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Gambling age

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In various jurisdictions, the gambling age is the minimum age which one can gamble. In some countries, gambling is illegal for all people regardless of age, so a minimum age does not exist. In other countries, there are different age limits for different types of gambling.

Countries

Oceania

Country Age Notes
 Australia 18[1]
Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia Dependent on State law[2] Chuuk State Chuuk - N/A (gambling illegal)[3]


Yap State Yap - N/A (gambling illegal)[4]

Kiribati Kiribati 18[5]
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands N/A Gambling is illegal, with minor exceptions for non-profit bingo, raffles and cakewalks.[6]
Nauru Nauru 18[7]
 New Zealand 20 (casinos),

18 (horse racing),

18 (instant kiwi)

None (other (including lottery))[8]

Palau Palau 18 Gambling is illegal in Palau, with exceptions 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, one only needs to be 16 in order to buy a ticket.[13]
Tokelau Tokelau N/A Gaming is illegal (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 and gambling in casinos.

Europe

By countries:

Country/territory Minimum age Notes
 Abkhazia 18
 Albania 18[19]
 Andorra None[citation needed] There are no laws against gambling in Andorra.
 Austria 18[20]
 Belarus 18[21]
 Belgium 21[22]
 Bosnia and Herzegovina None
 Bulgaria 18[23]
Croatia Croatia 18,

None (non-casino machines, and private)

 Czech Republic 18[24]
 Denmark 18;

None (sports betting)[25]

 Estonia 21 (casinos);

16 (other)[26]

 Faroe Islands 18
Finland Finland 18[27] Increased from 15 to 18 years in October 2010 (slot machines had a transition time to raise the age limit to 18 until July 2011)[28]
France France 18[29] Lowered from 21 to 18 on May 5, 1987 for casinos.[30]
Germany Germany 18[31]
 Gibraltar 18[32]
Greece Greece 21[33]
 Guernsey 18
 Hungary 18[34]
 Iceland 18 (casinos),

15 (lottery)[35]

Republic of Ireland Ireland 18[36]
 Isle of Man 18
Italy Italy 18
 Jersey 21[37]
Kosovo Kosovo 18[38]
 Latvia 18[39]
 Liechtenstein 18[40]
 Lithuania 18[41]
 Luxembourg 18[42]
 Malta 18[43]
 Moldova 18[44]
Monaco Monaco 18[45]
Montenegro Montenegro 18[46]
 Netherlands 18[47]
 North Macedonia 18
 Norway 18[48]
Poland Poland 18[49]
Portugal Portugal 25 (some casinos)

18 (some other casinos, and all other types)[33]

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[50]
San Marino San Marino 18[51]
Serbia Serbia 18[52]
 Slovakia 18[53]
 Slovenia 18[54]
Spain Spain 18[33]
 Sweden 20 (casinos),[55]

18 (other)[56]

  Switzerland 18[57]
 Turkey 18
 Ukraine 18[58]
United Kingdom UK (United Kingdom) 18, 16

None (see the table below for more information)[59]

 Vatican City None

United Kingdom

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)


Asia

Country/territory Minimum age Notes
 Akrotiri and Dhekelia 18
Afghanistan Afghanistan Illegal;

None (online)

Casinos and lottery are forbidden, BUT online gambling is legal at any age.
 Armenia 21[60]
 Azerbaijan 18
Bahrain Bahrain Illegal
 Bangladesh None
 British Indian Ocean Territory 18
 Brunei Darussalam Illegal
 Cambodia None
 China Illegal (casinos)[61]

18 (lottery)

Gambling is illegal in China, and people often go to Macau and Hong Kong to gamble. But lottery gambling is not.
 Christmas Island 18
 Cocos (Keeling) Islands 18
 Cyprus 18[62]
 Georgia 18
 Hong Kong 18
 India 21[63]
 Indonesia Illegal Gambling is illegal in Indonesia, and people often go to Japan to gamble.
 Israel 18[64]
 Japan 20[65] Majority is lowered to 18, but gambling age still stays at 20 (both lottery and casino).
 Kyrgyzstan 18
 Laos 18[66]
 Lebanon 21[67]
Macau Macau 21
 Malaysia 21 Resorts World Genting in Genting Highlands is the only casino in Malaysia. Muslims are not allowed to participate.
 Maldives Illegal
 Mongolia None
 Myanmar 18
 Northern Cyprus 18
 Pakistan Illegal
 Philippines 21 (casinos)

18 (lottery)

 Qatar Illegal
 Russia 18
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Illegal
 Singapore 21
 South Korea 19
 Syria Illegal[68]
 Taiwan 21
 Thailand 18 Casino 20 Lotto
 Tajikistan 18
 UAE 21
Vietnam Vietnam 21

Africa

Country/territory Minimum age Notes
Algeria Algeria Illegal;
 Angola 18
Botswana Botswana 18
 Burkina Faso 18
 Cote d'Ivoire 21
Djibouti Djibouti 18 (casinos)

None (other types)

Egypt Egypt 21[69]
 Equatorial Guinea None
 Eritrea Illegal;

None (online)

 Ethiopia Illegal;

None (online)

 Gabon None There is no official gambling age, although many incorrectly believe it to be 18.
Ghana Ghana 18[70]
 Guinea 18
 Guinea Bissau None There is no official gambling age, although many incorrectly believe it to be 18.
Libya Libya Illegal
Malawi Malawi 18 [71]
 Mali 18 [72]
Mauritania Mauritania Illegal
Morocco Morocco 18[73]
 Mozambique 18
Namibia Namibia 21[74]
 Niger 21 (some casinos)

18 (some other casinos, and all other types)

 Nigeria 20[75]
 Senegal 18
 Seychelles 18
Somalia Somalia Illegal
South Africa South Africa 18[76]
 South Sudan None
Sudan Sudan Illegal
Tanzania Tanzania 18
Tunisia Tunisia None Legal at any age: from unsuccessful attempt to declare it illegal at any age.
Uganda Uganda 18

North America

Country/territory Minimum age Notes
 Anguilla None, but currently casinos do not exist there
 Antigua and Barbuda 18[77]
 Bahamas 21[78]
 Barbados 18[79]
 Belize 18[80]
 British Virgin Islands Illegal
 Canada Casinos: 19, 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec

Lottery: 18, 19 in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador

 Cayman Islands 18
 Costa Rica 18
 Cuba Illegal
 Dominica 18
 Dominican Republic 18[81]
 El Salvador 18
 Greenland 18
 Guatemala 18[82]
 Haiti 18[83]
 Honduras 18[84]
 Jamaica 18[85]
 Mexico 18
 Nicaragua 18[86]
 Panama 18
 Puerto Rico 18[87]
 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)[88]

 United States
State Minimum age Notes
Alabama 19
Alaska 21
Arizona 21
Arkansas 21
California 18
Colorado 21
Connecticut 21
Delaware 21
District Columbia 18
Florida 18
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
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 21, or 18
Ohio 21, or 18
Oklahoma 18
Oregon 21 (casinos),

18 (other)

Pennsylvania 21
Rhode Island 21
South Dakota 21
South Carolina 21
Tennessee 18
Texas 21
Utah 21
Vermont 21
Virginia 21 (casinos),

18 (other)

Washington 18
West Virginia 21
Wisconsin 21
Wyoming 21
21,

19,

18 (depends on state)[89]

South America

Country/territory Minimum age Notes
 Argentina 18[90]
 Aruba 18[91] Often unenforced.
 Bolivia 18[92]
 Brazil 18[93]
 Chile 18[94]
 Colombia 18[95]
 Curacao 18[96]
 Ecuador 18[97]
 Falkland Islands 18
 French Guiana 18
 Guyana 18[98]
 Paraguay 18[99]
 Saudi Arabia 18[100]
 UAE 18[101]
 Peru 18
 Suriname 18
 Trinidad and Tobago 18
 Uruguay 18
 Macau 21
 UAE 21
 Venezuela 18

Antarctica

Country/territory Minimum age Notes
 Antarctica None
 French Southern and Antarctic Lands 18
 Heard and McDonald Islands 18
 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 18

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