Share of Americans who played blackjack, roulette, or poker in casinos 2018, by age Visitors of casinos who used slot machines in the U.S. 2018, by age Show all statistics (5).
Sports Betting Ages By State. Each of the states with sports betting is different, but the legal sports betting age by state is almost always 21, while the legal lottery and pari-mutuel betting age is usually 18 (except for Alabama, where all gambling ages are 19 for some reason).
Here are interesting facts about setting the age limit for gambling in some American states.
Alabama law considers it a crime or offense for an adult to bring a kid or teen along to gamble. The underage should not be seen anywhere in a gambling venue even if assisted by an adult. The adult responsible for taking such child or teenager to a gambling venue would be penalized.
Florida gambling laws are a lot less strict than most states, with one of the only requirements being that players are of at least 18 years of age, which is the legal gambling age in Florida. The legal gambling age is codified into the Federal Law with a number of different variables. The thing is that the States establish a legal age but the casinos can fix their own minimum age! So, it is not rare to see a state fixing the legal gambling age at 18 years old and a casino of the same State fixes it at 21 years old!
However, with bingo, the state is more tolerant. Non-profit bingo games are allowed with the age limit set at 19 years old and above. Young people below 19 years old are allowed on the bingo premise escorted by an adult. Proceeds from the non-profit bingo go to educational or charitable purposes.
In Alaska, casinos in cruise ships are allowed in Alaskan ports on stop-over journeys of international vessels. Slot machines are also allowed in the state provided the player is at least 18 years old or above. Slot machines and other coin gaming devices should be 100 yards away from any school premise. With bingo the age limit is 19. With pull-tabs the allowable age is 21 years old up.
Arizona seems to be the most serious—with its comprehensive laws—when it comes to age limit for gambling, which it has set to 21 years old. This covers all kinds of gambling bets, regardless of the nature. With Lottery the age limit is 18 years old. It is illegal to sell Lottery tickets to young people under 18. The same goes with awarding Lottery winnings to those below 18 or even sharing the same with them.
Arkansas is strict with its legal age for horse racing. No person below 18 years old should be participating in it. With dog-racing, minors are not allowed even to be employed in such gambling facility. California does not allow persons below 18 to take part in Lottery. It is a crime to sell tickets to them.
With casinos, California has relegated the business monopoly to Indian tribes. They have the right to set the age limit in their casinos. The usual practice is that people 18 years old and up are allowed to gamble in Indian casinos. If the casinos serve liquor the age limit is 21.
Legal Gambling Age In The US - Complete State-By-State List
The age limit for gambling for each state in the US differs according to their perception of the matter. Some may allow gambling at a certain age for a certain gambling game that it sees tolerable under certain circumstances.