Legal Betting Age - What's The Age To Bet?

One of the most important laws relating to betting in the United States is the legal age to gamble. This is for a couple of reasons. First, unlike the big federal laws in existence, the gambling age in the U.S. is decided at the state level. As a result, there is not complete consistency in terms of what age a bettor has to be. Second, this law can also transcend across to the online betting community, which is different from the federal laws that are in place. In most cases, players still have to respect the gambling age in their state to be able to legally bet on site.

There are various penalties for violating the legal gambling age, all of which are left up to the different states. But the one thing that does remain constant is the fact that these laws are not flexible, and a violation of them can have serious consequences. We don't want any player to have to worry about that, as such forming this page to talk about some of the things that are necessary when it comes to legal betting online are important.

How Old Do I Need To Be To Make Bets?

Across the 50 states in the U.S., the gambling age will either be 18 or 21. There are no other ages that have been set. In most areas, the legal gambling age is 21, but it's important to find out which requirement is in your area.

Feel free to consult our state-by-state betting guide to find more info or simply look below at our chart that is complete with all 50 U.S. states and the age that is required in order to make a bet within that state. As you will soon learn, this age is very important... even when you're betting online.

State Gambling Age Chart

How Old Do I Need To Be To Bet Online?

The online sportsbooks that are legal for American players will have age requirements of their own. But despite the fact that these sites operate offshore, often times they make sure that a bettor is old enough to gamble in their own area. As an example, as site might mandate at least an 18-year-old requirement, but if the betting laws in your state say that you need to be 21, the higher of the two ages must be met in order to place a legal wager.

There are sites that will say that their age is the one that matters, for which bettors might be able to bet legally provided that they meet the betting site's minimum age. Most offshore betting sites are 18 years old. We still always recommend that bettors meet both site and state ages however.

Will I Go To Jail For Underage Gambling?

It is very unlikely that jail time will be received for placing an underage bet. Jail time is usually reserved for those operating illegal gambling rings and gambling sites in the U.S. that are not licensed.

However, this does not mean that an underage gambling violation will be without penalty. With the age laws left up to the states though, BettingLegal.com will not say with specific details as to the fine or sanctions you will receive. In general terms though, violators could be looking at the forfeiture of all bets, and winnings made on site, plus the closure of an account. Additional fines that come with the violation, plus the potential for probation and things of that nature are also possible. It's certainly something to take seriously, and a topic that is worth addressing.

If you'd like to learn more about if it is legal for you to bet, please click the preceding link for more info.