If someone is going to be participating in casino games, slots, poker, bingo games, or other forms of entertainment online that involve gambling, then one must truly understand the legal age for online casinos gambling.
The legal age to gamble in casinos can be very different from one country to the next, and sometimes even from region to region within the same country. PokerNews has put together a comprehensive guide to the legal gambling ages and minimum gambling ages for online gambling sites right across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and several South American countries, to keep you in the clear.
Can You Gamble at 18?
As we discuss in our article, this is a tricky question to answer, since the regulations around age limits and the minimum legal age to gamble vary from country to country. However, broadly speaking, it's a no—18 years old is not in the majority that would allow you to gamble, be it at a casino or otherwise, or even conduct online gambling.
With some exceptions, most countries opt for a slightly higher age limit of 21; this, however, can be more subtle in that specific games are available to those of 18 or older, for example, lottery-type games, and deliberation has been made to limit access to other games only to those of at least 21.
Continue to the following descriptions of how countries with both the largest online casino markets differ from one another.
Gambling Age in the United States
Just about anyone knows the United States is the largest online gambling market in the world, with $19 billion dollars gambled online in 2023. Due to this, state-specific regulation largely varies depending on the political governance and specific business interest in each state.
Federal Regulations for Online Gambling
The federal laws in the United States may provide a basic framework for online gambling and legal sports betting, but a big part of the regulation is left up to the individual states.
The UIGEA of 2006 restricts financial transactions related to online gambling, while the definition of an adult gambling age is clearly not included. In this aspect, it is in charge of every single state to deal with it in accordance with its own set of regulations.
State-Specific Regulations for Online Gambling
The legal age for online gambling across the U.S. depends on the laws in each state. Here is a list of states that have online gambling laws for specific regions:
- Nevada: 21 years old for gambling in NV, currently limited to online poker.
- New Jersey: 21 years old for casino games and poker, but 18 for lottery and horse racing.
- Pennsylvania: 21 years old for casino games, sports betting, and poker.
- Michigan: 21 years old for all forms of online gambling, including online sports betting, online casino games, and daily fantasy sports (DFS).
- West Virginia: 21 years old or older to participate in all forms of online gambling in the state, including sports and casino games.
The regulations vary from state to state, demonstrating the necessity of consulting local law before engaging in any online gambling activities.
Tribal Casino Gambling Age Limits
While generally set at 18 years old, the age limit for gambling in tribal casinos in the USA is allowed to vary.
At this point, there is no federal law that regulates the age limits for gambling at tribal casinos, given that these casinos operate on sovereign tribal land wherein they have their very own set of regulations and laws.
The minimum legal age for tribal casinos is set by individual tribes applying recent tribal council rulings or compacts with the state. The most common age is 18, but some tribes may set it higher than that, especially if they don't serve alcohol.
Some states have such compacts with tribes that the tribes' casinos have to comply with a minimum age of 21, which is the same as what the age is for commercial casinos within that state.
Gambling Age in the United Kingdom
Online gambling, and especially playing casino games, is already common in the UK, and regulations about the age of players are being observed.
UK Gambling Commission Regulations
The UK Gambling Commission has control over all activities involved in gambling throughout the United Kingdom, ensuring that these are done fairly and legally.18 years old is the legal age set for online gambling in the UK. This includes online casinos, horse racing, sports betting, playing bingo, and poker. However, the minimum age for lottery gambling, such as playing the National Lottery and scratchcards, is 16.
The UK employs strict verification processes for the enforcement of such age requirements, which make sure that minors can't gamble online if they are under the legal age.
Gambling Age in Canada
Canada is also home to a few of the largest online casinos around the globe, each governed by its own set of regulations regarding online gambling, lottery games, daily fantasy sports, and the minimum age of players, according to each province.
Provincial Regulations
In Canada, gambling regulations are determined by each province:
- Ontario: 19 years old for both online and land-based casinos.
- British Columbia: 19 years old for all forms of gambling.
- Quebec: 18 years old for both online and land-based gambling.
In each of the provinces, the legal age for online gambling corresponded to that of land-based gambling, with provincial autonomy in the enactment of those laws with respect to the minimum age requirement.
Gambling Age in Brazil and South America
Over the past few years, South America has experienced a surge in online gambling, most notably, Brazil, which legalized online gambling for sports betting and casino games in December.
While certain forms of gambling were already legal, the present law allows for the regulated online casino and sports betting in Brazil. Another important thing is that regulations are still under development, and licensing hasn't begun yet.
Country-Specific Regulations
Gambling regulations in South America vary widely:
- Brazil: Currently, online gambling is not explicitly regulated, but proposed legislation suggests an age of 18.
- Argentina: The legal age for gambling varies by province, generally set at 18.
- Chile: The legal age for gambling is 18.
The increasing regulation of online gambling in South America presents a national consideration that cannot be overlooked, hence it is necessary to be conversant with the now-legal developments.
International Comparison for Online Gambling Age
The customs and laws of different regions have contributed greatly to the differences in legal gambling age. In most jurisdictions, the legal age is 18 or 21, in consideration of the social traditions of that country and what societal norms tell about when one becomes mature enough to take part in gambling.
Why Knowing the Legal Age is Important
We trust that we have shown sufficiently why legal online gambling merits your attention; just as a last note, here is a short summary.
Legal Consequences of Gambling Underage
Underage gambling can bring serious legal actions, including fines and criminal charges, for both the player and the operator. This is the reason why, in order to avoid penalties, the legal age must be abided by.