US Legal Gambling Age – How Old You Need to Be?

If you think understanding rocket science is challenging, you should try learning the US gambling laws with their constant legislative changes. Jokes aside, Americans in various states are often puzzled, wondering if they can legally play or not, but who can blame them? Every state has different regulations for land-based casinos, online casinos, pari-mutuel, bingo, and even lottery. It can be challenging to get the hang of it. However, you’re in luck, because in this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the legal gambling age in the US!

By now, you should know that gambling in the United States is pretty much like playing Minesweeper – you can never be too sure about what you’re doing. There are states where you can gamble at 18, there are somewhere you can bet at 21, and there are a few where wagering is illegal. After thorough research, we’ve simplified everything for you, compiling all the information you need. Stick around and see what’s the US gambling age by state, what can you play, what happens if you get caught playing illegally, and more!

US Gambling Age by State – Casinos, Online Casinos and More

One might think that the US gambling age regulations are needlessly overcomplicated – why can’t all states just unite in their decision? Well, it’s simple – the governments serve the voters. That leaves us with 52 states and other jurisdictions, each with different gambling laws. You can often choose to deposit with an e-wallet, for example, when playing at a top online PayPal casino for US players.

On the other hand, some online operators require you to use only bank transfers or debit cards as the only valid deposit methods. There are also operators that offer only DFS betting and they don’t have any other type of gambling game. Sounds complicated, right? What if you’re in Utah, where all types of betting are prohibited – do you have to go across states just to place a bet? What about online wagering – are you able to play at the best US online casinos from where you are? Let’s dive into the answers to all those questions.

In the detailed table below, there are some places where casino cruises are allowed. In several states, the regulations allow players to board riverboats where they can explore much more ways to gamble. The gambling laws in Florida were among the first to legalize such boats. If you’re the type who likes wagering online, you should know that there are several states in which gambling in online casinos is legalized!

Some of the places where you can bet online are Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and, last but not least, New Jersey. If you’re a fan of the Garden State, you should see our picks for top online NJ casino operators. You should also know that most states do not prevent playing in off-shore online casinos, but we do not recommend doing that, due to the lack of local regulations and player protection. In the following table, we’ve simplified the US legal gambling age requirements.

You’ve probably noticed that casinos in states like Pennsylvania (and quite a few more) allow only players of age 21 and older. That’s mainly due to the fact that there is alcohol being served. However, if you’re at least 21, you can also try your luck at the best PA online casinos.

In authoritarian states like OH, where gambling regulations are as tight as they come, most forms of in-state online wagering are prohibited. However, according to the Ohio gambling laws, gambling at off-shore online platforms is not restricted. That applies to almost all states in our list. Still, it is not advisable to play at such sites.

States Where You Can Gamble in Casinos at 18

The legal gambling age in the US can be quite limiting to gamblers, but that’s not the case in all states. There are a few, which allow players to enter casinos at the mere age of 18, of course, unless there is alcohol involved. The perfect example of such regulations in action would be the gambling laws in California – you can gamble at land-based casinos unless alcohol beverages are being served there. These are the states where you can gamble at 18 in casinos:

After all, there is hope for the young gamblers after all, huh? “What do you mean? I’ll enter a casino, and there will be a bunch of teenagers gambling?” Yes, even though Las Vegas movies made us think that gambling halls are populated mainly by businessmen in suits and classy ladies, there are places where the majority of players are teenagers. There you can play roulette, slots, poker, blackjack, and so much more with just an ID showing less than 21 birthdays.

What Happens if You Get Caught Underage?

Okay, let’s be honest here, everybody has thought of using a fake ID for one reason or another in their lifetime. We’ve all heard stories of people using this method and actually getting away with it, right? It’s all sunshine and rainbows, but what happens if you get caught in a casino being underage? According to the Texas gambling laws, not only do you get a fine from $500 to $1,000 placed on your criminal record, but you can also get your driver’s license suspended – and all that is the easy way out.

Yes, it’s definitely a mood-killer getting caught and being fined, but what happens to the operators? Casinos have it much worse than players when something like this happens! If an operator can’t prevent underage players from drinking or gambling, the government can actually shut the whole establishment down and rebuke their license, ultimately blacklisting the brand. The strict restrictions don’t sound so crazy now, do they?

Why Are Age Restrictions So Important in the US?

With our article about legal gambling age in the US coming to an end, you can probably see that the relationship between betting and the states is quite complicated. However, why wouldn’t they be? Of course, you wouldn’t want your 14-year old kids messing around and becoming addicted to wagering, do you? The law should be as strict as possible when it comes to leaving adolescent teenagers, who aren’t still aware how wrong things can go, a chance to get in trouble.

Truthfully speaking, the US gambling age regulations aren’t much different than the ones around the globe. The gambling age around the world is almost always greater than 16. That’s simply because governments won’t allow people who aren’t yet completely aware of their actions’ consequences wager away their parents’ salaries. Gambling addiction is not to be underestimated!

Frequently Asked Questions About US Legal Gambling Age

To make things even simpler for you, we’ve compiled the most common questions regarding the legal age in US and had our experts answer them for you. We believe shorts answers are the best when it comes to long and complicated questions. Let’s dive in!

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