Yes — but it wasn’t always. PrizePicks has had one of the most turbulent regulatory histories of any gaming platform in New York, going from operating freely, to being fined nearly $15 million and forced to shut down, to relaunching with a proper license and an entirely redesigned product. As of late 2025, PrizePicks is fully legal in New York and actively operating under an interactive fantasy sports license issued by the New York State Gaming Commission. If you used PrizePicks before and noticed it disappeared, that’s why — and now it’s back, but in a noticeably different form than before.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What Happened With PrizePicks in New York?
PrizePicks had operated in New York since 2019, offering its popular pick’em style contests where users predict whether a player will go over or under a statistical projection. For years the company maintained these were games of skill and therefore legal under New York’s daily fantasy sports laws without requiring a separate license.
New York regulators disagreed. In October 2023, the New York State Gaming Commission adopted Rule 5602.1(a)(4), which explicitly banned fantasy sports contests that mimic proposition betting — which is exactly what pick’em contests do. The rule stated clearly that any contest where a player predicts whether an individual athlete will surpass a statistical achievement is prohibited.
PrizePicks continued to operate after the rule took effect. In February 2024, the Gaming Commission brought enforcement action and PrizePicks settled, agreeing to pay nearly $15 million in penalties and immediately cease all paid contests in New York. From that point until late 2025, New York users could only access PrizePicks’ free-to-play mode.
How Did PrizePicks Get Back Into New York?
After the settlement, PrizePicks went back to the drawing board and redesigned its product to comply with New York’s fantasy sports standards. The key change was moving from a “versus the house” model — where users competed against PrizePicks itself — to a peer-to-peer model called PrizePicks Arena, where users compete directly against each other rather than against the operator.
In August 2025, PrizePicks completed the full transition of its entire U.S. operation to this peer-to-peer format. The company then applied for an interactive fantasy sports operating license in New York, working closely with regulators throughout the process. In October 2025, the New York State Gaming Commission officially awarded PrizePicks its license, and the platform relaunched its paid contests in New York in early 2026. New York became the 16th jurisdiction to formally recognize PrizePicks’ contests as legal games of skill.
What Is PrizePicks Now and How Does It Work?
The PrizePicks available in New York today is different from the original product many users remember. The current version is a peer-to-peer daily fantasy sports platform. Users still build lineups based on player statistical projections, but instead of winning money from the house, they compete directly against other users in leaderboard-style contests.
This structure is what separates it from sports betting under New York law. Daily fantasy sports are classified as games of skill in New York — skill meaning the outcome depends meaningfully on the user’s knowledge and decision-making rather than pure chance. Sports betting, by contrast, is regulated under a separate and more restrictive licensing framework.
Who Can Use PrizePicks in New York?
To use PrizePicks in New York, you must be at least 18 years old and physically located within New York State when entering contests. Unlike the sportsbook minimum age of 21, daily fantasy sports platforms including PrizePicks operate under an 18-plus age requirement in New York. You do not need to be a New York resident — visitors and tourists can play as long as they are physically in the state.
Is PrizePicks the Same as Sports Betting?
No, and the distinction matters legally. Sports betting in New York requires a separate license under a different regulatory framework and is only available through licensed sportsbooks like FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars. PrizePicks is licensed as a daily fantasy sports operator, which is classified as a skill-based contest under New York law.
The original pick’em format blurred this line significantly, which is why regulators cracked down. The current peer-to-peer format was specifically designed to fall clearly within fantasy sports law rather than sports wagering law.
Are Winnings From PrizePicks Taxable in New York?
Yes. Any winnings from fantasy sports contests are considered taxable income under both New York State and federal tax law. Significant winnings may generate tax documentation, and all gambling and contest winnings should be reported regardless of whether a form is issued. New York State income tax applies in addition to federal obligations.
What About Other Pick’em Platforms in New York?
PrizePicks is not the only platform that went through this process. Underdog Fantasy, another major pick’em operator, also halted New York operations and paid an $18 million settlement before relaunching its draft-style games in May 2025 under a compliant format. The New York State Gaming Commission has made clear it will enforce its fantasy sports rules strictly, and any platform operating without a proper license faces the same enforcement action PrizePicks and Underdog experienced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. When did PrizePicks come back to New York?
PrizePicks received its interactive fantasy sports operating license in October 2025 and relaunched its paid peer-to-peer contests in New York in early 2026.
Q2. Why was PrizePicks banned in New York before?
PrizePicks was operating its pick’em style contests without a proper license and in violation of a 2023 rule that banned fantasy contests mimicking proposition betting. It paid nearly $15 million to settle the matter and shut down before working toward full compliance.
Q3. Is the new PrizePicks the same as the old version?
Not exactly. The current version uses a peer-to-peer model where users compete against each other rather than against the house. The original format — where PrizePicks set the lines and users bet against the operator — is no longer available in New York.
Q4. Is the minimum age 18 or 21 for PrizePicks in New York?
PrizePicks is a daily fantasy sports platform, so the minimum age is 18 — not 21. The 21-plus age requirement applies to sportsbooks, not DFS operators.
Q5. Can I use PrizePicks in New York City?
Yes. PrizePicks is available throughout all of New York State, including New York City, as long as you are physically located in the state and meet the age requirement.
Q6. Are there other states where PrizePicks is not available?
Yes. As of 2025, PrizePicks is unavailable in Washington State, where DFS is classified as illegal sports wagering, and in Nevada, where real-money DFS faces separate restrictions. It is available in more than 36 states overall.