Legal Gambling Age in the US – How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble?
9 minutes
Last Updated: September 26, 2023
Gambling is the favorite pastime for millions worldwide, but like many other adult pleasures, it is regulated by law. While people over the age of 18 can legally gamble in most of the world, you may be wondering how old do you have to be to gamble in the US?!
The answer to this question varies quite a bit as there is a different age limit for casino games, sports betting, lottery, and other forms of gambling in each state.
To help you navigate the legal gambling age situation in America, we have created a useful guide that will help you understand which gambling activities you can engage in at what age and which states give you the most liberty.
Before we jump into discussing gambling ages by state, let’s talk a bit about the different forms of gambling you can enjoy within the US and the average gambling age for each.
Gambling Ages for Different Types of Gambling
Like many things in the US, gambling laws are not determined at a federal level, and each state can decide on the age at which people can engage in gambling within its borders.
Generally speaking, the gambling age in the USA is 21, the same as the age at which you can buy alcohol, but there are some exceptions to this rule.
While 21 is a fairly strict age limit for casino gambling, lottery, bingo, and pari-mutuel betting are available at 18 or 19 in many states.
Some states, such as Idaho, Florida, Minnesota, Virginia, and others, may also offer opportunities to gamble in casinos or poker rooms at the age of 18.
While commercial casinos generally don’t allow people under the age of 18 to gamble, Native American casinos will usually allow anyone over 18 to take part in the games.
So, if you are looking to play some games and you are in borderline territory age-wise, keep reading and find out which states will let you play the different types of games in their gambling establishments.
Gambling Ages by State – Age Limit for Casinos
As already mentioned, there are different gambling ages by state within the US, and it is worth knowing which state allows those under the age of 21 to gamble.
Broadly speaking, those over 21 can engage in all legal forms of gambling in all states nationwide, while those under that age may still find some solid options.
The following list of gambling ages by the state will answer many of your questions but remember that these are not definitive legal answers and that you may need to consult further before gambling before age 21.
Gambling Ages Table by State
|
State |
Casino Games |
Poker |
Pari-Mutuel |
Lottery |
Bingo |
Horse Races |
|
Alabama |
21 |
21 |
N/A |
N/A |
18 |
18 |
|
Alaska |
21 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
19 |
N/A |
|
Arizona |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
18 |
21 |
|
Arkansas |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
California |
21/18 |
21/18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Colorado |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Connecticut |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Delaware |
21 |
21 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Florida |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Georgia |
18 (cruise boats) |
21 |
N/A |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Hawaii |
21 |
21 |
N/A |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Idaho |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Illinois |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Indiana |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Iowa |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
Kansas |
21 |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Kentucky |
N/A |
N/A |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Louisiana |
21 |
21 |
18 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
|
Maine |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
16 |
18 |
|
Maryland |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Massachusetts |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Michigan |
21/18 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Minnesota |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Missouri |
21 |
21 |
18 |
N/A |
18 |
18 |
|
Montana |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Nebraska |
21 |
21 |
18 |
19 |
18 |
19 |
|
Nevada |
21 |
21 |
18 |
N/A |
21 |
N/A |
|
New Hampshire |
21 |
18 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
New Jersey |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
New Mexico |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
N/A |
18 |
|
New York |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
North Carolina |
21 |
21 |
N/A |
18 |
18 |
N/A |
|
North Dakota |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Ohio |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
16 |
18 |
|
Oklahoma |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
16 |
18 |
|
Oregon |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Pennsylvania |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Rhode Island |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
South Dakota |
18 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
South Carolina |
21 |
18 |
N/A |
18 |
18 |
N/A |
|
Tennessee |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
18 |
18 |
N/A |
|
Texas |
21 |
21 |
21 |
18 |
21 |
18 |
|
Utah |
21 |
21 |
N/A |
N/A |
18 |
N/A |
|
Vermont |
21 |
21 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Virginia |
21 |
18 |
N/A |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
Washington |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
|
West Virginia |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
N/A |
|
Wisconsin |
21 |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
N/A |
|
Wyoming |
21 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
N/A |
As you can see in the list above, the legal gambling age in the US is quite fluid and depends on the type of gambling you wish to engage in and your state.
While the list does not specify which casinos in which state will let you gamble (too many to list in one place), it is important to note that the places that do allow players over 18 years of age to gamble are mostly Native American casinos.
These casinos are found on Native American land but are similar to commercial casinos in all other regards, apart from the legal gambling age.
In some states, you may be allowed to play casino games or poker in establishments that don’t serve alcohol, while poker rooms in some states will take action from all 18 year-olds but not serve them alcohol.
For the most part, you will be able to purchase lottery tickets or play bingo, as well as engage in pari-mutuel betting, at the age of 18, although several states only provide these services to persons over the age of 21 as well.
Gambling Age in Vegas – What Is the Age Limit for Playing in Sin City?
Las Vegas is the world's gambling capital, so it is worth separating Nevada and discussing laws there in a bit more detail.
To put it short, people over 21 years of age can gamble in Vegas.
All gambling forms, including casinos, sports betting, and even poker, can be approached only by 21-year-olds. If you are over this age limit, you are in luck and can enjoy everything Sin City has to offer.
Different Types of Gambling Explained
In the table above, we have listed the legal gambling age at which you can engage in various gambling activities across the US.
If you are not clear on what each of these gambling types refers to, keep reading and find out exactly what games come under the scope of each gambling type.
Casino games are by far the largest category here, which includes both live and online games such as:
- Slots
- Roulette
- Blackjack
- Baccarat
- Craps
- Video poker
- And all other games casino operators provide on their floors or in their online lobbies.
Other than that, other popular gambling categories include:
- Poker Games: Poker games include games like Texas Hold’em, Seven Card Stud, and Pot Limit Omaha in cash and tournament formats. This does not refer to casino poker games, which fall under the category of casino games and are played against the dealer.
- Sports Betting: Refers to betting on single sporting events or multiple sporting events in a sportsbook. This does not include bets made on horse or dog races at the tracks.
- Horse/Dog Races: This category includes making bets at horse and dog racing tracks, which is often allowed to individuals over the age of 18.
- Lottery: Refers to purchasing lottery tickets to engage in state or federal lottery games, including Powerball and Mega Millions.
- Bingo: Refers to playing bingo games in bingo halls across the states. Bingo halls are often open to individuals over the age of 18.
- Pari-Mutuel Betting: In pari-mutuel betting, the money wagered by bettors who bet on the wrong horses is divided by those who bet on the right ones. This type of betting is usually reserved for racing tracks and is very popular among horse race fans.
Online Gambling Age in the US
For many years, online gambling in the US was highly restricted, so most people didn’t know it was possible to legally gamble over the internet.
Over the last five years, the laws have changed dramatically, and a number of states have introduced legislation legalizing online casinos, sports betting, and even online poker.
If we are talking about casinos, you can legally play online from the following states:
It is important to note that all legal online gambling in the US is highly regulated and monitored and that the legal age for gambling also applies to online gambling.
In most states, legal online gambling age is 21, although online sports betting is allowed at the age of 18 in six states:
- Rhode Island
- Kentucky
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- Tennessee
- Washington DC
- Wyoming
In these states, you can make online sports bets using your computer or mobile device if you are 18 years or older.
In either case, you will need to confirm your age with your online gambling operator by providing personal documents that show your identity and account ownership.
If you cannot provide evidence that you meet the legal gambling age limit, you will be banned and restricted from gambling with legal online gambling operators in the state.
All US online gambling operators pay a lot of attention and invest a lot of resources to prevent underage gambling, so you should ensure that you are not breaking the regulations and trying to gamble before you are legally allowed to.
US Legal Gambling Age Conclusion
The general legal gambling age in the US in 2023 remains 21 for the most part, especially when we are talking about casino games and poker.
A number of states offer such games to individuals over the age of 18, especially in Native American casinos or on cruises, which allow gambling in international waters.
If you are under the legal gambling age of 21, you may consider playing lottery games, bingo, or betting on horse or dog races, all of which are possible for 18 year-olds in many states.
More recently, 18 year-old players in a number of states were also given access to live and online sports betting, providing another option for legal gambling under the age of 21.
However, before you try engaging in any gambling, consult with experts or the staff at the establishment you are looking to gamble at and make sure you are allowed to play there.
If you are 21 or older, you will be able to gamble everywhere across the US, and all legal gambling options, including sweepstakes casinos, will be fully open to you, regardless of the state you find yourself in.
