Topics to be discussed include:

• An Overview of Gambling Age Requirements
• The minimum legal betting age for sports varies by state.
• Age Requirements for Online Casinos
• Age Requirements for Retail Casinos
• Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
• Horse racing options available online and in-person.
• The legal age for entering Mega Millions and Powerball lottery games is…

 

What is the minimum age to gamble?

In the U.S., the legal age for gambling differs by jurisdiction and the specific type of gambling.

Typically, the legal age for casino gambling and sports betting is 21, whereas activities like the lottery, daily fantasy sports, and horse betting are frequently permitted for individuals 18 and older.

However, various exceptions exist.

States can regulate the different forms of gambling within their territories, leading to a spectrum of laws pertaining to gambling age.

Since 2018, legal gambling in the U.S. has seen substantial growth, with over three dozen jurisdictions now allowing some variant of sports betting, including 29 states that permit online sports betting. Before 2018, only Nevada had legalized single-game sports betting.

Most legal online gambling formats involving real money require bettors to be 21 years old for sports betting and online casinos. Other types, such as horse betting, lottery, and DFS, usually have lower age restrictions or come under the age of 20.

The required legal age for gambling in physical establishments can vary based on jurisdiction. For instance, commercial casinos like those in Las Vegas usually mandate that patrons be 21 or older, while some retail casinos, typically run by Native American tribes, might allow those as young as 18.

Gambling is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age.

Generally, the legal age for online betting sites is around 21, with certain exceptions.

Below is a compilation of states where online sports betting is legal, 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 need to fulfill the age requirement and be physically located within the state lines. Residency in the state isn’t a prerequisite for placing a wager.

In states that allow gambling for those aged 18 and older, sportsbooks can implement their own age requirements. However, FanDuel adheres to a uniform minimum age of 21 throughout all its markets.

Methods utilized by online

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Sportsbooks need to verify age information.

To enter retail casinos, visitors must present an ID, while online platforms follow different verification protocols.

When registering for an online betting site or casino, it is necessary to provide personal information for age verification. Required information includes first and last name, email address, date of birth, social security number, and a photo ID, which operators utilize for confirmation purposes.

• Your identity is established by your own statements.
• You meet the legal age for gambling in this jurisdiction.
• Avoid creating multiple player accounts.

Typically, the identity verification process for online sports betting is completed within a few minutes and is often conducted remotely in most states. However, individuals in Nevada must register in person at a casino before they can place online sports bets.

Currently, six states have implemented regulations for online casino gambling, encompassing games like blackjack and slots: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Conversely, online poker is allowed in Nevada.

All six states that permit online casino operations enforce age verification procedures, requiring customers to be at least 21 years old to participate, mirroring the sports betting verification process.

When utilizing an online casino that is run by a company offering a sportsbook, generally, both forms of betting can be accessed through a single account. Signing up once provides access to both online casino games and sports betting.

Online Poker

Legal peer-to-peer online poker exists in six states: Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, with a minimum age requirement of 21 to participate.

The most prominent regulated poker sites in the U.S., PokerStars and WSOP.com, necessitate that players be at least 21 years old. In contrast, illegal offshore poker sites permit players as young as 18. A popular alternative is Limitless Casino.

Although Connecticut has legalized online poker under state law, the absence of licensed operators currently prohibits online poker in the state.

‘Sweepstakes’ Casinos

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

Online casinos such as Chumba Casino, Pulsz Casino, and LuckyLand Slots utilize a gray market model. Players purchase virtual currency to participate in games with the potential to win cash prizes, but technically, they do not gamble with real money.

Typically, sweepstakes sites impose a minimum age requirement of 18, which is crucial when claiming cash prizes. Age and identity verification will be conducted by the sites before any prizes are issued.

Commercial land-based casinos generally set a minimum gambling age of 21, aligning with state laws and regulations and coinciding with the legal drinking age in most states, which permits the consumption of alcohol on the premises.

In some states, tribal-operated casinos may allow a legal gambling age of either 18 or 19 and, as a result, may not serve alcohol.

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

• California offers both cardrooms and tribal casinos.
• Florida provides various entertainment options, including poker and bingo available in casinos.
• Idaho includes tribal casinos.
• Michigan features certain tribal casinos.
• Minnesota has specific tribal casinos.
• Montana hosts land-based casinos.
• Oklahoma accommodates certain casinos.
• Rhode Island.

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• Land-based casinos in Island
• Certain tribal casinos in Washington
• Land-based casinos in Wyoming

Initially, DraftKings and FanDuel commenced their operations as daily fantasy sports (DFS) providers prior to the growth of sports betting. They still provide these options in many states, including those where sports betting is not legal.

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

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is typically allowed in most markets for individuals aged 18 and older as an alternative to sports betting, although there are some exceptions.

Nebraska and Alabama impose a minimum age of 19 for DFS participation.

States like Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, and Massachusetts have established a minimum age of 21 for this activity.

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

Unlike sports betting, prediction markets fix the payout for your wager upon placement, remaining unchanged regardless of any developments before the event commences.

Regulations around horse racing stipulate that individuals aged 18 and older can bet, whether at physical locations, off-track betting sites, or via online services like TwinSpires or FanDuel Racing.

Some states maintain a higher minimum age for horse race participants; for example, in Arizona, Iowa, Nevada, and Texas, bettors must be at least 21 years old.

Lottery games are widespread across the United States, with only a handful of states banning them, while most establish the minimum age at 18.

Many states permit individuals to buy scratch-off tickets, join Powerball and Mega Millions, and engage in other lottery games starting at the age of 18.

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

Some states allow online lottery participation and maintain consistent age restrictions.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Gamble Online in the US?

This blog post has informed you about the age requirements for online gambling in the United States (USA, US, U.S.).