What kind of identification can you provide at land based casinos?
When you walk into a casino, you are likely to be faced with a lot of new information. You’ll notice that everyone appears to be older and wealthy, but that’s because this is the type of clientele establishments like this tend to attract. This can be mildly off-putting for first-time visitors, but those who become regulars soon get used to the atmosphere.
That being said, there are many things to take note of when visiting brick and mortar casino for the first time. The security measures they have in place may feel slightly invasive at first, but they are in place to help safeguard patrons from any potential threats.
When it comes to gambling, it’s also important to keep track of your own personal finances so that you don’t lose too much money too fast. It’s easy enough to do this when you understand what documentation you need before entering a casino in the first place. Let’s take a look at some different types of ID that you can use at a casino:
Photo ID
A photo ID is the most basic form of identification that you can use, regardless of where you are. While it may not be accepted everywhere, casinos generally accept photo IDs with no problem. You should be aware, however, that casinos also require you to provide proof of your date of birth when you’re using a photo ID.
This may mean showing your ID to several different people throughout your visit to make sure it is correct.
Driver’s license
While a photo ID is good enough at most casinos, a driver’s license is often considered to be even better. This is because some states allow casinos to cross-reference your driving record to make sure that you are who you say you are. This can be a very handy way to be sure that a casino patron is who they say they are.
However, you should be aware that some states require you to have your own written permission to use your driving record to gain admittance to a casino. Almost every state in America has this law in place, and they require you to fill out a form and carry it with you when you visit a casino. If you don’t have this form with you, you may be asked to leave the premises.
Passport
You may wonder whether a casino would accept a passport as an ID, because this type of ID is often considered to be the most reliable form of identification there is. You may not be from the United States, but casinos will often accept a passport as a valid form of ID for patrons.
This is because a passport is recognized as a valid form of identification in most countries. If you don’t have a valid passport, you can always turn to a passport card instead. However, casinos generally prefer to see a full-sized passport.
Visa or MasterCard
If you don’t have any photo ID on you, casinos may let you in with a credit card. However, they will monitor you closely while you gamble and will likely ask you to provide photo ID if you are in a high-stakes area.
Because credit cards are legally recognized as valid forms of ID, casinos will accept them. However, they generally prefer to see a Visa or MasterCard over other types of credit cards such as Diners and American Express.
Other types of ID that may be accepted by casinos
You can also use your student ID, social security card, or even an employee ID if you’re unable to produce any of the forms of ID listed above. Whether you choose to use one of these forms of ID or not, casinos are generally pretty forgiving of first-time patrons who don’t have proper documentation on hand.
As long as you are over the minimum gambling age (typically 18) and you appear to be a legitimate guest, most casinos are willing to let you in and allow you to gamble.
