How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble? (Gambling Age Requirements)
Most people, no matter where they live, think they know how old they have to be to gamble. But the reality is that gambling age requirements vary widely by state, county, and even by casino. Not to mention that certain types of gambling let you place your first bet much younger than other types.
Want to know what we are talking about? Then, read on to learn all the ins and outs of gambling age requirements and discover how old you need to be to place a bet at a casino near you.
Age Requirements For Gambling in the United States
The age requirements for gambling in the United States are some of the most complicated. Not only does it vary by state but also by the facility where you plan to play. Below, we’ve made a chart to make it easy to see how old you have to be to gamble, depending on your location.
Related: In Which States is Gambling Legal?
|
State |
Sports Betting |
Casino |
Poker |
In Tribal Casinos |
|
Alabama |
Not Legal |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Alaska |
Not Legal |
21 |
Not Legal |
21 |
|
Arizona |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Arkansas |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
California |
Not Legal |
18-21 (depending on casino alcohol license) |
18-21 (depending on casino alcohol license) |
|
|
Colorado |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Connecticut |
21 |
21 |
18 |
21 |
|
Delaware |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Florida |
Not Legal |
21 |
18 |
21 |
|
Georgia |
Not Legal |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Hawaii |
Not Legal |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Idaho |
Not Legal |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Illinois |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Indiana |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Iowa |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Kansas |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Kentucky |
18 |
N/A |
18 |
N/A |
|
Louisiana |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Maine |
Not Legal |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Maryland |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Massachusetts |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Michigan |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Minnesota |
Not Legal |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Mississippi |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Missouri |
Not Legal |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Montana |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Nebraska |
Not Legal |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Nevada |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
New Hampshire |
18 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
New Jersey |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
New Mexico |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
New York |
18 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
North Carolina |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
North Dakota |
21 |
21 |
21 |
19 |
|
Ohio |
18 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Oklahoma |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 (can vary to 21) |
|
Oregon |
18 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Pennsylvania |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Rhode Island |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
South Dakota |
21 |
21 |
Not Legal |
18 |
|
South Carolina |
Not Legal |
21 |
18 |
21 |
|
Tennessee |
21 |
Not Legal |
Not Legal |
|
|
Texas |
Not Legal |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Utah |
Not Legal |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Vermont |
Not Legal |
Not Legal |
Not Legal |
|
|
Virginia |
21 |
21 |
18 |
21 |
|
Washington |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
West Virginia |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Wisconsin |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Wyoming |
18 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
Related: Where is Sports Betting Legal?
Why Do Most States Require Gamblers to Be 21?
As you can see by the above chart, while some states allow individuals to gamble at 18, most require that you wait until 21 to place your first bet. This is because gambling can be a dangerous and addictive activity, especially for those with a developing frontal lobe. Therefore, most states want individuals to be a bit older and more mature when they decide to gamble.
Additionally, many high schoolers turn 18 during their last year of school. This could create legal problems for the parents if the student were to gamble and rack up debt prior to living on their own.
The Gambling Ages Around the World
It’s worth noting that the United States is just one country, and there are many other countries that allow gambling and have their own rules for the pastime. Below we have placed these ages in the chart.
**Before you dive in, we need to note that casinos on international waters (cruise ships) have 18 as their gambling age.
|
Country |
Gambling Age |
|
United Kingdom |
|
|
Australia |
18 |
|
Hong Kong |
18 |
|
Macau |
21 |
|
Denmark |
18 (can sportsbet at 16) |
|
Estonia |
21 |
|
New Zealand |
|
|
Albania |
18 |
|
Austria |
18 |
|
Belarus |
18 |
|
Belgium |
21 |
|
Croatia |
18 |
|
Czech Republic |
18 |
|
Finland |
18 |
|
France |
18 |
|
Germany |
18-21 (varies by state) |
|
Greece |
23 |
|
Georgia |
25 |
|
Malta |
25 (18 for visitors) |
|
Netherlands |
18 |
|
Portugal |
18-25 (varies by casino) |
|
Sweden |
18-20 (varies by casino type) |
|
Switzerland |
18 |
|
Ukraine |
21 |
|
India |
21 |
|
Israel |
18 |
|
Japan |
20 |
|
Philippines |
21 |
|
Russia |
18 |
|
Singapore |
21 |
|
South Korea |
19 |
|
Taiwan |
20 |
|
United Arab Emirates |
21 (lotteries only) |
|
Morocco |
18 |
|
Bahamas |
18 |
|
Canada |
18-19 (varies by providence) |
|
Costa Rica |
18 |
|
Mexico |
18 |
Obviously, this isn’t all of the countries in the world, but these are the ones where gambling is the least regulated and the most fun to travel for. Remember, however, that laws and regulations are always changing, so before you travel to gamble, ensure you are legal to do so in your destination.
Related: Canadian Sports Betting Rules and Regulations
What Happens if You Gamble Underage?
We hope that no one reading this is gambling underage but know that the consequences can be severe. Gambling underage in the US isn’t as bad as in other countries but know that you may be banned from a casino, and you will not be allowed to keep or receive any of the prizes you thought you won while gambling.
Internationally, some countries may just ban you from the casino, while others, like the UK, can ban you from all casinos in one go. In somewhere like the United Arab Emirates or Morocco, you may find yourself in prison for violating gambling rules.
It’s important to remember that gambling regulations apply not only within your country but also online, so before you place a bet on a gambling site, ensure you know the regulations for your region, so you don’t find yourself inadvertently in trouble.
So, if you aren’t the age to gamble in your country just yet, don’t risk it. Just be patient, and you’ll be able to gamble legally soon enough!
