Zakary Hughes 
Legal gambling age is often discussed, with severe repercussions for those who violate it. Underage gambling is illegal in most US states and penalties for breaking that law can be harsh.
In most states, the legal age to gamble is 21. However, some exceptions exist, for instance New York permits 18-year-olds to engage in bingo, Daily Fantasy Sports and pari-mutuel betting activities.
Casinos
Gambling has long been one of the world’s favorite pastimes and for over millennia has been banned by empires, countries, and religions alike. While different forms of gambling exist such as casinos – with over 1,000 operating within US states alone. Each state’s law determines what age a gambler may participate legally.
Age restrictions differ depending on the casino type and state, with 21 generally being the legal minimum age to gamble legally. Although, there may be exceptions; New York allows 18 year olds to participate in bingo and pari-mutuel betting while other states impose higher restrictions.
Casinos conduct extensive verification procedures to verify customers are of legal age, both at physical locations and online ones. With online casinos, verification takes place during registration when a player must provide photo identification to comply with UKGC’s KYC (Know Your Customer) policy and prevent underage gambling.
With proper ID in hand, casinos will verify your age before allowing you to begin gambling with confidence. Any player caught gaming underage could face fines or suspension of their account as well as reporting to relevant authorities and be forced to close accounts – in which case, their gambling may also be sanctioned accordingly.
Legal Gambling Ages in Europe and Asia typically range between 18-21. In the US, legal age for most forms of gambling is 21, though New Jersey and Pennsylvania do permit younger gambling age restrictions; some online casinos also permit players to begin at 18, although they usually aren’t regulated by any state authorities.
In the United Kingdom, the minimum gambling age is 16. In most European countries, this same minimum age applies with some variations; for instance Finland requires 17 while in Sweden 18. Under UK law, children can only gamble at home or with parental permission or presence. Anyone under eighteen is only allowed to gamble at casinos using money they own independently and not from any source other than casino profits. In contrast, US children as young as four can gamble with their parents’ money at any offshore casino licensed for gambling activity as long as it meets certain legal criteria. Unfortunately, its laws have yet to develop fully so it’s hard to assess if lowering legal age requirements would have any significant effects on gambling activity levels. Governments and the industry are joining forces to combat problem gambling. More emphasis is being put on addiction treatment programs and education to protect young people from becoming hooked on addiction and chase unobtainable jackpots.
