18+ Online Betting States – In What States Can You Gamble At 18?
Online gambling options for 18 and over players in the USA largely depend on the state where the wagering or the games are taking place. Concise information on 18+ online betting states and the variety of gambling types that are offered on the web in each region is provided here for your convenience.
We’ve detailed the various online betting options and, more importantly, listed our preferred options for web-based casinos for 18+, poker, and sportsbook sites. Don't gamble on the web at the ages of 18 through 20 without first taking in the following sections and investigating our online betting site reviews.
Best Offshore Betting Sites Accepting 18+ USA Players In May 2024
In What States Can You Gamble At 18?
Betting online at 18 is available in the United States, but the minimum age for each type varies depending on where you’re doing your web-based gambling. There are both state-regulated and offshore gambling sites that serve each region.
The following sections break down each type of online gambling available in each state and the minimum age requirements attached.
Online sports betting is offered domestically in many US states. There are also offshore sports betting sites that operate overseas that can lawfully provide their services to gamblers in the USA. Here are the current states that let 18-year-olds bet on sports domestically and offshore.
States Where Domestic Sports Betting At 18 Is Legal
- Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico (In-Person Only), Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., Wyoming
States That Allow Offshore Sports Betting At 18
There are no gambling laws that prevent players in any US state from betting on sports at 18 at an offshore sportsbook site that is operating legally online. The online sportsbooks you see on this page are all legitimately licensed and regulated, and can legally provide their services to bettors around the world, including the US.
States That Allow Domestic Online Casinos
- State-Regulated Online Casinos For 18 And Up: There are no states that license local casinos to provide online gaming to player under the age of 21. Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia feature locally regulated online gambling sites for 21 and older clientele. See below to learn about legal access to 18+ online casino gambling alternatives.
States That Allow Offshore Casino Gambling At 18
- States Allowing Offshore Casinos For 18+ Players: There are no states with existing laws that specifically prohibit you from using 18 and up offshore casino sites or that make it illegal. That means that online casino gambling can be done with offshore vendors at the age of 18 across the entire country.
States With Local Online Poker Sites
- States With Domestic Online Poker: While no states offer locally lincensed online poker for 18+ players, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. have regulated web-based real-money poker rooms for 21 and up.
States Allowing Offshore Poker Gambling At 18
- States With Offshore Poker Sites: State and federal laws have no impact on 18 and over poker gambling sites that operate outside the jurisdiction of the United States. That said, the online poker sites you see listed on this page have been providing reliable, premium online poker action to US players for years.
18+ State Betting Guides For 2024
States Where It Is Illegal To Gambling At 18
Because many states do not see you as an adult until you are 21 years old, the majority of states do not offer much, if anything, in the way of betting options for those of you who are 18 - 20 years of age. One exception includes regions with a state lottery, which often carry a minimum age of 18 in order to purchase lottery tickets. I'd be willing to bet that's not the type of gambling opportunity you're looking for.
When it comes to state regulated gambling entertainment, most states across the US limit your options to 21 and up venues. But we want to make sure you know that locally-licensed, domestically operated venues are NOT your only options. There are alternatives available to you that are legal and in many cases, have far more benefits than what you'll find offered locally in most US regions.
There are no US states that legally restrict you from accessing and participating in online gambling at an international betting site that is licensed, regulated, and operating legally outside of the US. This can include online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites, such as the brands you see represented towards the top of the page. Because of this, we are pleased to tell you that there are no states where ALL gambling is illegal, because 18+ offshore gambling sites are available to you in every state.
While you won't find any US states that include authorization specifically for offshore sports betting, they also do not forbid it at all through their state statutes. Many state gambling laws forbid you from operating an online sportsbook within state lines, but say nothing about accessing existing legal offshore sportsbooks operating internationally.
Additionally, the Supreme Court recently determined that online bets are actually taking place wherever the server is located, which in our case is outside of the country. US gambling laws do not govern transactions taking place in other jurisdictions, and there are international regulatory agencies that do oversee these offshore sports betting sites as long as you are placing your bets at a legitimate, licensed sportsbook.
The list of states where offshore casino gambling is illegal is very short. In fact, there is not even one state name on it. Offshore online casino sites are not illegal in any state for the same reason that there are no states where offshore sports betting is illegal. There are no laws at the state or federal level making it illegal. This means that you can access an 18+ casino online that is operating legally offshore without violating any US laws.
At the local level, there are very few states that have authorized state-licensed online casinos, and we don't see that changing anytime soon. It just isn't a popular move in the US and gamblers in individual states are not demanding a change from lawmakers. It is possible that offshore casinos operating online fill that market space so well that nobody is desiring a change.
Again, this will be another list with not a single state name on it. Now there are plenty of states where it is illegal to operate an online poker site within state lines. In fact that would be a pretty long list since it would include most states. But the good news here is that not a single state has put provisions in their gambling laws to forbid you from accessing legally sanctioned offshore poker sites. This means you can play real money poker games and participate in online poker tournaments without risk of violating any gambling laws.
All of the online poker sites you see listed in this website are licensed and regulated by an international gambling jurisdiction through official government agencies. They all accept players at 18 and offer you a secure, premium online poker gaming experience. These are the best offshore poker sites for players 18 and up.
In-Person 18 & Up Betting States
State Where You Can Bet On Sports At 18 In-Person
The following US states allow for gamblers that are aged 18 and up to enter a retail sportsbook and place a wager on a ballgame or athletic contest.
- Where Can You Bet On Sports At 18 In-Person: Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., Wyoming
Local sportsbooks in any of the states mentioned above may prohibit entry to anyone under 21 years old if they serve alcohol. Check ahead before traveling to an 18-friendly sports betting venue.
States With Local 18+ Poker Rooms
If you are aged 18 to 20 and want to play real money poker at a retail card room, the following states allow players under 21 to enter and ante up at the tables.
- States Where You Can Play Real Money Poker At 18 In-Person: California, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Wyoming
If the local poker room resides inside of a 21+ casino or serves alcohol, entrance may be restricted to anyone that has not yet reached the legal drinking age. We suggest calling ahead and checking the poker room's policies before venturing to one.
States Where You Can Gamble At Casinos At The Age Of 18 Locally
The US states listed below house brick-and-mortar casinos that are open to players that are 18 and over. Most of them are run by Federally Recognized Tribes, as state lawmakers are keener on 21+ gambling venues when they’re calling the shots.
- California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Washington
All domestic casinos reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone under 21 if they serve alcoholic beverages. Many locations opt out of the under-21 market to avoid the potential of underage drinking on casino property.
States With Mobile Betting Apps For 18 Year Olds And Up
- Domestic: Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., Wyoming
- Offshore: International sports betting sites can be accessed in all states across the USA, and many of them accept members starting at 18 years old.
- Domestic: Michigan (21+ in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia)
- Offshore: 18 and over players can access mobile casino apps that operate offshore. The online casinos recommended here can be used by eighteen and older players using iPhone and Android mobile devices.
- Domestic: Michigan (21+ in Connecticut, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia)
- Offshore: Poker apps that are based in overseas gaming jurisdictions can be pulled up on smartphones and tablets by 18+ gamblers in every state in the USA. The best poker apps in the business today are represented by the brands we link to on this page.
In-Person 21+ Betting States
- Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
- Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin
- Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia
Reference: State Gambling Laws