Gambling Age in the USA

Gambling content is available all over the world, and the industry is performing exceptionally well in the US. Of course, not all gambling activities are viewed or regulated in the same way. As a result, the legal gambling age in USA varies depending on the type of content one wants to access or depending on the location. Every state can regulate casinos and sportsbooks independently, so the laws for legal gambling age aren’t the same across the board. Here we will discuss the topic of US legal gambling age, and what laws apply in each state.

Federal Law

Currently, under federal law, casino games and betting on sports are legal. The legal gambling age in USA according to federal law is 18. That being said, there are numerous restrictions that have to do with interstate laws, especially with the legality of online gambling.

Right now, some form of gambling is legal in 48 states, and these include poker rooms, land-based casinos and sportsbooks, and lottery games like bingo. It’s also worth pointing out that this wasn’t the case a few decades back. Before the 90s casinos were basically illegal across the entire continent. Now we will go over into state by state breakdown of gambling age US laws.

State-By-State Breakdown of Age Restrictions

The table might cause confusion in some cases, especially with states that don’t have a set limit for casino gambling. In Michigan for example you can play casino games if you are at least 18, but some casinos might deny you entry. This is because the legal gambling age in Michigan is 18 or up, so institutions might have their own internal standards that can’t go below 18 but can go above. So, some might require a government issue ID that states you are at least 19, or older.

The table might cause confusion in some cases, especially with states that don’t have a set limit for casino gambling. In Michigan for example you can play casino games if you are at least 18, but some casinos might deny you entry. This is because the legal gambling age in Michigan is 18 or up, so institutions might have their own internal standards that can’t go below 18 but can go above. So, some might require a government issue ID that states you are at least 19, or older.

Some states even have legal online gambling sites whereas others simply don’t prohibit citizens to play on online casinos and sportsbooks. One of the first states that made online casinos and sportsbooks legal was New Jersey and they did it in 2013. Today the available online casinos in New Jersey that operate legally are some of the most renowned brands in the iGaming space. They all need to adhere to regulators so even if you wish to gamble online you still need to be at least 21. 

Exceptions and Variations

It’s important to note that laws and regulations aren’t enforced in some cases. For example, if any type of gaming is legal in a certain state, the regulators cannot enforce laws on tribal land. So, there are many tribal casinos that aren’t obligated to comply with the regulatory framework. That being said, these establishments still adhere to their own ethical code, so minors are unlikely to have access to casino games there.

As far as penalties go they can vary. In most cases, an underaged gambler will be fined between $500 and $1000. It’s possible to get your licenses suspended, go on probation or community service, and in very unlikely events there could be jail time punishment.

Controversies and Debates

The main controversy when it comes to gambling, in general, is problem gamblers or gambling addiction. Many feel that exposure to this content or normalizing the activity is very harmful. Also, numerous research suggests that casino games and betting have a different effect on a person depending on their age group. Studies also suggest that young people are at the highest risk when it comes to developing these problems. Even if the brain is still developing and their opinions are prone to changing, forming habits at this age can be very harmful.

It’s also worth mentioning that many senior citizens really enjoy this activity as a form of entertainment. For them it’s more than the act of playing bingo or similar games, it’s a way of socializing and they enjoy it.

Traveling issues

On average, the legal age for gambling in most countries where it is allowed, varies between 18 and 21 years old. However, if you are traveling for vacation or on a business trip to another country, it is strongly recommended to familiarize yourself with local laws.

You may find that gambling, even as a foreigner, could be prohibited or limited. For example, in the UAE, simple playing in your favorite online casino game can result in fines, possible imprisonment, deportation, and even the seizure of funds associated with your gambling activities. On the other hand, in Georgia, the gambling age is 25 for citizens and stateless persons, but 18 for foreign citizens. Meanwhile, in Finland, the legal age for gambling is 18, but you can only gamble in establishments regulated by government-monopoly Veikkaus.

In Closing

To sum up, it’s a good thing that every state gets to regulate this activity the way they see fit. This means that it’s possible to access play at a casino or place bets by making a trip to one of the neighbouring states if those things aren’t accessible locally. Even if only a small number of players develop problems it wouldn’t be right to impose opinions on those parts of the continent where the community just isn’t comfortable with that sort of content.

- Payton O'Brien, Gambling911.com