Legal Online Casinos Allowing 18+ Year Olds And Up
US gambling laws have gone through an evolutionary process over the years. In the last few decades, the once strict anti gambling laws have loosened up immensely, and more players can enjoy gambling both in person and online without any laws getting in the way. The minimum legal gambling age has changed in multiple states as a result of the less restrictive laws. Many states allow players as young as 18 to try out online casinos. Some states even allow 16 year olds to pull-tab games and play bingo! Things have certainly shifted over the years, that's for certain.
If you've freshly turned 18 and you're looking for a guide to online gambling or in person gambling for the first time, welcome. Some regions of the United States allow 18 year olds to gamble, and this article is for those regions. There are also a plethora of reputable and legitimate online casinos for players who are eighteen years or older. While many casinos require you to be 21+ to gamble, laws are changing. Historically, an older generation might have found 18 to be too young, but attitudes are changing.
Now, how old you have to be to legally walk into a casino depends on which state you live in, along with which region within the state the casino is located. For the majority of the states, it's up to the county or casino owners to determine whether or not they will allow 18 year olds to participate in such activities. For example, in California, 18 year olds have access to most casino games, depending on where they're playing them. Of course, the sale of alcoholic beverages can make things a bit more complicated. Plus, the bar is a primary source of income for many physical casino establishments, which is why sometimes they prohibit players who are 18+ to play.
However, that doesn't mean there aren't 18+ casinos. These casinos allow players from 18 to 20 on the floor. It differs from casino to casino though. For example, some casinos allow 18 year olds to play poker or bingo, but don't allow them on the slot floor. Some casinos let younger players roam around the casino freely and just card everyone when they purchase a mixed drink or beer. It's not only up to the state itself to determine their stance on under 21 gambling, but it's also up to the individual casino. As long as the casino complies with state laws, they can do relatively what they want.
There is a long list of states that allow players 18 years or older to play. Keep in mind, just because a state allows for legal gambling for 18 year olds, doesn't mean there aren't restrictions within these legal allowances. Not every state will offer an 18 year old access to all amenities a casino has to offer. For example, Florida allows 18 year olds to play bingo and poker, but prohibits them from playing slots, video poker or table games. As you can see, the laws can be tricky, so you'll want to look up information regarding what state you're located in, or what state you're planning to gamble in, especially if you're under 21. States that allow 18 year olds to gamble include California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island and Washington.
When it comes to online gambling, the only legal US based online casinos are for players in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania but none of these options offer 21 and under gambling. However, the laws are shifting and many other states are considering a state licensed online casino initiative.