Gambling is staking your money or belongings to predict the outcome of a game of chance. There is a 50-50 chance that you make a huge profit or lose everything. It is of utmost importance that you understand how gambling works before staking your hard-earned money in casino games and sports betting.
Several jurisdictions have imposed certain restrictions on gambling after a series of ill-fated incidents. The most important one among them is the imposition of the legal gambling age. You need to be of a certain age to gamble online. Let’s discuss more about the legal gambling age and how it helps.
What Is the Legal Gambling Age
Countries, states, and provinces have different laws regarding online gambling. While some of them allow online gambling, a few of the jurisdictions outright restrict it. Due to the boom in the online gaming industry and the huge profit it reeks in, most countries are considering opening their shores to online casino investments. However, most of the countries are currently facing a dilemma regarding the gambling industry.
Betting is a highly addictive activity since it affects our neural center and dopamine-releasing site. There have been incidents of people losing all their earnings in a single day and causing self-harm after not being able to cope with their losses. To combat this, most countries have unanimously imposed age restrictions on online gambling.
While in most countries, the legal gambling age is 18, a few of them have higher or lower legal gambling age limits. Having the players attain a certain age before gambling allows them to understand the risks behind it. However, no authority or betting establishment in the world allows minors to gamble.
Today, online casinos and betting platforms advocate responsible gaming, where underage gambling is abhorred and gambling addiction is closely monitored and provided help if needed.
Legal Online Gaming Age By Countries
Software providers play a crucial role in the online gaming industry. The reputation of an online casino depends on the type of games and how it runs.
- The United States of America
- Alabama: 21
- Alaska: 21
- Arizona: 21
- Arkansas: 21
- Colorado: 21
- Connecticut: 21
- Delaware: 21
- Florida: 21
- Hawaii: 21
- Illinois: 21
- Indiana: 21
- Iowa: 21
- Kansas: 21
- Louisiana: 21
- Maine: 21
- Maryland: 21
- Massachusetts: 21
- Missouri: 21
- Nebraska: 21
- Nevada: 21
- New Hampshire: 21
- New Jersey: 21
- New Mexico: 21
- North Carolin: 21
- North Dakota: 21
- Ohio: 21
- Oregon: 21
- Pennsylvania: 21
- Rhode Island: 21
- Georgia: 18
- Idaho: 18
- Mississippi: 21
- New York: 21
- South Carolina: 21
- Texas: 21
- Utah: 21
- Vermont: 21
- Virginia: 21
- West Virginia: 21
- Wisconsin: 21
- Wyoming: 21
- Minnesota: 18
- Montana: 18
- Oklahoma: 18
- South Dakota: 18
- Washington: 18
- Canada
- Alberta: 18
- British Columbia: 19
- Manitoba: 18
- New Brunswick: 19
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 19
- Northwest Territories: 19
- Nova Scotia: 19
- Nunavut: 19
- Ontario: 19
- Prince Edward Island: 19
- Quebec: 18
- Saskatchewan: 19
- Yukon: 19
- The United Kingdom: 18
- Malta: 18
- Gibraltar: 18
- France: 18
- Denmark: 18
- Cyprus: 18
- Macau: 21 (18 for lotteries)
- Iceland: 18
- Ireland: 18
- Monaco: 18
- Norway: 18
- Portugal: 18-25
- Switzerland: 18
- Sweden: 20
- Australia: 18
- New Zealand: 20
- Bangladesh: Illegal
- China: Illegal (18 for lotteries)
- Hong Kong: 18
- India: 21
- Indonesia: 21
- Japan: 20
- Laos: 18
- Malaysia: 21
- Maldives: Illegal
- Pakistan: Illegal
- Philippines: 18
- Sri Lanka: 21
- Singapore: 21 (18 for lotteries)
- South Korea: 19
- Thailand: Illegal (18 for lotteries)
- Vietnam: 21
- Myanmar: 18
- UAE: Illegal
- Russia: 18
- Qatar: Illegal
- Saudi Arabia: Illegal
- Algeria: Illegal
- Angola: 18
- Botswana: 18
- Burkina Faso: 18
- Cote d’Ivoire: 21
- Djibouti: 18
- Egypt: 21
- Equatorial Guinea: Illegal
- Eritrea: Illegal
- Ethiopia: Illegal
- Gabon: No age restrictions
- Ghana: 18
- Guinea: 18
- Guinea Bissau: No age restriction
- Libya: Illegal
- Malawi: 18
- Mali: 18
- Mauritania: Illegal
- Morocco: 18
- Mozambique: 18
- Namibia: 21
- Niger: 18-21
- Nigeria: 20
- Senegal: 18
- Seychelles: 18
- Somalia: Illegal
- South Africa: 18
- South Sudan: No age restrictions
- Sudan: Illegal
- Tanzania: 18
- Tunisia: No age restrictions
- Uganda: 25
- Argentina: 18
- Aruba: 18
- Bolivia: 18
- Brazil: Illegal (18 for lotteries)
- Chile: 18
- Colombia: 18
- Curacao: 18
- Ecuador: 18
- Falkland Islands: 18
- French Guiana: 18
- Guyana: 18
- Paraguay: 18
- Peru: 18
- Suriname: 18
- Trinidad and Tobago: 18
- Uruguay: 18
- Venezuela: 18
- Antigua and Barbuda: 18
- Bahamas: 18
- Barbados: 18
- Belize: 18
- British Virgin Islands: Illegal
- Cayman Islands: 18
- Costa Rica: 18
- Cuba: Illegal
- Dominican Republic: 18
- El Salvador: 18
- Greenland: 18
- Guatemala: 18
- Haiti: 18
- Honduras: 18
- Jamaica: 18
- Mexico: 18
- Nicaragua: 18
- Panama: 18
- Puerto Rico: 18
- US Virgin Islands: 21 (18 for lotteries)
How Do Online Casinos Confirm Your Age
Online casinos inquire about your age when you create an account to play online casino games. However, to verify your age, the online casinos prompt you to submit documents such as your photo ID, address proof, bank statement, etc. Only if you are above the legal age will you be allowed to continue on the platform and process any withdrawals if you have winnings. Creating fake accounts to dupe the casino leads to legal issues and forfeit of the winnings. Therefore, online casinos take utmost precaution while issuing an online gambling account.
Conclusion
It is safe to gamble at online casinos as they have advanced security measures, fair gaming products, and responsible gaming tools. It is far safer than gambling in a brick-and-mortar casino. However, it is necessary to know what you are getting into, before wagering your first bet. Gambling is a game of chance.
There can be huge losses and astonishing profits. It can change your life once and for all. So, be sure to bet what you can afford to lose as gambling can disrupt your life and mental health. Online wagering providers only allow adults to their gambling arenas as they tend to understand the risks of gambling. So, if you are a minor, wait out a few years and understand the game before indulging in it.
