Many people who are getting ready to go on a cruise or traveling to Vegas are very interested in knowing what the legal gambling age is in the US. While it might seem like a simple question, the reality is that the US legal gambling age differs from one situation to another. While the legal gambling age is 18, this is not always the case. In some cases and for some types of gambling, the legal gambling age is not 18.

Age For Legal Gambling

While some casinos and environments may monitor their customers’ ages more closely than others, the legal gambling age for entering a casino and playing the slot machines is 18 years in the US. Of course, this legal gambling age in United States is only valid here in the US and whenever you travel somewhere else you should find out what the legal gambling age is in that country so that you do not end up getting yourself into trouble without even knowing it. 18 is just a general rule though; there are many circumstances under which those who are 18 are not legal to gamble. For example, the age 18 refers only to simple games such as slot machines or buying lottery tickets. When it comes to some of the harder gambling types, there are different rules in place.

This is why answering the question ‘what is the legal gambling age in the US?’ can be such a difficult venture. Is 18 the legal gambling age? Yes and no are both answers to this question. Of course, there are also situations, such as on cruise ships, where there is no one checking IDs at the casino door, and people who are not yet 18 sometimes slip in for the thrill of gambling before they have reached the legal gambling age.

Other Environments

Cruise ships don’t like the word getting around that sometimes underage people are gambling in their casinos; however, the truth is that that is sometimes just what is happening. When it comes to Vegas and other gambling hotspots, things are different. The Las Vegas legal gambling age is no different from the legal gambling age in Arizona, which is no different from the general legal age to gamble, which is to say 18. The legal gambling age in a casino is 18, however, there are times when this does not hold true. For example, a casino that is inside a bar will require everyone who enters to be 21. This is not because of legal age gambling requirements, but rather legal age to consume alcoholic beverages.