Most countries have legal age limits for buying alcohol, acquiring driving licenses, voting and gambling. The laws vary widely. But breaking these laws can often get you into trouble with the government. In this article, we look at the top countries with the lowest gambling age limits.
The UK—18 Years
The UK is one of the best places to be a gambler. You can visit Online Cricket Betting ID if you are 18 years or older. You can gamble both online and offline, and if you win money, you don’t pay taxes for it.
Another praiseworthy thing about Britain is that it has an excellent business environment with low taxes. As such, the most successful casinos in the world all want to serve the UK market. As a result, British gamblers access plenty of incredible gambling sites and apps.
Several US States—18 Years
Contrary to popular belief, you can play casinos games legally in the US before you are 18 years old, at least in Delaware. Although the state advises against doing it, an adult can legally buy a lottery ticket as a gift for someone below 18 years.
In Minnesota, Wyoming, Idaho and Lowa, you can bet on virtually all casino games if you are above 18 years. But in California, Indiana, Florida and Oregon, players below 21 years are restricted to a few wagers. We checked here and can also confirm Arizona allow charities to provide casino games at night. And as you probably know, the legal gambling age in Las Vegas is 21 years.
Australia—18 Years
Australia has an infamous gambling culture. Unlike anywhere else in the world, Aussies lose $1000 to casinos each year. And it’s not just a small portion of the country. More than 80% of the country gambles regularly, spending more than double what Americans gamble ($400).
So, why do Aussies gamble so much? The legal gambling age is 18 years. And with pokies (slots) spread out in every street and advertised online and on TV regularly, Australians come across casino adverts daily.
Brazil—18 Years
The Brazilian government holds a stern stance against online gambling. Some lawmakers have previously attempted to modernize the country’s gambling laws. But so far, remote gambling remains banned.
Despite, you can bet on sports or play casino games legally in Brazil at a few land-based casinos. You must be 18 years old by law, however.
Germany—18 or 21 Years
Germany is home to one of the oldest casinos in the world: Casino Wiesbaden. Established in 1810, the casino boasts of a timeless design that attracts gamblers from all parts of the world. Countrywide, Germany has numerous casinos regulated by its 16 regions.
Germany’s legal gambling age is 18 or 21 years for both online and offline gambling. The discrepancy in age is since casinos are allowed to reject players below 18 years.
Most EU Countries—18 Years
Germany, Portugal and Greece are the only European countries with laws that prohibit people below 21 years old to play casino games. In Greece, for example, you must be 23 years. In Portugal, you must be 25 years to play casino games.
But in all other European countries, the legal gambling age is 18 years. Iceland allows teenagers as young as 15 years to participate in lotteries. Estonia also allows 16-year-olds to participate in sports betting.
Fortunately, most European countries also support online gambling. That means you don’t have to drive miles to report states to play casino games. If you have a smartphone, you can bet on sports or play slots at the comfort of your house.
Canada—18 or 19 Years
Although most Canadian casinos only accept players above 19 years, some gambling establishments in Quebec and Alberta accept 18-year-olds. By law, Canada doesn’t license online casinos, but it also doesn’t prohibit citizens from gambling in overseas online casinos.
Of course, most overseas gambling sites accept players older than 18-year-olds. But that’s not the highlight. Being able to play online means Canadians could win millions of dollars on foreign casinos without getting into legal trouble.
Middle Eastern Countries—18 Years
The Middle East has restrictive gambling laws. From Saudi Arabia to Lebanon, Iraq to the UAE, citizens are generally not permitted to gamble. But to attract tourists, the countries have a few state-licensed casinos where foreigners above 18 years can gamble.
Most Middle Eastern countries prohibit gambling based on religious laws. A few of them have one or two casinos where citizens can gamble. But with the Internet being available everywhere, Middle Easterners who want to play casino games use overseas casinos with the help of VPNs.
Most African Countries—18 Years
In Africa, the standard gambling age is 18 years. However, some countries don’t have gambling laws or don’t allow it. In Algeria, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya and Senegal, the legal gambling age is 18 years. In Nigeria and Namibia, the age is 20 and 21 years, respectively.
In Tunisia, South Sudan, Mali and Guinea, governments don’t have gambling laws. In Libya, Mauritania, Sudan and Ethiopia, gambling is illegal.
Most South American Countries—18 Years
South America is one of the many emerging markets that adopted progressive laws this century. Before 2000, most countries in the region prohibited gambling of all kinds. Brazil and a few countries still shun efforts to modernize their gambling laws.
But for Colombia, Mexico, Argentina Costa Rica and Uruguay, you can legally play casino games and bet on sports if you are above 18 years.
Most Asian Countries—18 Years
Gambling is generally illegal in Asia. However, countries have laws that permit foreigners above the age of 18 years to gamble at land-based casinos. In South Korea, for example, locals are prohibited from betting both in the country and away. Despite that, tourists can gamble at South Korea’s land-based casinos legally.
In Japan, the legal gambling age is 20 years, while in Singapore and Macau, the legal age to visit a casino is 21 years.
