How Old Do You Have To Be To Gamble?
Minimum gambling ages differ across countries, whether you play online or at a physical venue.
Many jurisdictions set a minimum age for gambling, often 18 or 21. Some require players to be 25, while others prohibit online betting, casino gambling or both.
If you are travelling and under 25, check the gambling rules where you are going. The permitted age may differ from the one in the country where you normally gamble.
- A minimum gambling age is set in almost every country
- Permitted gambling ages vary 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 in particular states or regions
Are There Different Gambling Ages for Land-Based Versus Online Casinos?
In many jurisdictions, the same legal age applies to online and in-person gambling. Rules may be organized by game type, with a set minimum age applying whether the activity takes place online or offline.
Most online casinos ask for a date of birth during registration and reject applicants who are underage. Creating an account in that case would generally require supplying false information.
For land-based casinos, the applicable age rules depend on local law. European requirements are set country by country, while in the USA state laws determine the age required to enter a gambling venue.
Some countries set 18 as the legal gambling age, yet casinos may choose to admit patrons only from age 21. This is described as common in the Caribbean.
- Online and land-based gambling often share the same age limit
- Online casinos ask applicants to enter a DOB
- Land-based casinos set a minimum admission age
Are There Different Gambling Ages for Different Games?
Licensing rules can differ according to the activity. Table games, slots, lotteries, scratch cards and sports betting may each fall under separate licences, with different minimum ages attached to 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, permitted games and the applicable ages vary between states.
- Minimum ages may vary between gambling activities
- In the USA, a form of gambling permitted in one state may be prohibited in another
What Is the Legal Age to Gamble in Europe?
Nearly all European countries set an 18-year minimum for online and land-based gambling across activities. It notes some exceptions below; where a country is not listed, gambling requires participants to be 18 or older.
United Kingdom: The minimum age depends on the activity. Private or non-commercial gaming and betting has no age limit. People must be 16 or older for the National Lottery, over-the-counter scratch cards and football pools. Arcade attractions such as coin pushing and teddy grabbing machines also require players to be at least 16. Other forms of gambling, whether online or at a venue, have a minimum age of 18.
Germany: The source reports an 18-year minimum for almost all gambling, with two exceptions: in the Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria areas, the minimum age for a land-based casino is 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 & Portugal: The source describes 25 as the highest minimum gambling age in Malta and Portugal. It adds that tourists visiting Portugal may gamble from age 18.
Jersey: you must be over 21 to gamble in Jersey.
What Is the Legal Age to Gamble in the USA?
Gambling rules in the USA are complex. Federal law is one layer, and each state has its own rules as well. Requirements also differ by activity, and those rules can change from one state to another.
A practical way to approach gambling rules in the USA is to check each state separately. Land-based gambling is described as generally accepted across the country, while online gambling rules are more complicated.
Before gambling in the US, review the rules for each state on your itinerary:
- Bingo and lottery
- Online gambling
- Land-based casinos
- Poker, online or offline
- Dog racing and horse racing
- Sports betting generally
What Is the Legal Age to Gamble in Canada?
Canada permits online gambling, but casinos may be restricted to particular areas. It also describes minimum-age rules as varying by jurisdiction.
The source gives 19 as the minimum age at most casinos, and 18 in Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba. It says those ages apply to online and land-based gambling. Lottery 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 Age to Gamble in Oceania?
New Zealand and Australia have different rules, and minimum ages can 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. It also describes land-based casinos and betting halls, as well as online lotteries and sportsbooks, as available to Australian residents.
New Zealand: The rules described for New Zealand vary by 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 oversees the gaming industry?
Countries generally have their own gambling regulators, often established by government. These bodies set minimum ages across games and regulate gambling operators, including rules intended to prevent the encouragement of underage play.
What if I gamble before reaching the legal age?
Consequences depend on the circumstances. If an online casino finds that an account breaches 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 follow if someone is caught gambling underage?
Most countries do not impose direct legal consequences on underage gamblers, while the betting service provider may face trouble. It also says that using fake identification to open an online casino account or enter a casino could lead to fraud charges.
