The legal gambling age varies from one state to another. Generally speaking, you have to be at least 18 before you can spend your money at a casino. However, in some states, you have to wait until you're 21. The most reliable way to find out what the legal age limit is in any particular state is to ask the casino personnel.
Legal Gambling Age In Us States Capitals
- Most of the time on a cruise ship, the legal gambling age is 18 years old. That's a full 3 years younger than most United States land-based casinos. So, essentially you're going to have to be at least 18 years old to legally gamble in the United States. Most casinos in the country are going to require that you're 21 to enter.
- Gambling in the United States is legally restricted. In 2008, gambling activities generated gross revenues (the difference between the total amounts wagered minus the funds or 'winnings' returned to the players) of $92.27 billion in the United States.
- In 2002, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled the Federal Wire Act prohibits sports betting, but not necessarily online gambling. However, the US Department of Justice disagreed, claiming all online gambling is illegal in the US, and that advertising online gambling is akin to aiding and abetting a crime.
- Minimum Age to Gamble in United States of America Below you will find the minimum legal age to gamble in various locations around the U.S., Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. In the 50 American states, some times you'll see a variance, this usually is due to Indian casinos having different age requirements in their casinos.
If you are wanting to gamble, it is extremely important that you know the legal gambling ages in the USA. Here is the fact of the matter – trying to gamble underage is against the law. If you are caught doing so, you will face various consequences. They can be as simple as being kicked out of a casino, receiving a fine, or even some jail time. No matter how much you want to gamble, it is not worth possibly getting into legal trouble over. But the question is, how old do you need to be to make your bets?
Well, the legal gambling age depends on where you live. The legal gambling ages vary from state to state and that is not the only variance that you might see. Some states even have inconsistencies when it comes to the legal gambling age online versus going to any gambling facility and making your bets. So, what do you do? We suggest that you continue reading this page and all of our other pages on this site. We will give you as much information as we can to make sure you know what the legal gambling age is for your state or wherever you currently are in the United States.
If you are wondering what is the legal gambling ages for land-based gambling, then you have come to the right place. Due to how the United States is structured, there is no federal gambling age. Each state needs to decide for themselves what the legal gambling age is. On this site, we have listed off the legal gambling age for land-based gaming for every state. Generally speaking, so long as you are 21 years or older, you are safe all over the country. There are no states that have a legal gambling age over 21 years old.
Legal Gambling Age In Us States 2020
If you want to know how old you have to be to gamble online, then you have to check with your local laws. The fact of the matter is, every single state in the country decides for themselves what the legal gambling age is supposed to be set at. Generally speaking, most states do not differentiate online gambling age from retail gambling age. That would further complicate things and would create an unbalanced market. If you are looking for the safest age gamble online, it is 21 years or older.
Legal Gambling Age In Us States Of America
There are many types of legal gambling and not all of them have the same gambling age. The legal gambling age for your game of choice will depend on what the lawmakers in your state have decided. For example, there are many states that allow for betting on horse races. A majority of these states say you need to be 18 years or older to bet on the ponies. However, many of these same states say you need to be 21 years or older to bet on sports or go to the casino. On our state pages, we have listed out the various gambling ages for each state so you know how old you need to be to bet on the ponies or bet on your favorite sports team.
Legal Gambling Age In Us States In America
If you are looking for the best place to bet on sports, then online offshore sportsbooks like Bovada is where you need to go. Here, you are able to bet on all of your favorite teams no matter where you are in the United States. From football to darts, you have plenty of sports to bet on at Bovada. Not only is signing up free, but you can get bonuses for your first deposit. Bovada will give you a 50% matching bonus for your first deposit up to $250. It is an excellent way to get started and to fuel your new sports betting account. We definitely recommend you give Bovada a try if you want to bet on sports.
Sometimes, it is hard finding a reputable website that is made for poker players. That is why we often recommend BetOnline for people who want to play poker. The reason is simple, BetOnline has been around the internet for over a decade and they have been faithfully taking poker players all those years. It is hard to find a website to trust with your money, especially when gambling, but BetOnline is a site we trust and use to play poker. Not only that, signing up is free and there are great incentives to do so. One of the best bonuses is the 100% first deposit bonus. Your first deposit will be matched 100% for up to $2,500. Just use the promo code NEWBOL to claim your bonus.
Bingo is generally accepted in most states and there are plenty of locations in the country to bet on Bingo. But why travel when instead you can go online to Vic's Bingo Hall and play bingo at home? There are bingo games being played throughout the day and you will have plenty of opportunities to play bingo on this website. There are plenty of promotions to take advantage of as well on this site. The promotions are never the same at Vic's and for that reason, we highly recommend you sign up for your free account so you can take advantage of all the ongoing promotions.
Lucky Red Casino is without a doubt one of the best online casinos on in the world. Anyone in the United States can access this site and gamble on various casino games. From slots to roulette, Lucky Red has it all. With the various promotions that Lucky Red has to offer, there is no reason to not sign up for your free account. if you sign up and enter the promo code LuckyRed400, then you can receive a 400% slots bonus on your first deposit. It is good for up to $4000 and that is a lot of money to get you started.
There are many types of legal gambling and not all of them have the same gambling age. The legal gambling age for your game of choice will depend on what the lawmakers in your state have decided. For example, there are many states that allow for betting on horse races. A majority of these states say you need to be 18 years or older to bet on the ponies. However, many of these same states say you need to be 21 years or older to bet on sports or go to the casino. On our state pages, we have listed out the various gambling ages for each state so you know how old you need to be to bet on the ponies or bet on your favorite sports team.
Sports betting is regulated at the state level just like every other form of gambling. In both online and land-based sports betting options, bettors must be at least 18 to wager on sports. However, this is only true in a handful of states, as the majority of the country requires bettors to be 21 to bet on sports. When using a state-licensed sportsbook, bettors will have to ensure they fall within the minimum sports betting age requirement set by the state. This will be clearly posted on their online platform or within their sportsbook venue. When it comes to offshore sports betting sites, bettors still must follow the local laws, even if the site allows players to join at age 18.
The biggest difference surrounding casino gambling ages is the type of venue that you find yourself at. Casino gaming is also regulated at the state level, however, there are a few different regulatory bodies that one states can abide by. For example, bettors in New York are able to visit the upstate commercial casinos and begin wagering at 21 years old. Those who are 18 though can visit any of the tribal casinos sprinkled throughout the state to engage in casino gaming. No matter which method you go (offshore gambling sites included) be sure to follow the local laws.
Poker rooms generally require bettors to be 21 years old but there are a few states that accept players as young as 18. California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington State all have at least one venue that allows the younger gamblers to join. Some of these states may require an age of 21 at certain venues depending on their alcohol policies or when betting at a commercial casino versus a Native American casino.
The lottery is generally set as a game that players only need to be 18 to play. While this form of gambling has less to do with any skill or attention to detail, bettors can have fun by playing their numbers right when they become a legal adult. Keep in mind that every state is different, and in states like Arizona, Iowa, and Louisiana require that players be 21 or older to buy a lotto ticket. Also, some states do not have a legal industry at all.
While bingo is a game that many played as a kid, there are plenty of opportunities to bet on the game as well. These bingo halls are often seen in movies but they actually do exist in more locations than you may think. Bingo is another game that is generally the same across the board – allowing players to participate for real money at age 18. However, states like Alaska, Iowa, Nevada, and Texas make it so players must be at least 21, while other states allow bettors to play at age 16 or before.
Horse racing is an industry that has seen its decline in recent years, yet some can not be taken away from the track. Betting on the ponies is generally accepted at age 18 but again, every legal gambling age is set by its own state. Only in Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Nevada, New Hampshire, Texas, and Wisconsin is the gambling age not set at 18 for pari-mutuel wagering. Keep in mind that many states have banned the activity entirely – meaning there are no laws on the books for a minimum horse racing betting age.
State | Casinos | Poker Rooms | Bingo | Lottery | Dog/Horse Racing | Online Casinos | Online Sports | Online Poker | Online Bingo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | n/a | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Alaska Gambling Ages | 21 | n/a | 19 | n/a | n/a | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Arizona Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Arkansas Gambling Ages | n/a | n/a | n/a | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
California Gambling Ages | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Colorado Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Connecticut Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Delaware Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Florida Gambling Ages | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Georgia Gambling Ages | n/a | n/a | 18 | 18 | n/a | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Hawaii Gambling Ages | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Idaho Gambling Ages | 18 | n/a | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Illinois Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Indiana Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Iowa Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Kansas Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Kentucky Gambling Ages | n/a | n/a | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Louisiana Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Maine Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Maryland Gambling Ages | 21 | n/a | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Massachusetts Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Michigan Gambling Ages | 18-21 | 18-21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Minnesota Gambling Ages | 18-21 | 18-21 | 18-21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Mississippi Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | n/a | n/a | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Missouri Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Montana Gambling Ages | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Nebraska Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Nevada Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 21 | n/a | n/a | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
New Hampshire Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
New Jersey Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
New Mexico Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
New York Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
North Carolina Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | n/a | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
North Dakota Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Ohio Gambling Ages | 18-21 | 18-21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Oklahoma Gambling Ages | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Oregon Gambling Ages | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Pennsylvania Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 |
Rhode Island Gambling Ages | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | n/a | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
South Carolina Gambling Ages | n/a | n/a | 18 | 18 | n/a | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
South Dakota Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Tennessee Gambling Ages | n/a | n/a | 18 | 18 | n/a | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Texas Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Utah Gambling Ages | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Vermont Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | n/a | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Virginia Gambling Ages | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Washington Gambling Ages | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
West Virginia Gambling Ages | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Wisconsin Gambling Ages | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | n/a | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Wyoming Gambling Ages | 18 | 18 | 18 | n/a | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
As you might already know, each state decides for themselves what the minimum gambling age is. The minimum gambling age has varying factors because the ages in Alabama differ from states like Minnesota. Generally speaking, being 21 years or older will be safe throughout the entire United States. That is the highest age we have seen so far. But other states will say 18 and there are even some that will say 19. It also depends on who is running the casino. Casinos ran by the state might have different rules than tribal casinos. This is true in areas like New York, Washington State, and others.
18 years old is the youngest when you can start gambling and it is not the same for every state. Some states allow people the age of 18 to have a full range of the casino. Other states allow for people who are 18 to only bet on horse races and no other forms of gambling. It is important you know what you are allowed to do at 18 when you decide to visit a gambling facility so you don't end up getting into legal trouble. Make sure to check out our reviews of the best legal online casinos for USA players, or legal online sports betting sites that accept bettors who are 18. Make sure to check out our reviews of the best legal online casinos for USA players, or legal online sports betting sites.
The legal gambling ages in places like the UK, Australia, India, Canada, and China are not that different from what you see in the United States. In the UK, people can start gambling as soon as they turn 18. The same is true in Australia and India. In Canada, the general consensus is that you need to be 19 years or older to start gambling. China is a bit stricter because they say you need to be 21 years or older to have a full range of Chinese gambling. As you can see, legal gambling ages largely depends on where you live. Make sure you always keep up with local laws to know if you are old enough to gamble wherever you live.
When visiting a place that is technically outside of the USA but still falls under local laws, bettors may be unsure about the minimum age to gamble at these American territories. Free no deposit casino bonus chips. Not every type of gambling has been approved in certain American territories so don't expect to always find the offering at a land-based venue. Through the offshore gambling sites though, bettors can find any type of wagering they desire. In possibly the most accepting America gambling territory (Puerto Rico), bettors can be 18 to wager on most games but some locales may ask that you be 21.
Whether visiting an international casino cruise or hopping aboard a free-flowing riverboat casino, bettors must be aware of these ages to gamble as well. Taxes on gambling winnings in new york. For the in-state casino cruises such as the ones that are popular in Missouri, bettors must be the age that the state requires. However, if you are venturing into international waters in cruises along the east coast, west coast, or the Gulf of Mexico, bettors will only need to be 18 years old to have fun. As always, be sure to check with the specific gambling establishment that you are wanting to gamble at.
Find more on the legal gambling age in the USA here along with other information about USA online gambling laws. You should be able to find the legal gambling age for all states on our website along with a list of gambling sites and venues that allow you to gamble at 18 or 21. They will all tell you when you try to sign up if you are under the legal age limit. Also check out www.legalsportsbetting.com to keep up with the legalization of sports betting in the USA. It looks like it may finally have some momentum and could be legal for US players real soon. Also check our the Legal Sports Betting Age for your state.
Legal Poker Gambling Age | Legal Sports Betting Age
There's a wide range of opportunities to gamble in the U.S. Players can find bingo, lottery games, poker, and casinos, as well as online gaming, depending on their location. When it comes to online casinos, players have access to online poker in Nevada, while New Jersey and Delaware have legalized online poker and casino gaming. Pennsylvania legalized both poker and online casinos last year and will launch services in 2019.
It's important that players always keep in mind the legal gambling age to be able to take part in this activity, be it online or in land-based venues.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Gamble In The U.S.?
Below you will find the legal gambling age by state including the Virgin Islands, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Minimum Gambling Age At Land-Based and Online Casinos
In states that offer casino gambling, the age ranges from 18 to 21. In most areas, players must be 21 to take part. States have set age limitations when legalizing gambling within their borders and since most casinos offer alcohol sales, they limit the age to 21 so visitors can drink while on the premises. IDs are checked upon entering to ensure that patrons are the correct age to be on the gambling floor.
With online gambling, the age range is 21. Many lawmakers across the US have brought up that the legal age limit for online lottery games is 18 and yet for online casino games it is 21. We may see lawmakers decide to allow the limit to be changed in the future.
Age 21+ Welcome to Play at Online Casinos
If you are 21, feel free to get your gaming on by visiting a local casino or reputable casino sites like BetOnline or Cafe Casino. If you are underage, practice with free online casino games until you reach the legal gambling age limit. Remember to gamble responsibly and enjoy your time getting to know the various online casino games on offer!