Gambling age

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.

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Countries

Oceania
Country Age Notes
 Australia 18
Federated States of Micronesia Dependent on State law[1] Chuuk and Yap – illegal[2] [3]
Kiribati 18[4]
Marshall Islands Illegal Gambling is illegal except for non-profit bingo, raffles and cakewalks.[5]
Nauru 18[6]
 New Zealand 20 (casinos)

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]
 Papua New Guinea 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.[11] For certain small lotteries, the minimum age to purchase a ticket is 16.[12]
Tokelau Illegal 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.[14] 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

By countries:

Country/territory Minimum age Notes
 Albania 18
 Andorra None
 Austria 18[18]
 Belarus 18
 Belgium 21 (casinos)

18 (national lottery)
 Bosnia and Herzegovina None
 Bulgaria 18
Croatia 18 (excluding non-casino machines and private)
 Czech Republic 18
 Denmark 18 (except sports betting)[19]
 Estonia 21
 Faroe Islands 18
Finland 18
France 18 Lowered from 21 to 18 on May 5, 1987, for casinos.
Germany 18
 Gibraltar 18[20]
Greece 23[21]
 Guernsey 18
 Hungary 18[22]
 Iceland 18
Ireland 18
 Isle of Man 18
Italy 18[23]
Kosovo 18
 Latvia 18[24]
 Liechtenstein 18
 Lithuania 18[25]
 Luxembourg 18[26]
 Malta 18,[27] or 25 for Maltese citizens[28]
 Moldova 18
Monaco 18[29]
Montenegro 18
 Netherlands 18
 North Macedonia 18
 Norway 18
Poland 18[30]
Portugal 25 (some casinos)

18 (some casinos, and all other types)[21]

 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.
 Romania 18
San Marino 18[31]
Serbia 18[32]
 Slovakia 18[33]
 Slovenia 18[34]
Spain 18[21]
 Sweden 20 (casinos)[35]

18 (other types)[36]
  Switzerland 18[37]
 Turkey 18
 Ukraine 18
UK (United Kingdom) 18

None (see the table below for more information)[38]
  Vatican City None

United Kingdom

Gambling ages in the United Kingdom are set out in the Gambling Act 2005: Part 4, Protection of children and young persons.

Type of gamblingMinimum
age		Relevant
sections
of the Act
Gambling in casinos or other licensed gambling premises
It is illegal to permit any person under the age of 18 to enter a licensed gambling premises.
The only exception is licensed family entertainment centres.
18
46, 47, 48 and 49
Gaming machine
(Machine category: A, B1, B2, B3, B3A, B4, C)
18
47 and 48
Gaming machine
(Machine category: D)
None
46 (2)(e) and 48 (2)(e)
National lottery
18
48 (2)(c)
Scratchcards
18
48 (2)(c)
Football pool
16
48 (2)(d)
Private or non-commercial gaming and betting
None
48 (2)(a)&(b)
Equal chance gaming in accordance with a prize gaming permit, or
Equal chance gaming at a licensed family entertainment centre
None
48 (2)(f)&(g)
Prize gaming at a non-licensed family entertainment centre, or
Prize gaming at a travelling fair
None
48 (2)(h)&(i)

Asia
Country/territory Minimum age Notes
 Akrotiri and Dhekelia 18
Afghanistan Illegal

None (online)

 All casinos and lotteries are forbidden; online gambling is legal at any age.
 Armenia 21[39]
 Azerbaijan 18
Bahrain Illegal
 Bangladesh None
 British Indian Ocean Territory 18
 Brunei Darussalam Illegal
 Cambodia None
 China Illegal

18 (lotteries)

 Gambling is illegal in China except for lotteries.
 Christmas Island 18
 Cocos (Keeling) Islands 18
 Cyprus 18[40]
 Georgia 18
 Hong Kong 18
 India 21
 Indonesia Illegal Gambling is illegal in Indonesia.
 Israel 18
 Japan 20[41] Majority is lowered to 18, but gambling age still stays at 20 (for lotteries and casinos).
 Kyrgyzstan 18
 Laos 18[42]
 Lebanon 21
Macau 21
 Malaysia 21

Illegal (Muslims)

 Resorts World Genting in Genting Highlands is the only casino in Malaysia as of 2022.
 Maldives Illegal
 Mongolia None
 Myanmar 18
 Northern Cyprus 18
 Pakistan Illegal
 Philippines 21 (casinos)

18 (lottery)
 Qatar Illegal
 Russia 18
Saudi Arabia Illegal
 Singapore 21 (casinos)
18 (lottery, sports betting, racing)
 South Korea 19
 Syria Illegal[43]
 Taiwan 21
 Thailand Illegal (Casinos)

20 (lottery)

 Gambling is illegal in Thailand, except for the Government lottery.
 Tajikistan 18
 UAE Illegal
Vietnam 21

Africa
Country/territory Minimum age Notes
Algeria Illegal
 Angola 18
Botswana 18
 Burkina Faso 18
 Cote d'Ivoire 21
Djibouti 18 (casinos)

None (other types)
Egypt 21
 Equatorial Guinea None
 Eritrea Illegal

None (online)
 Ethiopia Illegal

None (online)
 Gabon None There is no official gambling age; many erroneously believe it to be 18.
Ghana 18
 Guinea 18
 Guinea Bissau None There is no official gambling age; many erroneously believe it to be 18.
Libya Illegal
Malawi 18 [44]
 Mali 18
Mauritania Illegal
Morocco 18
 Mozambique 18
Namibia 21[45]
 Niger 21 (some casinos)

18 (some other casinos, all other types)
 Nigeria 20
 Senegal 18
 Seychelles 18
Somalia Illegal
South Africa 18[46]
 South Sudan None
Sudan Illegal
Tanzania 18
Tunisia None Legal at any age: unsuccessful attempts have been made to declare gambling illegal outright or impose a minimum age.
Uganda 18

North America
Country/territory Minimum age Notes
 Anguilla None, but casinos do not exist there as of 2022
 Antigua and Barbuda 18
 Bahamas 18
 Barbados 18[47]
 Belize 18
 British Virgin Islands Illegal
 Canada Casinos: 19 (18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec)

Lottery: 18 (19 in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador)
 Cayman Islands 18
 Costa Rica 18
 Cuba Illegal
 Dominica 18
 Dominican Republic 13
 El Salvador 18
 Greenland 18
 Guatemala 18
 Haiti 18
 Honduras 18
 Jamaica 18
 Mexico 18
 Nicaragua 18
 Panama 18
 Puerto Rico 18[48]
 Saint Kitts and Nevis 21
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 18
 Saint Lucia 18
 Turks and Caicos Islands 18
 US Virgin Islands 21 (casinos)

18 (other)

 United States
State Minimum age Notes
Alabama 19
Alaska 21
Arizona 21
Arkansas 21
California 21 or 18 (casinos)[49]

18 (Lottery)[50]
Colorado 21 (casinos)

18 (lottery)[51]
Connecticut 21
Delaware 21 (casinos)

18 (lottery)[52]
District of Columbia 18
Florida 21 (casinos)

18 (lottery)[53]
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
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 21 or 18
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[54]
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
 Argentina 18
 Aruba 18 This law is not often enforced.
 Bolivia 18
 Brazil Illegal (casinos)

18 (lottery)

 Gambling is illegal in Brazil, except for the Government lottery.
 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

Antarctica
Country/territory Minimum age Notes
 Antarctica None
 French Southern and Antarctic Lands 18
 Heard and McDonald Islands 18
 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 18

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. Gambling and Lotteries Act 1988, s7(i).
  5. Gaming and Recreation Prohibition Act 1998 [31 MIRC Ch.4].
  6. Gaming Act 2011, s10(c).
  7. "Age limit plan for pokies". 2000-06-30. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 2019-09-12.
  8. Penal Code of the Republic of Palau, Chapter 50.
  9. Penal Code of the Republic of Palau, § 5010.
  10. "Domestic Relations - Title 21". www.paclii.org.
  11. Gaming and Lotteries Act, s3(3).
  12. Gaming and Lotteries Act, s15(2)(m).
  13. Crimes, Procedure and Evidence Rules 2003, s64.
  14. Gaming and Lotteries Act, s3(3).
  15. Gaming and Lotteries Act, s9(2)(m).
  16. Vanuatu Interactive Gaming Act, s18.
  17. Casino Control Act, s44(4).
  18. "Austria: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  19. "International Comparative Legal Guides". International Comparative Legal Guides International Business Reports. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  20. "Practical Law UK Signon". signon.thomsonreuters.com. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  21. "European Gambling Policies for the Young". www.legalgamblingage.net. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  22. "Hungary: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  23. World Casinos Info, https://www.worldcasinos.info/italy.
  24. "Latvia: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  25. "Lithuania: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  26. "Luxembourg: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  27. "Practical Law UK Signon". signon.thomsonreuters.com. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  28. Bonello, Emerson (2016). "Rationale behind different age requirements to enter casinos in Malta and their compatibility with Article 45 of the Maltese Constitution". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  29. "Monte Carlo Casino | Monaco". Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  30. "Poland: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  31. "San Marino: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  32. "Serbia: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  33. "Slovakia: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  34. "Slovenia: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  35. "Vanliga frågor om Club Cosmopol". Casino Cosmopol (in Swedish). Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  36. "For the love of Sweden!". Swedish Freak. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  37. "Switzerland: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  38. "How Is Gambling Regulated? | BeGambleAware | BeGambleAware". www.begambleaware.org. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  39. "Armenia Adopts Gambling Adverts Restrictions". Casino News Daily. 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2019-09-12.
  40. "Practical Law UK Signon". signon.thomsonreuters.com. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  41. "Japan Gvt to lower age of adulthood to 18; gambling age will remain 20". World Casino News. 2017-08-15. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  42. "Gambling Age In Laos". webcache.googleusercontent.com. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  43. "Syrian Arab Republic Online Gambling Restrictions". lcb.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  44. Administrator, Website. "Malawi Gaming Board, Police warn illegal gamblers". www.gamingboard.org.mw.
  45. "African Gambling Laws – The Legality of Casinos in Africa". www.gamblingsites.org. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  46. "South African Gambling – Online and Offline". www.gamblingafrica.com. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  47. "Gambling in Barbados". The Bajan Reporter. 2011-09-05. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  48. "What is the gambling age for the casino at the..." www.tripadvisor.co.za. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  49. "California Gambling Control Commission". www.cgcc.ca.gov. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  50. "Responsible Gaming | California State Lottery". www.calottery.com. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  51. Colorado Lottery Rules and Regulations 1.3.3(a)
  52. "Chapter - Delaware General Assembly". legis.delaware.gov. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  53. "Statutes & Constitution :Constitution : Online Sunshine". www.leg.state.fl.us. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  54. "Utah Code Section 76-10-1102". le.utah.gov. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
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