Casino Age 18
Where to Gamble in the US at 18
The legal gambling age is 18-years-old on all land under California jurisdiction. Because Indian casinos technically operate on reservation land, they aren’t beholden to California legislation. They can set their own legal gambling age to some extent (with some government oversight). Type of gambling Minimum age Relevant sections of the Act Gambling in casinos or other licensed gambling premises It is illegal to permit any person under the age of 18 to enter a licensed gambling premises. The only exception is licensed family entertainment centres. 18: 46, 47, 48 and 49 Gaming machine (Machine category: A, B1, B2, B3, B3A, B4, C) 18.
In this overview we will quickly run through each one of those states, answering the question of what states you can gamble at 18 years of age, paying extra attention to the most popular gambling locations within these select locations. So without further ado, here are what states you can gamble at 18.
- Most states where you can legally play casino games at 18 still leave it up to the county or the casino owners to determine whether or not they want to entertain this age group. California is one example of this as 18-year-olds have varying access to casino games depending on where in CA they are playing.
- Some states allow 18 year olds to gamble. Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming all have gambling ages of 18. Every other state in the Union has fixed their gambling age at.
1. California
The sunny state of California is one of the most lucrative gambling strongholds in all of America. It was one of the first to legalize gambling to 18-year-olds and remains to be a very liberal state and has been consistently democratic since Clinton in 1992.
California has 65 land-based casinos according to the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC), as well as 86 cardrooms with active licenses spread across its extensive number of cities and towns. Its most popular casino destinations include the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in the city of Wheatland.
2. Florida
Florida has its own one of a kind gambling laws where 18-year-olds may play poker and bingo but are forbidden from slot machines until the age of 21. 2004 became the year of Florida’s gambling revolution so to speak with slot machines and poker both legalized to citizens of 18 years and above.
All seven of Florida’s highest notoriety casinos are owned by Native American tribes. These casinos are all authorized to include slots, video poker, and a limited number of table games such as blackjack and baccarat. Roulette and dice (craps) are not permitted. Some of its most famous land-based locations include Seminole Hard Rock Tampa and the Miccosukee Resort and Gaming Center in Miami.
3. New York
When it comes to brick and mortar gambling New York stands tall as a state that has it all. The Empire State has a huge selection of casinos with many games legally available in many locations. Whether you are in Buffalo or in downtown Manhattan the huge number of options is staggering. Horse racing, slot machines, poker, roulette, and other table-based card games are all legal making it one of the only states to have such a comprehensive selection of legal options.
New York was one of the first states to legalize horse racing back in 1939 setting a very large precedent which many other states would soon follow. New York’s famous casinos include Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway and The Fairgrounds Gaming in Hamburg. New York City itself is a very popular destination for young citizens looking to wager.
4. Washington
Washington is surrounded by confusion when considering its stance on gambling and its legitimacy. Washington since 2014 has consistently resisted the notion to legalize online gambling after it was made illegal back in 2004. Card rooms were only permitted post-1997 making it one of the last eastern states to follow suit in this respect.
Washington however is one of those states you can gamble at 18, this is where the confusion arises, however. Certain games such as roulette and slot machines are forbidden for 18-year old’s to play. If an establishment serves alcohol this also prevents 18-year-olds from accessing these facilities. Some of Washington’s most recognizable land-based casinos include 7 Cedars Casino and Angel of the Winds Casino Resort in Arlington.
5. Oklahoma
Although 18-year-olds are currently allowed to gamble in the state of Oklahoma, it has a reputation for being one of the least gambling-friendly states in all of America. Despite this Oklahoma’s gambling culture dates to the 1800s where settlers brought games like poker to saloons across the state. This was however unregulated with gunfights being an issue surrounding these games.
1992 saw a major overhaul in legislation with class 2 games including bingo, lottery-type games as well as slot machines now being allowed to take place in land-based casinos. Its stance on sports betting however has remained firm in 2018 stating it had “no plans to legalize any form of sports betting in the near future”, although this is exempt to horse racing. The WinStar World Casino and Resort is Oklahoma’s largest casino.
6. Michigan
Michigan is the only state on this list that has legalized gambling online for 18-year-olds as well as land-based casinos. This has been a very recent development with the Michigan government signing the Lawful Internet Gaming Act in December of 2019. Michigan has now positioned itself to become a serious player in the online casino and mobile betting industry.
All forms of in-house gambling are legal in Michigan making it an extremely popular destination for casino goers. It also has a select number of highly notable land-based organizations including Bay Mills Resort & Casinos located in Brimley as well as the Greektown Casino-Hotel located in the heart of Detroit. Michigan in the last decade has presented itself as a very progressive state in the context of land-based and online gambling.
Other States Permitting 18-year-old Gamblers
As we have already covered the most notable states where 18-year-olds are free to gamble, we have included a secondary list detailing the remaining six states and their stances on casinos and online gambling.
- Idaho: Formerly considered a hotbed of gambling in the old west. It is now in a similar situation to Oklahoma; sports betting remains prohibited and in 2018 a measure to allow horse racing was defeated. 18-year-olds do have access to casino games such as poker and blackjack.
- Minnesota: Tolerant of most forms of gambling including sports betting, horse racing, and tribal gaming. Poker can be played from small stakes ($200 or less). 18-year-olds can access the same casino games as 21-year-olds.
- Montana: Has a long and unique gambling history, with many forms of legalized gambling available in Big Sky Country. Sports betting was legalized in 2019 marking a big change in the states’ previously anti-gambling stance. Glacier Peaks Casino is one of Montana’s highest regarded land-based casinos.
- Rhode Island: Having recently embraced online gambling in the form of sports betting. It has become one of the most progressive eastern states. It also features the Twin River Casino Hotel in Lincoln known for its expansive complexity and location.
- Wisconsin: Has a narrow set of options, with sports betting and online gambling yet to be legitimized in the badger state. There are no major land-based casinos with most of the action taking place in card rooms loosely scattered across the North-Eastern state.
- Wyoming: More known for its natural attractions such as the Rocky Mountains rather than its gambling culture. Sports betting and online gambling are both still prohibited. Wyoming is one of the few states that use wagering revenue as an investment for public funds such as education and welfare.
What the legal gambling age is depends on the state in which you live. Based on the powers of the states, each state's rights, and the lawmakers utilizing these rights, these ages can vary. the variance comes into play with different forms of gambling, different states, and, in the case of online gambling, the age requirement offered by a gambling site. While this may seem complicated with so much information to keep track of, this is not exactly the case - age requirements in gambling are very easy to comprehend, provided you know where to look.
Unfortunately, not every single state has actually listed the age requirement for gambling in their code of laws. It is further complicated by the fact that some states allow smaller jurisdictions, such as counties and cities, to establish their own legal ages. For the most part, we are only going to worry about each state's individual rules, as well as the rules of the different gambling sites in question. We have looked into this issue on a state by state basis, and we are going to tell you flat out that the age restriction for legal online gambling in the USA is fixed at two numbers - 18 and 21.
CHECK HERE FOR A LIST OF GAMBLING SITES THAT ACCEPT USA PLAYERS
USA Sportsbooks - USA Casinos - USA Poker Sites
| What's The Legal Gambling Age??? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama - 21 | Hawaii - 21 | Massachusetts - 21 | New Mexico - 21 | South Dakota - 21 |
| Alaska - 18 | Idaho - 18 | Michigan - 21 | New York - 18 | Tennessee - 21 |
| Arizona - 21 | Illinois - 21 | Minnesota - 18 | North Carolina - 18 | Texas - 21 |
| Arknsas - 21 | Indiana - 21 | Mississippi - 21 | North Dakota - 21 | Utah - 21 |
| California - 21 | Iowa - 21 | Missouri - 21 | Ohio - 21 | Vermont - 18 |
| Colorado - 21 | Kansas - 18 | Montana - 21 | Oklahoma - 18 | Virginia - 21 |
| Connecticut - 21 | Kentucky - 21 | Nebraska - 21 | Oregon - 21 | Washington - 18 |
| Delaware - 21 | Louisiana - 21 | Nevada - 21 | Pennsylvania - 21 | West Virginia - 21 |
| Florida - 21 | Maine - 18 | New Hampshire - 21 | Rhode Island - 18 | Wisconsin - 21 |
| Georgia - 21 | Maryland - 21 | New Jersey - 21 | South Carolina - 18 | Wyoming - 18 |
Do Gambling Ages Differ Between Sites And States?
Barring a few exceptions, you will have to be 21 in order to legally gamble. This is the case in nearly every single state. Some states allow 18 year olds to gamble. Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming all have gambling ages of 18.
Every other state in the Union has fixed their gambling age at 21, and you cannot get around this in any way. If you attempt to do so you are aiming at serious trouble, including fines, having your money confiscated, and possibly arrest, though the latter is not likely.
There is one point of confusion that is universal in online gambling. This lies between the age required by your gambling site and the gambling age required by your state. In some cases, one will allow gamblers to begin at a younger age than the other. In the event that these ages differ from one another, you have to go with the gambling age that is higher.
For instance - your casino allows 18 year olds, but your state requires you to be 21. That means you cannot join unless you are 21, as per your state's regulations. On the other hand, if your state will allow 18 year olds but that particular gambling site requires you to be 21, you will have to be 21 - regardless of your state's requirements. This is the only real point of confusion, and it can be easily bypassed.
Age Requirement For Online Gambling Sites
As you will come to find, there are gambling age restrictions at the gambling sites you visit. These gambling ages requirements will be stipulated in the terms and condtions section of the site, or some variation of the rules of the site. These requirements are very important, and strictly enforced by the sites themselves.
One thing we can tell you not to do is attempt to gamble underage - be it online or in a brick and mortar venue. Even if you can enter the website or join up with pme, you will ultimately be going down a path you cannot finish walking. If you join a gambling site that you are not old enough to play with, be aware that they are fully entitled to confiscate your money.
No one likes losing, and losing without even having a chance to win is never fun. We have compiled the legal gambling ages in every state, so we recommend you take a look at these before you start to gamble.
It's best consult your local laws to find out the gambling age after you have checked with, and at least are old enough to gamble at the online casino or sportsbook you have chosen. If you meet the online gambling site but not the state, you are still not 'legally' allowed to wager regardless of where it operates. Getting caught illegally gambling online is not something that you want to have happen, as you will be stripped of accounts, money, and perhaps more.
Michigan Casino Age 18
We do not condone underage gambling and encourage all players to get informed. The age of gambling legally online is still a debated issue, with many states in the U.S. requiring bettors to be at least 21 years old. We do not foresee that changing in the near future though, if at all.
Michigan Casino Age 18
Find the legal gambling age for every state here.