There is no single legal gambling age in the United States. Each state sets its own minimum age for casino gambling, sports betting, online wagering, lottery tickets, and charity games, which means an 18-year-old can legally gamble in some jurisdictions, but may not even be allowed on the casino floor in others.
This guide explains the legal gambling age by state and gambling type, so you can see at a glance what is allowed where you live or travel.
State-by-State Legal Gambling Ages
How old must you be to go to a casino?
The American Gaming Association’s State of the States 2025 report identifies 38 U.S. jurisdictions with legal commercial casinos, sports betting, or iGaming, and notes that 28 of those 38 recorded all-time commercial gaming revenue records in 2024.
Recent compilations of state law show how uneven those age limits are in practice; 39 states require age 21 for casino gambling, while seven permit some form of 18+ casino play and five run split systems that allow 18+ access for specific activities (such as poker rooms or charitable gaming), but still insist on 21+ for full casino floors.
The snapshot below highlights how a mix of 21-only, 18+, and variable systems looks in practice for casino gambling and lottery play, for gambling age by state:
State | Casino Minimum Age | Lottery Minimum Age | Key Note |
Nevada | 21 | N/A (no state lottery) | All casino gambling and poker require 21 throughout the state. |
New Jersey | 21 | 18 | Atlantic City casinos, online casinos, and retail sportsbooks all require 21. Lottery and charity games start at 18. |
Minnesota | 18 | 18 | Tribal casinos and lottery products are generally available from 18, including the 18+ tribal venues. |
Montana | 18 | 18 | Montana allows 18+ for all major forms of gambling, including casino-style games and sports betting. |
Oklahoma | 18 | 18 | Oklahoma’s large tribal casino sector provides widespread 18+ casino access, with lottery and bingo available from 18. |
Washington | 18 | 18 | Washington’s tribal casinos and lottery products are set at 18+, but many individual properties choose to self-impose 21+ entry rules. |
Georgia | 18 | 18 | Georgia has no commercial casinos; 18+ gambling mainly occurs on cruise ships and limited charitable or tribal venues linked to state rules. |
Florida | 21 | 18 | Florida requires 21 for casino gambling, but poker rooms at pari-mutuel facilities and lottery products are available from 18. |
New Hampshire | 21 | 18 | New Hampshire operates a split system in which casino-style play is 21+. Sharitable gaming and lottery tickets are 18+. |
California | Varies (18–21) | 18 | Age limits vary by tribal casino or card room; some properties admit 18+, others require 21. Lottery and most charity games start at 18. |
Michigan | Varies (18–21) | 18 | Detroit’s commercial casinos enforce 21+ on the gaming floor, while some tribal casinos allow 18+. Lottery and charity bingo are typically 18+. |
Most Americans live in a state with casino gaming or regulated sports wagering, but each jurisdiction sets its own minimum ages for casino floors, retail sportsbooks, and online platforms.
Casino and Sports Betting Regulations
Age rules for casinos and sportsbooks vary widely, especially between 18 and 21. Most commercial casinos set 21 as the minimum because alcohol is served on the gaming floor, while a smaller number of states allow 18-year-olds to play in properties that restrict or separate alcohol service.
Retail sports betting usually follows the same pattern: many states use 21 as the default age, but some allow 18+ sports wagering at racetracks, tribal casinos, or lottery outlets.
People often ask, “Can you go into a casino at 18?” In practice, you can only do so in states that either set 18 as the legal age for casino betting or allow 18-year-olds into specific tribal or lottery-style venues; classic commercial casino floors in major hubs such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City remain 21+.
Online comparison resources, including rankings of the top slots and trusted blackjack sites, often indicate whether a casino is 18+ or 21+, so players can see at a glance which age requirements are more restrictive.
Online Gambling, Poker, Bingo, and Lottery Ages
Online wagering complies with state statutes and geolocation rules, and legal requirements match the jurisdiction where a player is physically located. States that offer regulated online casino play typically require 21, although online sportsbooks may allow 18 when the legislature has set a lower threshold.
Age requirements vary because lawmakers classify gambling products according to risk, revenue models, and regulatory oversight. By outlining the legal logic behind these categories, it becomes easier to see why different gambling products fall under different minimum age rules.
Lottery and Charity Gaming Age Structures
States usually allow lottery tickets and charity bingo at 18 because these activities fall under low-risk, high-participation models that help fund public programs. Policymakers treat them differently from casino table games, which are subject to stricter financial controls and licensing rules.
Comparison guides that rank online casinos often highlight this split, since the same rules that govern how quickly winnings are paid also set which age groups are allowed to play.
Casino, Sports, and Machine Gaming Rationale
Casinos, sportsbooks, and machine gaming platforms carry stricter requirements because states link them to higher revenue oversight and enhanced regulatory supervision.
Regarding how old do you have to be to gamble, legislatures generally align these rules with 21 as the age for casino betting, especially when alcohol service is closely integrated with the casino floor. This creates a more transparent answer for people who ask, “What age do you have to be to gamble in a commercial venue compared to a lottery kiosk?”
So, can you go to the casino at 18? To illustrate the differences in how games behave, odds and volatility are often grouped into standard tiers:
Gambling Type | Typical Minimum Age | Example RTP / Hold Range | Typical Volatility |
Lottery | 18 | 50–70% RTP | Low |
Charity bingo | 18 | 70–85% RTP | Low to medium |
Slots (commercial casinos) | 21 in most states | 88–96% RTP | Medium |
Table games (blackjack, roulette, etc.) | 21 in most states | 95–99% RTP | Medium to high |
Sports betting | 18 or 21 by state | Sportsbook holds about 4–8% | Medium |
The lower RTP on lottery and the higher house edge in sports betting help explain why some states permit 18-year-olds to play in these categories while holding casino table games to a stricter 21+ standard.
Online Gambling Versus In-Person Gambling
Online wagering and retail casino play often follow different rules because states regulate digital platforms separately from physical venues.
These systems rely on licensing frameworks and geolocation technology that restrict activity to state borders, affecting the legal gambling age for an online sportsbook compared to a commercial casino.
Age Rules on Digital Platforms
Online operators must follow the laws of the state where the player is located, creating situations in which someone can participate in mobile sports wagering at 18, even though commercial casino play requires 21.
Online casino gaming, online poker, and hybrid sites that mix sports wagering and table games generally require 21 because digital casino products fall under the same regulatory category as physical casino games.
When inquiring as to what is the legal age to gamble, a numerical example illustrates how these rules work: If a state allows online sports wagers at 18 with standard -110 odds, a $20 bet returns $18.18 in profit and $38.18 in total payout on a winning ticket; at +200, the same $20 bet would return $40 in profit and $60 in total payout.
Professional online casinos and licensed sportsbook apps must display these age thresholds clearly, because they are required to block anyone who does not meet the legal minimum in that state.
Retail Properties and Tribal Rules
Commercial casino floors require 21 in most states, and tribal casinos may set independent thresholds under federal compacts. People seeking clarity often ask what the legal age for gambling is on tribal land compared to commercial venues, and the answer varies depending on the specific compact and state regulations.
An expert explanation highlights these differences; the National Indian Gaming Commission states that tribal authorities have the right to establish house rules within the limits of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which is why ages differ between tribal and commercial properties.
These variations often confuse people about whether you can go to the casino at 18, when one tribal property may allow it, but a nearby commercial venue does not.
In Michigan, for example, many tribal casinos, such as Bay Mills Resort & Casino in Brimley, allow guests 18 and older to gamble, while Detroit’s commercial properties, including MGM Grand Detroit, require patrons to be at least 21 to enter the casino floor or sportsbook.
Federal Laws That Influence State Rules
State lawmakers decide age requirements, but federal rules shape interstate restrictions, digital verification systems, and how operators manage geoblocking. These national frameworks help clarify what is the legal gambling age when an activity involves online transactions or identity checks tied to state borders.
Interstate Wagering and Federal Oversight
Federal regulations bar interstate sports wagering and prohibit online casino transactions from moving across state lines. This structure affects verification procedures because platforms must confirm identity before allowing anyone to participate in activities tied to how old they are to gamble under state law.
The Wire Act and related enforcement policies ensure that each state’s system operates independently while still meeting federal expectations for secure data handling.
Verified national data underscores how closely states monitor digital activity. The AGA’s State of the States report confirms that regulated commercial gaming revenue reached more than $72 billion in 2024, highlighting growth in tightly supervised online and retail betting environments, up 7.5 percent from the previous year.
That growth has occurred alongside tighter age- and identity-verification standards, including mandatory Know Your Customer checks and geolocation controls that prevent underage users from bypassing state age limits.
These layers of oversight are reflected in countless casinos, including those that offer the poker bonuses. Indeed, state eligibility rules and minimum age requirements determine which promotions someone can access.
Always Adhere to the Legal Gambling Age Requirements
State laws define the minimum age for casino games, sports betting, lottery tickets, and charity bingo, and operators are required to enforce those rules strictly. Before you play, confirm the legal gambling age in your state, check the terms of the casino or sportsbook, and complete any identity verification steps honestly.
Staying within the law protects your winnings, keeps your account in good standing, and supports a safer gambling environment for everyone.
Please play responsibly. 21+, T&Cs apply.