Legal Gambling Age By State
The minimum gambling age in the US varies, as each state has its own laws regulating or prohibiting different types of gambling. There is no federally-mandated gambling age that is universal across the 50 states.
However, tribal casinos across the country operate under Federal Indian Gaming Regulations and state compacts, not state laws, which means they set their own gambling age. That’s why many tribal casinos have the lowest gambling age in the country at 18. That said, the legal gambling age in most states is between 18 and 21 and it often varies by gambling activity, which means it could be different for sports betting, the state lottery, or online casinos.
Continue reading for a complete guide to gambling age minimums across the United States, including a state-by-state breakdown and a detailed look at the most prevalent gambling age laws across the country.
How old do you have to be to gamble in the United States?
The minimum age for gambling in the United States is usually between 18 and 21, but it varies by state and gambling activity. Here’s a look at how old you have to be for every US state by gambling activity:
What states can you go to a casino at 18?
Here’s a look at the states with casinos that are 18+:
- California: At some California card rooms and tribal casinos the legal age is 18.
- Florida: The legal age for poker and bingo inside Florida tribal casinos is 18, but it’s 21 for casino games.
- Georgia: Georgia doesn’t have land-based casinos but the legal age for gambling on its offshore cruises is 18.
- Idaho: The minimum gambling age at all Idaho casinos is 18, but there are properties that are 21+.
- Michigan: There are tribal casinos in Michigan where the minimum gambling is 18, but it’s 21 at commercial casinos in Detroit.
- Minnesota: The minimum gambling age in Minnesota is 18, although there are only a limited number of games at casinos.
- Montana: Tribal casinos are 18+ in Montana.
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma’s tribal casinos are 18+.
- Washington: Washington’s tribal casinos are 18+.
- Wyoming: Tribal casinos are 18+ in Wyoming.
Will Nevada ever lower the minimum age to 18?
Nevada lawmakers see lowering the gambling age as an idea fraught with issues and without many benefits, considering most 18-year-olds don’t have much money to gamble with anyway. The last serious attempt occurred in 2017, and it went exactly nowhere in the Nevada State Assembly.
Plus, the casino industry has never ed the idea, mostly because of issues surrounding alcoholic beverage service and problem gambling. Apparently, the last thing casinos want is any confusion surrounding guests being able to gamble, but not order alcoholic beverages, or more problem gambling issues.
With little political or casino industry for the idea, it’s unlikely Nevada will ever lower the minimum gambling age to 18.
Who regulates the gambling industry?
In the United States, each state has its own set of laws either regulating or prohibiting different types of gambling. States that do permit casino gaming generally have a gaming control board that oversees the state’s regulation of the industry. Otherwise, states may employ just a lottery board or horse racing association to regulate limited gaming activity like a state lottery or pari-mutuel betting on horse races.
When someone says gambling regulation is a state responsibility, they mean that the federal government allows each state to make their own decision on regulating or prohibiting gambling, even though many forms of illegal gambling are federal crimes.
Does the gambling age differ for online gambling?
In 2021, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Michigan, and West Virginia were the only US states with legal and state-regulated online casinos. Although, various other states have legal and regulated online and mobile sports betting, and there’s legal and regulated online poker in Nevada.
The legal gambling age in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Michigan, and West Virginia is 21, with the legal online gambling age being the same for the top online casinos in these states. However, two states do differ in minimum ages for live casino gambling and online and mobile sports betting. These states are Colorado and New Hampshire, where the legal gambling age at casinos is 21, but you can bet on sports with online and mobile sportsbooks if you are 18 or older.
Do any online casinos have their own gambling ages?
Top online casinos almost invariably specify their own gambling ages. Of course, none of these specified ages fall beneath the legally mandated ages, but most operators require players to be 21 or older, no matter what the law says. The following casinos require patrons to be 21 to play:
- BetMGM Casino
- Caesars Palace Online Casino
- FanDuel Casino
- Fanatics Casino
- BetRivers Casino
- Bally Casino
- Hard Rock Bet Casino
- Betway Casino
- Bet365 Casino
- Borgata Casino
The only major operator which may follow the legal standard at times is DraftKings, which notably allows action at age 18 on its sportsbooks in Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Wyoming. There’s nothing wrong with this decision, however, as online casinos’ only duty is to remain in compliance with state law.
What happens if I’m an underage gambler?
Each state can set its own minimum age requirement for gambling and therefore its own consequences for underage gambling.
In most states, minors caught and convicted of underage gambling will end up with a fine of up to $1,000 and may have their driver’s license suspended for up to six months. They may also face possible prison time and a permanent criminal record. Underage gambling is generally a misdemeanor and parents who allow their minor child to gamble can also be found guilty of a misdemeanor, and possibly even have the child removed from their custody.
If it is discovered that a licensed casino knowingly allowed someone underage to gamble, the casino will be fined and may lose its license.
