Gambling age
| Youth rights |
|---|
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.
Oceania
| Country | Age | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 Kiribati
|
18[1] | |
 Marshall Islands
|
N/A | Gambling is illegal, with minor exceptions for non-profit bingo, raffles and cakewalks.[2] |
 Nauru
|
18[3] | |
 Palau
|
18 | Gambling is illegal in Palau, with exceptions for social gambling, non-profit organisations and offshore gambling.[4] The social gambling age is tied to the age of majority,[5] which is 18 under Palauan law.[6] |
 Solomon Islands
|
18[7] | People below the age of 18 can gamble with parental permission in a private dwelling-house or in the presence of a parent.[7] For certain small lotteries, one only needs to be 16 in order to buy a ticket.[8] |
 Tokelau
|
N/A | Gaming is illegal (defined as "a game for money with cards or with dice").[9] |
 Tuvalu
|
18[10] | People below the age of 18 can gamble with parental permission in a private dwelling-house or in the presence of a parent.[10] For certain small lotteries, one only needs to be 16 in order to buy a ticket.[11] |
 Vanuatu
|
18[12][13] | The given references only prevent people under the age of 18 from gambling online and gambling in casinos. |
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) |
References
- ^ Gambling and Lotteries Act 1988, s7(i).
- ^ Gaming and Recreation Prohibition Act 1998 [31 MIRC Ch.4].
- ^ Gaming Act 2011, s10(c).
- ^ Penal Code of the Republic of Palau, Chapter 50.
- ^ Penal Code of the Republic of Palau, § 5010.
- ^ 21 PNC § 105
- ^ a b Gaming and Lotteries Act, s3(3).
- ^ Gaming and Lotteries Act, s15(2)(m).
- ^ Crimes, Procedure and Evidence Rules 2003, s64.
- ^ a b Gaming and Lotteries Act, s3(3).
- ^ Gaming and Lotteries Act, s9(2)(m).
- ^ Vanuatu Interactive Gaming Act, s18.
- ^ Casino Control Act, s44(4).