# Gambling age

The gambling age is an aspect of gambling law — the minimum age at which one can legally gamble in a certain jurisdiction. In some countries, gambling is illegal regardless of age, while some countries have different age limits for different types of gambling, and some countries have no explicit minimum gambling age.

## Oceania

| Country | Age | Notes |
| Australia | 18 | The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 passed by the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia banned online gambling in the form of casinos and slots. |
| Federated States of Micronesia | Dependent on State law | Chuuk and Yap – illegal |
| Kiribati | 18 | |
| Marshall Islands | Illegal for all ages | Gambling is illegal except for non-profit bingo, raffles and cakewalks. |
| Nauru | 18 | |
| New Zealand | 20 (casinos) 18 (horse racing and instant kiwi) None (other types, including lottery) | |
| Palau | 18 | Gambling is illegal in Palau except for social gambling, non-profit organisations, and offshore gambling. The social gambling age is tied to the age of majority, which is 18 under Palauan law. |
| Papua New Guinea | None | |
| Solomon Islands | 18 | People below the age of 18 can gamble with parental permission in a private dwelling-house or in the presence of a parent. For certain small lotteries, the minimum age to purchase a ticket is 16. |
| Tokelau | Illegal for all ages | Gaming is illegal in Tokelau (defined as "a game for money with cards or with dice"). |
| Tuvalu | 18 | People below the age of 18 can gamble with parental permission in a private dwelling-house or in the presence of a parent. For certain small lotteries, one only needs to be 16 in order to buy a ticket. |
| Vanuatu | 18 | The given references only prevent people under the age of 18 from gambling online or in casinos. |

## Europe

| Country/territory | Minimum age | Notes |
| Albania | 18 | |
| Andorra | None | |
| Austria | 18 | |
| Belarus | 18 | |
| Belgium | 21 (casinos) 18 (national lottery) | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 18 | |
| Bulgaria | 18 | |
| Croatia | 18 (excluding non-casino machines and private) | |
| Cyprus | 18 | |
| Czech Republic | 18 | |
| Denmark | 18 (except sports betting) | |
| Estonia | 21 (casinos) 18 (sports betting) 16 (national lottery) | |
| Faroe Islands | 18 | |
| Finland | 18 |
| France | 18 | Lowered from 21 to 18 on May 5, 1987, for casinos. |
| Germany | 18–21 | Varies by state and the type of gambling, lotteries and casinos are generally rated above 18 except casinos in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, which are rated above 21. |
| Gibraltar | 18 | |
| Greece | 21 | |
| Georgia | 25, or 18 for foreign citizens and stateless persons | |
| Guernsey | 18 | |
| Hungary | 18 | |
| Iceland | 18 | |
| Ireland | 18 | |
| Isle of Man | 18 | |
| Italy | 18 | |
| Kosovo | Illegal for all ages | Gambling was outlawed in 2019 due to a string of murders that occurred in casinos that year. |
| Latvia | 18 | |
| Liechtenstein | 18 | |
| Lithuania | 18 | |
| Luxembourg | 18 | |
| Malta | 18, or 25 for Maltese citizens | |
| Moldova | 18 | |
| Monaco | 18 | |
| Montenegro | 18 | |
| Netherlands | 18 | |
| Northern Cyprus | 18 | |
| North Macedonia | 18 | |
| Norway | 18 | |
| Poland | 18 | |
| Portugal | 25 (some casinos) 18 (some casinos, and all other types) | 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 | |
| San Marino | 18 | |
| Serbia | 18 | |
| Slovakia | 18 | |
| Slovenia | 18 | |
| Spain | 18 | |
| Sweden | 20 (casinos) 18 (other types) | |
| Switzerland | 18 | |
| Turkey | Illegal for all ages (casinos) 18 (lotteries) | Gambling is illegal in Turkey except for lotteries and horse races. |
| Ukraine | 21 | |
| UK (United Kingdom) | Age variable by bet: 18 16 None (see the table below for more information) | Gambling ages in the United Kingdom are set out in the Gambling Act 2005: Part 4, Protection of children and young persons. Type of gamblingMinimum ageRelevant 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.1846, 47, 48 and 49 Gaming machine (Machine category: A, B1, B2, B3, B3A, B4, C)1847 and 48 Gaming machine (Machine category: D)None46 (2)(e) and 48 (2)(e) National lottery1848 (2)(c) Scratchcards1848 (2)(c) Football pool1648 (2)(d) Private or non-commercial gaming and bettingNone48 (2)(a)&(b) Equal chance gaming in accordance with a prize gaming permit, or Equal chance gaming at a licensed family entertainment centreNone48 (2)(f)&(g) Prize gaming at a non-licensed family entertainment centre, or Prize gaming at a travelling fairNone48 (2)(h)&(i) |
| Vatican City | None | |

## Asia

| Country/territory | Minimum age | Notes |
| Akrotiri and Dhekelia | 18 | |
| Afghanistan | Illegal for all ages | All casinos and lotteries are forbidden. |
| Armenia | 21 | |
| Azerbaijan | 18 | |
| Bahrain | Illegal for all ages | |
| Bangladesh | None | |
| British Indian Ocean Territory | 18 | |
| Brunei Darussalam | Illegal for all ages | |
| Cambodia | None | |
| China | Illegal for all ages 18 (lotteries) | Gambling is illegal in China except for lotteries. |
| Christmas Island | 18 | |
| Cocos (Keeling) Islands | 18 | |
| Hong Kong | 18 | |
| Iran | Illegal for all ages | |
| India | 21 | According to Public Gambling Act 1867, gambling is considered as illegal in the majority of the regions across the country. Further information: Gambling in India |
| Indonesia | Illegal for all ages | All forms of gambling are illegal. |
| Israel | 18 | |
| Japan | 20 18 (pachinko) | Majority is lowered to 18, but gambling age still stays at 20 (for lotteries and casinos). |
| Jordan | Illegal for all ages | |
| Kyrgyzstan | 18 | |
| Laos | 18 | |
| Lebanon | 21 | |
| Macau | 21 18 (lottery, sports betting, racing) | |
| Malaysia | 21 Illegal for all ages (Muslims) | Resorts World Genting in Genting Highlands is the only casino in Malaysia as of 2022. |
| Maldives | Illegal for all ages | |
| Mongolia | None | |
| Myanmar | 18 | |
| Pakistan | Illegal for all ages | |
| Philippines | 21 (casinos) 18 (lottery) | |
| Qatar | Illegal for all ages | |
| Russia | 18 | |
| Saudi Arabia | Illegal for all ages | |
| Singapore | 21 (casinos) 18 (lottery, sports betting, racing) | |
| South Korea | 19 | |
| Sri Lanka | 21 (lotteries) | |
| Syria | Illegal for all ages | |
| Taiwan | 20 | |
| Tajikistan | 18 | |
| Thailand | Illegal for all ages (casinos) 20 (lottery) | Gambling is illegal in Thailand, except for the Government lottery. |
| Timor-Leste | 18 | Only the Government lottery and licensed slot machines are legal. |
| Turkey | Illegal for all ages (casinos) 18 (lotteries) | Gambling is illegal in Turkey except for lotteries and horse races. |
| UAE | Illegal for all ages (casinos) 21 (lotteries) | |
| Vietnam | 21 | |

## Africa

| Country/territory | Minimum age | Notes |
| Algeria | Illegal for all ages | |
| Angola | 18 | |
| Botswana | 18 | |
| Burkina Faso | 18 | |
| Cote d'Ivoire | 21 | |
| Djibouti | 18 (casinos) None (other types) | |
| Egypt | 21 | |
| Equatorial Guinea | None | |
| Eritrea | Illegal for all ages None (online) | |
| Ethiopia | Illegal for all ages None (online) | |
| Gabon | None | There is no official gambling age; many erroneously believe it to be 18. |
| Ghana | 18 | |
| Guinea | 18 | |
| Guinea Bissau | None | There is no official gambling age; many erroneously believe it to be 18. |
| Libya | Illegal for all ages | |
| Malawi | 18 | |
| Mali | 18 | |
| Mauritania | Illegal for all ages | |
| Morocco | 18 | |
| Mozambique | 18 | |
| Namibia | 21 | |
| Niger | 21 (some casinos) 18 (some other casinos, all other types) | |
| Nigeria | 20 | |
| Senegal | 18 | |
| Seychelles | 18 | |
| Somalia | Illegal for all ages | |
| South Africa | 18 | |
| South Sudan | None | |
| Sudan | Illegal for all ages | |
| Tanzania | 18 | |
| Tunisia | None | Legal at any age: unsuccessful attempts have been made to declare gambling illegal outright or impose a minimum age. |
| Uganda | 25 | |

## North America

| Country/territory | Minimum age | Notes |
| Anguilla | None | Casinos do not exist in Anguilla as of 2023 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 18 | |
| Bahamas | 18 | |
| Barbados | 18 | |
| Belize | 18 | |
| British Virgin Islands | Illegal for all ages | |
| Canada State Minimum age Notes Alberta 18 (casinos) 18 (lottery) British Columbia 19 (casinos) 19 (lottery) Manitoba 18 (casinos) 18 (lottery) New Brunswick 19 (casinos) 19 (lottery) Newfoundland and Labrador 19 (casinos) 19 (lottery) Nova Scotia 19 (casinos) 19 (lottery) Ontario 19 (casinos) 18 (lottery) Prince Edward Island 19 (casinos) 19 (lottery) Quebec 18 (casinos) 18 (lottery) Saskatchewan 19 (casinos) 18 (lottery) | 18–19 (varies by province) | |
| Cayman Islands | 18 | |
| Costa Rica | 18 | |
| Cuba | Illegal for all ages | |
| Dominica | 18 | |
| Dominican Republic | 18 | |
| El Salvador | 18 | |
| Greenland | 18 | |
| Guatemala | 18 | |
| Haiti | 18 | |
| Honduras | 18 | |
| Jamaica | 18 | |
| Mexico | 18 | |
| Nicaragua | 18 | |
| Panama | 18 | |
| Puerto Rico | 18 | |
| 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) | |
| United States State Minimum age Notes Alabama 19 Alaska 21 Arizona 21 Arkansas 21 California 21 or 18 (casinos) 18 (Lottery) Colorado 21 (casinos) 18 (lottery) Connecticut 21 Delaware 21 (casinos) 18 (lottery) District of Columbia 18 Florida 21 (casinos) 18 (lottery) 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 (casinos) 18 (lottery) 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 19 Ohio 21 or 18 Oklahoma 18 Oregon 21 (casinos) 18 (other) Pennsylvania 21 Rhode Island 18 South Dakota 21 South Carolina 21 Tennessee 21 (sports betting) 18 (lottery) Texas 21 Utah Illegal for all ages Vermont 21 Virginia 21 (casinos) 18 (other) Washington 18 West Virginia 21 Wisconsin 21 Wyoming 21 | 18, 19, 21 or illegal (varies by state) | |

## South America

| Country/territory | Minimum age | Notes |
| Argentina | 18 | |
| Aruba | 18 | This law is not often enforced. |
| Bolivia | 18 | |
| Brazil | Illegal for all ages (casinos) 18 (lottery) | Gambling is illegal in Brazil, except for the Government lottery. |
| Chile | 18 | |
| Colombia | 18 | |
| Curacao | 18 | |
| Ecuador | 18 | |
| Falkland Islands | 18 | |
| French Guiana | 18 | |
| Guyana | 18 | |
| Paraguay | 18 | |
| Peru | 18 | |
| Suriname | 18 | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 18 | |
| Uruguay | 18 | |
| Venezuela | 18 | |

## Antarctica

| Country/territory | Minimum age | Notes |
| Antarctica | Not applicable / Varying | See Crime in Antarctica |
| French Southern and Antarctic Lands | 18 | |
| Heard and McDonald Islands | 18 | |
| South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | 18 | |