Legal Gambling Age in the US
Gambling is legal in some form in most U.S. states. But the age at which you can place your first bet or play your first game varies by location and by type of gambling.
Minimum Online Gambling Age Requirement by State
Gambling is legal in the United States, but restricted. Most laws are up to the individual states, which, in many cases, allow certain types of gambling sites but not others.
How old do you have to be to gamble? It depends on the state and type of gambling:
| State | Real-Money Casino | Social/Sweeps | Poker | Betting |
| Alabama | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Alaska | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Arizona | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Arkansas | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| California | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Colorado | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Connecticut | 21 | 18 (varies by operator) | 21 | 21 |
| Delaware | 21 | 18 (varies by operator) | 21 | 21 |
| Florida | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Georgia | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Hawaii | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Idaho | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Illinois | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Indiana | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Iowa | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Kansas | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Kentucky | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 18 |
| Louisiana | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Maine | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Maryland | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Massachusetts | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Michigan | 21 | 18 (varies by operator) | 21 | 21 |
| Minnesota | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Mississippi | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Missouri | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Montana | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Nebraska | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Nevada | - | 18 (varies by operator) | 21 | 21 |
| New Hampshire | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 18 |
| New Jersey | 21 | 18 (varies by operator) | 21 | 21 |
| New Mexico | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| New York | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| North Carolina | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| North Dakota | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Ohio | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Oklahoma | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Oregon | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Pennsylvania | 21 | 18 (varies by operator) | 21 | 21 |
| Rhode Island | 21 | 18 (varies by operator) | 21 | 18 |
| South Carolina | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| South Dakota | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Tennessee | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Texas | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Utah | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Vermont | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Virginia | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Washington | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 21 |
| Washington D.C. | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 18 |
| West Virginia | 21 | 18 (varies by operator) | 21 | 21 |
| Wisconsin | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | - |
| Wyoming | - | 18 (varies by operator) | - | 18 |
Minimum Age to Enter Land-Based Casinos
While many states require players to be 21 to gamble at casinos, others offer an 18-year-old threshold. The difference, in most cases, is whether the casino sells alcohol.
The minimum age requirement typically applies to tribal casinos, though some states allow casinos that don’t serve alcohol to allow players who are 18 and older.
Legal Gambling Age FAQs
How old do you have to be to gamble in the US?
The minimum legal gambling age depends on where you are and what type of online gambling you want to do. In the United States, the minimum age for online gambling typically ranges from 18 to 21, depending on state laws and the specific activity, such as sports betting, online casinos, or poker.
Always check your state’s regulations before signing up.
Who regulates the gaming industry?
Gambling is legal at the federal level in the United States, but individual states have the authority to regulate or restrict it within their borders. Each state's gaming commission establishes licensing requirements, oversees operators, and enforces rules governing gambling, such as sports betting, online casinos, and poker, to ensure compliance and safety.
What is the gambling age in Las Vegas?
The legal gambling age in Las Vegas is 21 years old. This applies to online sports betting and online poker throughout the state of Nevada.
Nevada law strictly enforces this requirement, and casinos will check identification to verify a guest’s age before allowing them to gamble.
Do you have to be 21 to enter a casino?
Yes, in most states the age requirement is 21, but each state has its own rules, and many have lowered the minimum to 18 for establishments that don’t sell alcohol.
Even if those 18+ are permitted inside a casino that sells alcohol, they still may not purchase or consume alcohol.
Are age requirements different for online casinos?
They can be. Different states and countries have varying regulations for online vs. brick-and-mortar casinos, and age restrictions may differ for poker, casino, and sports betting. Regulated casinos will have restrictions in place, so you’ll know the legalities when you attempt to register.
What happens to those who try to gamble while underage?
Minors who knowingly engage in underage gambling can be fined and cited with a misdemeanor. Casinos that get caught having underage players will at least get fined, and habitual offenders could lose their license, so they make every effort to deter underage gambling.
