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Gambling age

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Minimum legal age to enter a casino by country (2023):
  Illegal at any age
  25 or older
  21 or older
  21 or 18 (depends on the casino)
  20
  19
  18
  13
  no regulation/no age set/no data
Youth rights
Activities
Theory / concepts
Issues
Organizations
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Related

The gambling age is an aspect of gambling law — 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.

Oceania

[edit]
Country Age Notes
 Australia 18 The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 passed by the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia banned online gambling in the form of casinos and slots.
Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia Dependent on State law[1] Chuuk State Chuuk and Yap State Yap – illegal[2][3]
Kiribati Kiribati 18[4]
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands Illegal for all ages Gambling is illegal except for non-profit bingo, raffles and cakewalks.[5]
Nauru Nauru 18[6]
 New Zealand 20 (casinos)[7]

18 (horse racing and instant kiwi)
None (other types, including lottery)[8]

Palau Palau 18 Gambling is illegal in Palau except for social gambling, non-profit organisations, and offshore gambling.[9] The social gambling age is tied to the age of majority,[10] which is 18 under Palauan law.[11]
 Papua New Guinea None
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands 18[12] People below the age of 18 can gamble with parental permission in a private dwelling-house or in the presence of a parent.[12] For certain small lotteries, the minimum age to purchase a ticket is 16.[13]
Tokelau Tokelau Illegal for all ages Gaming is illegal in Tokelau (defined as "a game for money with cards or with dice").[14]
Tuvalu Tuvalu 18[15] People below the age of 18 can gamble with parental permission in a private dwelling-house or in the presence of a parent.[15] For certain small lotteries, one only needs to be 16 in order to buy a ticket.[16]
Vanuatu Vanuatu 18[17][18] The given references only prevent people under the age of 18 from gambling online or in casinos.

Europe

[edit]
Country/territory Minimum age Notes
 Albania 18
 Andorra None
 Austria 18[19]
 Belarus 18
 Belgium 21 (casinos)

18 (national lottery)

 Bosnia and Herzegovina 18
 Bulgaria 18
Croatia Croatia 18 (excluding non-casino machines and private)
 Cyprus 18[20]
 Czech Republic 18
 Denmark 18 (except sports betting)[21]
 Estonia 21 (casinos)[22]

18 (sports betting)

16 (national lottery)

 Faroe Islands 18
Finland Finland 18
France France 18 Lowered from 21 to 18 on May 5, 1987, for casinos.
Germany Germany 18–21 Varies by state and the type of gambling, lotteries and casinos are generally rated above 18 except casinos in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, which are rated above 21.[23]
 Gibraltar 18[24]
Greece Greece 21[25]
 Georgia 25, or 18 for foreign citizens and stateless persons[26]
 Guernsey 18
 Hungary 18[27]
 Iceland 18
Republic of Ireland Ireland 18
 Isle of Man 18
Italy Italy 18[28]
Kosovo Kosovo Illegal for all ages Gambling was outlawed in 2019 due to a string of murders that occurred in casinos that year.
 Latvia 18[29]
 Liechtenstein 18
 Lithuania 18[30]
 Luxembourg 18[31]
 Malta 18,[32] or 25 for Maltese citizens[33]
 Moldova 18
Monaco Monaco 18[34]
Montenegro Montenegro 18
 Netherlands 18
 Northern Cyprus 18
 North Macedonia 18
 Norway 18
Poland Poland 18[35]
Portugal Portugal 25 (some casinos)
18 (some casinos, and all other types)[25] 		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 San Marino 18[36]
Serbia Serbia 18[37]
 Slovakia 18[38]
 Slovenia 18[39]
Spain Spain 18[25]
 Sweden 20 (casinos)[40]

18 (other types)[41]

  Switzerland 18[42]
 Turkey Illegal for all ages (casinos)
18 (lotteries) 		Gambling is illegal in Turkey except for lotteries and horse races.
 Ukraine 21
United Kingdom UK (United Kingdom) Age variable by bet:

18
16
None

(see the table below for more information) [43]

Gambling ages in the United Kingdom are set out in the Gambling Act 2005: Part 4, Protection of children and young persons.
Type of gambling Minimum
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)
 Vatican City None

Asia

[edit]
Country/territory Minimum age Notes
 Akrotiri and Dhekelia 18
Afghanistan Afghanistan Illegal for all ages All casinos and lotteries are forbidden.
 Armenia 21[44]
 Azerbaijan 18
Bahrain Bahrain Illegal for all ages
 Bangladesh None
 British Indian Ocean Territory 18
 Brunei Darussalam Illegal for all ages
 Cambodia None
 China Illegal for all ages

18 (lotteries)

Gambling is illegal in China except for lotteries.
 Christmas Island 18
 Cocos (Keeling) Islands 18
 Hong Kong 18
 Iran Illegal for all ages
 India 21 According to Public Gambling Act 1867, gambling is considered as illegal in the majority of the regions across the country.
Further information: Gambling in India
 Indonesia Illegal for all ages All forms of gambling are illegal.[45][46]
 Israel 18
 Japan 20
18 (pachinko) [47] 		Majority is lowered to 18, but gambling age still stays at 20 (for lotteries and casinos).
Jordan Jordan Illegal for all ages
 Kyrgyzstan 18
 Laos 18[48]
 Lebanon 21
Macau Macau 21
18 (lottery, sports betting, racing)
 Malaysia 21

Illegal for all ages (Muslims)

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

18 (lottery)

 Qatar Illegal for all ages
 Russia 18
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Illegal for all ages
 Singapore 21 (casinos)
18 (lottery, sports betting, racing)
 South Korea 19
 Sri Lanka 21 (lotteries)
 Syria Illegal for all ages[49]
 Taiwan 20
 Tajikistan 18
 Thailand Illegal for all ages (casinos)

20 (lottery)

Gambling is illegal in Thailand, except for the Government lottery.
 Timor-Leste 18 Only the Government lottery and licensed slot machines are legal.[50]
 Turkey Illegal for all ages (casinos)
18 (lotteries) 		Gambling is illegal in Turkey except for lotteries and horse races.
 UAE Illegal for all ages (casinos)
21 (lotteries)
Vietnam Vietnam 21

Africa

[edit]
Country/territory Minimum age Notes
Algeria Algeria Illegal for all ages
 Angola 18
Botswana Botswana 18
 Burkina Faso 18
 Cote d'Ivoire 21
Djibouti Djibouti 18 (casinos)

None (other types)

Egypt Egypt 21
 Equatorial Guinea None
 Eritrea Illegal for all ages

None (online)

 Ethiopia Illegal for all ages

None (online)

 Gabon None There is no official gambling age; many erroneously believe it to be 18.
Ghana Ghana 18
 Guinea 18
 Guinea Bissau None There is no official gambling age; many erroneously believe it to be 18.
Libya Libya Illegal for all ages
Malawi Malawi 18 [51]
 Mali 18
Mauritania Mauritania Illegal for all ages
Morocco Morocco 18
 Mozambique 18
Namibia Namibia 21[52]
 Niger 21 (some casinos)

18 (some other casinos, all other types)

 Nigeria 20[53]
 Senegal 18
 Seychelles 18
Somalia Somalia Illegal for all ages
South Africa South Africa 18[54]
 South Sudan None
Sudan Sudan Illegal for all ages
Tanzania Tanzania 18
Tunisia Tunisia None Legal at any age: unsuccessful attempts have been made to declare gambling illegal outright or impose a minimum age.
Uganda Uganda 25

North America

[edit]
Country/territory Minimum age Notes
 Anguilla None Casinos do not exist in Anguilla as of 2023
 Antigua and Barbuda 18
 Bahamas 18
 Barbados 18[55]
 Belize 18
 British Virgin Islands Illegal for all ages
 Canada
State Minimum age Notes
Alberta 18 (casinos)
18 (lottery)
British Columbia 19 (casinos)
19 (lottery)
Manitoba 18 (casinos)
18 (lottery)
New Brunswick 19 (casinos)
19 (lottery)
Newfoundland and Labrador 19 (casinos)
19 (lottery)
Nova Scotia 19 (casinos)
19 (lottery)
Ontario 19 (casinos)
18 (lottery)
Prince Edward Island 19 (casinos)
19 (lottery)
Quebec 18 (casinos)
18 (lottery)
Saskatchewan 19 (casinos)
18 (lottery)
18–19 (varies by province)
 Cayman Islands 18
 Costa Rica 18
 Cuba Illegal for all ages
 Dominica 18
 Dominican Republic 18[citation needed]
 El Salvador 18
 Greenland 18
 Guatemala 18
 Haiti 18
 Honduras 18
 Jamaica 18
 Mexico 18
 Nicaragua 18
 Panama 18
 Puerto Rico 18[56]
 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)[57]

18 (Lottery)[58]

Colorado 21 (casinos)

18 (lottery)[59]

Connecticut 21
Delaware 21 (casinos)

18 (lottery)[60]

District of Columbia 18
Florida 21 (casinos)

18 (lottery)[61]

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 (casinos)

18 (lottery)

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 19
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 for all ages[62]
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

[edit]
Country/territory Minimum age Notes
 Argentina 18
 Aruba 18 This law is not often enforced.
 Bolivia 18
 Brazil Illegal for all ages (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

[edit]
Country/territory Minimum age Notes
 Antarctica Not applicable / Varying See Crime in Antarctica
 French Southern and Antarctic Lands 18
 Heard and McDonald Islands 18
 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 18

References

[edit]
  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. ^ "Casinos".
  8. ^ "Age limit plan for pokies". The New Zealand Herald. 2000-06-30. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 2019-09-12.
  9. ^ Penal Code of the Republic of Palau, Chapter 50.
  10. ^ Penal Code of the Republic of Palau, § 5010.
  11. ^ "Domestic Relations - Title 21". www.paclii.org.
  12. ^ a b Gaming and Lotteries Act, s3(3).
  13. ^ Gaming and Lotteries Act, s15(2)(m).
  14. ^ Crimes, Procedure and Evidence Rules 2003, s64.
  15. ^ a b Gaming and Lotteries Act, s3(3).
  16. ^ Gaming and Lotteries Act, s9(2)(m).
  17. ^ Vanuatu Interactive Gaming Act, s18.
  18. ^ Casino Control Act, s44(4).
  19. ^ "Austria: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  20. ^ "Practical Law UK Signon". signon.thomsonreuters.com. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  21. ^ "International Comparative Legal Guides". International Comparative Legal Guides International Business Reports. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  22. ^ "Gambling Act–Riigi Teataja". www.riigiteataja.ee. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  23. ^ "Spielhallen dürfen künftig erst ab 21 Jahren betreten werden (German)". Welt. Axel Springer. 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  24. ^ "Practical Law UK Signon". signon.thomsonreuters.com. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  25. ^ a b c "European Gambling Policies for the Young". www.legalgamblingage.net. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  26. ^ "Georgia tightens gambling business regulations from March 1". 1tv.ge. 2021-12-22. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  27. ^ "Hungary: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  28. ^ World Casinos Info, https://www.worldcasinos.info/italy.
  29. ^ "Latvia: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  30. ^ "Lithuania: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  31. ^ "Luxembourg: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  32. ^ "Practical Law UK Signon". signon.thomsonreuters.com. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  33. ^ 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)
  34. ^ "Monte Carlo Casino | Monaco". Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  35. ^ "Poland: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  36. ^ "San Marino: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  37. ^ "Serbia: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  38. ^ "Slovakia: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  39. ^ "Slovenia: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  40. ^ "Vanliga frågor om Club Cosmopol". Casino Cosmopol (in Swedish). Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  41. ^ "For the love of Sweden!". Swedish Freak. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  42. ^ "Switzerland: European Casino Association (ECA)". www.europeancasinoassociation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  43. ^ "How Is Gambling Regulated? | BeGambleAware | BeGambleAware". www.begambleaware.org. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  44. ^ "Armenia Adopts Gambling Adverts Restrictions". Casino News Daily. 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2019-09-12.
  45. ^ "Indonesia.go.id - Edukasi dan Penegakan Hukum: Strategi Pemerintah Berantas Judi Online" [Gov’t Establishes Online Gambling Eradication Task Force]. indonesia.go.id (in Indonesian). Government of Indonesia. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024. - English translation here
  46. ^ TRIANA, NELI (15 October 2023). "Uang Judi Gagal Membangun Kota, "Bang Oma" Sudah Ingatkan" [Gambling Money Fails to Build Cities, "Bang Oma" Reminds You]. kompas.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 16 October 2024. [At the end of 1993, following years of pressure from various parties [...] the Indonesian government banned all forms of gambling.]
  47. ^ "Japan Gvt to lower age of adulthood to 18; gambling age will remain 20". World Casino News. 2017-08-15. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  48. ^ "Gambling Age In Laos". fastip.edu.al. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  49. ^ "Syrian Arab Republic Online Gambling Restrictions". lcb.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  50. ^ "Decreto-lei № 6/2016 de 20 de abril - Regime Jurídico do Licenciamento, Exploração e Controlo da Atividade dos Jogos Sociais e de Diversão, Máquinas de Jogo e Jogos Tradicionais" (PDF). Jornal da República (in Portuguese). 1. Díli: 9214–9226. 2016-04-20.
  51. ^ Administrator, Website. "Malawi Gaming Board, Police warn illegal gamblers". www.gamingboard.org.mw.
  52. ^ "African Gambling Laws – The Legality of Casinos in Africa". www.gamblingsites.org. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  53. ^ "How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble?". SiGMA. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  54. ^ "South African Gambling – Online and Offline". www.gamblingafrica.com. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  55. ^ "Gambling in Barbados". The Bajan Reporter. 2011-09-05. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  56. ^ "What is the gambling age for the casino at the..." www.tripadvisor.co.za. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  57. ^ "California Gambling Control Commission". www.cgcc.ca.gov. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  58. ^ "Responsible Gaming | California State Lottery". www.calottery.com. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  59. ^ Colorado Lottery Rules and Regulations 1.3.3(a)
  60. ^ "Chapter - Delaware General Assembly". legis.delaware.gov. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  61. ^ "Statutes & Constitution :Constitution : Online Sunshine". www.leg.state.fl.us. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  62. ^ "Utah Code Section 76-10-1102". le.utah.gov. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
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