How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in the US in 2025?

A three-year difference might feel like a lifetime for aspiring young gamblers. If you’ve been wondering how old you have to be to gamble, the problem is that there isn’t a single gambling age that applies across the United States – it depends on the state and the type of gambling.

In most places, you have to be at least 21 to gamble in casinos or bet on sports, which matches the legal drinking age. However, some states allow casino gambling, lotteries, horse racing, and daily fantasy sports at 18.

Use this guide to find out how old you have to be to go to a casino and what age you can gamble across various categories, including sports betting, horse racing, and more.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Legal Gambling Age by US State
2. What Age Can You Gamble Across 50 US States + Washington D.C.?
3. The Bottom Line
4. FAQs
5. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Legal Gambling Age by US State
2. What Age Can You Gamble Across 50 US States + Washington D.C.?
3. The Bottom Line
Show Full Guide
4. FAQs
5. References

Legal Gambling Age by US State

The table below shows the minimum gambling age in each US state for different types of gambling. The main source for this information was the World Population Review, but we fact-checked the information for each state and type of gambling using all publicly available data.

If you see “N/A,” it means that this form of gambling isn’t legal in that state or is in a gray area (e.g., the state has neither explicitly legalized nor prohibited it).

In some states, you might notice two different ages (like 18/21). This happens because the rules can vary depending on the casino or venue. For example, some tribal casinos or card rooms allow 18-year-olds, while others require players to be 21 – often because of alcohol laws or state regulations.

What Age Can You Gamble Across 50 US States + Washington D.C.?

So, how old do you have to be to go to a casino in a particular US state? Gambling age laws aren’t the same everywhere. Some states set the casino age limit at 21, while others allow 18-year-olds for specific games like lotteries, horse racing, or daily fantasy sports.

So, if you’re wondering where you can gamble at 18, find your particular state below:

1. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Alabama?

In Alabama, you must be 21 or older to gamble at casinos and bet on horse racing. Daily fantasy sports require players to be 19. However, sports betting and the state lottery are not legal.

2. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Alaska?

Alaska has strict gambling laws, with very few legal options. Casinos allow gambling at 21, while daily fantasy sports are legal at 18. However, the state has no lottery, horse racing, or legal sports betting.

3. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Arizona?

In Arizona, you must be 21 or older to gamble in casinos, bet on sports, play the lottery, or wager on horse racing. The same rule applies to daily fantasy sports, making it one of the stricter states when it comes to gambling age limits.

4. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, you need to be 21 to gamble in casinos or place sports bets. However, lottery tickets, horse race wagers, and daily fantasy sports are open to players 18 and older, giving younger gamblers a few legal options in the state.

5. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in California?

In California, the casino age limit depends on the venue – some tribal casinos allow 18-year-olds, while others require 21. Sports betting isn’t legal, but you can play the lottery, bet on horse racing, and enter daily fantasy sports contests at 18.

6. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Colorado?

In Colorado, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos or place sports bets. However, if you’re 18 or older, you can buy lottery tickets, wager on horse racing, and participate in daily fantasy sports, giving younger players a few legal gambling options.

7. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Connecticut?

In Connecticut, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos or place sports bets. However, lottery tickets and horse race betting are available to anyone 18 or older. If you want to play daily fantasy sports, though, you’ll need to be 21.

8. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Delaware?

In Delaware, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos or place sports bets. However, if you’re 18 or older, you can buy lottery tickets, wager on horse racing, and participate in daily fantasy sports.

9. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Florida?

In Florida, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos, but sports betting isn’t legal. However, if you’re 18 or older, you can play the lottery, bet on horse racing, and join daily fantasy sports contests.

10. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Georgia?

Georgia has no casinos or sports betting, but you can play the lottery at 18. If you’re looking for other options, daily fantasy sports is also available to players 18 and older.

11. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Hawaii?

Hawaii has no legal gambling options. If you want to gamble, you’ll have to travel to another state.

12. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Idaho?

In Idaho, you can gamble at tribal casinos, play the lottery, and bet on horse racing at 18. However, sports betting isn’t legal, and neither is daily fantasy sports.

13. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Illinois?

In Illinois, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos or place sports bets. However, 18-year-olds can play the lottery, bet on horse racing, and enter daily fantasy sports contests.

14. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Indiana?

In Indiana, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos or place sports bets. However, if you’re 18 or older, you can play the lottery, bet on horse racing, and join daily fantasy sports contests, offering a few gambling options for younger players.

15. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Iowa?

In Iowa, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos, bet on sports, play the lottery, wager on horse racing, and enter daily fantasy sports contests. The state has strict gambling age limits across the board, leaving no legal options for younger players.

16. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Kansas?

In Kansas, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos or place sports bets. However, if you’re 18 or older, you can play the lottery, bet on horse racing, and join daily fantasy sports contests.

17. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, you only need to be 18 to gamble. This includes sports betting, the lottery, horse racing, and daily fantasy sports. However, Kentucky does not have regular casinos. Instead, historical horse racing machines at racetracks provide a casino-like experience for 18+ players.

18. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos, bet on sports, or play the lottery. However, horse race betting is allowed at 18, while daily fantasy sports also require players to be 21 or older, making the state’s gambling laws stricter than most.

19. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Maine?

In Maine, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos or place sports bets. However, 18-year-olds can play the lottery, bet on horse racing, and enter daily fantasy sports contests, giving younger players a few legal gambling options in the state.

20. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Maryland?

In Maryland, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos or place sports bets. However, if you’re 18 or older, you can play the lottery, bet on horse racing, and join daily fantasy sports contests.

21. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos or place sports bets. However, if you’re 18 or older, you can play the lottery and bet on horse racing, while daily fantasy sports require players to be 21.

22. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Michigan?

In Michigan, the gambling age depends on the venue. Tribal casinos allow 18-year-olds, but commercial casinos require being 21. Sports betting is 21+, while lottery tickets, horse race betting, and daily fantasy sports are available to players 18 and older.

23. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, you can gamble in casinos, play the lottery, bet on horse racing, and join daily fantasy sports contests at 18. However, sports betting isn’t legal.

24. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos, bet on sports, play the lottery, or enter daily fantasy sports contests. However, horse race betting is allowed at 18, giving younger players at least one gambling option in the state.

25. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Missouri?

In Missouri, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos, but sports betting isn’t legal. If you’re 18 or older, you can play the lottery, bet on horse racing, and participate in daily fantasy sports.

26. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Montana?

In Montana, you can gamble at 18, but casino gaming is limited to low-stakes betting. Sports betting, the lottery, and horse race betting are also available at 18, but daily fantasy sports aren’t allowed.

27. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Nebraska?

In Nebraska, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos, but sports betting isn’t legal. The lottery and horse race betting are available at 19, while daily fantasy sports can be played at 18, offering some options for younger gamblers.

28. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Nevada?

In Nevada, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos or place sports bets, and the state does not have a lottery. Daily fantasy sports operators need a gambling license, and major sites like DraftKings and FanDuel don’t operate there, making traditional DFS unavailable to players.

29. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in New Hampshire?

In New Hampshire, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos. However, 18-year-olds can play the lottery, place sports bets, bet on horse racing, and enter daily fantasy sports contests, offering a few options for younger players in the state.

30. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos or place sports bets. However, if you’re 18 or older, you can play the lottery, bet on horse racing, and join daily fantasy sports contests.

31. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in New Mexico?

In New Mexico, you must be 21 to gamble in casinos or place sports bets. However, if you’re 18 or older, you can play the lottery, bet on horse racing, and participate in daily fantasy sports contests, giving younger players some gambling options.

32. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in New York?

In New York, casinos usually require you to be 21, but racinos let you play from 18. Tribal sportsbooks set the limit at 21. You can buy lottery tickets, play daily fantasy sports, and bet on horses from age 18.

33. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, you must be 21 to gamble at casinos or place sports bets. However, you can participate in the lottery, horse racing bets, and daily fantasy sports from age 18.

34. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in North Dakota?

In North Dakota, casino gambling is open from age 18, but sports betting requires you to be 21. For the lottery, horse racing bets, and daily fantasy sports, you only need to be 18 years old.

35. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Ohio?

In Ohio, you must be 21 for casino gambling and sports betting. The lottery, horse racing bets, and daily fantasy sports are all open to players aged 18 or older.

36. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Oklahoma?

In Oklahoma, you only need to be 18 to participate in casino gambling, sports betting, lottery games, horse racing bets, and daily fantasy sports. All forms of gambling in the state share the same minimum age requirement.

37. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Oregon?

In Oregon, casino gambling and sports betting require you to be at least 21. But you can start playing the lottery, betting on horse races, or joining daily fantasy sports contests at 18.

38. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, casino gambling requires you to be 21. However, sports betting, lottery, horse racing, and daily fantasy sports are open from age 18.

39. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island, you can start casino gambling, sports betting, lottery games, betting on horse races, and daily fantasy sports from the age of 18.

40. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, sports betting starts at 21, while lottery and daily fantasy sports are available once you’re 18. Casino gambling and horse racing aren’t currently permitted in the state.

41. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in South Dakota?

In South Dakota, you need to be 21 for casino gambling and sports betting. The lottery, horse racing bets, and daily fantasy sports are open to players 18 and older.

42. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, sports betting is allowed from age 21, while the lottery, horse racing bets, and daily fantasy sports are open to players 18 and older. Casino gambling isn’t legal in the state.

43. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Texas?

In Texas, casino gambling and horse racing bets require you to be 21. Daily fantasy sports and lottery tickets are open to players 18 and older. Sports betting isn’t currently legal.

44. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Utah?

Utah has some of the strictest gambling laws in the country. Casino gambling, sports betting, horse race betting, and lottery ticket purchases are not allowed. However, you can bet on daily fantasy sports at 18.

45. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Vermont?

In Vermont, you must be 21 to place sports bets. Casino gambling isn’t allowed, while the lottery, horse racing bets, and daily fantasy sports are open to players 18 and older.

46. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Virginia?

In Virginia, casino gambling is limited to players 21 and older. Tribal sportsbooks allow sports betting from 18. The lottery, horse racing bets, and daily fantasy sports are also available to players 18 and up.

47. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, you need to be 21 to gamble at casinos or place sports bets. The lottery, horse racing bets, and daily fantasy sports are available to players 18 and older.

48. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Wyoming?

In Wyoming, sports betting, the lottery, horse racing bets, and daily fantasy sports are all available to players 18 and older. There are no traditional casinos in the state.

49. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Wyoming?

In Wyoming, you must be 21 to gamble at casinos. Sports betting, the lottery, horse racing bets, and daily fantasy sports are all available to players 18 and older.

50. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in West Virginia?

In West Virginia, you must be 21 to gamble at casinos and place bets on sports. The lottery, horse racing bets, and daily fantasy sports are open to players 18 and older.

51. How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Washington, D.C.?

In Washington, D.C., you can gamble at 18. This includes casino-style gaming, sports betting, the lottery, and daily fantasy sports. However, there’s no horse race betting in the district.

The Bottom Line

Gambling laws aren’t the same everywhere and often depend on a particular state and the type of gambling.

Most casinos set the minimum age at 21, but some states allow 18-year-olds to bet on lotteries, horse racing, or daily fantasy sports. Always check local regulations before playing.

FAQs