How Old Do You Have To Be To Bet? All Legal Betting States
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Last Updated: 17 December, 2025
How old do you have to be to bet on sports?
To bet in the US, you must be either 18 or 21 years old, depending on the state and type of gambling.
Most states require you to be 21 to bet on sports or play in casinos.
Lottery, bingo, and sweepstakes gambling are often legal at 18. Always check your state's laws before placing a bet.
Can you bet under 18?
No, you cannot legally bet underage in the US.
Every licensed sportsbook and casino is required to verify your age before you can place a bet.
If you're caught gambling underage, your account will be shut down ,and any winnings will be taken away.
You could also face fines, legal penalties, or criminal charges depending on the state.
Gambling age by state
Where can I bet at 18 in the US?
You can legally bet at 18 in Kentucky, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Wyoming, and Washington, D.C.
These states allow 18-year-olds to place sports bets, but you still have to be physically located within state lines.
Online sportsbooks in these states will verify your age and location before letting you play.
Always double-check local laws, since rules can change or differ by platform.
Where can I bet at 21 in the US?
You must be 21 to place sports bets in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
These states require all sports bettors to be 21 or older, whether betting online or in person.
Most follow this rule to match alcohol and casino age laws. ID verification is mandatory on all legal platforms.
Types of betting
Sports betting sites
Sports betting means placing money on the outcome of a sporting event.
You can bet on who wins a game, the total score, or specific in-game events.
Legal sports betting is now allowed in many U.S. states, but the minimum age is usually 21.
Some states allow betting at 18, but you must be within state lines and use a licensed sportsbook.
Offshore sites may accept bets without age checks, but they’re risky and often not legal.
Online casinos
Online casinos offer digital versions of games like slots, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.
In most states, you must be 21 to play for real money.
Some states don’t allow online casinos at all, while others only permit sweepstakes versions.
Licensed online casinos must verify your identity and location before letting you play.
They’re regulated by state authorities to ensure fairness and protect your money.
Online poker
Online poker lets you play games like Texas Hold'em or Omaha against other players on the internet.
This is different from casino-style games, where you play against the house.
States that allow online poker usually require players to be 21.
A few allow it at 18, but access is limited and often tied to broader gambling laws.
As with other legal online betting, your location and ID must be verified before you can play.
Poker rooms
Poker rooms are physical spaces where players compete in live poker games.
These are usually found in casinos or card clubs and offer both tournaments and cash games.
Most states require players to be 21, though a few allow entry at 18.
Unlike online poker, these rooms require in-person play, and the legal age may vary if the venue is on tribal land.
Rules for poker rooms can differ from online platforms, even within the same state.
Bingo
Bingo is a game of chance where players match numbers on a card to numbers drawn at random.
It’s often linked to community events, senior centers, or charity fundraisers.
Many states allow bingo at 18, even if other gambling forms are restricted.
Some states raise the age to 21 depending on the setting or prize amount.
Online bingo is also growing, but it’s often tied to sweepstakes rules rather than standard gambling laws.
Lottery
The lottery includes games like Powerball, Mega Millions, and scratch tickets.
It’s one of the most widely available forms of legal gambling in the US.
Most states allow you to buy lottery tickets at age 18.
Some allow it for younger or older, depending on the type of game.
Lottery sales are state-run and heavily regulated, with proceeds often funding education or public programs.
Sweepstakes casinos
Sweepstakes casinos offer casino-style games using virtual currencies instead of real money.
Players use “Gold Coins” for fun play or “Sweeps Coins” that can be redeemed for cash prizes.
These platforms are legal in most U.S. states because they don’t qualify as traditional gambling.
You must usually be at least 18 to play.
While they look and feel like online casinos, sweepstakes casinos follow different laws and aren’t tied to real-money bets.
Types of bets
If you're new to sports betting, it's important to understand the different ways you can place a bet.
Each type has its own rules, risks, and payout potential.
Some are simple, like picking a winner, while others let you bet on specific stats or combine multiple outcomes.
Here are five of the most common sports bets you’ll find at legal US sportsbooks:
Moneyline
A moneyline bet is the simplest type, you’re just picking who will win the game.
Odds are listed with a plus (+) for the underdog and a minus (–) for the favorite.
You win if your team wins, no matter the score.
Point spread
Point spread betting evens the odds between teams by assigning a margin of victory.
The favorite must win by more than the spread, while the underdog can win outright or lose by less than that number.
It’s one of the most popular ways to bet on football and basketball.
Over/Under (Totals)
In this bet, you're not picking a winner.
Instead, you bet whether the total combined score of both teams will be over or under a number set by the sportsbook.
This type of bet is common in high-scoring sports like basketball and football.
Parlay
A parlay combines multiple bets into one.
You must win every leg of the parlay to cash out.
Payouts are higher, but so is the risk; one wrong pick means you lose the whole bet.
Prop bets
Prop (or proposition) bets focus on specific events within a game, not just the final result.
For example, you might bet on who scores the first touchdown or how many three-pointers a player makes.
These are popular during big events like the Super Bowl because they add extra layers of excitement.
Frequently asked questions
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