18 Year Old Sports Betting
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Want to get started betting on sports at a safe, licensed, and regulated sportsbook, but don’t know what the age requirements are? We’ve got you covered, regardless of what state you call home.
- For Americans wanting to place legal sports bets, there are two options: domestic and offshore. However, for most states that allow sports betting, the required minimum age is 21 years old. For most 18, 19, and 20-year-old NFL bettors inside of the USA, that really only leaves the option of online, offshore sportsbooks.
- The legal gambling age to bet on horses in Massachusetts is 18 years or older. Betting on the ponies is how plenty of gamblers get started due to the fact that kids can go to horse tracks. That gets newcomers introduced to the world of gambling and to accommodate that, many states elect to allow those 18 years.
- You need to be a minimum of 21-years-old to participate in any betting in Maryland. The exception is pari-mutuel horse racing, which states that you must be at least 18-years-old. Maryland Online Sports Betting: Common Payment Options. Different operators provide different payment options.
- While 21 is the more common age limit, there are states in which you can bet on sports if you are at least 18 years old. Read more Can you bet on sports if you are under 18 years old?
Reading through the micro-sized font on your sportsbook can be annoying and full of complicated legal jargon, but this guide keeps things simple. So, how old do you have to be to bet on sports in the United States?
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Sports Betting Age Requirements by State
There are no sports betting laws in either Michigan or at the federal level that prevents residents and visitors who are at least 18 years of age from betting at the 18+ online.
The age restriction for using an online sportsbook in the United States corresponds to state-imposed age restrictions for how old bettors have to be to gamble at brick and mortar casinos. This varies from state to state.
So, if you’re old enough to enter a brick and mortar casino in your state, you’re old enough to start using an online sportsbook.
You’re also allowed to bet on sports if you’re 18 or older when you’re visiting these states. There is no law stating that you have to be a resident to enjoy their lower age restrictions.
How Do Sportsbooks Verify Your Age?
To protect themselves from legal action, sportsbooks need to ensure that bettors are of legal age.
As such, they may ask you to verify your age.
To prove your age, you might be asked to provide the following:
- A photograph of your passport
- A photograph of your driver’s license
- A photograph of your state issued identification card
If you are of legal age, you’ll have no problem placing bets at your sportsbook. As a general rule, sportsbooks will verify your identity very quickly, and you’ll be able to start betting in no time.
Without verifying your identity, you will likely have significant difficulties depositing and withdrawing from your sportsbook.
Why Do Sportsbooks Have A Legal Requirement?
Sportsbooks place age restrictions on their customers because they are legally required to. If they didn’t, they’d be liable to be criminally charged and put out of business.
Sportsbooks are required to abide by the gambling laws in the countries that they provide services to. This is because sportsbooks are legitimate businesses subject to a wide range of regulations.
No matter what country or state you inhabit, there will be a law that states you must be of a certain age to have the capacity to gamble on sports. These laws were created to prevent businesses from taking advantage of minors.
If you need a comparable example, think of your neighborhood bar. In the United States, every single establishment that serves alcohol is bound by a law that states you must be 21 years or older to legally purchase alcohol.
This law was created to protect minors from the harms of alcohol abuse. Lawmakers decided that once adults reach the age of 21, they’re able to consent to potential damages that can be caused by drinking alcohol.
Gambling law was created to prevent minors from being exposed to the potential financial harms of gambling at too young of an age.
18 Year Old Sports Betting Sites
How Old Do You Have To Be To Use A Sportsbook at a Las Vegas Casino?
You must be 21, the same age as you have to be to use an online sportsbook in the state of Nevada.
Why Are There Different Restrictions for the Different States?
In the United States, gambling is legal under federal law. However, each state is entirely free to regulate gambling and the legal gambling age according to the wishes of their independent lawmakers.
There are four states where bettors can start betting on sports online at the age of 18, while in the remaining states bettors are required to be 21 or older:
| Sports Betting Allowed at 18 | Sports Betting Allowed at 21 |
|---|---|
| Alaska, Idaho, Minnesota, Wyoming | Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tenessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia |
Start Betting on Sports Today!
Now that you know how old you have to be to start betting on sports, get familiar with the fundamentals of our Betting 101 guide.
Even better, learn more about the best bonuses available at online sportsbooks with our helpful guide.