This article will teach you about the age requirement for gambling.

Topics we will discuss include:

• An overview of gambling age requirements
• The minimum legal age for sports betting varies by state.
• Age requirements for online casinos
• Age requirements for retail casinos
• Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
• Horse racing options available both online and in-person.
• The legal age for participating in Mega Millions and Powerball lottery games is…

 

What is the Minimum Age to Gamble?

The legal age for gambling in the U.S. differs depending on the jurisdiction and the gambling type.

Generally, the legal age for sports betting and casino gambling is 21, while activities like the lottery, daily fantasy sports, and horse betting are usually permitted at 18.

However, many exceptions exist.

States have the power to regulate different types of gambling within their territories, leading to a variety of state laws that dictate the legal gambling age.

Since 2018, legal gambling in the U.S. has greatly expanded, with more than three dozen jurisdictions allowing some form of sports betting, including 29 states that permit online sports betting. Before 2018, single-game sports wagering was only legal in Nevada.

In most legal markets, online gambling formats that involve real money generally require bettors to be 21 for sports betting and online casino gambling. Other formats, such as horse betting, lottery, and DFS, often have age limits below 20.

The legal age for gambling in physical establishments varies by jurisdiction. Commercial casinos, like those in Las Vegas, usually require patrons to be 21 or older, while other retail casinos, often run by Native American tribes, may permit individuals aged 18 and above.

Individuals under the legal age are prohibited from gambling.

Typically, the legal age for online betting sites is 21, although some exceptions apply.

Below is a list of states where online sports betting is permitted, along with their respective legal age requirements.

• Arizona: 21
• Arkansas: 21
• Colorado: 21
• Connecticut: 21
• Delaware: 21
• Florida: 21
• Illinois: 21
• Indiana: 21
• Iowa: 21
• Kansas: 21
• Kentucky: 18
• Louisiana: 21
• Maine: 21
• Maryland: 21
• Massachusetts: 21
• Michigan: 21
• Nevada: 21
• New Hampshire: 18
• New Jersey: 21
• New York: 21
• Ohio: 21
• Oregon: 21
• Pennsylvania: 21
• Rhode Island: 18
• Tennessee: 21
• Vermont: 21
• Virginia: 21
• Washington, D.C.: 18
• West Virginia: 21
• Wyoming: 18

To place sports bets, you must fulfill the age requirement and be physically present within the state’s borders. You do not need to be a resident of the state to place a wager.

In states that allow gambling for those 18 and older, sportsbooks can set their own minimum age requirements. However, FanDuel maintains a uniform minimum age of 21 across all markets.

How online sportsbooks verify age information.

At retail casinos, visitors must show an ID for entry, while online platforms utilize different verification methods.

When registering for an online betting site or casino, you must provide personal information to confirm your age. This includes your first and last name, email, date of birth, social security number, and a photo ID. Operators use this data for verification purposes.

• Your identity is established based on your own statements.
• You meet the age criteria to gamble in this jurisdiction.
• Please refrain from creating multiple player accounts.

The identity

The verification process for online sports betting usually takes just a few minutes and can often be completed remotely in most states. Nevertheless, in Nevada, individuals must register in person at a casino prior to placing online sports bets.

Currently, six states have established regulations for online casino gambling, which includes games like blackjack and slots. These states are Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Conversely, Nevada allows online poker.

All six states that permit online casino gaming have age verification processes that mandate customers to be at least 21 years old to participate, mirroring the requirements for sports betting.

If you use an online casino that is operated by a company also offering a sportsbook, you can typically access both betting options with a single account. By signing up once, you can participate in both sports betting and online casino games.

Online Poker

Peer-to-peer online poker is permitted in six states: Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The minimum age for playing online poker in these states is 21.

The most popular regulated poker sites in the U.S., PokerStars and WSOP.com, require players to be at least 21 years old. In contrast, illegal offshore poker sites may allow players as young as 18. Limitless Casino is another popular choice.

While Connecticut has legalized online poker under state law, there are currently no licensed operators, which means online poker is not available in the state.

‘Sweepstakes’ Casinos

In states where online casinos are illegal, “sweepstakes” betting sites exploit a loophole in existing legislation to remain operational.

Chumba Casino, Pulsz Casino, and LuckyLand Slots are examples of online casinos that function using a gray market model. Players purchase virtual currency to engage in games with the opportunity to win cash prizes, but technically, they are not gambling with real money.

Sweepstakes sites generally require players to be at least 18 years old, which is crucial to remember when claiming cash prizes. These sites will verify your age and identity before distributing any prizes.

Commercial land-based casinos usually set a minimum gambling age of 21 to comply with state laws and regulations. This age requirement aligns with the legal drinking age in most states, permitting alcohol consumption on the premises.

In some states, tribal-operated casinos may have a lower legal gambling age of 18 or 19 and may not serve alcohol as a consequence.

The following states permit individuals aged 18 and over to engage in land-based gambling to some degree:

• California has both cardrooms and tribal casinos.
• Florida provides various entertainment options, including poker and bingo in casinos.
• Idaho: tribal casinos
• Michigan: certain tribal casinos
• Minnesota: certain tribal casinos
• Montana: land-based casinos
• Oklahoma: certain casinos
• Rhode Island: land-based casinos
• Washington: certain tribal casinos
• Wyoming: land-based casinos

DraftKings and FanDuel began as daily fantasy sports (DFS) operators prior to the expansion of sports betting. They continue to provide these services in many states, including those without legal sports betting.

Other notable DFS platforms include Thrive Fantasy, Boom Fantasy, and Parlay Fantasy.

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is generally allowed in most markets for individuals aged 18 and older as an alternative to sports betting, with a few exceptions.

Nebraska and Alabama have established the minimum age for DFS at 19.

Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, and Massachusetts have set their minimum age at 21.

Horse racing employs pari-mutuel wagering, where the odds and payouts can change until the race starts.

Unlike sports betting, in prediction markets, the payout for your bet is fixed at

The time at which you place your wager remains unchanged, regardless of any modifications made prior to the event’s commencement.

Horse racing is governed by regulations that define betting eligibility for individuals aged 18 and older, whether they are betting in person, at off-track locations, or via online platforms such as TwinSpires or FanDuel Racing.

Some states impose slightly higher minimum age requirements for horse race bettors; for instance, in Arizona, Iowa, Nevada, and Texas, individuals must be at least 21 years old.

Lottery games are a widely enjoyed form of gambling across the United States, with only a handful of states banning them and the majority establishing the minimum age at 18.

In numerous states, individuals can legally buy scratch-offs, engage in Powerball and Mega Millions, and participate in other lottery games starting at the age of 18.

The minimum age for engaging in lottery games differs from state to state. For example, in Nebraska, the age is set at 19, while in Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, and Mississippi, individuals must be 21 or older.

Some states allow online lottery participation and uphold a uniform age requirement.

What Is the Minimum Age to Gamble Online in the US?

This blog post has provided information on the minimum age required to gamble online in the United States (USA, US, U.S.).

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