Your Guide to the US Legal Gambling Age: Organized by States & Gambling Types

Navigating the legal waters of gambling in the US can be tough, which is why we’ve created a site specifically to translate the legalese into simple, understandable language. As you might already know, the legal gambling age in the US differs from state to state, and varies even further based on activity.

As a general rule of thumb, most gambling in the US is not allowed below the age of 21. This is the baseline you should work off when confused about the legal gambling age in your area. This site will give you an accurate overview of each state’s gambling laws and how they differ between gambling activities.

Legal Gambling Age By State in America

In the table below, we’ve broken down the gambling age by state, further dividing it among the specific gambling activities available. As you can see, some activities such as online casinos are legal in certain states but illegal in others. You will also find certain states that allow persons below the age of 21 to place bets on certain activities.

You will have noticed some states may have two legal minimum gambling ages depending on the types of gambling involved. This, of course, can be confusing for many who want to play land-based or online casino games (like slots and card games) or bet on sports. For further details on cases such as the minimum gambling age, or to read about the individual state laws in greater depth, simply click on the name of your chosen state to be taken to its dedicated page.

If the above looks like an overwhelming amount of information, don’t worry. Next up on this page we’ll be taking a closer look at states where you can gamble at 18, in addition to exploring the legal ages for sports betting and online gambling.

States Where You Can Casino Gamble at 18 Years Old

While 21 is the most common legal age for gambling activities across the US, there are states where you can gamble at 18. However, this does not include all gambling activities, and there are often further caveats attached.

More often than not, you will find that gambling at age 18 years old is only legal in certain tribal/Indian casinos, or casino rooms that do not serve alcohol. We will be listing the states in which you can gamble at casinos at 18 lower on the page, but please note that this list refers only to casino gambling and not any other forms of betting.

Though the states listed below allow casino gambling at the age of 18 in some instances, it’s worth keeping in mind that this is not the standard casino age limit for all establishments. Unless explicitly stated, you can assume that any non-tribal casinos will still enforce a 21-year age limit on gambling.

The Following Are States Where You Can Gamble at 18 (Casinos):

• California
• Georgia (Cruises)
• Idaho
• Michigan
• Montana
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• South Dakota
• Washington

What is the Legal Sports Betting Age?

At the time of writing this page, not all states have legalized wagering on sports – which is why you will find incomplete information in the table above or information stating the illegality of the practice.

Some gamblers might become confused, as sports betting refers only to established sports such as basketball, NFL, baseball etc. and does not include horse racing, which carries its own distinct laws and regulations. For states where gambling on sports is legal, the gambling age is commonly 21 (at both casino sportsbooks and online bookmakers).

If gambling on sports currently is not legal in your state, you do have other options. For instance, many states where betting on sports is illegal allow for betting on daily fantasy sports. DFS games operate more like contests than traditional Las Vegas style bookmakers, where gamblers can win from an overall betting pot.

Like in any fantasy sports situation, gamblers create a team and are awarded points based on the performance of their players in real-world games. In the case of DFS across the United States, the legal gambling age is commonly 18-years-old and over.

US Online Gambling Age

As has been repeated throughout this page, all legal ages depend on the state in which you’re playing. As a result, the legal online gambling age varies across the country. However, speaking generally, the legal age for accessing online casinos and online betting platforms is set to 21 – even in states where 18+ gambling is legal.

Online gambling is becoming increasingly more common in the United States as more and more state legislators push for legalization. Of course, the legal gambling age in the state should be known, but there are other factors to be aware of when looking for the best online gambling sites in your home state.

Comparison pros Online-gambling.com offers specialist reviews and advice on how to find the best US gambling sites. They should be your first stop to find licensed gambling brands which offer the best odds, games and all-around user experience.

Legal Gambling Ages for Other Popular Gambling Markets

When compared to some of the other gambling markets across the globe, the laws in the USA might come across as quite strict. For many nations, the legal gambling age is set at 18. While some legal ages are higher, they typically don’t surpass 21 years of age, nor do they dip below 18.

To see how the US measures up against the rest of the world, we’ve outlined the various gambling ages in some of the world’s most successful gambling markets below.

Under Age Gambling

The elephant in the room when discussing the legal gambling age is the issue of under age gambling. Of course, there are always casino sites or betting platforms who skirt the law, but they do so at their own risk. Licensing bodies and state regulators exist purely to protect gamblers from exploitative entities and establishments.

Part of why regulators exist is to prevent underage gambling. Though for most of America’s gambling history this issue wasn’t very widespread, the advent of online casinos and sportsbooks has made it more difficult to prevent. This is why gambling sites have introduced increasingly strict age verification measures over time.

If you are uncertain about the legality or the legitimacy of a casino gambling site, a good rule of thumb is to check how thoroughly it asks you to verify your age. A legitimate operator will always insist on age verification, often asking for a scanned copy of photo ID to prove your age.

Other Activities in USA that Have Legal Age Limit

It’s always important to understand the context of our laws, and how the legal age for gambling relates to the legal ages for other activities. As stated elsewhere, all these laws vary by state – and some of the activities listed below may still be illegal in your state. However, for the sake of comparison, here are some of the other legal ages of note in the United States.

As mentioned before, some of the activities outlined in the table above might still be illegal in your home state. The recreational use of marijuana, for instance, is still a widely controversial and contested subject and its legality differs wildly throughout the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

We hope you found this page informative and that you know hold a better understanding of the various legal gambling ages in the United States. If you’re still curious about anything in particular, feel free to read our frequently asked questions below.