Metro Detroiters have several opportunities to win big or lose large in the area's various gambling pursuits. In addition to the Michigan Lottery and horse racing, there are a few casinos in and near Motor City. The states also have differing legal gambling ages, with some states requiring the same minimum age for all types of gambling, while for others, it depends on the activity. For example, in New Jersey, an 18-year-old can buy a lottery ticket or bet on a horse race, but cannot enter a casino until age 21. The age of majority determines when an individual can enter into legally binding contracts. A law-abiding gambling company cannot do business with minors. Every member of an online casino must register and honestly affirm their age. To collect winnings they must prove their identity and age eligibility. Legal gambling ages across the US vary, with states setting the minimum age at either 18 or 21. This can however change depending on the type of gambling, as well as if you're playing in a Native. In Pennsylvania casinos, the legal gambling age is 21 years old. Many places around the world, the gambling age at casinos became 21 due to the fact that casinos sold alcohol, and Pennsylvania is no exception, adhering to this trend and keeping the gambling age at casinos within the state at the general age of majority: 21.
The Legal Age
In today's day and age, many governments and legal jurisdictions have established mostly agreed upon age requirements for participating in certain activities, that require the decision making and judgement that you can only get from experience and maturing. These societies, reflecting their cultural norms and practices, have varying activities that they restrict with a legal age limit.
In most societies, gambling is an age restricted activity that is linked to a coming of age, when a teenager steps into adulthood and is understood to be able to make serious decisions and take on greater responsibilities. In the case of gambling, the responsibility is of one's own finances.
Gambling is often divided into distinct categories; the most common being casinos and sports betting. There are frequently different age restrictions for these distinct gambling categories. For example, in New Zealand, one must be 20 before they can gamble at casinos, but they can wager on horses when they're 18. There isn't an age restriction on playing the national NZ lottery!
Legal Age Of Gambling
The Legal Gambling Age Worldwide
So where in the world can you gamble under 18? Where is it illegal to gamble? Well, there's a fair few oddities and distinct jurisdictions that we'll take you through, continent by continent. For a comprehensive look at all the legal gambling ages around the world, check out this list.
Europe
Across this vast continent, with its many distinct cultures rubbing shoulders with each other, there's a surprising similarity amongst the various European nation states. For the majority of European nations, one must be 18 years old to make a legal bet, but there are a few exceptions.
In Denmark, there are no restrictions on sports betting. Punters must be 18 for all other forms of gambling, such as in a casino or on a gaming machine in another venue, or online gambling, but can be any age to put a bet on a horse or their favourite football team.
Estonia, on the other hand, has a casino gambling age minimum of 21 years old, higher than the European average, but has a minimum age for all other forms of gambling of 16 years old. It's not surprising that one of the most digitally advanced societies in the world allows their teenagers to gamble online!
Portugal has some pretty complicated gambling laws. The legal age to gamble at a casino can be 25, but can also be 18, it all depends on the specific casino. There are some casinos that even allow for tourists to gamble at 18, but restrict locals to 25 and older.
In both Andorra and Bosnia & Herzegovina, there is no legal minimum age to gamble, anywhere. Keen young punters from around Europe and the rest of the world can head to these countries and see what they have to offer. While Andorra doesn't have any casinos yet, this small nation is still worth a visit!
Asia
Over in the eastern hemisphere on the Asian continent there are a fair few countries that have outlawed gambling of any kind, making it illegal to wager on a game or event. Here are the countries that travelling bettors would do best to avoid:
- Afghanistan
- Brunei
- Bahrain
- Indonesia
- Maldives
- Pakistan
- Qatar
- Syria
For the most part, the rest of the Asian countries follow the same pattern as Europe, in that they allow gambling for those 18 and older, while a handful of others restrict gambling to 21.
North & South America
Most nations in North and South America flit between a legal age for gambling of 18 and 21 years of age – notably, there are no nations without gambling restrictions. This could be perhaps due to the large impact the Catholic church has had on the culture of these societies.
In the infamously complicated collection of states that comprise the USA, the laws and minimum gambling ages vary from state to state, but always between 18 and 21. It's handy to remember when travelling in the states that what's legal in one state isn't legal in another.
Africa
Like in Asia, many African nations outlaw gambling, such as Ethiopia, Eritrea, Libya, Sudan and Somalia, and funnily enough, Tunisia has no legal age, after an unsuccessful attempt to outlaw it across the country!
As much of Africa is in the global south economically and developmentally, many nations have no regulation for the technological side of online gambling, even some of the nations that outlaw all other forms of gambling, such as Ethiopia and Eritrea!
Oceania
Lastly, at the bottom of the world, the collection of nations that comprise Oceania have largely similar gambling laws, with most of the nations having a legal gambling age of 18. Most notably, a few of the small Pacific Ocean states have outlawed gambling, while gambling in casinos require a minimum age of 20 in New Zealand.
Where Will You Go on Your Next Holiday?
There you have it, a worldwide snapshot of the gambling situation as it stands today. If you're looking for a holiday gambling destination in the post-COVID world with a low legal age, we'd suggest heading over to the mainland and keeping in local (European). There's both Estonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina to check out, which offer rich cultural offerings to boot!
Just remember, if you are accessing online casinos, the legal gambling age where you are still applies!
Frequently Asked Questions
As comprehensive as these guides can be, there are oftentimes gaps that we don't see until our great readers point them out. We've compiled the most commonly asked questions we get about the legal age to gamble around the world, and answered them below.
Can you gamble anywhere at 18?
No, there are many countries that have a minimum legal age of 21, and many that outlaw gambling outright. In the USA, there are quite a few states that restrict gambling to 21+, but luckily there are a few that allow gambling from 18. If you are gambling in other countries, you can bet at 18. For example, you can access the best UK online casinos as long as you are 18.
What country has the lowest gambling age?
There are a handful of countries that actually have no gambling restrictions to name of, for various cultural or developmental reasons. Most countries tend to restrict gambling to over 18s or over 21s, like with online casinos in the US.
Legal Age Of Gambling Nv
There are legal ways in which players in the United States are able to gamble online without having to worry about breaking online gambling laws. However, there is one facet of the law that is not flexible across the country in all phases of online gambling. That would be the legal gambling age for players.
Unlike some of the big laws out there in the U.S. for gambling and online gambling, legal gambling ages are decided at the state level. As a result, different states will have different ages to gamble. This can even go so far as to say that players need to be a certain age to bet sports, and another age to walk into an online casino.
The most important thing to know about legal gambling ages in the U.S. is that they vary. We have all of the online gambling ages for U.S. residents here on this site, for which you can use as a resource when gambling with online casinos, poker rooms or sites that take bets on sports.
State Gambling Age Chart
Alabama - 21 | Alaska - 18 | Arizona - 21 | Arkansas - 21 | California - 21 |
Colorado - 21 | Connecticut - 21 | Delaware - 21 | Florida - 21 | Georgia - 21 |
Hawaii - 21 | Idaho - 18 | Illinois - 21 | Indiana - 21 | Iowa - 21 |
Kansas - 18 | Kentucky - 21 | Louisiana - 21 | Maine - 18 | Maryland - 21 |
Massachusetts - 21 | Michigan - 21 | Minnesota - 18 | Mississippi - 21 | Missouri - 21 |
Montana - 21 | Nebraska - 21 | Nevada - 21 | New Hampshire - 21 | New Jersey - 21 |
New Mexico - 21 | New York - 18 | North Carolina - 18 | North Dakota - 21 | Ohio - 21 |
Oklahoma - 18 | Oregon - 21 | Pennsylvania - 21 | Rhode Island - 18 | South Carolina - 18 |
South Dakota - 21 | Tennessee - 21 | Texas - 21 | Utah - 21 | Vermont - 18 |
Virginia - 21 | Washington - 18 | West Virginia - 21 | Wisconsin - 21 | Wyoming - 18 |
Penalty For Not Being Old Enough To Gamble Online
Those who are found to be violating the gambling age laws at the site or in their state will be subject to penalties under the laws. This can include the loss of all previous and prospective wager in an account, as well as fines, and other possible sanctions. Jail time is highly unlikely in a case like that. In fact, rarely do online gamblers go to jail for placing underage bets, but it could potentially happen depending on the individual case.
Providing that you follow the guidelines by your state and the online gambling site, there will be no problems that a USA player will run into as far as the legality of gambling online at a website which allows players from the U.S.
How Old Do I Have To Be To Play Casino Games For Money?
Online casinos will have an age requirement that players must adhere to legally play at the site for real cash. This isn't just the age needed to be able to place the bet, this will be the age that a player must meet in order to create an account. For players in the United States, this can sometimes be taken one step further. In the case of gambling age in the U.S., it is decided by the states, and it's not the same in all 50. As a result, a player might be of age to play at an online casino, but not of age to be playing any game of chance for real money within their state. In most instances, this means that the player will still need to be of age to gamble in their state, despite the fact that the offshore site requires the player to be a lower age.
The Legal Age
In today's day and age, many governments and legal jurisdictions have established mostly agreed upon age requirements for participating in certain activities, that require the decision making and judgement that you can only get from experience and maturing. These societies, reflecting their cultural norms and practices, have varying activities that they restrict with a legal age limit.
In most societies, gambling is an age restricted activity that is linked to a coming of age, when a teenager steps into adulthood and is understood to be able to make serious decisions and take on greater responsibilities. In the case of gambling, the responsibility is of one's own finances.
Gambling is often divided into distinct categories; the most common being casinos and sports betting. There are frequently different age restrictions for these distinct gambling categories. For example, in New Zealand, one must be 20 before they can gamble at casinos, but they can wager on horses when they're 18. There isn't an age restriction on playing the national NZ lottery!
Legal Age Of Gambling
The Legal Gambling Age Worldwide
So where in the world can you gamble under 18? Where is it illegal to gamble? Well, there's a fair few oddities and distinct jurisdictions that we'll take you through, continent by continent. For a comprehensive look at all the legal gambling ages around the world, check out this list.
Europe
Across this vast continent, with its many distinct cultures rubbing shoulders with each other, there's a surprising similarity amongst the various European nation states. For the majority of European nations, one must be 18 years old to make a legal bet, but there are a few exceptions.
In Denmark, there are no restrictions on sports betting. Punters must be 18 for all other forms of gambling, such as in a casino or on a gaming machine in another venue, or online gambling, but can be any age to put a bet on a horse or their favourite football team.
Estonia, on the other hand, has a casino gambling age minimum of 21 years old, higher than the European average, but has a minimum age for all other forms of gambling of 16 years old. It's not surprising that one of the most digitally advanced societies in the world allows their teenagers to gamble online!
Portugal has some pretty complicated gambling laws. The legal age to gamble at a casino can be 25, but can also be 18, it all depends on the specific casino. There are some casinos that even allow for tourists to gamble at 18, but restrict locals to 25 and older.
In both Andorra and Bosnia & Herzegovina, there is no legal minimum age to gamble, anywhere. Keen young punters from around Europe and the rest of the world can head to these countries and see what they have to offer. While Andorra doesn't have any casinos yet, this small nation is still worth a visit!
Asia
Over in the eastern hemisphere on the Asian continent there are a fair few countries that have outlawed gambling of any kind, making it illegal to wager on a game or event. Here are the countries that travelling bettors would do best to avoid:
- Afghanistan
- Brunei
- Bahrain
- Indonesia
- Maldives
- Pakistan
- Qatar
- Syria
For the most part, the rest of the Asian countries follow the same pattern as Europe, in that they allow gambling for those 18 and older, while a handful of others restrict gambling to 21.
North & South America
Most nations in North and South America flit between a legal age for gambling of 18 and 21 years of age – notably, there are no nations without gambling restrictions. This could be perhaps due to the large impact the Catholic church has had on the culture of these societies.
In the infamously complicated collection of states that comprise the USA, the laws and minimum gambling ages vary from state to state, but always between 18 and 21. It's handy to remember when travelling in the states that what's legal in one state isn't legal in another.
Africa
Like in Asia, many African nations outlaw gambling, such as Ethiopia, Eritrea, Libya, Sudan and Somalia, and funnily enough, Tunisia has no legal age, after an unsuccessful attempt to outlaw it across the country!
As much of Africa is in the global south economically and developmentally, many nations have no regulation for the technological side of online gambling, even some of the nations that outlaw all other forms of gambling, such as Ethiopia and Eritrea!
Oceania
Lastly, at the bottom of the world, the collection of nations that comprise Oceania have largely similar gambling laws, with most of the nations having a legal gambling age of 18. Most notably, a few of the small Pacific Ocean states have outlawed gambling, while gambling in casinos require a minimum age of 20 in New Zealand.
Where Will You Go on Your Next Holiday?
There you have it, a worldwide snapshot of the gambling situation as it stands today. If you're looking for a holiday gambling destination in the post-COVID world with a low legal age, we'd suggest heading over to the mainland and keeping in local (European). There's both Estonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina to check out, which offer rich cultural offerings to boot!
Just remember, if you are accessing online casinos, the legal gambling age where you are still applies!
Frequently Asked Questions
As comprehensive as these guides can be, there are oftentimes gaps that we don't see until our great readers point them out. We've compiled the most commonly asked questions we get about the legal age to gamble around the world, and answered them below.
Can you gamble anywhere at 18?
No, there are many countries that have a minimum legal age of 21, and many that outlaw gambling outright. In the USA, there are quite a few states that restrict gambling to 21+, but luckily there are a few that allow gambling from 18. If you are gambling in other countries, you can bet at 18. For example, you can access the best UK online casinos as long as you are 18.
What country has the lowest gambling age?
There are a handful of countries that actually have no gambling restrictions to name of, for various cultural or developmental reasons. Most countries tend to restrict gambling to over 18s or over 21s, like with online casinos in the US.
Legal Age Of Gambling Nv
There are legal ways in which players in the United States are able to gamble online without having to worry about breaking online gambling laws. However, there is one facet of the law that is not flexible across the country in all phases of online gambling. That would be the legal gambling age for players.
Unlike some of the big laws out there in the U.S. for gambling and online gambling, legal gambling ages are decided at the state level. As a result, different states will have different ages to gamble. This can even go so far as to say that players need to be a certain age to bet sports, and another age to walk into an online casino.
The most important thing to know about legal gambling ages in the U.S. is that they vary. We have all of the online gambling ages for U.S. residents here on this site, for which you can use as a resource when gambling with online casinos, poker rooms or sites that take bets on sports.
State Gambling Age Chart
Alabama - 21 | Alaska - 18 | Arizona - 21 | Arkansas - 21 | California - 21 |
Colorado - 21 | Connecticut - 21 | Delaware - 21 | Florida - 21 | Georgia - 21 |
Hawaii - 21 | Idaho - 18 | Illinois - 21 | Indiana - 21 | Iowa - 21 |
Kansas - 18 | Kentucky - 21 | Louisiana - 21 | Maine - 18 | Maryland - 21 |
Massachusetts - 21 | Michigan - 21 | Minnesota - 18 | Mississippi - 21 | Missouri - 21 |
Montana - 21 | Nebraska - 21 | Nevada - 21 | New Hampshire - 21 | New Jersey - 21 |
New Mexico - 21 | New York - 18 | North Carolina - 18 | North Dakota - 21 | Ohio - 21 |
Oklahoma - 18 | Oregon - 21 | Pennsylvania - 21 | Rhode Island - 18 | South Carolina - 18 |
South Dakota - 21 | Tennessee - 21 | Texas - 21 | Utah - 21 | Vermont - 18 |
Virginia - 21 | Washington - 18 | West Virginia - 21 | Wisconsin - 21 | Wyoming - 18 |
Penalty For Not Being Old Enough To Gamble Online
Those who are found to be violating the gambling age laws at the site or in their state will be subject to penalties under the laws. This can include the loss of all previous and prospective wager in an account, as well as fines, and other possible sanctions. Jail time is highly unlikely in a case like that. In fact, rarely do online gamblers go to jail for placing underage bets, but it could potentially happen depending on the individual case.
Providing that you follow the guidelines by your state and the online gambling site, there will be no problems that a USA player will run into as far as the legality of gambling online at a website which allows players from the U.S.
How Old Do I Have To Be To Play Casino Games For Money?
Online casinos will have an age requirement that players must adhere to legally play at the site for real cash. This isn't just the age needed to be able to place the bet, this will be the age that a player must meet in order to create an account. For players in the United States, this can sometimes be taken one step further. In the case of gambling age in the U.S., it is decided by the states, and it's not the same in all 50. As a result, a player might be of age to play at an online casino, but not of age to be playing any game of chance for real money within their state. In most instances, this means that the player will still need to be of age to gamble in their state, despite the fact that the offshore site requires the player to be a lower age.
Most online casinos that take U.S. players require an account holder to be at least 18 years old. For those living in states with the gambling age of 21, it's important to know whether the site still allows for it, or if players must meet their state's age.
How Old Do I Have To Be To Play Casino Games For Free?
In order to be able to play casino games for free, you simply need to meet the age requirement to create an account at whatever casino you'd like to sample. In most cases, this age is just 18 years old.
This age differs from the normal gambling age because casinos that accept USA players typically default to the higher age between the legal gambling age in your state, or the age to join their site. But, since you will not be risking or gambling real funds, you don't need to meet the gambling age requirement, just the age requirement established by the casino you're planning to try.
Where To Gamble Online
Another issue at hand will be the legal gambling age to place a wager on the site for which you are wanting to. This could be a sportsbook, an online casino, or a legal poker site. No matter what type of an online gambling website you are visiting, it will have the minimum age a player must be in order to sign up and place legal wagers.
There is a catch here though. That is that just because a player might meet the age requirements that have been stipulated by the online gambling site itself, it does not necessarily mean that they are free to legally gamble online.
Why is this? Simply because the gambling age in a player's state might have a higher number. For example, if a player signs up at a sportsbook at age 19, where the legal betting age is 18 at the sportsbook but the state in which he/she lives in is 21, he/she can still not gamble legally because he/she cannot do so in his/her state.
Underage Gambling Disclaimer... Not Just Because We Had To
We take underage gambling, whether it be online or in-person, very seriously and we strongly discourage it. If you are thinking about grabbing mom or dad's credit card, DON'T DO IT! You'll be exposed and while you aren't going to go to jail, your parents are going to be pissed.
How Would Lowering The Legal Age Of Gambling Impact The US ...
If by some chance you do make a deposit and don't get in trouble, know that you're never going to be able to cash that money out until you provide indentification and proof of age which would then sink your ship. You're better off waiting until you are at least 18 years old to gamble online, or anywhere else, than jumping in before your time.