How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble?

Do you want to start gambling but don’t know whether it’s legal in your country or not? Certain activities can have an age restriction, such as playing video games, drinking alcohol, or buying tobacco. Regarding gambling, the most common age limit is 18 years. In case you’re wondering how old do you have to be to gamble or place bets, in this article, I’ll point out age restrictions for many places, so stay tuned.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble

In the following sections, I’ll go over age restrictions related to gambling and sports betting around the world.

The United States

In most states, the gambling age in the USA is 18, but there are some exceptions.

Europe

The minimum age to gamble in Europe varies. In some places, the legal age to gamble is 21, while in others, it might be 20 or 18. Take a look below to find out how old do you have to be to bet and play casino games in Europe. For the UK,

Asia

Overall, there’s no doubt that Asia is one of the best places in the world to gamble. But what is the legal age to gamble there? In most Asian countries, you have to be between the ages of 18 and 21.

Canada

Usually, the minimum age for gambling in Canada is 19 years old. However, like with most other countries around the world, it can vary geographically. Here are the exceptions:

• Quebec — 18
• Manitoba — 18
• Alberta — 18

Latin America

The iGaming business has a lot to look forward to in Latin America. There’s stable growth, and more of it will come. South America is made up of 12 independent countries, each with its own laws about gambling. The legal gambling age is 18 years old.

Oceania

When it comes to Oceania, the usual gambling age is 18 years old. The only current exception is 20 for casinos in New Zealand.

• There’s no known legal age in Papua New Guinea.
• In the Federated States of Micronesia, it’s dependent on state law.
• It’s illegal in the Marshall Islands and Tokelau.

Africa

In Africa, the gambling age is usually 18 or 21, except for Nigeria, where the age limit is 20.

• It’s illegal in Algeria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Libya, Mauritania,
  Somalia, and Sudan.
• There’s no known gambling age for Tunisia, South Sudan, Guinea-Bissau,
  Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea.

Gambling in Brick-and-Mortar Casinos vs. Online Casinos

When it comes to the difference in regulations for traditional and online casinos, that doesn’t happen often. Usually, the gambling age is the same for both, but there may be differences between land-based and online casinos in the same country.

A good example is Nigeria. The age restriction for gambling online is 18, and 20 for gambling in traditional casinos.

Age Restrictions for Other Games

• USA – 18
• Canada – 18
• Australia – 18
• Malta – 18
• UK – 18
• Germany – 18

Usually, the age restriction for games like bingo, poker, and lottery is 18.

Conclusion

From the information I gathered for this article, the answer to the question “How old do you have to be to gamble?” depends on your location and whether you are in online or land-based casinos. So, it’s vital to check the age restrictions to avoid legal troubles.

FAQ

Why are the gambling age limits different?

The legal age when you start being considered an adult differs from country to country, which is probably the main reason.

What will happen if you gamble while you’re underage?

In the US, the winnings will be taken away, and it’s not likely that something else’s going to happen. Though, if someone continuously goes to casinos underage will face some consequences. Also, the operators who let you in can face harsher punishments sometimes.

Is the age restriction the same for land-based and online casinos?

It usually is, but there are countries where the age limit differs between the two.

Is there a connection between the casino bonuses and the age restriction?

No, there’s no connection. You need to be 18 years old or above, and you can take advantage of the bonuses just like everyone else.