Legal Sports Betting Age
One important aspect to keep in mind when searching for an online sportsbook is the legal age. This article is designed to teach aspiring sports bettors the ins and outs of the laws concerning the wagering age in America. You might think that there is a general age for the entire nation when it comes to legal U.S. sports betting sites, but in actuality, this varies from state to state.
This page will cover the age you must be over in order to bet on sports, as well as the laws that surround sports betting. We will go over online and land-based betting ages, and look at the penalties for underage gambling. At the end of the article, we will review one of our favorite sports betting websites for U.S. players to enjoy.
What Is The Minimum Age To Bet On Sports?
This is a great question that we get asked all the time. The simple answer is yes, there are The sports betting age in America varies from state to state. For instance, many states that allow land-based sports betting events require players to be 21, because most of the venues serve alcohol. This is not the case for all states, and you will find age variances in each one. Some states do not even have legal betting ages, which we will cover later. The general age range for legal sports wagering will be 18-21. Most casino towns in America put the age at 21 so don’t be surprised if it is harder to find a place that caters to 18 year olds.
Legal State Sports Betting Age
The legal sports betting age is different in each state. The usual age will be 18, but some states require you to be 21, and even fewer put the number at 19. Many of the states that allow land-based sports betting require bettors to be 21 because alcohol is served at many of these venues. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is a federal betting law that regulates land-based sports betting for the nation. As of now, only two states allow real-world sports wagering, Nevada and Delaware. The legal age in both states is 21. Other states, such as Hawaii and Vermont do not have gambling ages. Do an internet search for your state laws in order to learn this information.
Land-Based Penalties
Land-based underage wagering is quite rare these days because these venues check ID’s thoroughly. We highly advise against attempting to fake your way into a sports betting venue if you are underage, because legal action will follow. Sometimes the punishment will just be getting thrown out of the venue and banned for life, but most likely you will face criminal charges. You also have a reputation to think about. If you are banned from a few casinos, don’t doubt for a second that they will tell their friends, and you will soon get evil stares at the other venues in town.
Legal Online Sports Betting Age
The many legal online sportsbooks for U.S. players have their own age requirements for signing up. The majority of these sites require players to be 18 or older, while some of them defer to the state laws. There is a general rule to follow when signing up with an online sportsbook that is legal and that is to always check out your state wagering age first. If a sports betting site asks you to be 18, but your state requires you to be 19 or 21, it is best to go with the state laws. No one has ever been arrested for wagering online, but following your state laws will make sure that you are following all of the rules.
Penalties for Underage Online Sports Betting
The penalties for underage wagering online can range from closing your account, forfeiture of funds, and even legal action. This is why it is best to follow your state age when signing up. Again, if your state requires bettors to be 21, you should wait until you are that old to sign up at a site. This is such an easy rule to abide by that it is almost comical how many underage players try to slip past the radar. Don’t be one of these statistics, it is not worth it.
Best Online Sportsbooks for U.S. Players
As you can see, most of the laws surrounding the U.S. legal betting age are simple and straightforward. The age varies from state to state, and it will either be 18, 19, 21, or no age requirement (because the state doesn’t offer any form of wagering). Anyone can join an online sportsbook as long as they are of age, and the site accepts players from their state. We will now review a site that accepts players from all 50 states, and requires you to be 18. As we have mentioned though, if your state requires you to be 21, it is wise to wait until you are that age to sign up.
SportsBetting Sportsbook
Wager online in the U.S.A.
SportsBetting is a highly acclaimed online sportsbook for U.S. residents that has everything you can imagine to wager on. You really can’t go wrong here, as this sportsbook is one of the most powerful pieces of software we have ever seen. You will find expert odds and lightning-fast lines on all major sports, as well as semi-pro leagues, and even political and entertainment props if you feel like taking a break from the sporting action. It is so simple to while away the hours on this site placing wagers on every aspect of the game or competition that you might have to restrain yourself. We suggest setting an alarm, because this site is so well designed, it will suck you in to its sports betting universe.
If you want to sign up for an account here, you will need to be at least 18 years old. While no one has ever been in trouble for playing at SportsBetting, we still advise players to abide by their state’s legal age. If you are from a state that requires you to be 21 to bet, we suggest following their guidelines to stay on the safe side. Head over to SportsBetting now to experience a supreme sportsbook at work.
| Rank | Legal Sports Betting Sites | Bonus Rewards | Find Out More |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bovada Sportsbook | 50% Up To $250 | Visit Bovada |
| 2 | BetOnline Sportsbook | 25% up to $1,000 | Visit BetOnline |
| 3 | SportsBetting | 50% up to $500 | Visit SportsBetting |
| 4 | 5Dimes Sportsbook | Reduced Juice On Bets | Visit 5Dimes |
Here's What To Remember:
Every so often, you might come across an online sportsbook that doesn’t list an age requirement, or leaves goes by the state of the aspiring member. Most of these sites that have no listed age are bogus, and we suggest staying away from them. However, if a site simply defers to the state of the new player, that is fine. Many of the sites that are recommended for legal sports betting in the U.S. do this. Remember, if there is no age requirement, the site is questionable. If the site defers to the state age, then it is probably safe. If you want to be assured that you are using a prestigious site, just go with one of the ones that we review, as they are all considered the best in the world. You can and should explore the rest of our site to discover where the best sportsbooks are. In the process, you will also get a handle on all aspects of sports betting in America.