How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble? Bet on Sports?
Clinical Review by:
Published:
Sep 10, 2024
,
03:32 p.m.
ET
Certain age restrictions in the United States are common knowledge for just about everyone. The legal drinking age of 21 is the most obvious. Most people also know that you can vote when you turn 18, and even 25 seems to be the general answer for the age you can rent a car. On the other hand, If you ask around what the legal age to gamble is, the answer isn’t so cut and dry. This is partly due to the complicated and long history of gambling.
Gambling dates back to the colonization of the U.S and has evolved over the centuries. From the development of the slot machine in 1894, speakeasies with hidden poker games during prohibition, horse racing, the growing popularity of Las Vegas and the more recent explosion in use of online apps and sports betting sites, gambling is evolving with us and is here to stay.
Gambling and sports betting has been a hot topic of debate for many years, including the more recent discussions around the ages of those who are starting to participate in betting, whether it is legal for them or not. And a key consideration is brain development, including how information is processed and decision making. With access to gambling and sports betting becoming increasingly easier, it begs the question: at what age should you be allowed to gamble?
Age Restrictions for Gambling in the U.S.
Casino Gambling
Casinos and the age restriction for gambling in the U.S depends on a few factors. Casinos that are located on land in the United States have a gambling age of 21, which complies with the legal drinking age so they can allow liquor to be served while playing. Casinos that are on tribal land have slightly different restrictions and can set the age limit lower, typically 18 or 19. This means they may not serve alcohol on premise.
Online casino games are allowed by 6 states, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and the age limit is set at 21 as well. Las Vegas also allows online poker.
Sports Betting
Sports betting has its own set of rules when it comes to age requirements and other restrictions. You must be physically located in the state to participate in betting, but do not have to live there.
21+ age minimums
The large majority of states with legalized sports betting require users to be 21+ years old to participate. Those include:
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Nevada
New Jersey
New York
North Dakota
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
(NOTE: North Dakota and Wisconsin governments haven't passed legislation that formally legalizes sports betting, but some of the states’ tribes offer in-person sports betting on reservation lands.)
18+ age minimums
The outliers are the 6 locations where the age requirement is 18+. Those are:
Kentucky
New Hampshire
Montana
Rhode Island
Washington, D.C.
Wyoming
Lottery
The lottery is the most popular type of gambling in the United States. Most Americans have played – or at least seen – a scratch-off ticket or lottery ticket for the Mega Millions before.
Only a few states do not allow lottery gambling, and the majority that do permit it have an age restriction of 18+ years old.
A few states also raised the age limit on lottery play. Nebraska set their age limit to play the lottery at 19, while Mississippi, Arizona, Louisiana and Iowa are 21+. In states where online lottery is available, the age limit is consistent with their retail lottery age.
Brain development considerations in gambling age rules
Brain development in adolescents and young adults is a key consideration when states set gambling age restrictions. Younger people have risk factors unique to them that can make them more susceptible to developing problematic gambling habits.
The brain is constantly growing and developing during adolescent years into young adulthood. The area of the brain that is responsible for impulse control and decision-making is known as the prefrontal cortex. Until around age 25, the prefrontal cortex is not fully matured, which makes regulating behavior and assessing risks more difficult.
When those under the age of 21 participate in gambling, they may not have developed the maturity or decision-making skills to do so responsibly while understanding the long-term risks of gambling. Teens become more likely to display impulsive behaviors and take unnecessary risks, which can include gambling irresponsibly.
How are younger people betting?
The age of people participating in sports betting, legal or not, is getting younger and younger. The promotion of betting on social media platforms is one of the ways teens are getting more creative in their ways to access gambling apps and sites. Some states allow those as young as 18 to bet, but even with the age limit, teens younger than 18 are still finding ways to participate in gambling
Some teens have begun to use techniques like using fake birthdays or VPNs to bypass age restrictions on gambling sites and apps. They have also been found to use relatives' information to open accounts or make bets using someone else's account that is of legal age to gamble. Teens are also using hybrid platforms that combine daily fantasy sports (DFS) and gambling to allow the age limits to be 18+, or sweepstakes-based products that offer the option to use free tokens or coins rather than “real” money to skirt gambling laws.
Unregulated offshore sportsbooks and modern online bookies are another threat to underage kids and betting. Some of these operators use services CashApp and Venmo to facilitate payments, so people who are underage are able to pay and receive money easily from the comfort of home. Therefore, identifying and treating teenage gambling is becoming more important than ever as rates of underage gambling continue to increase.
Gambling Addiction treatment from the comfort of home
If you or someone you know – such as your own child – is gambling and exhibiting any of the warning signs of a potential problem, Birches Health can help. Birches Health fully remote and confidential counseling from licensed gambling addiction specialists. With evidenced-based interventions, Birches can help you on the road to recovery.
What can Birches Do For You?
You can also reach Birches by calling 833-483-3838 or emailing hello@bircheshealth.com.
