Can you gamble at 18? If so, where can you gamble at 18? These questions are largely dependent on which jurisdiction you are located in. Rules will vary between countries, states, and territories throughout the world.
Gambling is often a rite of passage for young gamblers after they turn 18. But, legally, there are only certain jurisdictions that allow 18-year-olds to risk real money gambling.
Online casinos have their own rules for the legal gambling age. Sports betting sites and online casino operators strictly enforce their rules pertaining to underage gambling.
Also, there can be varying gambling age laws for different types of gambling. For instance, lottery games can be played in some jurisdictions, but casinos for 18-year-olds are forbidden.
Know Your Customer (KYC) policies stipulate that online casinos must verify the age of every member who deposits money. If the casino discovers that a fraudulent ID is provided, they reserve the right to suspend your account indefinitely.
Keep reading to see where you can gamble at if you are 18-years-old.
Where Can You Gamble At 18?
So, what casinos can you gamble at 18? We are taking a deep dive into the legal gambling age of the most prominent jurisdictions in the world. Additionally, read below to learn about where you can gamble online at 18.
Gamble At 18 By US States
Currently, there are 11 states where you can gamble at 18 years of age in person at a land-based casino:
- California
- Florida
- Georgia (Cruise ship only)
- Idaho
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Washington
It’s important to note that not every casino will allow 18 year olds to gamble at their establishments. 18+ casinos are predominantly found at tribal casinos in these states.
For example, in Michigan, the Detroit city casinos (Hollywood Casino at Greektown, MotorCity Casino, and MGM Detroit) are 21+ casinos. However, there are tribal casinos located throughout Michigan that permit 18- 20 year olds to enter the casino and gamble.
Horse Racing & Lottery Games
As of September 2023, wagering at horse racing betting sites and lottery games is legal for 18 year olds in almost every state in the United States. Although, there are exceptions throughout the country.
Gamblers must be 21 or older to bet on horse racing in Arizona, Iowa, Nevada, and Texas. Otherwise, horse racing is legal for 18-year-old gamblers in other states.
The legal gambling age of states that offer the lottery is 18 years old. Nebraska is the one outlier, as gamblers must be 19 to purchase lottery tickets in the Cornhusker State.
Alabama, Alaska, Utah, Hawaii, and Nevada do not sell lottery games of any kind. Hawaii and Utah have no legalized form of gambling.
The Aloha State has been actively looking into legalizing gambling, but it still remains illegal in 2023.
Can You Online Gamble At 18?
Yes, you can gamble online at 18. The majority of states in the US allow some type of gambling to 18 year olds.
Pari-mutuel gambling, or pool betting, is legal for 18 year olds in the majority of states. The most common form of pari-mutuel gambling is horse racing.
Additionally, state-regulated online lottery games can be played by 18 year olds. Currently, there are seven states that allow lottery tickets to be purchased online:
- New Hampshire
- Kentucky
- Illinois
- Virginia
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- Georgia
Online Casinos and Sports Betting
The legal age requirements for online casinos and sportsbooks differ from the lottery and pari-mutuel betting. In the US, most states only allow 21-year-old gamblers or older to play at online gambling sites.
However, Wyoming, Washington (D.C.), Oregon, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire allow 18+ year-old residents to bet on sports and play at online casinos. If you are physically located in any of these six states, you are free to gamble online over the age of 18.
And, again, there are exceptions for certain online operators. Regardless of your age or location in the US, there are a handful of safe online casinos that allow 18-20 year olds to deposit and gamble.
What Online Casinos Can You Gamble At 18?
Through extensive research and experience, we have identified four of the best online casinos for 18-year-olds:
DuckyLuck
Per DuckyLuck’s terms and conditions, any players visiting DuckyLuck must be 18 years of age or older.
With a wide-range of exciting casino games, DuckyLuck is a must for any online gambling enthusiast. Currently, DuckyLuck offers over 500 casino games, including slots, blackjack, video poker, craps, and much more.
This exciting online casino offers big thrills and payouts on their casino games. Right now, there are millions of dollars available to be won on their progressive slot machines.
DuckyLuck gives gamblers a chance to quickly and safely deposit money. Members instantly gain access to some of the best casino bonuses online.
For a limited time, DuckyLuck has a 500% welcome bonus of up to $2,500. Along with $2,500 in free bets, sign up to score 150 free slot spins. To make it a 600% welcome bonus, deposit to DuckyLuck with your favorite cryptocurrency.
Las Atlantis
For the most modern online casino experience, consider signing up at Las Atlantis. All gamblers at Las Atlantis must be 18 or older to deposit and play their casino games.
It’s well worth taking the time to sign up for an account at Las Atlantis. In only a few minutes, you can become a member at one of the most highly-rated online casinos.
When you register for an account, all users who are 18 years of age or older are eligible for lucrative casino offers. Currently, Las Atlantis is offering up to $14,000 in free credits for gamblers!
With a variety of bonuses for new accounts and special offers, gamblers can reap the benefits of thousands in free bonuses. Additionally, for a limited time, Las Atlantis has a $15 no-deposit bonus for new members.
Bovada
If you are looking for a one-stop shop for gambling, Bovada has to be your online casino of choice. To gain access to this brilliant casino, Bovada requires all users to be 18 years of age or older when signing up for an account.
While DuckyLuck and Las Atlantis taps into casino enthusiasts, Bovada caters to casino players, sports bettors, horse racing, bingo, and poker. It’s all here at Bovada, and you only need one account to make it happen.
Bovada does not sacrifice quality to primarily focus on one of their products. Whether you are a sports bettor or prefer the casino, Bovada ensures that gamblers with all preferences are satisfied.
With over 25 years of experience in online gambling, Bovada has processed millions of dollars in payouts to its customers. If you want to hit it big fast, consider taking a look at Bovada’s exclusive Hot Drop Jackpots.
Mandatory slot jackpots are awarded to players at Bovada daily. If you are into sports betting, check out the 2023 Bovada Football Runner Game, which offers big prizes all NFL season long.
New members at Bovada can get up to a $3,000 casino bonus or $250 sports betting bonus.
BetUS
New gamblers at BetUS must declare that they are at least 18 years old. If the legal gambling age is greater than 18 in your country, BetUS asks that you satisfy the minimum legal age requirement.
Like Bovada, BetUS gives gamblers the opportunity to bet on sports, casino games, horses, and more. The BetUS casino is one of our favorites simply because of the small and large limits that they offer.
If you are a $1 or $10,000 bettor, there are casino games for everyone at BetUS. Low and high rollers can take advantage of the most popular games, including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and craps.
Additionally, BetUS has one of the most thrilling and engaging live dealer casino experiences online. Hop onto the BetUS online casino and find a plethora of open live dealer tables to play right now.
BetUS is awarded big bonuses to sports bettors and casino players. Select the sports betting bonus to get up to $2,500 for sports + $625 in casino credits. If you prefer casino gaming, choose the casino bonus for a 150% welcome bonus of up to $3,000 on your first deposit.
Both bonuses are eligible for an added bonus via a cryptocurrency deposit. Currently, the casino crypto bonus features a 250% bonus of up to $5,000.
Gamble At 18 By Countries
Are you an 18-year-old or have children this age and planning a trip? If gambling is part of your vacation or business plans, it’s important to know where casino gambling is legal at 18.
Before traveling to your destination, verify which forms of gambling are legal for 18 year olds. Rules and policies can vary between countries.
North America/Central America/Caribbean
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Cayman Islands
- Costa Rica
- Dominican Republic (non-residents)
- El Salvador
- Greenland
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- Saint Lucia
- Turks and Caicos
- United States (varies)
South America
- Argentina
- Aruba
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Curaçao
- Ecuador
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Europe
- Albania
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium (Only lottery games)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta (25 for citizens)
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Romania
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- UK