04-02-2021

Gambling Legal Age By State



The state of Texas has strict anti-gaming regulations, with just one slot parlor in the state and little else in the way of legal gambling. As a consequence, illegal game rooms are extremely popular. These are essentially rental spaces outfitted with games known as “eight-liners,” which are eight-payline slot games. Simply because the gambling age in a player's state might have a higher number. For example, if a player signs up at a sportsbook at age 19, where the legal betting age is 18 at the sportsbook but the state in which he/she lives in is 21, he/she can still not gamble legally because he/she cannot do so in his/her state. Underage Gambling. 31 USC §§ 5361-5367 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 This law prohibits companies from accepting money for internet gambling, if the gambling is illegal under existing federal or state laws. It doesn't address gambling directly, but rather the transfer of funds from credit cards and bank accounts to online casinos. State law requires lottery ticket buyers and charitable gaming establishments to exclude anybody under 18 years of age. Casinos have a minimum age of 21 years. Racing venues, if they still existed, would have a minimum age of 21. Online racing sites and mobile betting apps must restrict access to players under 21.

In the U.S., we have two major milestone birthdays that take place within 3 years of each other: 18 and 21. At age 18, a person is considered a legal adult and can vote, play the lottery, and join the armed forces. At age 21, a person can legally drink and buy alcohol and patronize casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. But in many states, people can gamble at age 18—and there’s no better place to host a milestone birthday than a local casino. Here’s a roundup of the various states and their restrictions regarding 18 and over casinos.

Pari-mutuel betting

Legal gambling ages are determined on a state by state basis. For example, some states, like Washington, have set a flat age restriction at 18. Other states, like Iowa, require you to wait until you’re 21 before you participate in any gambling activity.

Pari-mutuel betting is a type of wager where the final payout is determined after all bets are made, which is different from the fixed odds offered by casinos. The most popular type of pari-mutuel betting is off-track betting facilities. When you bet on horse races, all bets are pooled together and the house takes its fee. Once betting closes, the payouts are finalized based on how much money is in the pool and the results of the event. States that allow pari-mutuel betting for people aged 18 and over include:

  • Arkansas
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Indiana
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • New Mexico
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Washington

Bingo

Anyone can participate in a few rounds of bingo at the local church, but most casino bingo halls have an age limit to gamble. States that allow people age 18 and up to play bingo in a casino include:

  • Connecticut
  • Florida
  • New Mexico
  • Oregon
  • South Dakota
  • Wisconsin

Mixed age limits

Some states allow gambling for ages 18 and up or 21 and up, some depending on the particular casino, others depending on the particular casino game. For example, Florida allows those 18 and up to gamble on pari-mutuels, bingo, and poker, but has an age minimum of 21 for slots. States with mixed age limits include:

  • Florida
  • New York
  • Oklahoma
  • Washington
  • California
Casino age

Age 18+ welcome

A few states welcome anyone age 18 and older to gamble at local casinos, including California (with a few exceptions). California is home to casinos in over 100 cities—the largest number by far in the U.S., exceeding even the number found in Nevada. Southern California alone boasts two dozen cities with casinos, including Campo, which is home to Golden Acorn Casino! States that allow gambling at the age of 18 include:

  • Alaska
  • Idaho
  • Minnesota
  • Wyoming
  • California (with a few exceptions)

Celebrate your 18th at Golden Acorn Casino

If you’re looking for the best place to celebrate your birthday at one of the 18 and over casinos near San Diego, come see us at Golden Acorn Casino. We offer hundreds of slot machines and dozens of table games to choose from, and we’re conveniently located right off the I-8, about an hour away from downtown San Diego. And who knows, maybe your wish for a big jackpot will come true when you blow out your candles!

Gambling Age Usa

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