Gambling Age in the US by State

Before choosing the best online casino sites, it is essential to ensure that players are allowed to play on the platform they wish to use. Some eligibility requirements that users may have to fulfill include their state, the amount they deposit, and their minimum age. The legal age of a casino player is a key factor when trying to enter an online casino site. 

This minimum age will vary state by state, so our team of experts at CasinoTop10 has provided a simple breakdown of the legal gambling ages for each US state. Keep reading to learn more.

The Basics

Before we get into too many legal specifics, let’s start off with the basics, like what is that an average player actually needs to know when it comes to the gambling age. Once we’ve gotten that part down, everything else will feel like a breeze.

The table below shows the different minimum gambling ages in different US states and any particularities and obligations that might come with them. Within this table, you’ll notice that the legal age generally tends to be between 18 and 21. Still, in rare cases, it is as low as 16. This goes for US states such as Maine and Oklahoma, where the legal gambling age for bingo is set at 16.

While going through the table, you’ll notice a few other peculiarities as well, so let’s break them down. For one, the table illustrates the legal gambling age for casinos and poker rooms separately and there’s a good reason for this. In most cases, these two ages will coincide, there are expectations – and we’re covering all our bases here. Additionally, you’ll notice that the table also shows the minimum age for Bingo, Lottery, and Dog and Horse Racing. The gambling age for these categories is also essentially similar. However, as there are a few pesky expectations, we’ve decided on a more comprehensive table. On a final note, you may find the symbol N/A on the table. This simply means that no information about these legal ages is available.

As a bonus, it may be worthwhile to know that in some states, Indian casinos are an exception to the rule. In other words, the table below might just not apply to them – something worth looking into if you ever find yourself gambling at an Indian establishment.

U.S. Region	U.S. State	Casinos	Poker Rooms	Bingo	Lottery	Dog/Horse Racing
West	Alaska (AK)	21	N/A	19	N/A	N/A
West	Arizona (AZ)	21	21	18	21	21
West	California (CA)	18/21	18/21	18	18	18
West	Colorado (CO)	21	21	18	18	18
West	Hawaii (HI)	21	21	18	18	18
West	Idaho (ID)	18	18	18	18	18
West	Montana (MT)	18	18	18	18	18
West	Nevada (NV)	21	21	21	N/A	N/A
West	New Mexico (NM)	21	21	No Limit	18	18
West	Oregan (OR)	21	18	18	18	18
West	Utah (UT)	21	21	18	N/A	N/A
West	Washington (WA)	18	18	18	18	18
West	Wyoming (WY)	21	21	18	18	18
Midwest	Illinois (IL)	21	21	18	18	18
Midwest	Indiana (IN)	21	21	18	18	18
Midwest	Iowa (IA)	21	21	21	21	21
Midwest	Kansas (KS)	21	21	18	18	18
Midwest	Michigan Gambling(MI)	18/21	18/21	18	18	18
Midwest	Minnesota (MN)	18	18	18	18	18
Midwest	Missouri (MO)	21	21	18	18	18
Midwest	Nebraska (NE)	21	21	18	19	19
Midwest	North Dakota (ND)	18/21	18/21	18	18	18
Midwest	Ohio (OH)	18/21	18/21	18	18	18
Midwest	South Dakota (SD)	18 (Indian Casinos)	21	18	18	18
Midwest	Wisconsin (WI)	21	21	18	18	N/A
North East	Connecticut (CT)	21	21	18	18	18
North East	Maine (ME)	21	21	16	18	18
North East	Massachusetts (MA)	21	21	18	18	18
North East	New Hampshire (NH)	21	18	18	18	18
North East	New Jersey Gambling (NJ)	21	21	18	18	18
North East	New York Gambling (NY)	21	21	18	18	18
North East	Pennsylvania Gambling (PA)	21	21	18	18	18
North East	Rhode Island (RI)	21	21	18	18	18
North East	Vermont (VT)	21	21	18	18	N/A
South	Alabama (AL)	21	21	18	N/A	18
South	Arkansas (AR)	21	21	18	18	18
South	Delaware Gambling (DE)	21	18/21	18	18	18
South	Florida (FL)	21	18	18	18	18
South	Georgia (GA)	18 (only Cruises)	18	18	18	18
South	Kentucky (KY)	N/A	N/A	18	18	18
South	Louisiana (LA)	21	21	18	21	18
South	Maryland (MD)	21	21	18	18	18
South	Mississippi (MS)	21	21	18	N/A	18
South	North Carolina (NC)	21	21	18	18	N/A
South	Oklahoma (OK)	18	18	16	18	18
South	South Carolina (SC)	21 (only Cruises)	18	18	18	N/A
South	Tennessee (TN)	N/A	N/A	18	18	N/A
South	Texas (TX)	21	21	21	18	18
South	Virginia (VA)	21	18	18	18	18
South	West Virginia Gambling (WV)	21	21	18	18	18

Online Casinos vs. Landbased Casino Gambling Age

The legal gambling age varies across the U.S., with distinctions between online and land-based casinos. While many states set the minimum age at 18 or 21, the specific requirements depend on state regulations and the type of gambling involved. Online casinos typically follow state-imposed age restrictions, with most requiring players to be at least 21. These platforms clearly outline age requirements in their terms and conditions, ensuring compliance with legal standards.

In contrast, land-based casinos have stricter enforcement, with physical ID verification required before entry. Some states allow 18-year-olds to participate in certain forms of gambling, such as pari-mutuel betting or tribal casinos, while others enforce a strict 21+ rule across all gambling activities. Even pari-mutuel wagering, online slots, table game, video game machines and pull tabs could vary with regard to the minimum legal gambling ages. Understanding these differences is essential to avoid legal consequences, as violating gambling age laws can lead to account suspension, loss of winnings, or even legal action. Always check state laws before engaging in any form of gambling.

Types of Gambling

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