots and electronic table games, fabulous musical entertainment options and top-notch dining. It is famously the closest casino to NYC, at just 20 miles north of Times Square at Yonkers Raceway and easily accessible from the Big Apple via public transport, charter buses and more.

One of the most obvious strengths of Empire City is that it has an especially strong game selection, especially when you compare it against other social casino sites. One part of that is how much variety there is in game types, but even before getting into that, we can tell you that the slots selection along is worthy of praise. Wagering on horse racing is entertaining and fun when done in a responsible manner. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call for 24-hour assistance at: 1-877-8 HOPE NY. Or visit the NY Council on Problem Gambling. Click here to view EMPIRECITYBETS Responsible Gaming Policy.

This page will cover all of the information you need to plan your trip, including entertainment and dining possibilities, what Empire City Casino games are offered, and more about the casino’s popular live and simulcast harness-racing options. If you have any specific questions, you can find out the answers in this Empire City Casino review or visit frequently asked questions for a quick answer to common questions.

Empire City Casino: What to Expect

Contents

• Empire City Casino: What to Expect
  • Promotions for Gamblers
• Non-Gambling Related Features of the Casino
• Frequently Asked Questions

Though the location began as a racetrack and has seen many transformations, Empire City Casino games were first available in 2006. Since then, extensive renovations have added even more gameplay options for patrons. With MGM’s recent acquisition of the racino, it is possible the casino will soon boast a resort as well. Until then, fans can enjoy plenty of different entertainment and betting options.

Empire City Casino Games

The casino’s extensive facilities now offer more than 5,000 different slots, including video poker, slot machines, keno and more. You’ll find fun theme games such as “Friends,” “Wheel of Fortune,” “Dragon Rising” and many others. In addition to slots, Empire City has every beloved table game in convenient electronic formats. Blackjack, roulette, poker and baccarat are just a few of the games available. They play just like their live counterparts and boast “the best odds in town.”

As of the time of writing this Empire City Casino review, it held a Class II License, so it is able to offer a huge number of electronic machines of chance, as well as bets on harness racing, but no live table games. That could change soon, as MGM has its eye on expanding operations at the site, opening a full-scale resort with the capabilities a full-scale gaming license would offer. We will update this page as soon as any of these changes are enacted, but for now, you can find a complete list of Empire City games here:

• Slots
• Keno
• Video Poker
• Electronic Blackjack
• Electronic Roulette
• Electronic Three Card Poker
• Electronic Sic Bo
• Electronic Baccarat
• Electronic Craps
• Horse Racing

Empire City Casino is an especially good choice for people living in or near New York City, as it is just a short journey away and would make a perfect excursion for an evening with friends. However players looking for live table games and a place to stay overnight may want to visit Turning Stone Resort Casino. No matter what casino in NY you choose to play at, New York State’s Gaming Commission has you covered when it comes to fair play and accurate payouts.

Online Casino Games

Empire City Casino has its own online gaming platform for those who would like the fun of casino play at any place and any time. It should be noted that the online games found at Empire City are only for entertainment purposes. They will not pay out real money, and you must purchase credits to play. They are also accessible via apps for phone or tablet, available for download from the Apple and Android stores. You must be over 18 years old to play.

Promotions for Gamblers

Why not explore Empire City Casino promotions? The best way to keep abreast of the latest promotions is to visit their official calendar page, where current and upcoming promotions are advertised. Some ongoing promotions include: the Tier Tournament Series where winners can enter into draws for free game play, giveaways of Jeep Wranglers, and extra loyalty points for playing slots at certain times.

Empire City promos are linked to their loyalty program, known as the Empire Club. Players earn extra points during some promotions, which they can redeem for perks around the casino. Since promotions change every week or month, and some special promotions only appear once a year, the best way to keep up is to visit Empire City Casino’s website for current offerings. You can read more about Empire City’s loyalty rewards below.

Loyalty Program at the Casino

It is easy to sign up for Empire City Casino’s loyalty program, the Empire Club, in person at the casino using a photo ID. Once you have your card, you can use it to track your gameplay and earn Empire Points. Points are redeemable for food and non-alcoholic beverages in the casino facilities, special merchandise and even valet parking. Your membership card will also gain you entry into exciting promotions.

Does Empire City Have Sports Betting or Bingo?

Empire City Casino does not currently offer sports betting or bingo, but that could change in the near future with MGM’s recent acquisition of the property. MGM plans to apply for a full-scale gaming license and plans to work with the state to offer legal sports betting on-site. Aside from its slots and electronic table game options, the racino is famous for its ample horse betting options, including live and simulcast races all week long.

Non-Gambling Related Features of the Casino

If you are going to travel to Empire City, you might want to make full use of your trip and enjoy the state-of-the-art entertainment and dining options available to guests. You’ll love Empire City Casino dining options, such as the cozy Nonno’s Trattoria, their international food court, “The Big Kitchen,” and lil’ cocina for quick bites and delicious pastries. The casino also features top-notch music every night of the week. Read on for more about what fun awaits you on your next visit.

Hotel: Gaming and Luxury Combined

Empire City Casino has no hotel on-site at the time of writing, but if you’d like to stay nearby, there are plenty of nearby accommodations to suit your needs! The Hampton Inn & Suites Yonkers-Westchester offers group rates for casino patrons, as well as a convenient shuttle for guests. Read on for more details about their amenities.

If you’d like to get the most out of your stay, you can easily visit the Empire City Casino from the Hampton Inn, but also stay close to many other top NY tourist attractions. Your stay will be comfortable and fun with access to an indoor pool, fitness center, complimentary breakfast, and AC across all rooms. Stay cool and relaxed and book your stay now!

Events & Entertainment at the Yonkers Racino

Empire City Casino has a plethora of events for interested guests. Its famous Yonkers Raceway is home to thoroughbred and harness races five days a week, but simulcast races and betting are also available. The casino has live music every night, across a variety of genres, all ready to get you dancing. On most Wednesday nights, you can also catch a fantastic lineup of comedians in the casino’s Good Time Room. If you’d like to stay up to date on current Empire City Casino events, visit its official calendar of Empire City events and promotions.

General Company Info

The property has undergone many changes since it initially opened as a racing club in 1899. The track eventually expanded to include betting, and for the first time, the Empire City Casino opened its doors to other gambling in 2006 with the addition of several thousand new slot machines. MGM Resorts bought the property in 2019 and has plans to expand into a full-scale resort, with even more gambling offerings including live table games and sports betting.

MGM Resorts is sure to bring next-level luxury to NYC’s favorite casino destination, as it has with all of its iconic resort and casinos. MGM of course owns and operates many hotels on the Vegas strip, but it has also developed properties such as the MGM Grand Detroit, Borgata in Atlantic City, MGM National Harbor near D.C. and MGM Springfield. Stay tuned for more developments at Empire City Casino.

What are you waiting for?

The destination offers so much to its visitors, with ample gameplay, a variety of dining options, music, comedy and beautiful facilities. Its accessibility from NYC cannot be beat. So what are you waiting for? Plan your visit now using our Empire City review and experience it for yourself!

If you’re interested in visiting a full-scale resort or a destination closer to you, you can explore our other NY casino reviews and find out more about gambling in New York state.

Frequently Asked Questions

We hope this Empire City Casino review has been helpful. We receive more and more questions about specific issues that may not normally appear in reviews, so we have collected some of the most common questions and answers below.

Does Empire City Casino serve complimentary drinks?

Empire City Casino does offer complimentary non-alcoholic drinks on the casino floor. Alcoholic drinks must be enjoyed in any of their many dining establishments, though Empire Club Members may have access to perks like free drinks at comedy nights.

What is the legal age to play at the casino?

The legal age to play at Empire City Casino is 18 years of age. This differs from many area casinos, where the starting age is 21 years old. Please note that you must have a valid form of ID to bet and to collect your winnings.

Are there Empire City Casino table games?

Empire City Casino does not offer live table games at this time, as it is has a Class II license. It does offer many different electronic table games, which is fun, fast and convenient to play with friends.

Can I place sports bets at Empire City Casino?

Empire City Casino does not offer sports betting at this time. This could change in the near future and sports betting offerings expand across the U.S. MGM Resorts has already expressed interest in bringing sports betting to this location.

Is there a hotel at Yonkers Raceway for casino guests?

Empire City Casino does not have any on-site hotel accommodations, but it is within close proximity to several hotels. We can recommend the Hampton Inn & Suites Yonkers-Westchester for shuttle service to the casino and partner rates, as well as Royal Regency and Hampton Inn & Suites Yonkers. It is also easily accessible from New York City, if you live in the city or accommodations there better suit your stay!

Make an Empire Out of Your Gambling Habits!

So, you’ve heard about this online version of Manhattan’s famous Empire City Casino, and you’re curious to know more, huh?

Well, that’s exactly what you’re going to get here. Welcome to my Empire City Casino review. I’m going to show you everything there is to know about this fun, social online casino.

Unlike many other review sites, this one doesn’t take bribes, payoffs, or other incentives to improve the reviews you’ll read here. Everything is played 100% straight down the middle, with no diversions into fantasy town.

The pros and cons are outlined clearly, and by the end, you’ll have a fair idea of whether or not this is the right casino for you. Think of this site as your online casino matchmaker, if you will.

Empire City Casino Online Gambling Slot

Without further ado, then, let’s get started. There’s plenty to discover about Empire City Casino.

About Empire City Casino

Empire City Casino is a free-to-play online casino, meaning no real money wagers are accepted.

It’s hosted in Nevada, USA, and is only open to US players. If you’re from anywhere else, you’ll have to go elsewhere to place your bets.

This is what is classed as a “social casino,” meaning the main reason to play here is to socialize and have fun. There are lots of tournaments, giving you the opportunity to play against other players from around the country.

While it’s linked to the real-world Manhattan casino by the same name, this is not a real money casino. If you’re looking to win real jackpots, why not check out some of the other casinos we have reviewed here?

This casino is open to players from the USA only. You may not create an account or play games unless you’re from the United States.

Software Suppliers

The game software providers are some of the best in the business. This is one of the first things I look at when I visit a new casino site. This tells me that a high-quality gaming experience is guaranteed at Empire City.

You can play games from:

• NetEnt
• Ainsworth
• Konami
• Everi

Do remember that no real money bets are accepted at this casino. These games are “for fun” versions only, but they’re still the same games you would play from these software providers if you were playing for real.

There Are Lots of High-Quality Slot Games

All of the games at Empire City Casino are high-quality, but I want to emphasize the slots because there are lots of them.

You’ll be able to enjoy some of the best games from NetEnt such as Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, and Jackhammer II, among many other world-class slots.

If you love to spin the reels, this casino is an excellent choice.

Fun Tournaments Are Offered for Competitive Players

Both slots and poker tournaments are available for those of us who like to face off against each other, all while keeping it fun, of course.

Tournaments take the social element of online casino gaming to a whole new level. You’ll be playing against players from all over the country as you battle it out for a position on the leaderboard.

These tournaments make for a super fun way to kill some time and get you more involved in the casino as a whole.

Daily Free Credits Are Offered

You can claim free credits to play with just for logging into your account each day. This gives you a strong incentive to do just that, and you won’t have to bet a single real dollar to get them.

The Bad Stuff

Only US Players Are Accepted

Whereas normally US players aren’t accepted at most online casinos, at this one, the roles are reversed.

Only players from the USA can play at Empire City Casino.

No Real Money Payouts

This may or may not be a bad thing, according to your own perspective.

However, as most of the visitors to this site are looking for real money casinos, the fact that this one only trades in virtual credits might be somewhat of a downer. I’ll leave it to you to decide.

Given the fact that most social casino players are primarily interested in video slots, it probably comes as no surprise that the majority of the games on offer here fall into that category.

That’s not to say that slots are all Empire City has to offer, though. There are, in fact, plenty of video poker, table and card, and alternative games available.

The one thing you won’t find here is live dealer games. Then again, you can hardly expect a social casino to pay real dealers to entertain you when the bets aren’t for real money.

Next, let’s take a closer look at each game category one by one.

Poker

There are scheduled Texas Hold’em tournaments held regularly at Empire City Casino.

They don’t happen every day, so be sure to check out the “poker” tab on the main menu for the latest information on when the next one is due to start.

Video Poker

If you’ve read any of my previous casino reviews, you’ll already know how I feel about video poker. Often overlooked, this is in the running for my favorite casino game after slots. I can play for hours, and I love getting into all the different variants of video poker available on the web.

If you enjoy the rush of drawing and holding in the hope of landing that elusive royal flush, you can play:

• Destiny Poker
• Power Grid Poker
• Cash Draw Poker
• Jacks or Better
• Deuces Wild

• Deuces Wild Elite
• Jester Poker
• Regal Poker
• Double Regal Poker
• Double D Regal Poker

These games are all fine in terms of quality. They’re nothing special or outstanding, but there’s nothing to be concerned about, either. My only complaint is that one of them failed to load despite multiple attempts (Deuces Wild). Once I got into the other variants, though, the gameplay was smooth and uninterrupted, just like it should be.

Since there are no real money bets at this casino, there’s little to say about minimum/maximum bets. All the bets are placed in virtual credits.

Note that you won’t be able to play these games without creating an account. Since they’re free anyway, there’s no reason not to do so.

Table Games

If you like turning over digital cards or enjoy the mesmerizing sight of the red and black roulette wheel spinning, you’re not alone. These casino games have been in existence since casinos themselves began, and no self-proclaimed “social casino” would be complete without at least some of them.

You’ll be able to enjoy the following at Empire City Casino:

• Baccarat
• Blackjack
• Roulette
• HiLo

The games load quickly and play without any problems whatsoever. This is a constant throughout the games at Empire City. They’re top-notch and are on par with any games available at real money casinos.

Slots

Do you remember the first slot machine you ever played? I do – it was Reel King, and I played it at a casino in the UK. Ever since then, I’ve loved slots, and as soon as they came online, I began playing them regularly. There’s just something about that one-in-a-million shot to become uber-rich on any spin that’s irresistible to me.

If you feel the same way, or even if you don’t but still enjoy slots, I recommend checking out the following games:

• Red Panda
• Bloodsuckers II
• Joker Pro
• Dead or Alive
• Fortune Stacks
• Spinata Grande
• NRVNA
• Glow

• King of Slots
• Multiplayer Mayhem
• Neon Staxx
• Koi Princess
• Dazzle Me
• Starburst
• Gods of Fortune
• Wolf Club

• Money Heat
• Mustang Money
• Medusa
• King of Bling
• Jewel Quest
• Piggy Riches
• Gypsy Fire
• Twin Spin

As you can see, some of these games are from the top slots software firms on the web, period.

There are also lots of regular slots tournaments, giving you the chance to compete with other players for a position on the virtual leaderboard. These are a fun way to blow off some steam and are a great outlet for the competitive spirit many of us casino players possess.

Also note that some of these slots are only open to VIP players. A VIP player is defined as someone who has $20,000 credits in his/her account. Keep spinning, and you’ll get there!

Other Games

If you fancy changing it up and want to play some “no thought required” games, there are a few of variants of the following games available:

• Keno
• Lottery

While these have some of the worst odds in the house, they are a lot of fun. There’s no better time to enjoy them than when the bets aren’t for real money.

Promotions

Every casino has its welcome offers, and many also have ongoing bonuses and promotions to keep us as players coming back for more.

However, you might be wondering how a social casino which doesn’t accept real money bets could offer bonuses and promotions.

As it turns out, it is possible to buy virtual credits at this casino, as is the case at many other social casinos. The bonuses and promotions are based on that concept at this site.

Welcome Bonus

If you decide to buy some virtual credits, Empire Casino will double your first purchase.

The nice thing about these being virtual credits is that there are no terms and conditions to think about. You just buy the credits, and the casino doubles them. It’s as simple as that.

Daily Login Bonus

This is a concept I’ve seen at many other social casinos, and it’s one which I like a lot.

The idea is to log in every day to unlock some free credits. You’ll have to keep at it, though, because if you fail to log in once, you’ll max out and won’t be able to claim any more credits in that calendar month.

If you log in every day, you will be able to claim a maximum of 3,000 virtual credits. That isn’t bad for doing next to nothing!

Once again, there are no terms and conditions. These credits will simply appear in your account and are yours to play with.

The Loyalty Lounge

If you have an Empire Club Casino card and have 50,000 or more virtual credits, you will unlock new games unavailable to most players.

If you don’t have an Empire Club card, you can apply for one online. You’ll need to link it to your account before you’ll be eligible to enter the loyalty lounge.

This will be a short and sweet section since there are no real money bets accepted here, and therefore no withdrawals can be made.

There are multiple ways to purchase credits, as listed below.

Withdrawal times and fees are of no concern to us here since withdrawals aren’t possible.

Deposit Methods

• Credit Cards
• Debit Cards
• PayPal

Withdrawal Methods

• N/A

VIP Program

There’s no VIP program per se, but if you accumulate $20,000 in credits, you will get access to some games which are off-limits to regular players.

If you need to reach out to the customer service team, you can do so via email.

Empire City Casino Online Gambling Casinos

Email – Send a message to [email protected] – expect a reply within 12 hours maximum. This is a fairly fast response as compared to many other social casinos.

However, it would undoubtedly be better if a live chat or telephone support option was available. It could be a little frustrating to have to wait for answers if you were locked out of your account, for example.

I’ve played at some online social casinos which offer instant live chat support. The fact that it isn’t offered here is a little underwhelming.

Would I Play at Empire City Casino?

If you’re looking for a fun casino to play at without risking real money, Empire City Casino is as good as it gets.

All of the games you might want to play are offered, there are lots of free credits, bonuses, and incentives to both register and keep playing, and the site works nicely on all devices. If you want to win real money, though, you’ll have to go elsewhere.

Of course, the best way to decide if this casino is right for you is to visit and check it out for yourself. Go ahead and do that, if you like!

This review was made by: LegitGamblingSites.com Rating: 3.83 out of 5