The legal gambling age is codified into the Federal Law with a number of different variables. The thing is that the States establish a legal age but the casinos can fix their own minimum age! So, it is not rare to see a state fixing the legal gambling age at 18 years old and a casino of the same State fixes it at 21 years old! Type of gambling Minimum age Relevant sections of the Act Gambling in casinos or other licensed gambling premises It is illegal to permit any person under the age of 18 to enter a licensed gambling premises. The only exception is licensed family entertainment centres. 18: 46, 47, 48 and 49 Gaming machine (Machine category: A, B1, B2, B3, B3A. Each state or province determines its own minimum age for gambling. Some have 2 minimum ages (18 in some casinos, 21 in others). This is typical in states with alcohol-licensed casinos. If alcohol is served on the casino floor, the minimum age is 21.
- American Gambling Guide
- America Gambling Agency
- American Gambling Games
- American Gambling Supply
- Holland America Gambling Age
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.
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.
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.
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. 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. 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
Find detailed information on US casinos in every state - both land-based and online. Our experts have compiled information regarding states who legalized onlinecasinos and details about all legal USA online casinos. We have provided knowledge on gambling specifics for each state and what types of casinos are legal in each particular state. OnAmerican Casino Guide, you will find detailed lists of every US casino resort, riverboat casino and Indian casino in the country. Just choose a state from the below list of UScasinos-by-state in order to bring up detailed information on what types of casinos are available in the respective state, a list of all casinos within the state borders, and slot machine payback statistics for all US casinos.
Click here to see Maps of Casino Locations in Every U.S. State
Online gambling guide
The states who have now moved forward with legal online gambling are as follows:
Legal online casino:
- Delaware
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
Legal online poker:
- Nevada
- Delaware
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
Legal Online Sportsbooks:
- Rhode Island
- West Virginia
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
USA online casinos
The online casino USA market is definitely starting to grow. The domino effect is taking place, now that states are seeing the financial benefits of legal online casinos. The laws surroundingUSA online casinos are specific to the state where they are licensed. Ultimately it is up to the state to decide whether or not to legalize online casinos. We have seen the biggest impact oflegalizing online casinos in the state of New Jersey thus far.
In New Jersey, the online casino market is flourishing. There is a long list of legal online casinos - all of which are remaining competitive in this flourishing market. The current list oflegal NJ Casinos are as follows:
- Golden Nugget
- Virgin Online Casino
- Caesars Casino Online
- Borgata Online
- Tropicana Online
- SugarHouse Online Casino
- Betfair NJ
- 888 NJ
- Pala Online Casino
- Harrah’s Online Casino
- Resorts Online Casino
- Mohegan Sun Online
- DraftKings Casino
- Party Casino
- PlayMGM
- Ocean Resort Online
- PokerStars NJ
- Hard Rock Online
- BetAmerica
- Unibet Casino
Legal online casino gambling was recently just passed through legislation in Pennsylvania, meaning online casinos are on their way in the Keystone State. The projected list of online casinos in Pennsylvania are as follows:
- Harrah’s
- Hollywood at Penn National
- Mount Airy
- Parx
- SugarHouse
- Valley Forge
- Presque Isle Downs
- Sands Bethlehem
- Stadium Park Philly Live! Casino
- Mohegan Sun Pocono
- MGM Resorts
- Golden Nugget NJ
The only other state in America with legal online casino gambling is in fact, Delaware, and just like the state’s size, the list is quite small. The legal online casinos inDelaware are as follows:
- Delaware Park Online
- Dover Downs
- Harrington Online
Here at American Casino Guide, we have thorough reviews on each legal online casino in the USA. In our comprehensive online casino reviews, you will find useful information about eachsite and how it affects you as a player. Review briefs on the game selections offered at each site along with some of their most popular game titles.Learn about the software providers and interface design of these sites as well as their mobile apps and how efficient each application runs. See the banking options allowed at each site so thatyou can be sure your preferred withdrawal and deposit methods are available on your favorite online casinos. And finally, see what kinds of casino bonuses and specialpromotions are being offered at these casinos so that you can achieve the maximum amount of free play on your favorite casino games!
American Casino Guide - land-based establishments
There are many different kinds of casinos throughout the United States. Depending on your location in the country, there could be a mix of the following casinos:
American Gambling Guide
- Indian casinos
- Pari-mutuel casinos
- Land-based casinos
- Riverboat casinos
- Casino boats
Just choose a state from the American casino guide below, organized by state, and have a look at the detailed information of each. The information provided includes:
- List of every casino in the state
- Details about each casino
- Forms of casino gambling available in that state
- Slot machine payback statistics for all U.S. casinos
Each casino listing will explain its hours of operation, games offered, hotel rates, buffet prices, minimum gambling age, photos, maps, directions and more! You can even read and write your ownreview for each casino.
LISTED BELOW ARE LINKS TO ALL CASINOS IN EVERY STATE
Indian Casinos
Indian casinos, also known as Tribal casinos, are usually located on federally recognized Indian reservations. They range in size from small truck stops and convenience storesto some of the largest casinos in the country. At a small truck stop casino, you would generally find a handful of machines and these would be located in places such as Oklahoma or Wisconsin.Connecticut is home to one of the world’s largest casinos - Foxwoods Casino.
Different states have different legal agreements regarding Indian casinos. Depending on the agreement made, these Indian casinos can offer either Class II gaming or Class IIIgaming.
Class III (Class 3) gaming is what most people would describe as “normal” casino gaming. This is kind of casino gambling you would find at the majority of casinos in the country, such as LasVegas. Class III gaming involves the player playing against “the house” like in blackjack, craps, roulette, or any other table game, as well as slot machines.
Class II (Class 2) gaming, on the other hand, is slightly different. These are games where players compete against other players such as in poker and bingo. Over the years,casinos have found ways around this to offer other casino games similar to Class III games, however, adhering still to Class II rules. A great example of this would be Class II slot machinesthat closely resemble a normal, Class III machine but you will notice a small bingo card in the corner of the screen. So, in essence, you are actually playing a quicker version of virtual bingoagainst other players in the casino. The reels spin and you can see winning combinations. The reels, however, are “for entertainment purposes only” and your chances of winning are basedentirely on the bingo card in the corner.
Another example of Class II games would be player-banked table games where a player would compete against other players rather than against the casino. These look identical to traditional tablegames. The difference lays in the fact that players have to pay an ante of around $0.50-$1 per hand. In most cases there is someone who supplies the money to be the “bank” and the only moneythe casino receives is the ante made by each player.
Pari-Mutuel Casinos
Some states such as Arkansas or Delaware only allow casinos in pari-mutuel facilities. Pari-mutuel refers to locations with legalized wagering on horse or dog races; or inFlorida, jai-alai games. Since a vast majority of pari-mutuel facilities in the United States are racetracks, these types of casinos are often also known as “racinos,” a combination of thewords racetrack and casino.
Besides having legal on-property betting on horse racing, dog racing or jai-alai, these casinos are almost identical to most other land-based casinos. However, depending on the laws of thestates where they are located, some may not offer live table games, or may only have slot machines.
America Gambling Agency
A somewhat new development at pari-mutuel facilities in states where traditional casino gambling is illegal is something called “historical racing machines.” These are considered Class IImachines similar to the bingo-based machines at many Indian casinos but instead of being based on a bingo card, the results of these games are based on racing results from previous horse races.
American Gambling Games
Land-Based Casinos
Land-based casinos refer to the typical casinos that people often think of when they think of a casino. An example of this would a popular casino in Las Vegas or Atlantic City. Casino gamblingwas legalized in Nevada in 1931 and it was the only state to offer that type of gambling until 1977 when New Jersey legalized casinos for its seaside resort town of Atlantic City. It is theseland-based, stand-alone, casinos that were the original forms of casinos until riverboat and Indian casinos came along in the 1990s.
Riverboat Casino Locations
Riverboat casinos are exactly what they sound like - casinos located inside riverboats. These are found in many states throughout the South and the Midwest such as Illinois,Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Mississippi. However, they have evolved over the years as the laws and regulations have been quite relaxed. Originally, they were required to leave the dock andcruise for several hours periodically throughout the day. In the beginning, some states even required the casinos to enact loss limits during these cruises.
American Gambling Supply
Eventually, the loss limits were lifted, as were the requirements for them to cruise periodically, and they began operations constantly docked on the river. Some states later allowed thecasinos to be built on floating barges in man-made lagoons fed from the rivers. That is where most of the states are now, however some states such as Mississippi have now allowed their“riverboat” casinos to operate on land. As much as that does not make sense, the rules still require these facilities to be built within a certain distance from the water.