How old do you have to be to gamble in the US?
If you’re interested in exploring online casinos or sportsbooks, then you may be curious to know how old you have to be to gamble. This is a slightly more complicated question than it first appears, since different countries have different age restrictions. It may seem initially that anyone can play casino games or place a few wagers, but that’s far from the case. So, we’ve written this guide to clear up any confusion that you may have.
The gambling age in the US probably causes the most confusion, simply because it’s not the same for the whole country. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that young players may want to double-check whether it’s legal to gamble in their own state.
The majority of states have an age restriction of 18 years old, which means you must be at least 18 or over to sign up to online casinos, including
high-stakes casino
platforms.
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How old do you have to be to gamble around the world?
For those not based in the US, age restrictions are often more consistent at a national level, making them easier to follow. In the majority of countries, 18 years old is the minimum age you have to be to gamble. This is generally because 18 years old is the age at which people are considered to have become adults, and it often coincides with being legal to drink alcohol.
United Kingdom
If we take the UK as the next example, you have to be 18 years old to enter a casino, sign up to an online casino, enter a bookies, or place a sports wager online. This is very straightforward, and as we mentioned above, it lines up with the legal age to drink alcohol, which is also 18 years old. However, it does get a little bit more confusing when we take a look at lottery tickets and scratchcards.
Technically, this is a form of gambling, but if you’re wondering what the age requirements are for lottery tickets, then the answer is actually 16 years old. If you are 16 and in the UK, you are allowed to buy a lottery ticket or scratch card, but you cannot participate in any casinos, in person or online. And you also cannot place any bets on sports games or similar events.
Other European countries
If we look at the rest of Europe, 18 years old is still the most common age for being able to gamble legally. This applies to countries like Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine. However, in countries like Belgium, Germany and Ireland, you need to be 21 years or older to gamble and enjoy playing a variety of casino table games.
But that’s not even the highest age limit! In Greece, you need to be 23 years old to be able to gamble in casinos or place sports bets on various events. And in Portugal, you must be 25 or older to engage in any gambling activities.
New Zealand
New Zealand is another country with slightly tricky and confusing laws because technically, the legal age for gambling is 20 years old. So if you were to ask us how old you need to be to gamble in New Zealand, we would say 20.
However, there are some gambling activities such as betting on horse racing where the age restrictions are lower. If you’re in New Zealand and you’re looking to back your favorite horse, then you’ll need to be 18 years old to do this.
China
China also has some interesting laws when it comes to gambling too. For the most part, traditional gambling is not allowed at all, however, there are a few exceptions. State run lotteries are legal and commonly played by the country’s citizens. You need to be 21 years old or older to participate in these lotties.
| Country |
Min. Age Requirement To Gamble in Casino |
| United States |
18 or 21 years old (depending on the state) |
| United Kingdom |
18 years old |
| Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine |
18 years old |
| Belgium, Germany and Ireland |
21 years old |
| Greece |
23 years old |
| Portugal |
25 years old |
| New Zealand |
20 years old |
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How to sign up to an online casino or sportsbook
If after reading this guide you’d like to understand the age to gamble in your region and explore available options, then here’s how to get started. Whether you’re looking to play online slots or access casino-style games or play table games at an online casino, or place a few bets on your favorite sports team or player, you’ll need to sign up to an online betting site. The platform that you choose will hugely depend on what country you live in.
If you’d like help choosing which online casinos are worth checking out, you can take a look at our page banners. Here we have listed all of our recommended sites that are available in your location. Not only that, but our page banners will also give you the most up to date sign up offers and any exclusive promo codes that we have.
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Click our page banners or links for the online casino you’d like to try out.
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You’ll find the sign up button in the top right hand corner, go ahead and click this to open up the registration form.
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Enter the personal details requested like your full name, date of birth and address.
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If signing up to a platform that we offer an exclusive promo code with, don’t forget to enter it when prompted. This will allow you to claim the full sign up bonus.
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Read and accept the T&Cs, then hit submit.
More often than not, you’ll be asked to verify your email address before you can gain full access to the platform. Once you’ve done this, you can then head to the promotions page to opt-in to your chosen welcome offer. When it comes to account funding options, there are a range of payment options available including e-wallet options which you can find at
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Pros and cons – gambling age around the world
Pros and Cons
- Minimum 18 years old in most countries
- Same age restriction for online and in person gambling
- Sign up offers available in most countries
- Some differences in age restrictions within countries
Conclusion – The minimum gambling age depends on where you live
So,
how old do you have to be to gamble? In most countries, the answer is straightforward and is 18 years old. However, there are certain regions where the minimum age to gamble is raised to 21, and sometimes even higher than this. It’s super important that you check your local regulations and laws before signing up to any betting site. This goes for both online casinos and online sportsbooks too.
Once you know that you meet the legal requirements to sign up, you can enjoy everything from slots and live dealer titles, to placing bets on your favorite sports teams. This helps ensure you’re engaging with platforms in line with the regulations that apply in your region.
If you meet the age and location requirements, you can explore the platforms listed on this page.
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Gambling age FAQs
🚀 How old do you have to be to gamble in the US?
This will very much depend on your state! Some states allow gambling at 18 years old, whereas there are many others that require you to be 21 or older. For example, in Idaho or Michigan, you’ll need to be at least 18 to gamble, whereas in Florida or Kansas, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old.
🎯 How old do you have to be to gamble in the UK?
To gamble at casinos or sportsbooks, whether this be online or in person, you must be at least 18 years old. However, you can buy lottery tickets and scratchcards from 16 years old.
🌍 How old do you have to be to gamble in Europe?
For the most part, the
legal gambling age
for European countries is 18 years old. However, there are some that have raised this to 21 years old like Germany and Belgium. And there are others who’ve raised it even higher like Greece (23) and Portugal (25).
