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With that being said, in practice, most Americans will encounter one of three gambling ages, which are 18, 19, and 21. Which one applies depends on whether you are gambling at a casino, placing sports bets, buying lottery tickets, playing poker, or participating in other gambling activities. It’s also important to note that only gambling follows similar rules, but with additional verification and location requirements also being enforced.
On this page, you can find everything related to how gambling age laws work in the US, why they vary, and what age requirements typically apply to different forms of gambling in various states!
Why Gambling Age Laws Vary in the USA
Gambling that occurs in the United States is regulated at the state level, not federally. This means that each state has the authority to decide things such as:
- Which forms of gambling are legal
- Who can operate gambling activities
- What the minimum legal gambling age should be
Due to this, age limits developed differently across the country, which can lead to significantly different laws across the US. For example, you can play poker at the age of 21 in States like Alabama, Arizona, and Colorado, but in Utah, it’s completely prohibited.
Another factor to consider is how gambling is offered. Casino gambling is often associated with alcohol service and large entertainment venues, which pushes the minimum age higher. Lottery sales, on the other hand, are often treated as retail transactions that are allowed at a younger age.
Gambling Ages in the USA for All Types of Gambling
Below is a comprehensive list of the different gambling ages for various activities in all US states. Keep in mind that some venues' rules can override typical state rules, with the likes of tribal casinos setting different entry and gambling ages than commercial casinos. As for the states that are marked with ‘-’, these are too heavily dependent on specific venues to give a definitive answer.
| State | Casinos | Poker rooms | Bingo | Lottery | Dogs & Horseracing | Pari-mutuel |
| Alabama | 21 | 21 | 18 | No state lottery | 18 | - |
| Alaska | 21 | - | 19 | No state lottery | - | - |
| Arizona | 21 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
| Arkansas | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| California | 18/21 (varies) | 18/21 (varies) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Colorado | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Connecticut | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Delaware | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
| Florida | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Georgia | 18 (cruises only) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | - |
| Hawaii | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | No state lottery | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| 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 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 |
| Kentucky | - | - | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Louisiana | 21 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 18 |
| Maine | 21 | 21 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Maryland | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Massachusetts | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Michigan | 18/21 (varies) | Varies (18/21) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Minnesota | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Mississippi | 21 | 21 | 18 | - | 18 | 18 |
| Missouri | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Montana | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Nebraska | 21 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 |
| Nevada | 21 | 21 | 21 | No state lottery | - | 21 |
| New Hampshire | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 |
| New Jersey | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| New Mexico | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| New York | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| North Carolina | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | - | - |
| North Dakota | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Ohio | 21 | 21 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Oklahoma | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Oregon | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Pennsylvania | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Rhode Island | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| South Carolina | 21 (cruises only) | 18 | 18 | 18 | - | - |
| South Dakota | Varies (tribal 18+; others differ) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Tennessee | - | - | 18 | 18 | - | - |
| Texas | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 21 |
| Utah | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | No state lottery | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Vermont | 21 | 21 | - | - | - | - |
| Virginia | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | - |
| Washington | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| West Virginia | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | - | 18 |
| Wisconsin | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | - | 21 |
| Wyoming | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | - | 18 |
| District of Columbia | - | - | - | 18 | - | - |
Online Gambling Age in the United States
In the US, the minimum required age isn’t black and white, either. It follows a similar principle to physical gambling, meaning that the state sets its own rules regarding what age you must be to place wagers legally.
Importantly, this minimum age that you must follow in the US applies to the state that you’re currently located in, not where you were born. For example, if you were born in South Carolina, where you can legally play bingo at the age of 18 and visit Texas, you must then follow their rules, meaning you are required to be 21 years of age or older.
For online casino gambling, such as playing online slots and table games, 21 is the standard in the states that regulate it. The same age is typically used for sports betting, however, Kentucky is a notable exception where sportsbooks advertise 18+ eligibility.
There are two different misconceptions that players have surrounding online gambling ages in the US, addressed below:
- Creating an account is not the same as being allowed to wager: You can sometimes register without confirming details, however, players will get blocked at the wagering step if their age or geolocation check fails.
- Operators can be stricter than state minimums: Even in states where you can legally gamble at the age of 18, some apps may choose to enforce 21+ as a house rule, particularly if the platform operates across multiple states.
Age Verification at Online Casinos
Most regulated online gambling sites use one or a combination of the following to prove that you are over the required legal age to place wagers:
- Government-issued identification (Passport, driver’s license, etc.)
- Address verification
- Identity databases that are linked to public records
In some cases, players may be asked to manually upload documents should automated verification be unable to confirm their age.
Location Verification at Online Casinos
As mentioned, a casino must also know which state you are currently located in, so that the correct laws can be followed. This is typically done using geolocation software that checks one of two things:
- GPS data on mobile devices
- Wi-Fi and IP signals on desktop devices
Even if you meet the legal gambling age, wagers will not be permitted unless your location can be fully verified.
What Happens If You Gamble Underage?
While the age at which you can gamble varies across the United States, underage gambling is illegal in every single state. While enforcement varies in severity, consequences can be applied to both the player and the operator.
Potential Consequences for Players
Depending on the state, underage gambling can result in:
- Removal from the casino or sportsbooks
- Account suspension or permanent closure
- Confiscation of any potential winnings that have been accumulated
- Civil penalties or fines
In virtually all cases, casinos and online platforms will void bets and winnings rather than allow payouts to underage players.
Consequences for Operators
Operators face significant penalties should they allow underage gambling to take place on their platforms, such as:
- Heavy fines
- Licence suspension or revocation
- Increased regulatory scrutiny
This is why age checks are enforced so strictly and consistently across regulated gambling platforms.
Why the US Uses Multiple Gambling Ages
The presence of 18, 19, and 21 as legal gambling ages in the US reflects how gambling laws have developed over time, rather than a single national policy being used.
- 18 is often used for lotteries, charity games, and pari-mutuel betting
- 19 appears in a small number of jurisdictions due to historical legislative decisions
- 21 is commonly used for casino gambling and sports betting, often aligned with alcohol laws
As new forms of gambling, especially in the realm of online betting, are made legal, many states have opted to standardize age limits at 21 for consistency and consumer protection.
Gambling Age and Responsible Gambling
Having age limits at online casinos is part of responsible gambling policies in the US, acting as a way to reduce exposure among minors, encourage informed decision-making, and align gambling access with other adult activities.
With that being said, there are plenty of other responsible tools that players can use to keep themselves safe when placing bets online:
- Deposit limits
- Time limits
- Self-exclusions
- And many others
A full range of responsible gambling tools can be found directly in your account settings at regulated gambling platforms. It is worth mentioning, however, that many of these tools only become available after age verification has been completed.
Common Misunderstandings and Myths About Gambling Age
It’s important that we also address some of the most common misunderstandings and myths that surround the gambling age in the US:
| Myth | Reality |
| If I’m 18, I can gamble anywhere | While 18 is legal in some states for certain forms of gambling, many casinos and sports betting products require players to be 21 years of age or older. |
| Online gambling has lower age limits | Regulated online gambling usually follows the same age rules as land-based gambling in that state and in some locations, it may even be stricter when it comes to certain types of games. |
| Tribal casinos always allow 18+ gambling | This depends entirely on the tribal compact and casino policy, with no universal rule being used |
Before You Gamble: A Practical Checklist
Before placing a bet or buying a ticket, it’s worth confirming a few basics:
- Check the minimum gambling age for the activity
- Confirm whether the venue is commercial or tribal
- Verify online platform age requirements
- Bring a valid government-issued ID
- Make sure you are physically located in a legal state
Taking a few minutes to check the rules can prevent problems later, helping to ensure that your online gambling experience is as smooth as possible and you are completely covered from a safety perspective.