Gambling Online – How Old Are You?
Almost every person has a Kindle, tablet or smartphone at home, even some 5-year-old toddlers play with these gadgets! But we think the problem might come when a teen grabs its first cell phone. You’ve heard stories or maybe even read how teens make fake profiles on social media or other inappropriate websites to appear older – what happens if the child registers in an online casino? This may lead to some serious problems, but that’s a whole another topic. In a nutshell, youngsters know a lot more about the internet and how to use it and the problem is that we cannot always protect them from doing something wrong. Especially when it comes to gambling! In a separate article, you can read more about the problem of underage gambling in the UK and Europe and there are some pretty interesting statistics.
Gambling All Around – What Laws Are There?
When it comes down to gambling, there are some countries that are really open to it and have laws that legalize certain types of gambling activities. The biggest markets, of course, are the UK and Germany where gambling is legalized and regulated both online and in land-based casinos, as well as Spain which offers the most popular lotto in the world – the El-Gordo Lottery. This also includes countries like Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, Ireland, and the majority of European countries. However, there are other countries that ban any kind of money-games. Countries like Russia, Czech Republic and more have banned online gambling. There is a written law that restricts players, but it seems like it’s not something that is regulated when it comes to playing in foreign sites. But still – be careful and look for licensed casinos only! Always read full online casino reviews before making your first deposit or even before playing for free. That’s the only way to learn more about the pros and setbacks of a gambling site before experiencing it first hand. Also, since this is the topic of the article, in whichever country in Europe you decide you want to play, you should be 18 years old and up. There are a few exceptions such as Germany, Ireland and Belgium, where the legal age for gambling is 21. Other exceptions include Greece, where the legal gambling age is 23 and Portugal with the smashing 25 years old! These are the two countries where the legal gambling age is older than the accepted 18 and 21 for native players. If you’re foreign and want to play in Portugal, for example, you should be at least 18 years old.
Playing games of chance in the US is not all that welcomed. According to previous research of ours, gambling is not legal state-wide, and you must have 21 years of age to play for real money. Alaska, Idaho, Minnesota and Wyoming are the states where you’d be allowed to play real-money games if you’re over 18 years old. Although we’ve mentioned that in a big part of America gambling is not legal, there are some types of games and bets allowed, depending on the state you’re in. There are also differences in the legal age but, overall, there are casinos both online and live that you could visit in most of the states.
If you want to learn a little bit more about the gambling laws worldwide, we highly recommend you have a look at our dedicated article. There, we share some interesting facts that will definitely leave you surprised. Do you know which is the country with over 40 casinos? Check out what we’ve found here!
So, What Is the Accepted Gambling Age Worldwide?
As mentioned above, each country has its specific gambling laws and age restrictions, which you should keep in mind when you go gambling somewhere abroad. We will do our best to summarize shortly the different gambling ages. There is already a table included in our other article for European countries and the UK in particular, which you could have a look at. So, let’s get started:
Gambling in the USA
When it comes to gambling in the States, it’s not all about Las Vegas. You could basically gamble in almost anywhere and the gambling age varies from 18 to 21, depending on the state. There are also states that have a particular form of gambling legalized but do not have a specific minimum age requirement. However, there isn’t much of a difference since the legal gambling age still starts from 18 and can go to 21 or 23 max. There are also some interesting gambling restrictions – let’s have a look:
- If you go setting bets with a minor in Alabama, regardless that the minor is not playing, you’re committing a misdemeanour. Such subjects are left to be controlled by juvenile laws.
- Charities can operate casino nights in Arizona
- In Arkansas, when it comes to horse-racing, it is forbidden for any person under 18 to ‘be a patron of the pari-mutuel or certificate system of wagering conducted or supervised by it.’, however, it’s not said that you can’t attend horse races at all.
- Delaware is the state with the strongest set of restrictions when it comes to gambling. You must be 18 to participate at the State Lottery, however, you could easily buy a ticket if you’re 18 and above year-old and give it as a gift to a younger person. The State Lottery has VLTs at racetracks – the age limit to play slots and at casinos is 21.
These are just a few examples of the different gambling laws in the US. Now it’s time to switch up to Europe!
What’s New in Europe?
We will do our best to be as short as possible since there is more detailed information in the other article we mentioned earlier. There we’ve created a table with the legal gambling age in each country and the favourite gambling activities. The legal age is 18-21 in most countries. In the UK you need to be 18 to take part in any gambling activities including to play online bingo legally. However, according to our research, in 2018 there is a rise in the percentage of problem gamblers, starting from 16-year-old players and above. There are going to be changes and bigger restrictions in 2019 or at least so we predict – time will show.
How About Japan?
If you want to go to Japan to gamble, you better think twice. Casino gambling is illegal in the land of the rising sun and you might get into big trouble if you try. However, Yakuza (organized crime syndicate) operates brick-and-mortar casinos throughout the country, plus some illegal mobile casinos, regardless of the law. An interesting fact is that there are other forms of gambling that are legal, and this includes:
- Motorcycle Racing
- Powerboat racing
- Horse Racing
- Bicycle Racing
This also includes pachinko games – Japanese pinball gambling games that are fun, interesting and preferable leisure activity for both natives and foreigners. It is said that this industry is 30 times more profitable than the Las Vegas Casinos! The age of adulthood in Japan is 18, but if you want to gamble, you must be 20 years of age. This has been discussed and implemented in the law by the Japan Government. You cannot take part in the activities listed above if you’re under 20, except for pachinko – 18-year-olds can still play even after the age revision. This idea is not quite approved by the general public as it is seen as a bad influence on the country’s youth, however, time will show where this would lead to.
The Mecca of Gambling – Monte Carlo
If you ask a gambler about a destination where you could win some extra smackers and have fun, he/she will probably say either Las Vegas or Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo is like heaven for gamblers and Casino de Monte-Carlo is the most famous casino in the world, offering an unforgettable experience. You must be 18 to gamble at the casino and private salons require that you wear a black tie. Additionally, if you plan to gamble and stay for a while, you can come across some of the top luxury accommodations in the world as well, each of which has striking panoramic vistas and plenty of amenities nearby.
Macau – The Biggest Competition!
We’ve mentioned Las Vegas, Japan and Monte Carlo, but how about Macau? This is the place with numerous casinos that are definitely a tough competition to beat, as this is the solid backbone that holds up the city’s tourist economy and gains popularity worldwide as one of the top gambling destinations. Most of the best-known casinos are housed in top-class hotels, including Hotel Lisboa Casino, Macau Palace Casino and more. All casinos are accessible, but keep in mind that you have to be a little done up – a smart dress is preferable for the casinos, it’s even a must! If you’re a tourist, you could enter a casino if you have 18 years of age and above, however, if you’re a local – you cannot get in and place bets until you’re 21! You should also be prepared with the proper currency – the casinos accept Hong Kong dollars and Macau Patacas, which you can exchange either at casino counters or the nearby banks.
Gambling Age in Other Popular Destinations
When you go on vacation to a popular destination, you’re probably a little curious whether you could enter the casinos there for a game or two. There are some exotic places where gambling is either forbidden or it’s a part of the culture. Let’s have a look, shall we? Please be advised that there might be some changes in the gambling age of a specific destination, however, we’ve made sure to double-check beforehand. Otherwise, we would like to recommend to you a very peculiar gambling market which is somehow not that very known. We are talking about the top online casinos in New Zealand. As for the age restrictions, check out the table below:
| Country: | Minimum Age: |
|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | 18 |
| Aruba | 18 |
| Denmark | 18 |
| Egypt | 18 (many casinos are for foreigners only) |
| Finland | 18 |
| Greece | 23 (the oldest after Portugal with 25) |
| New Zealand | 20 |
| Norway | 18 |
| Singapore | 21 |
| Sweden | 18 |
| The Bahamas | 18 (by law 21) |
Gambling Age in Muslim Countries
As we’ve mentioned before, there are some countries that strictly forbid gambling on the territory and there are serious consequences for those who try to play illegally. This includes most Muslim countries, where gambling is considered a sin and therefore prohibited for both natives and tourists. However, there are some Muslim countries that offer legal forms of gambling like horse racing, different bet-placing activities and even casinos. Natives are not allowed to play, only foreigners from 18 years and above. A perfect example is Malaysia, where gambling is illegal, but in Genting Highlight Resort near Kuala Lumpur, gambling is available for foreigners. As a tourist, you must be 21 years old to enter the casino of choice. You can read more about it on our page dedicated to the best online casinos in Malaysia.
In a Nutshell – Be Responsible!
As we mentioned, the gambling age is different everywhere, there are different laws that can be either strict or non-existent. Whatever the case, as a player, you should know what to expect and follow the customs of the country you’re visiting, even if you’re gambling at the top PH blackjack casino sites. A big part of the casinos worldwide are regulated and licensed by the respectful gambling commission and there are strict safety measures to keep you out of trouble as a client, but having self-control is very important for both your health and wallet. Online gambling websites follow the laws and restrictions of the country in which their services are offered and the verification processes are strict when it comes to underage gambling. That is a very strictly followed procedure, especially for DE operators. For example, each of the websites here owns an active licence to offer online blackjack in Germany. Casinos, both land-based and online, strive to prevent addiction and gambling abuse and praise responsible gambling. Please, play responsibly! But don’t forget to have fun!
