A question that we are often asked here at No-Verification.Casino is “how old do you have to be to go to the casino?” This question is asked numerous times by young people and older people that have grown up children. In this comprehensive guide, we will answer this question.
You need to know that the answer is not always straight forward depending where the casino is located. Gambling has been a popular pastime for centuries, and in recent years, the rise of casinos has made it easier than ever to take part in the activity.
But while the thrill of playing a game of chance is alluring, it’s important to remember that there’s a legal age to gamble at casinos around the world. Depending on the country, the legal age to gamble can range from 18-21 years old, and in some cases, even higher.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the legal age to gamble at casinos around the world, exploring the different legal ages in different countries and why they exist. We’ll also discuss the risks and benefits of gambling, and why it’s important to respect the legal age in the country you’re in.
So, if you’re thinking of taking a trip to a casino, make sure you know what the legal age to gamble is in the country you’re visiting.
What is the legal age to gamble at casinos around the world?
The legal age to gamble at casinos around the world varies, but in many countries, it’s between 18 and 21 years old. There are a few reasons for this, but the most common one is that casinos want to keep a healthy balance between revenue and risk.
Casinos benefit greatly from people of all ages gambling, but they want to make sure they’re not taking advantage of minors. Because of this, casinos have set the legal age to gamble at casinos at 18 or 21 years old.
With some countries, the legal age to gamble at casinos is even higher. In Japan, for example, the legal age to gamble at casinos is 20 years old. But in a few other countries, children as young as 12 years old can gamble at casinos. This is because these casinos offer skill-based gambling, which is different from standard gambling.
Countries with the legal age of 18 to gamble at casinos
- Argentina- 18 years old
- Australia- 18 years old
- Austria- 18 years old
- Brazil- 18 years old
- Bulgaria- 18 years old
- Canada- 18 to 21 years old* (ages vary from one province to another)
- Chile- 18 years old
- Colombia- 18 years old
- Costa Rica- 18 years old
- Croatia- 18 years old
- Czech Republic- 18 years old
- Denmark- 18 years old
- Ecuador- 18 years old
- Egypt- 18 years old
- England- 18 years old
- Finland- 18 years old
- France- 18 years old
- Germany- 18 years old
- Honduras- 18 years old
- Hungary- 18 years old
- India- 18 years old
- Ireland- 18 years old
- Israel- 18 years old* (gambling in casinos is illegal)
- Italy- 18 years old
- Lithuania- 18 years old
- Netherlands- 18 years old
- Northern Ireland- 18 years old
- Poland- 18 years old
- Portugal- 18 years old
- Romania- 18 years old
- Russia- 18 years old
- Scotland- 18 years old
- Slovakia- 18 years old
- Slovenia- 18 years old
- South Africa- 18 years old
- Spain- 18 years old
- Sweden- 18 years old
- Switzerland- 18 years old
- Turkey- 18 years old
- United Kingdom- 18 years old
- United States- 18 – 21 years old (ages vary from one state to another)
- Countries with the legal age of over 18 to gamble at casinos
- Afghanistan- 21 years old
- Algeria- 21 years old
- Andorra- 21 years old
- Aruba- 21 years old
- Barbados- 21 years old
- Belize- 21 years old
- Botswana- 21 years old
- Canada- 18 to 21 years old (ages vary from one province to another)
- China- 21 years old* (Macau only)
- Greece- 21 years old
- Hong Kong- 21 years old* (casinos are illegal in Hong Kong but citizens can take the ferry to Macau)
- Japan- 20 years old
- Malaysia- 21 years old
- Mexico- 21 years old
- Monaco- 21 years old
- New Zealand- 20 years old
- Norway- 21 years old
- Philippines- 21 years old
- Republic of Korea- 19 years old
- Singapore- 21 years old
- Taiwan- 21 years old (only in Macau)
- United States- 18 – 21 years old (ages vary from one state to another)
Countries where the legal age to go to a casino is not straight forward
There are a number of countries where the legal age to gamble at a casino is not straight forward. One of these is the United States. As a lot of our visitors are from the US, we have a special section covering this below.
- Canada – The age to gamble in a casino in Canada varies from 18 to 21 depending on the province where the casino is located.
- China – Casinos are illegal in China except for those located in Macau. This means that people that live in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan do not have access to casinos. If they travel to Macau then they can access casinos there but they must be at least 21 years of age.
- Israel – Gambling in casinos is illegal in Israel. However, there are free casinos in Israel which are just for entertainment purposes. You have to be at least 18 years old to enter these free gambling free casinos.
- United States – The laws regarding the minimum age to gamble in a casino vary from one state to another. In some states, casino gambling is completely illegal and there are no casinos. Please see our special section below on how old you have to be to go to the casino in the United States.
How old do you have to be to go to the casino in the United States?
Navigating the legal age requirements for casinos in the United States can be a tricky business. Depending on where you live, the legal gambling age can range from 18 to 21, and if you’re not aware of the laws in your area, you could find yourself in a difficult situation.
However, understanding the legal age requirements for casinos is an important part of staying safe and avoiding any legal trouble. In this guide, we’ll look at the legal age requirements for casinos in the United States, as well as some tips for staying safe when gambling.
We’ll also take a look at how the legal age requirements vary from state to state, so you can make sure you’re always following the law.
Overview of the legal age requirements for casinos in the United States
The legal age requirements in the United States vary by state. However, casinos in the U.S. are primarily regulated at the state level, so age requirements are usually consistent across casino properties in each state. In the main, the legal gambling age in the U.S. is 18 years old, with a few exceptions.
Some states have a minimum gambling age of 21, and casinos with gambling licenses are required to uphold those regulations. A few states have different age requirements for different casino games.
For example, in California, the legal gambling age is 18 years old, but the minimum age to play bingo is 15 years old. In Mississippi, the legal gambling age is 21 years old, but there’s an exception for certain lottery games, which have a minimum age of 18 years old.
How the legal age requirements vary by state in the US
While the legal gambling age is 21 years old in most states, the minimum age for casino play can be lower in certain situations. Some states have exceptions for minors who are accompanied by a parent or guardian, and some allow minors to gamble online. Here are some interesting exceptions:
- Some states have exceptions for minors who are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Some states allow minors to gamble online.
- There are some exceptions for minors who are enrolled in a college course related to gambling.
- Some states allow minors to gamble at an Indian casino.
Reasons why the legal age requirements exist in the United States
The legal age requirements for casinos are in place to protect minors from the potential risks associated with gambling. Gambling can be very addictive, and minors are especially vulnerable to developing a compulsive gambling disorder, which can lead to significant financial damage and other problems. Here are some of the main reasons for the age restrictions:
- Gambling can be very addictive, especially for minors.
- Minors are especially vulnerable to developing a compulsive gambling disorder.
- Casinos want to avoid being held liable for minors who lose control in a casino setting.
- Minors who gamble at a casino are more likely to gamble online.
Minimum age for gambling at a casino by state
Below, we have a list of states and the minimum age requirements for gambling in a casino. Please note that laws around this can change any time so we recommend that you check the laws in your state as they currently stand before visiting a casino.
- Arizona- 21 years old
- Arkansas- 21 years old
- California- 18 to 21 years old (can depend on the type of casino game played)
- Colorado- 21 years old
- Connecticut- 21 years old
- Delaware- 21 years old
- Florida- 21 years old
- Georgia- 18 years old
- Idaho- 18 years old
- Illinois- 21 years old
- Indiana- 21 years old
- Iowa- 21 years old
- Kansas- 21 years old
- Louisiana- 21 years old
- Maine- 21 years old
- Maryland- 21 years old
- Massachusetts- 21 years old
- Michigan- 18 to 21 years old
- Minnesota- 18 years old
- Mississippi- 21 years old
- Missouri- 21 years old
- Montana- 18 years old
- Nebraska- 21 years old
- Nevada- 21 years old
- New Hampshire- 21 years old
- New Jersey- 21 years old
- New Mexico- 21 years old
- New York- 21 years old
- North Carolina- 21 years old
- North Dakota- 21 years old
- Ohio- 21 years old
- Oklahoma- 18 years old
- Oregon- 21 years old
- Pennsylvania- 21 years old
- Rhode Island- 21 years old
- South Carolina- 21 years old
- South Dakota- 18 years old
- Texas- 21 years old
- Washington- 18 years old
- West Virginia- 21 years old
- Wisconsin- 21 years old
- Wyoming- 21 years old
You will have noticed that there are some states missing which are:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Kentucky
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
There are a few reasons for omitting these states such as casinos being illegal in the state, a limited number of casinos available, a few Indian casinos but with limited operations, and more. If you live in one of these omitted states, you need to do your homework on what the situation is regarding casinos and the minimum age restrictions that apply.
How to find out the legal age requirements in your state
If you’re unsure of the legal age requirements for casinos in your state, you can easily find the information online. All you need to do is use Google or another search engine and search for “minors gambling age” + the name of your state. You can also contact the gaming authority in your state to ask about the legal age requirements.
The consequences of not following the legal age requirements of the state
When you ignore the legal age requirements for casinos, you’re likely to be turned away at the door, and you may even have to deal with law enforcement. Depending on your situation, you could face fines or other criminal charges.
If you’re trying to get into a casino and you don’t have proper identification, you may be able to use someone else’s ID, but this is a risky strategy that could come back to haunt you. The bottom line is that it is usually not worth trying to beat the system as the consequences can be severe.
Strategies for verifying age requirements in US states
Before you head to a casino, you should verify the legal age requirements in your state. You can easily do this online or by contacting the gaming authority in your state. If you’re not sure what to look for, you can also ask the casino representative at the door to verify your age.
In some cases, if you’re under 18 years old, you can still visit a casino, but you may need to prove your age with a government-issued ID. Some casinos may accept a school ID, but this is not always the case, so you should verify ID requirements before visiting a casino.
If you don’t have an ID, you may be able to get a provisional or fake ID, but this may come with serious consequences. We do not recommend that you try and enter a casino in the United States if you are not of the minimum age to legally do this. If you have an ID and you’re of legal age for gabmling but you don’t want to share your ID you can try USA no verification withdrawal casinos where you can play casino games anonymously.
The risks and benefits of casino gambling
Although gambling can be a fun activity for all ages, research has shown that playing at casinos is linked to a range of psychological and social risks. One study found that a third of gambling addicts reported playing at casinos. Another study found that 80% of casino managers, owners, and employees had a gambling problem.
It’s important to remember that the odds are always against you. The more you gamble, the more likely you are to lose money. Casino gambling can also lead to debt and financial problems, so it’s important to be mindful of these risks.
Gambling can also cause problems in relationships. It can be hard for loved ones to watch someone they care about gamble. Also, it can be hard to hide gambling from others. In addition to this, gambling can also lead to legal problems. In some cases, you could lose your job, have your assets seized, or face criminal charges.
Why it’s important to respect the legal age to gamble at a casino
There are many reasons why it’s important to respect the legal age to gamble at casinos. First of all, casinos have a right to set their own rules, and setting a minimum gambling age is one way to protect themselves.
If casinos didn’t set a minimum age to gamble, they’d be taking a huge risk, and they’d lose money. For casinos, it’s important to maintain a healthy balance between revenue and risk. A casino that lets anyone gamble is more likely to lose money.
Respecting the legal age to gamble also means respecting the culture in the country you’re in. Gambling is popular around the world, but the rules and regulations vary from one country to another. There may be severe penalties for underage gambling at casinos in certain countries. It really isn’t worth taking the risk.
Conclusion
In this guide, we have answered the question “how old do you have to be to go to the casino?” We have provided the latest information on the minimum ages for casino gambling across the world and have provided a special section for the United States as the laws vary from one state to another.
This information was correct at the time of writing this guide but we recommend that you check the laws for the country or state where the casino is located as these can change often. We do not want you to break the law at home or abroad. Enter the casino legally and enjoy yourself!
