Sports Betting Age: How Old Do You Have To Be To Sport Bet?

Gamblers who are interested in sports betting should know that states have their legal sports betting age. This means that the state you live in can determine if you are legally allowed to place sports bets at American gambling sites.

Many states follow similar age limits, but knowing the variance in wagering age will help you know what to expect based on where you live. The betting age is just one legal concern that players have to think about, and we’ll go over those here, as well as take you through the process of finding and choosing your ideal Sportsbook.

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Betting Age Key Facts

• The legal betting age is determined by the state
• The age changes depending on the state
• Legal age is the same for online and offline wagering

Sports betting, like most other activities in the United States is carefully regulated including betting age. This activity is available in many states throughout the country, but there are some betting basics that you must meet in order to be able to place a wager. Age and location are two major concerns, and both of those things matter when trying to remain legally compliant. Gamblers must be in the proper states in order to place online sports bets, and they must be old enough. Below we’ll outline the different gambling law requirements, and explain what betting age requirements there are in general. After that we’ll go into detail about location requirements as well.

Is there a Legal Betting Age in the USA?

Yes, there is an age that everyone can legally place sports bets in the United States, but that age changes depending on the state that the person is in. That means if you are interested in knowing what the betting age in NJ is, you wouldn’t be able to ask someone from a different state and expect the same answer. Instead, you must research the information yourself. We put together a simple guide explaining how things are different between the states, and giving everyone a quick way to find out their state’s wagering age requirements as well. Keep reading and you’ll soon know how old you need to be to wager in your home state.

Legal Betting States in the US

Always Ensure You Stay on the Right Side of the Line

States Regulate Sports Betting Independently

Ever since the overturn of the PASPA law that made online sports betting illegal, each of the different states throughout the United States handle sports betting laws independently. That means that betting ages can be different from one state to another. Each state, other than South Carolina, has different gambling laws that must be learned. Below is a quick overview of the state age requirements to get interested gamblers started.

Sports Betting Ages by State

Any gamblers that would like to know how old they have to be in order to wager in their home state are in luck. Below, we've provided an overview of the states that have age requirements different from 18 years old. If your state is included on that list, you must be older than 18 and may need to be as old as 21 in order to participate in sports betting in your state. If it isn’t on the list below, then you must be 18 years old in order to place a sports bet.

Any of the states with an N/A as part of the gambling law likely don’t support sports betting or many other forms of gambling at all. It’s important to get very familiar with the laws in these states before attempting to wager in any way.

Sports Betting is Restricted by Location as Well

With sports betting age is just one of the factors when determining whether it is legal to take part in the activities or not. Another important factor is the location of the person that wants to wager. Some parts of the country allow sports betting while other parts do not.

Sports Betting is Legal on a State-by-State Basis

In the United States, each state has its own laws on sports betting. This creates a mix of rules across the country.

A big change came in 2018 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), allowing states to legalize sports gambling. In 2018, a Supreme Court decision called Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association opened the door for states to legalize sports betting. Before this, a federal law (PASPA) mostly restricted sports betting to Nevada. This law was passed because some worried about illegal activity spreading with sports betting.

Despite the popularity of underground sports betting, the ban lasted for a long time. The Supreme Court's decision gave states the power to decide on sports betting within their borders. Since then, 38 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized some form of sports betting. In 29 of these states, you can also bet online.

Most states require you to be at least 21 to bet on sports, though some allow 18+. A few states also permit online casino gambling alongside sports betting. To place bets online, you usually have to be physically present in the state where the platform operates, but residency isn't required. Despite the patchwork of laws, many regulated betting sites operate in multiple states.

Some states have limited sports betting to physical locations like casinos, but this could change in the future as more states consider expanding access. Notably, certain states still prohibit all forms of sports betting. Currently, sports betting is illegal in twelve states, including California and Texas. These states have large populations and could be big markets for sports betting companies. Efforts to legalize it there haven't been successful yet.

New York is the most populated state with legal sports betting. Many states are still issuing licenses for sports betting companies, but this might slow down over time. The interactive map below shows a list of the states with legal, planned, and illegal online sports betting.

Betting Providers Use Location Tracking Tools

According to the Wire Act of 1961 it is illegal to place sports bets with sportsbooks that are located in a different state or country. For that reason, each sportsbook operating online in the United States has powerful location tracking tools in place. If gamblers would like to wager using those platforms, they must allow the provider to track their location before they can get started.

Gamblers are now free to use computers, smartphones and other devices to place sports bets in select states. In order to use those devices they must make use of location-tracking software though. That means giving the sportsbook a way to see where your device is located before placing any wagers. If located outside of the approved state at the time of trying to place a wager, the wager won’t go through. Players that work to deceive the system in some way will risk being fined for doing so.

Top Tips for Finding the Ideal Sportsbook

Get familiar with the different sportsbook offerings and choose a site that stands out in terms of performance and the features that it offers as well. For gamblers that aren’t sure which of the different sportsbooks can be trusted, we put together a full review of different sportsbook options to consider. We have also crafted a guide explaining the different types of staking strategies to teach you important bankroll management tips.

Choose the Ideal Sportsbook

The betting age at horse racing and other sportsbook activities depends on the state that the sportsbooks are located in. After learning about these laws, it’s time for gamblers to choose where to bet on sports. For each gambler, this decision will be a bit different, so it’s important to focus in on the different options and to select one that’s the most appealing. For instance, if you want to learn to leverage teasers or develop a good pleaser strategy, you will have to find a suitable bookie that makes it easier for you.

Players are encouraged to look at our best online sportsbook comparison chart to help them make the best decision about where to play. After looking over the options players can choose an ideal sportsbook, sign up and start playing. Sports betting is exciting, but it takes time to get started. Get familiar wit the options today and choose an ideal sports betting website to play at.

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FanDuel: Pros & Cons

• A wide range of betting options
• Multiple choices for depositing and withdrawing funds.
• Easy-to-use interface
• Attractive bonuses

• Does not support cryptocurrency transactions

All of the sportsbooks we've mentioned previously have their unique pros and cons. However, using our tips for finding the ideal sportsbook, you may likely find the one that's just right for you. With that being said, one sportsbook from the list has stood out for us and that is FanDuel

FanDuel is a top choice for sports betting in the US because of its unique odds, bonuses, betting options, customer service and features. FanDuel offers a $150 bonus bet if your first bet wins (up to $5).

Payment options are essential for seamless transactions, and FanDuel offers a range of methods for deposits and withdrawals. In terms of mobile apps, FanDuel provides accessible platforms for users. FanDuel's app is tailored for US bettors, prioritizing major leagues like the NBA and NFL. For customer support options, their platform offers live chat, email, and online contact forms.

Ultimately, your choice of sports betting platform in the US will depend on your  personal preference and specific priorities. Nevertheless, we think FanDuel is a great option.

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Conclusion: Gambling Laws Vary by State

There are different age restrictions for sports betting depending on the area of the country that a player lives in. Interested gamblers should take a moment to learn more about these different age requirements to help them determine if they can wager or not.

There are also location requirements to think about. After negotiating all different laws regulating the industry, sports betting can be a whole lot of fun and an excellent way to spend time. Try out sports betting for yourself, or get more familiar with the different laws and then decide whether it’s right for you or not.

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