New York’s online sports betting market recorded its fourth-largest weekly handle ever during NFL Week 2, continuing a strong start to the football season. According to figures released by the New York State Gaming Commission, bettors wagered $611.1 million during the week ending Sept. 20.
The total represented a 2.8% increase from the opening week of the 2026 NFL season and marked the sixth time New York sportsbooks have surpassed $600 million in weekly handle since online betting launched in January 2022. The performance also ended a lengthy stretch without a $600 million week, as the state had not crossed that threshold since late November 2025.
Football continues to be the primary catalyst for betting growth in New York. The NFL’s return has once again pushed wagering activity higher, while a full slate of college football games added additional interest across the market. The combination has helped sportsbooks generate more than $1.2 billion in bets through the first two weeks of the NFL season.
That figure represents a 13.6% increase compared to the same period last year, highlighting how betting demand has remained resilient despite ongoing discussions about competition from prediction markets and other emerging wagering products.
While total wagers climbed sharply, sportsbook profitability remained relatively restrained due to another low-hold week. Operators reported $38.5 million in gross gaming revenue, up significantly from the previous week but still below levels seen during comparable periods last year.
The statewide hold rate reached 6.3%, meaning sportsbooks retained roughly six cents of every dollar wagered. Although that was an improvement over the previous week’s 2.9% hold, it remained below levels operators typically prefer during the NFL season.
The lower win rate reflects another week in which bettors performed relatively well. For the second consecutive reporting period, none of New York’s online sportsbooks posted a double-digit hold percentage.
As a result, combined revenue through the first two weeks of the NFL season totaled $58.5 million. That stands as the lowest two-week revenue output during an NFL season since October 2024, illustrating the difference between strong betting activity and sportsbook profitability.
FanDuel once again generated the largest share of betting volume in New York, taking more than $237 million in wagers during the reporting period. The operator has now exceeded $200 million in handle for two consecutive weeks, reflecting its continued dominance in the state’s competitive market.
However, FanDuel’s hold remained modest at 5.4%, limiting revenue despite the substantial betting volume. The operator produced approximately $12.9 million in gross revenue, one of its lower returns relative to handle size in recent months.
DraftKings also posted another strong week and continued to challenge FanDuel for wagering share. Together, the two market leaders accounted for the majority of betting activity across New York’s online sportsbook sector.
With the NFL schedule entering its next stretch and college football maintaining strong interest among bettors, New York operators will be watching closely to see whether wagering levels can remain near record territory. Early-season numbers suggest demand remains robust, even if sportsbooks have yet to fully capitalize on the surge in betting volume.
