Gambling age explained

The gambling age is the minimum age at which one can legally gamble in a certain jurisdiction. In some countries, gambling is illegal regardless of age, while some countries have different age limits for different types of gambling, and some countries have no explicit minimum gambling age.

Oceania

data-sort-type="letter"	Country	data-sort-type="number"	Age	Notes
	18	The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 passed by the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia banned online gambling in the form of casinos and slots.
Federated States of Micronesia	data-sort-value="10"	Dependent on State law^[1]	Chuuk and Yap – illegal^[2] ^[3]
Kiribati	18^[4]
Marshall Islands	data-sort-value="99"	Illegal for all ages	Gambling is illegal except for non-profit bingo, raffles and cakewalks.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Gambling regulation is a State responsibility: Pacific Coast Enterprises v. Chuuk, 9 FSM Intrm. 543, 546 (Chk. S. Ct. Tr. 2000).
2. Gambling is illegal, except for "games played in private homes or residences in which no person makes money for playing or operating such games": TDL 2-94-21, § 2 (Text version in draft Chuuk Code).
3. Gambling is illegal, with exceptions for "any nonprofit organization, certified as such by the Treasurer, from conducting raffles, lotteries, or bingo games in order to raise money for any educational, charitable, or public purpose" Yap State Code (1987), Title 11, Chapter 6, §601. (Most recent online version.)
4. http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/ki/legis/num_act/gala1988196/gala1988196.html Gambling and Lotteries Act 1988
5. http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/acts/f1007cdd5bd3119ff1355c5f79cbd0e9.pdf Gaming Act 2011
6. Web site: Casinos .
7. News: Age limit plan for pokies. The New Zealand Herald . 2000-06-30. 2019-09-12. en-NZ. 1170-0777.
8. http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/pw/legis/num_act/pcotroprn9212013343/pcotroprn9212013343.html Penal Code of the Republic of Palau
9. http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/pw/legis/num_act/pcotroprn9212013343/pcotroprn9212013343.html Penal Code of the Republic of Palau
10. Web site: Domestic Relations - Title 21. www.paclii.org.
11. http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/sb/legis/consol_act/gala196/ Gaming and Lotteries Act
12. http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/sb/legis/consol_act/gala196/ Gaming and Lotteries Act
13. http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/tk/legis/num_act/cpaer2003302/cpaer2003302.html Crimes, Procedure and Evidence Rules 2003
14. http://tuvalu-legislation.tv/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1964/1964-0004/GamingandLotteries_1.pdf Gaming and Lotteries Act
15. http://tuvalu-legislation.tv/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1964/1964-0004/GamingandLotteries_1.pdf Gaming and Lotteries Act
16. http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/vu/legis/consol_act/viga274/viga274.html Vanuatu Interactive Gaming Act
17. http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/vu/legis/consol_act/cca166/cca166.html Casino Control Act
18. Web site: Austria: European Casino Association (ECA). www.europeancasinoassociation.org. 2019-06-28.
19. Web site: Practical Law UK Signon. signon.thomsonreuters.com. 2019-06-28.
20. Web site: International Comparative Legal Guides. International Comparative Legal Guides International Business Reports. en. 2019-06-28.
21. Web site: Gambling Act–Riigi Teataja . 2024-05-04 . www.riigiteataja.ee.
22. News: Spielhallen dürfen künftig erst ab 21 Jahren betreten werden (German) . 2023-05-26 . Axel Springer . Welt . 2021-01-26.
23. Web site: Practical Law UK Signon. signon.thomsonreuters.com. 2019-06-28.
24. Web site: European Gambling Policies for the Young. www.legalgamblingage.net. 2019-05-25.
25. Web site: Georgia tightens gambling business regulations from March 1. 1tv.ge. 2021-12-22. 2023-01-03.
26. Web site: Hungary: European Casino Association (ECA). www.europeancasinoassociation.org. 2019-05-25.
27. World Casinos Info, https://www.worldcasinos.info/italy.
28. Web site: Latvia: European Casino Association (ECA). www.europeancasinoassociation.org. 2019-06-28.
29. Web site: Lithuania: European Casino Association (ECA). www.europeancasinoassociation.org. 2019-06-28.
30. Web site: Luxembourg: European Casino Association (ECA). www.europeancasinoassociation.org. 2019-06-28.
31. Web site: Practical Law UK Signon. signon.thomsonreuters.com. 2019-06-28.
32. Bonello. Emerson. 2016. Rationale behind different age requirements to enter casinos in Malta and their compatibility with Article 45 of the Maltese Constitution. en.
33. Web site: Monte Carlo Casino Monaco. en-US. 2019-05-25.
34. Web site: Poland: European Casino Association (ECA). www.europeancasinoassociation.org. 2019-05-25.
35. Web site: San Marino: European Casino Association (ECA). www.europeancasinoassociation.org. 2019-05-25.
36. Web site: Serbia: European Casino Association (ECA). www.europeancasinoassociation.org. 2019-05-25.
37. Web site: Slovakia: European Casino Association (ECA). www.europeancasinoassociation.org. 2019-06-28.
38. Web site: Slovenia: European Casino Association (ECA). www.europeancasinoassociation.org. 2019-06-28.
39. Web site: Vanliga frågor om Club Cosmopol. Casino Cosmopol. sv. 2019-11-18.
40. Web site: For the love of Sweden!. Swedish Freak. en-US. 2019-06-28.
41. Web site: Switzerland: European Casino Association (ECA). www.europeancasinoassociation.org. 2019-06-28.
42. Web site: How Is Gambling Regulated? BeGambleAware BeGambleAware. www.begambleaware.org. 2019-05-25.
43. Web site: Armenia Adopts Gambling Adverts Restrictions. 2019-06-19. Casino News Daily. en-US. 2019-09-12.
44. Web site: Japan Gvt to lower age of adulthood to 18; gambling age will remain 20. 2017-08-15. World Casino News. en-US. 2019-05-25.
45. Web site: Gambling Age In Laos. fastip.edu.al. 2019-11-13.
46. Web site: Syrian Arab Republic Online Gambling Restrictions. lcb.org. en. 2019-06-28.
47. Decreto-lei № 6/2016 de 20 de abril - Regime Jurídico do Licenciamento, Exploração e Controlo da Atividade dos Jogos Sociais e de Diversão, Máquinas de Jogo e Jogos Tradicionais . Jornal da República . pt . Díli . 2016-04-20 . 1 . 9214–9226.
48. Web site: Malawi Gaming Board, Police warn illegal gamblers. Website. Administrator. www.gamingboard.org.mw.
49. Web site: African Gambling Laws – The Legality of Casinos in Africa. www.gamblingsites.org. 2019-05-17.
50. Web site: How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble? . 2022-11-03 . SiGMA . en-US.
51. Web site: South African Gambling – Online and Offline. www.gamblingafrica.com. 2019-05-17.
52. Web site: Gambling in Barbados. 2011-09-05. The Bajan Reporter. en-US. 2019-05-25.
53. Web site: What is the gambling age for the casino at the.... www.tripadvisor.co.za. en. 2019-05-25.
54. Web site: California Gambling Control Commission. 2021-07-30. www.cgcc.ca.gov.
55. Web site: Responsible Gaming California State Lottery. 2021-07-30. www.calottery.com. en.
56. https://static.coloradolottery.com/media/filer_public/ed/09/ed092feb-3892-4ade-9832-7295955b05f6/rule_1_general_rules_regulations_and_definitions.pdf Colorado Lottery Rules and Regulations
57. Web site: Chapter - Delaware General Assembly. 2021-08-05. legis.delaware.gov.
58. Web site: Statutes & Constitution :Constitution : Online Sunshine. 2021-08-05. www.leg.state.fl.us.
59. Web site: Utah Code Section 76-10-1102. 2021-08-01. le.utah.gov.
60. http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/mh/legis/consol_act/garpa1998304/garpa1998304.html Gaming and Recreation Prohibition Act 1998 [31 MIRC Ch.4]].|-| Nauru| 18^[5] ||-||20 (casinos)^[6]
    18 (horse racing and instant kiwi)
    None (other types, including lottery)^[7] ||-| Palau| 18| Gambling is illegal in Palau except for social gambling, non-profit organisations, and offshore gambling.^[8] The social gambling age is tied to the age of majority,^[9] which is 18 under Palauan law.^[10] |-||data-sort-value="0" | None||-| Solomon Islands| 18^[11] | People below the age of 18 can gamble with parental permission in a private dwelling-house or in the presence of a parent. For certain small lotteries, the minimum age to purchase a ticket is 16.^[12] |-| Tokelau| data-sort-value="99" | Illegal for all ages| Gaming is illegal in Tokelau (defined as "a game for money with cards or with dice").^[13] |-| Tuvalu| 18^[14] | People below the age of 18 can gamble with parental permission in a private dwelling-house or in the presence of a parent. For certain small lotteries, one only needs to be 16 in order to buy a ticket.^[15] |-| Vanuatu| 18^{[16] [17]} | The given references only prevent people under the age of 18 from gambling online or in casinos.|}

    Europe

    !Country/territory!Minimum age!Notes

    	18
    	None
    	18^[18]
    	18
    	21 (casinos) 18 (national lottery)
    	18
    	18
    Croatia	18 (excluding non-casino machines and private)
    	18^[19]
    	18
    	18 (except sports betting)^[20]
    	21 (casinos)^[21] 18 (sports betting) 16 (national lottery)
    	18
    Finland	18
    France	18	Lowered from 21 to 18 on May 5, 1987, for casinos.
    Germany	18–21	Varies by state and the type of gambling, lotteries and casinos are generally rated above 18 except casinos in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, which are rated above 21.^[22]
    	18^[23]
    Greece	21^[24]
    	25, or 18 for foreign citizens and stateless persons^[25]
    	18
    	18^[26]
    	18
    Ireland	18
    	18
    Italy	18^[27]
    Kosovo	Illegal for all ages	Gambling was outlawed in 2019 due to a string of murders that occurred in casinos that year.
    	18^[28]
    	18
    	18^[29]
    	18^[30]
    	18,^[31] or 25 for Maltese citizens^[32]
    	18
    Monaco	18^[33]
    Montenegro	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    Poland	18^[34]
    Portugal	25 (some casinos) 18 (some casinos, and all other types)	Portugal has complicated gambling laws. It depends on each casino, and there are even some casinos which allow tourists from the age of 18, and local people from 25.
    	18
    San Marino	18^[35]
    Serbia	18^[36]
    	18^[37]
    	18^[38]
    Spain	18
    	20 (casinos)^[39] 18 (other types)^[40]
    	18^[41]
    	Illegal for all ages (casinos) 18 (lotteries)	Gambling is illegal in Turkey except for lotteries and horse races.
    	21
    UK (United Kingdom)	Age variable by bet:18 16 None (see the table below for more information)^[42]
    	None

    Asia

    !Country/territory!Minimum age!Notes

    	18
    Afghanistan	Illegal for all ages	All casinos and lotteries are forbidden.
    	21^[43]
    	18
    Bahrain	Illegal for all ages
    	None
    	18
    	Illegal for all ages
    	None
    	Illegal for all ages18 (lotteries)	Gambling is illegal in China except for lotteries.
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	Illegal for all ages
    	21
    	21Illegal for all ages (Muslims)	Only lottery gambling is legal in Indonesia.
    	18
    	20 18 (pachinko) ^[44]	Majority is lowered to 18, but gambling age still stays at 20 (for lotteries and casinos).
    Jordan	Illegal
    	18
    	18^[45]
    	21
    Macau	21 18 (lottery, sports betting, racing)
    	21 Illegal for all ages (Muslims)	Resorts World Genting in Genting Highlands is the only casino in Malaysia as of 2022.
    	Illegal for all ages
    	None
    	18
    	Illegal for all ages
    	21 (casinos) 18 (lottery)
    	Illegal for all ages
    	18
    Saudi Arabia	Illegal for all ages
    	21 (casinos) 18 (lottery, sports betting, racing)
    	19
    	21 (lotteries)
    	Illegal for all ages^[46]
    	20
    	18
    	Illegal for all ages (casinos)20 (lottery)	Gambling is illegal in Thailand, except for the Government lottery.
    	18	Only the Government lottery and licensed slot machines are legal.^[47]
    	Illegal for all ages (casinos) 18 (lotteries)	Gambling is illegal in Turkey except for lotteries and horse races.
    	Illegal for all ages (casinos) 21 (lotteries)
    Vietnam	21

    Africa

    !Country/territory!Minimum age!Notes

    Algeria	Illegal for all ages
    	18
    Botswana	18
    	18
    	21
    Djibouti	18 (casinos) None (other types)
    Egypt	21
    	None
    	Illegal for all ages None (online)
    	Illegal for all ages None (online)
    	None	There is no official gambling age; many erroneously believe it to be 18.
    Ghana	18
    	18
    	None	There is no official gambling age; many erroneously believe it to be 18.
    Libya	Illegal for all ages
    Malawi	18 ^[48]
    	18
    Mauritania	Illegal for all ages
    Morocco	18
    	18
    Namibia	21^[49]
    	21 (some casinos) 18 (some other casinos, all other types)
    	20^[50]
    	18
    	18
    Somalia	Illegal for all ages
    South Africa	18^[51]
    	None
    Sudan	Illegal for all ages
    Tanzania	18
    Tunisia	None	Legal at any age: unsuccessful attempts have been made to declare gambling illegal outright or impose a minimum age.
    Uganda	25

    North America

    !Country/territory!Minimum age!Notes

    	None	Casinos do not exist in Anguilla as of 2023
    	18
    	18
    	18^[52]
    	18
    	Illegal for all ages
    !State!Minimum age!Notes Alberta 18 (casinos) 18 (lottery) British Columbia 19 (casinos) 19 (lottery) Manitoba 18 (casinos) 18 (lottery) New Brunswick 19 (casinos) 19 (lottery) Newfoundland and Labrador 19 (casinos) 19 (lottery) Nova Scotia 19 (casinos) 19 (lottery) Ontario 19 (casinos) 18 (lottery) Prince Edward Island 19 (casinos) 19 (lottery) Quebec 18 (casinos) 18 (lottery) Saskatchewan 19 (casinos) 18 (lottery)	18–19 (varies by province)
    	18
    	18
    	Illegal for All Ages
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18^[53]
    	21
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	21 (casinos) 18 (other)
    !State!Minimum age!Notes Alabama 19 Alaska 21 Arizona 21 Arkansas 21 California 21 or 18 (casinos)^[54] 18 (Lottery)^[55] Colorado 21 (casinos) 18 (lottery)^[56] Connecticut 21 Delaware 21 (casinos) 18 (lottery)^[57] District of Columbia 18 Florida 21 (casinos) 18 (lottery)^[58] Georgia 18 Hawaii 21 Idaho 18 Illinois 21 Indiana 21 Iowa 21 Kansas 21 Kentucky 18 Louisiana 21 Maine 21 (casinos) 18 (lottery) Maryland 21 Massachusetts 21 (casinos) 18 (lottery) Michigan 18 Minnesota 18 Mississippi 21 Missouri 21 Montana 18 Nebraska 21 Nevada 21 New Hampshire 21 New Jersey 21 New Mexico 21 New York 18 North Carolina 21 North Dakota 19 Ohio 21 or 18 Oklahoma 18 Oregon 21 (casinos) 18 (other) Pennsylvania 21 Rhode Island 18 South Dakota 21 South Carolina 21 Tennessee 21 (sports betting) 18 (lottery) Texas 21 Utah Illegal^[59] Vermont 21 Virginia 21 (casinos) 18 (other) Washington 18 West Virginia 21 Wisconsin 21 Wyoming 21	18, 19, 21 or illegal (varies by state)

    South America

    !Country/territory!Minimum age!Notes

    	18
    	18	This law is not often enforced.
    	18
    	Illegal for all ages (casinos) 18 (lottery)	Gambling is illegal in Brazil, except for the Government lottery.
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18
    	18

    Antarctica

    !Country/territory!Minimum age!Notes

    	None
    	18
    	18
    	18

    References