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US Legal Gambling Ages by State

April 20, 2023

Games of chance have always been a popular pastime in the US, but that has become even truer as more states began to approve legal gambling. And though it might be tempting to assume that they all follow similar legal frameworks, there are things you should always know before gambling in any state.

Make sure to read on for the lowdown on legal gambling ages as well as what is and isn’t available in each state.

State-By-State Breakdown

State	Casinos	Pari-Mutuel (Tote) Betting	Bingo	Lotteries	Horse and Greyhound Racing	Poker	Sportsbooks (Retail and Online Inclusive)
Alabama	21	N/A	18	N/A	18	21	N/A
Alaska	21	N/A	19	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Arizona	21	21	18	21	21	21	21
Arkansas	21	18	18	18	18	21	21
California	18/21*	18	18	18	18	18/21*	N/A
Colorado	21	18	18	18	18	21	21
Connecticut	21	18	18	18	18	21	21
Delaware	21	17	18	18	18	21	21
Florida	21	18	18	18	18	18	N/A
Georgia	18 **	N/A	18	18	18	18	N/A
Hawaii	21	N/A	18	18	18	21	N/A
Idaho	18	18	18	18	18	18	N/A
Illinois	21	18	18	18	18	21	21
Indiana	21	18	18	18	18	21	21
Iowa	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Kansas	21	21	18	18	18	21	21
Kentucky	N/A	18	18	18	18	N/A	N/A
Louisiana	21	18	18	21	18	21	21
Maine	21	18	16	18	18	21	N/A
Maryland	21	18	18	18	18	21	21
Massachusetts	21	18	18	18	18	21	N/A
Michigan	18/21 *	18	18	18	18	32	21
Minnesota	18***	18	18	18	18	18	N/A
Mississippi	21	18	18	N/A	18	21	21
Missouri	21	18	18	18	18	21	N/A
Montana	18	18	18	18	18	18	N/A
Nebraska	21	18	18	19	19	21	TBA
Nevada	21	21	21	N/A	N/A	21	21
New Hampshire	21	21	18	18	18	18	21
New Jersey	21	18	18	18	18	21	21
New Mexico	21	18	NL	18	18	21	21
New York	21	18	18	18	18	21	21
North Carolina	21***	N/A	28	18	N/A	21	21
North Dakota	21***	18	18	18	18	21	21
Ohio	21	18	16	18	18	21	N/A
Oklahoma	18	18	16	18	18	18	N/A
Oregon	21	18	18	18	18	18	21
Pennsylvania	21	18	18	18	18	21	21
Rhode Island	21	18	18	18	18	21	21
South Dakota	18 ***	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	18***
South Carolina	21 **	N/A	18	18	N/A	18	N/A
Tennessee	N/A	N/A	18	18	N/A	N/A	21
Texas	21	21	21	18	18	21	N/A
Utah	21	N/A	18	N/A	N/A	21	N/A
Vermont	21	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	21	N/A
Virginia	21	N/A	18	18	18	18	21
Washington	18	18	18	18	18	18	21
West Virginia	21	18	18	18	N/A	21	21
Wisconsin	21	21	18	18	N/A	21	21
Wyoming	21	18	18	18	N/A	21	21

N/A – Not Available

* Legal age dependent on casino

** Only applicable at casino cruises

*** Native American tribal casinos only

Tip

If you’re ever unsure of any kind of legislation regarding gambling in any state, you can usually find up-to-date information on the local government’s relevant division.

Alabama

The Heart of Dixie may technically provide legal gambling but the reality is a little more complicated. Without any retail casinos, players can only access its three tribal casinos. Not only that, but it’s also one of the very few states in the country that doesn’t offer a lottery.

Alaska

The bitterly cold north of the country isn’t exactly a gaming mecca. Again, only home to tribal casinos, the state doesn’t even allow gaming machines like slots. Sports betting is also still prohibited; however, while horse racing is banned, dog mushing [a long-standing part of local culture] contests are allowed.

Arizona

Here, we have our first truly liberalized state when it comes to gambling. While a mixed bag in terms of legal age – it switches between 18 and 21 – it’s also one of the most recent additions to the list of states to allow for online sportsbooks in the US. They legalized it in 2021.

Arkansas

The Land of Opportunity might not be the most accurate of nicknames for a state where gambling legislation is especially restrictive. You won’t find any out-and-out casinos; though, there are some pari-mutuel racetracks that have been allowed to include gambling machines since 2005.

California

Known for being a socially liberal part of the country, the Golden State isn’t quite so liberal when it comes to gambling, having struck down proposed sports betting legislation in 2022. That said, there are a number of tribal casinos that often set their legal entry age as either 18 or 21.

Colorado

Lotteries, off-track betting, and casinos are all available in Colorado with most allowing players of 21 and over. And, in 2020, the state also became the 19th to legalize sportsbooks in the country. Not too many have been added to the list since then, showing how legislation can be a slow-moving beast.

Connecticut

It was only 2021 that saw Connecticut open its doors for online sportsbooks and casinos to players 21 and over. This means it’s a state with a pretty much 50/50 split between allowing players of 18 and over, and of 21 and over.

Delaware

Here’s a bit of an anomaly when it comes to the legal age of gambling in the US. Delaware mostly follows the trend by allowing players of 18 or 21 to participate in gambling activities. However, it deviates slightly, allowing 17-year-olds and up to indulge in pari-mutuel betting.

Florida

Legal online sports betting for over 21s could very well be coming to the Sunshine State. At the moment, however, the state is still sportsbook-less since the closure of Hard Rock’s online app. Whether that could change depends on the outcome of multiple appeals.

Georgia

The Peach State is one that sets itself apart by completely bucking the trend of requiring patrons to be 21 or over. Instead, 18 is the benchmark here, including on their iconic casino river cruises.

Hawaii

While the generally accepted legal age in Hawaii is seen as being 21, gambling is heavily prohibited in the territory. Lotteries, sports betting, and casinos are explicitly banned but it’s safe to assume that the state doesn’t look too kindly on gambling.

Idaho

The legal gambling age may be 18 across the board here but what can be accessed is perhaps a little limited. Some forms of tribal casino gaming are allowed, along with racetrack pari-mutuel betting, but there are still blanket limitations on the operation of sportsbooks and slot machines.

Illinois

Another state that’s opened up for online and retail sportsbooks, Illinois is fairly liberal when it comes to gambling. There’s pretty much an even split between 18 and 21, with river casinos and sportsbooks falling within the latter.

Indiana

Much like Illinois, Indiana offers pretty much all kinds of gambling, including sports betting and riverboat casinos. Not only that but there’s also a clear 50/50 split between 18 and 21 here to up the similarity.

Iowa

As of 2023, sportsbooks are legal in Iowa, as are boat casinos and those on tribal land. All of these are restricted to 21-year-olds, however. Horse racetracks in the state can also simulcast their races to those outside of the border.

Kansas

With the legal age to enter a casino set at 21, Kansas is pretty much in line with the rest of the country. It does, however, allow 18-year-olds to take part in bingo and lotteries. In 2023, 21-year-olds can now bet online, too, with sportsbooks live in the state.

Kentucky

18-year-olds can partake in all of the legal forms of gambling available in the state of Kentucky. That’s an important definition, too, as there’s a distinct difference between it and the rest of the US, given that poker is outright banned and sportsbooks remain off the table.

Pari-mutuel and horse racing betting is very much Kentucky’s big asset; the Kentucky Derby is world-famous for a reason.

Louisiana

Home to ports for international cruise ships as well as access to online sportsbooks like DraftKings, Louisiana is up there amongst the more liberal of southern states when it comes to gambling. With all that said, there’s still a pretty level split in the legal age for gambling, between 18 and 21.

Maine

New England’s easternmost state, Maine, is much like any other in the US in terms of legal ages for tribal casinos and pari-mutuel betting. It is different, though, when it comes to bingo. It has the joint-lowest limit at 16 years of age, ensuring its place as a bit of an anomaly. Everything else is 18 to 21, including online sportsbooks, which should go live summer 2023.

Maryland

Most games and types of betting here are allowed from 18 up, except from casinos, poker and sports betting. Online sportsbooks went live at the end of 2022, with seven opening their doors in November of that year.

Massachusetts

Sports betting might still be prohibited here but all the major forms of gambling are available from 18 onwards. That includes state lotteries, bingo, and pari-mutuel betting. Casinos and poker tables remain 21 and up, though, as is fairly standard across the country.

Michigan

Now this is a real anomaly. In Michigan, you’re required to be 32 to take part in a card game in a poker room. This marks the highest limit in the country and can be confusing to those from outside the state, especially when poker at online casinos is limited to 21 and up, as is sports betting. It’s also unusual, given that you only must be 18 to visit some land-based casinos there.

Minnesota

The Minnesota Gambling Control Board runs something of a tight ship, only allowing tribal casinos and some on-track pari-mutuel betting, alongside the ubiquitous state lottery. However, they allow a somewhat lenient age limit of 18.

Mississippi

One of the five states that don’t run a lottery, Mississippi is also another that’s split between two age restrictions. In fact, all forms of gambling are prohibited unless on the grounds of a licensed casino.

Missouri

If you want to gamble in a casino in Missouri, you’ve got to be on water. Their laws only allow 21-year-olds and over to visit a casino if it’s a casino cruise or riverboat. Other gambling is licensed in the state but most table games or slots are restricted to floating gaming houses.

Montana

Gambling in the Montana is pretty accessible, except if you want to take part in sports betting, which is still restricted. 18 and over is the legal age across the board here, and that includes casinos and racetrack pari-mutuel.

Nebraska

While it’s not uncommon for states to be split between two age limits, it’s less common to see three. In Nebraska, though, 18, 19 and 21 are the ones applied. Sports betting is technically legal but only in retail venues after it was signed into law in 2021. It’s difficult to tell if it will ever take off.

Nevada

It’s rightly seen as the Mecca of gaming, having relegalized gambling all the way back in 1931. You will find slot machines even in pubs, but you won’t find a lottery or horse and greyhound track pari-mutuel betting. Instead, as expected, most of the legal framework here is centered around the casinos of Las Vegas.

New Hampshire

Casinos are technically prohibited in New Hampshire, but there is something of a loophole for fans of table games, as it’s only commercial casinos that are banned. Charity establishments are okay, while sportsbooks, lotteries, and racetrack betting are also allowed.

New Jersey

Being the home of Atlantic City, it’s of no surprise that New Jersey residents can enjoy casino gaming from 21 and over at one of their nine establishments. It was also one of the few states to instantly take advantage of 2018’s overturning of PUSPA and allow sports betting for players 21 and above. Players of 18 years old can also take part in lotteries and bingo.

New Mexico

Still yet to explicitly allow sports betting, New Mexico does technically allow people 21 and older to make wagers, as long as they do so in one of the tribal casinos in the state. Interestingly, bingo does not technically have a limit on age, but most venues will enforce a no-minor policy.

New York

The Big Apple may not yet have a large casino venue to its name but it has always been accessible for gamblers. As a rule of thumb, anything taking place in a casino or online is for 21 and over, while the rest is 18. New York is probably more famous for its horse racing and betting, though, with Belmont Park its main feature.

North Carolina

The Bible Belt is part of the country that understandably has avoided liberalizing gambling laws, and that’s why you’ll find that North Carolina has a relatively high limit for games like bingo at 28. Casino gaming is available on tribal land.

North Dakota

While casino gaming and sports betting in North Dakota is limited to tribal land, it does still allow other kinds of gaming like bingo and the state lottery for 18-year-olds outside of those tribal casinos.

Ohio

Here, the legal age may be anything from 16 to 21, so it’s best to always double-check. Keep in mind, though, that quite a few popular casino games aren’t allowed in Ohio, including craps and slot machines.

Oklahoma

The Tribal-State Compact allows Oklahomans to visit native American casinos from 18 up, which means that’s the standard legal age here. There’s also bingo that starts at 16 but, perhaps of more interest to most, is that licensed racetracks can take part in off-track simulcast betting.

Oregon

Oregon has an interesting caveat when it comes to legal gambling. While online sportsbooks are now par for the course there, it is still illegal to run a commercial online casino. As with many states, only tribal lands can house casinos, of which there are currently nine.

Pennsylvania

In terms of states with a big demand for casino gaming, Pennsylvania is second only to the big names of the likes of Nevada. In fact, here players 21 and up can visit the casino, which could soon include venues in the state’s airports. Legislation has been passed to allow gaming in airports, meaning PA joins Nevada as the only two to offer such a pastime.

Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, the legal ages may be pretty standard, but most of the legal gambling is in the form of charitable gaming or retirement home bingo. Casinos are permitted only on tribal land, as we’ve seen in other states.

South Carolina

It’s safe to say that South Carolina wouldn’t be at the top of any gambler’s list of destinations. The only forms of truly legal gambling in here are raffles, bingo, and the lottery. It is possible to gamble on cruises in to and out of the state.

South Dakota

Probably the most restrictive state in the US, South Dakota doesn’t allow for any gambling outside of the more than tribal casinos there. Because of that, and its lack of online gambling, it’s not a particularly attractive destination for bettors.

Tennessee

Sports betting has been legal in Tennessee since 2019, and online casinos are also available. That’s the extent of what you can access as far as casinos and sportsbooks go, though. You won’t find a land-based venue within state lines as of 2023.

Texas

The Lone Star state might be seen as the US’ bastion of freedom but legal gambling is limited here to the state lottery, pari-mutuel betting, charitable games, and tribal casinos. It’s also relatively limiting in terms of age limits, with 21 the most common.

Utah

While there are some basic age limits set for Utah, it would be better to say that there aren’t. Gambling in any form is prohibited and would need to see sweeping liberalization before any age limits could be meaningfully imposed.

Vermont

Interestingly, professional gambling is banned in Vermont, meaning that only non-profit and charitable organizations can operate. That means that only charity casinos can operate for players older than 21.

Virginia

Virginia limits its casino operations to non-profit organizations. However, it does allow for licensed racetrack betting, as well as both retail and online sportsbooks.

Washington

Similarly, to both Virginia and Vermont, casino gaming is mostly only allowed for charitable organizations in Washington state. However, unlike those two, online sportsbooks are available, as well as wagering at licensed racetracks.

Note

Washington state is not to be confused with D.C. which has its own gambling laws. There, the legal gambling age is 18, except if receiving a lottery ticket as a gift, when you can be below 18. Sportsbooks both retail and online are legal in Washington D.C. for players over 21.

West Virginia

It wasn’t too long ago that gambling in any form, other than pari-mutuel betting at a racetrack, was completely prohibited in West Virginia. In 1994, however, some casino games were legalized and more have been added since, with table games finally being allowed in 2007.

Wisconsin

Here, riverboat casinos are the only allowed form of gambling houses. Bingo and betting on dog racing are allowed, as well as retail sports betting.

Wyoming

Wyoming is home to four major tribal casinos, as well as allowing charitable and non-profit gambling. Other than that, social gambling, bingo, and raffles are big, alongside the Wyoming Lottery. For a state that seems to operate in a rather gray area, though, it does play host to a number of independent card rooms for poker.

An Ever-Changing Landscape

While we’ve covered all the legal gambling ages, and a little about each state’s individual stances on certain games or types of gambling, it’s easy to see it can change. That’s why it’s important to always keep an eye on any developments and regularly read up on what is and isn’t legal in your state.