How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble?
Minimum gambling ages vary between countries, whether you play online or at a physical venue.
Many jurisdictions set a minimum gambling age, often 18 or 21. Some require players to be 25, while others prohibit online betting, casino gambling, or both.
If you are traveling and under 25, check the gambling rules at your destination. The permitted age may differ from the rules in the country where you usually gamble.
- Nearly every country sets a minimum age for gambling
- Permitted gambling ages differ by country
- Many jurisdictions set the minimum age at 18 or 21
- Some places require gamblers to be at least 25
- Gambling may be prohibited in some countries or specific states or regions
Do Land-Based and Online Casinos Have Different Gambling Ages?
In many jurisdictions, the same legal age applies to online and in-person gambling. Rules may be organized by game type, with a single minimum age for an activity whether it takes place online or offline.
Most online casinos request your date of birth when you register and reject applicants below the legal age. Creating an account while underage would generally require entering false information.
For land-based casinos, local law determines the applicable age. European requirements are set country by country, while state laws in the USA determine the age for entering a gambling venue.
Some countries set 18 as the legal gambling age, but casinos may choose to admit patrons only from age 21. This is described as common in the Caribbean.
- Online and land-based gambling often have the same age limit
- Online casinos ask applicants to provide a date of birth
- Land-based casinos set a minimum admission age
Do Different Games Have Different Gambling Ages?
Licensing requirements may vary by activity. Table games, slots, lotteries, scratch cards and sports betting may each require separate licenses, with different minimum ages for each.
For example, in the UK, people can take part in the National Lottery, football pools or buy scratch cards from age 16, while casino games require players to be over 18. In the USA, the games permitted and the applicable ages vary by state.
- Minimum ages can differ among gambling activities
- In the USA, a type of gambling permitted in one state may be prohibited in another
What Is the Legal Gambling Age in Europe?
Nearly all European countries set an 18-year minimum for online and land-based gambling across activities. The exceptions noted here are listed below; in countries not mentioned, participants must be 18 or older to gamble.
United Kingdom: The minimum age depends on the activity. Private or noncommercial gaming and betting has no age limit. People must be 16 or older to play the National Lottery, buy over-the-counter scratch cards or take part in football pools. Arcade attractions such as coin pushers and teddy-grabbing machines also require players to be at least 16. Other forms of gambling, online or at a venue, have a minimum age of 18.
Germany: The source states that the minimum age for almost all gambling is 18, with two exceptions: land-based casinos in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria have a minimum age of 21.
Belgium: Since 2017, the minimum age for gambling online or at a venue has been 21.
Greece: The source gives Greece’s legal gambling age as 23, regardless of where a person comes from.
Malta and Portugal: The source identifies 25 as the highest minimum gambling age in either country. It also states that tourists in Portugal may gamble from age 18.
Jersey: You must be over 21 to gamble in Jersey.
What Is the Legal Gambling Age in the USA?
Gambling rules in the USA are complex. Federal law is one layer, and each state has its own rules, too. Requirements also vary by activity, and can differ from one state to another.
A practical approach to gambling rules in the USA is to check each state individually. Land-based gambling is described as generally accepted across the country, while online gambling rules are more complicated.
Before gambling in the US, check the rules for every state on your itinerary:
- Bingo and lottery
- Online gambling
- Land-based casinos
- Poker, online or offline
- Dog racing and horse racing
- Sports betting in general
What Is the Legal Gambling Age in Canada?
Canada permits online gambling, but casinos may be limited to particular areas. Minimum-age requirements also vary by jurisdiction.
The source sets the minimum age at most casinos at 19, and at 18 in Quebec, Alberta, and Manitoba. It says these age limits apply to both online and land-based gambling. Lottery age rules differ: the stated minimum is 18, except in British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Labrador, and Nova Scotia, where it is 19.
What Is the Legal Gambling Age in Oceania?
New Zealand and Australia have different rules, and minimum ages may depend on the activity, as in the UK, Europe and the USA. Online casinos cannot be based in New Zealand or Australia, so residents use overseas servers that accept players aged 18 or older.
Australia: The minimum gambling age is 18 across activities, including casinos, lotteries and sportsbooks. Land-based casinos and betting halls, as well as online lotteries and sportsbooks, are described as available to Australian residents.
New Zealand: The rules described for New Zealand depend on the activity. Casino gambling requires age 20, horse-race betting is allowed from 18, and Instant Kiwi, operated by the New Zealand Lotteries Commission, requires participants to be 16.
Gambling Age FAQs
Who regulates the gaming industry?
Countries generally have their own gambling regulators, often established by government. These agencies set minimum ages for games and regulate gambling operators, including rules intended to prevent the promotion of underage play.
What happens if I gamble before reaching the legal age?
Consequences depend on the circumstances. If an online casino discovers that an account violates age rules, funds may be confiscated. An underage person found inside a land-based casino may be removed from the premises.
What legal consequences can result from underage gambling?
Most countries do not impose direct legal consequences on underage gamblers, while the betting service provider may face trouble. The source also says that using fake identification to open an online casino account or enter a casino could lead to fraud charges.
