• Where To Gamble Online
• Where Can I Gamble Online

Minimum Legal US Gambling Age by State & Market Legal gambling ages vary across the US, with states setting the minimum at either 18 or 21. However, this can change depending on the type of.

If you’ve just recently become a legal adult, you might wonder where you can go to gamble as an 18-year-old in California. With some exceptions, many legal casinos or card rooms in California will let you enter as soon as you turn 18. The same goes for any online gambling apps, although these are very limited because of California’s strict gambling legislation.

The only confusion that comes into play is when a state allows casino gambling to players 21 and up, but the online casinos accept players at 18. Now we’re in the gray zone. Since less than a dozen states offer locally licensed online casinos, most states have absolutely no laws regarding online gambling, and therefore have not established a minimum gambling age for online. 18+ online casinos have a wide range of software providers, providing you with an endless number of games and different environments in which they can be played. No two online casinos will be the same experience for a player but at the online.

Here we will break down where you can enjoy 18+ gambling in the Golden State.

California Indian Casinos: Gambling Options For 18+

The legal gambling age is 18-years-old on all land under California jurisdiction. Because Indian casinos technically operate on reservation land, they aren’t beholden to California legislation. They can set their own legal gambling age to some extent (with some government oversight). Because of this, some Indian casinos allow anyone 18-years-old or older to enter, while others have a higher minimum of 21-years-old.

The reason for this is that some Indian casinos serve alcohol on open gambling floors or otherwise make it very easy for anyone to obtain alcohol, even while following licensing verification practices. They set their legal entrance ages to 21-years-old to prevent any instances of underage drinking on their premises.

This means it’s important to always double-check whether a tribal casino has a legal age of 18-years-old or 21-years-old before making the trip. Most tribal casinos follow the 21-year-old rule. However, there are more than 20 (out of 63) that currently allow 18-year-olds to enter.

Northern California 18+ Casinos

Northern California casinos are usually based around Sacramento or San Francisco: the two largest metropolitan areas in the top half of the state. These resorts run from large to very small, featuring diverse themes and lots of different gambling activities that range from slot machines to lottery games to blackjack and other electronic games. Most tribal casinos are located in the southern half of the state, but there are still plenty of worthwhile ones to check out north of Fresno.

Here are some of the best Northern California 18+ casinos:

Table Mountain Casino

Just 20 miles north of Fresno, this casino is due for a big renovation over the next few years. For now, it includes several thousand gaming machines and over 40 table games. It also offers 10 poker tables for reserved or spur-of-the-moment Sit’N’Go games. The casino is currently looking into creating an adjacent hotel, but there are plenty of other accommodations nearby as well. Dining and live entertainment activities round out its offerings.

Lucky Bear Casino

A smaller tribal casino totaling 5000 ft.², Lucky Bear is one of the most northern tribal casinos in California. It’s nestled in the beautiful mountains and features dozens of slot machines and other games. It’s an ideal place to gamble and relax while touring the Northern California wilderness or road tripping up the coast.

Elk Valley Casino

This Northern California casino is open 24 hours daily. It features 23,000 ft.² of gaming space, 11 table and poker games, and over 300 distinct gaming machines. These are available alongside a single restaurant for convenient dining access.

Southern California 18+ Casinos

Southern California casinos outnumber their Northern California counterparts by a fair margin, and they’re mostly concentrated around Los Angeles, Fresno, and San Diego. They also include plenty of spas to take advantage of the typically relaxing, sunny Southern California ambiance. Additionally, many of the casinos feature entertainment venues reflecting a focus on the show business industry. These venues often utilize iconography or themes that draw from Hollywood or other iconic neighborhoods.

Here are some of the best Southern California 18+ casinos:

Morongo Casino Resort Spa

This casino is a perfect choice if you want to mix some spa time with your gambling activities. It’s very close to Palm Springs and has over 150,000 ft.² in total with nearly 3,000 slot machines. It also includes a poker room and 13 reserve poker tables for private games, plus a variety of spa and resort amenities like massages services, and pool access.

Tachi Palace Casino Resort

This famous casino is located in Lemoore just south of Central California. It’s one of the best casinos in the region, with over 2,000 slot machines, a seven-table poker room, and a 255-room hotel and spa. Several restaurants and other dining venues nearby make it a great place for general relaxation and vacationing.

Full List of 18+ California Casinos

Sweepstakes Online Casinos In California 18+

There are a few ways you can enjoy 18+ online gambling in California even though the activity is broadly illegal. One way is by using sweepstakes sites. Sweepstakes sites technically don’t have you gamble with real money. Instead, you play with digital Sweeps Coins or other types of fake currency.

Because you aren’t gambling with real money, California’s anti-gambling legislation does not ban the activity. Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots are great examples of online sweepstakes casinos.

LuckyLand Slots offers hundreds of digital slot games if those are your favorite. Chumba Casino, on the other hand, offers a broader online casino experience and provides several options for digital table games. Of course, you have to be 18-years-old or older to sign up for either website.

Sweepstakes Online Poker In California 18+

Sweepstakes poker, which also follows the sweepstakes gaming model, is another option that circumvents anti-gambling legislation in California. Global Poker is really the only option you should consider, as it’s a well-regulated and well-designed website that allows you to find poker games against human opponents any time, all over the world. It’s also legal in most US states.

Global Poker offers two classic poker games: Texas or Omaha Hold’Em. You can purchase digital currency or get free bonus Sweeps Coins just by playing regular poker games. These coins can be redeemed for cash prizes, which adds a little bit of excitement to every game.

Traffic is fairly consistent, so it shouldn’t be difficult to get a game even if you want to play during the middle of the week when most people (in your location) are at work. There are some daily and weekly tournaments offered as well, although the Sit’N’Go format of poker is by far the most common type.

Be aware that poker tables can vary dramatically. Skill level matches are hit or miss, so you might sit down with one game and dominate the competition, only to find yourself drastically outmatched during the next.

See our full Review of Global Poker in California.

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) In California 18+

Daily fantasy sports in California is still a gray legal area. In short, daily fantasy sports is neither legal nor illegal because there isn’t any California legislation outright stating either position. Big daily fantasy sports operators like DraftKings and FanDuel have so far managed to continue providing DFS without challenge.

Currently, anti-gambling legislation in California only bans players from wagering real money on games of chance. However, DFS operators claim that fantasy sports is a skill-based wagering activity.

Until California legislation rules one way or the other, both DraftKings and FanDuel are excellent online DFS apps that anyone 18-years-old or older can enjoy.

Signing up for either app is pretty easy, and both providers offer intuitive user interfaces that look remarkably alike when you see them side by side. Both also provide opening bonuses, although DraftKings’ is much better, with a $500 deposit match guarantee and some free site credit.

You’ll also be able to enjoy tons of sports lineups and activities, ranging from major leagues like the NFL or NBA to women’s leagues or international soccer. The apps even have some options for eSports.

California 18+ Gambling FAQ

If you’ve recently turned 18-years-old, be sure to have an up-to-date version of your driver’s license or government-issued ID.

Yes. However, in California, the only online gambling apps that are legal are for daily fantasy sports and horse racing. These apps will ask for your date of birth and your Social Security number to verify your information before allowing you to make an account.

No. Sports betting currently isn’t legal anywhere in the state. However, tribal organizations may bring this to their brick-and-mortar casinos in the near future.

Not likely. The law is there to prevent underage drinkers from gaining access alcohol, not necessarily to stop them from gambling.

There are slightly more in Southern California. In general, you’ll find more casinos or card rooms around big cities anywhere in the state.

Where to Gamble in the US at 18

In this overview we will quickly run through each one of those states, answering the question of what states you can gamble at 18 years of age, paying extra attention to the most popular gambling locations within these select locations. So without further ado, here are what states you can gamble at 18.

1. California

The sunny state of California is one of the most lucrative gambling strongholds in all of America. It was one of the first to legalize gambling to 18-year-olds and remains to be a very liberal state and has been consistently democratic since Clinton in 1992.

California has 65 land-based casinos according to the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC), as well as 86 cardrooms with active licenses spread across its extensive number of cities and towns. Its most popular casino destinations include the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in the city of Wheatland.

2. Florida

Florida has its own one of a kind gambling laws where 18-year-olds may play poker and bingo but are forbidden from slot machines until the age of 21. 2004 became the year of Florida’s gambling revolution so to speak with slot machines and poker both legalized to citizens of 18 years and above.

Where To Gamble Online

All seven of Florida’s highest notoriety casinos are owned by Native American tribes. These casinos are all authorized to include slots, video poker, and a limited number of table games such as blackjack and baccarat. Roulette and dice (craps) are not permitted. Some of its most famous land-based locations include Seminole Hard Rock Tampa and the Miccosukee Resort and Gaming Center in Miami.

3. New York

When it comes to brick and mortar gambling New York stands tall as a state that has it all. The Empire State has a huge selection of casinos with many games legally available in many locations. Whether you are in Buffalo or in downtown Manhattan the huge number of options is staggering. Horse racing, slot machines, poker, roulette, and other table-based card games are all legal making it one of the only states to have such a comprehensive selection of legal options.

Where Can I Gamble Online

New York was one of the first states to legalize horse racing back in 1939 setting a very large precedent which many other states would soon follow. New York’s famous casinos include Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway and The Fairgrounds Gaming in Hamburg. New York City itself is a very popular destination for young citizens looking to wager.

4. Washington

Washington is surrounded by confusion when considering its stance on gambling and its legitimacy. Washington since 2014 has consistently resisted the notion to legalize online gambling after it was made illegal back in 2004. Card rooms were only permitted post-1997 making it one of the last eastern states to follow suit in this respect.

Washington however is one of those states you can gamble at 18, this is where the confusion arises, however. Certain games such as roulette and slot machines are forbidden for 18-year old’s to play. If an establishment serves alcohol this also prevents 18-year-olds from accessing these facilities. Some of Washington’s most recognizable land-based casinos include 7 Cedars Casino and Angel of the Winds Casino Resort in Arlington.

5. Oklahoma

Although 18-year-olds are currently allowed to gamble in the state of Oklahoma, it has a reputation for being one of the least gambling-friendly states in all of America. Despite this Oklahoma’s gambling culture dates to the 1800s where settlers brought games like poker to saloons across the state. This was however unregulated with gunfights being an issue surrounding these games.

1992 saw a major overhaul in legislation with class 2 games including bingo, lottery-type games as well as slot machines now being allowed to take place in land-based casinos. Its stance on sports betting however has remained firm in 2018 stating it had “no plans to legalize any form of sports betting in the near future”, although this is exempt to horse racing. The WinStar World Casino and Resort is Oklahoma’s largest casino.

6. Michigan

Michigan is the only state on this list that has legalized gambling online for 18-year-olds as well as land-based casinos. This has been a very recent development with the Michigan government signing the Lawful Internet Gaming Act in December of 2019. Michigan has now positioned itself to become a serious player in the online casino and mobile betting industry.

All forms of in-house gambling are legal in Michigan making it an extremely popular destination for casino goers. It also has a select number of highly notable land-based organizations including Bay Mills Resort & Casinos located in Brimley as well as the Greektown Casino-Hotel located in the heart of Detroit. Michigan in the last decade has presented itself as a very progressive state in the context of land-based and online gambling.

Other States Permitting 18-year-old Gamblers

As we have already covered the most notable states where 18-year-olds are free to gamble, we have included a secondary list detailing the remaining six states and their stances on casinos and online gambling.

• Idaho: Formerly considered a hotbed of gambling in the old west. It is now in a similar situation to Oklahoma; sports betting remains prohibited and in 2018 a measure to allow horse racing was defeated. 18-year-olds do have access to casino games such as poker and blackjack.
• Minnesota: Tolerant of most forms of gambling including sports betting, horse racing, and tribal gaming. Poker can be played from small stakes ($200 or less). 18-year-olds can access the same casino games as 21-year-olds.
• Montana: Has a long and unique gambling history, with many forms of legalized gambling available in Big Sky Country. Sports betting was legalized in 2019 marking a big change in the states’ previously anti-gambling stance. Glacier Peaks Casino is one of Montana’s highest regarded land-based casinos.
• Rhode Island: Having recently embraced online gambling in the form of sports betting. It has become one of the most progressive eastern states. It also features the Twin River Casino Hotel in Lincoln known for its expansive complexity and location.
• Wisconsin: Has a narrow set of options, with sports betting and online gambling yet to be legitimized in the badger state. There are no major land-based casinos with most of the action taking place in card rooms loosely scattered across the North-Eastern state.
• Wyoming: More known for its natural attractions such as the Rocky Mountains rather than its gambling culture. Sports betting and online gambling are both still prohibited. Wyoming is one of the few states that use wagering revenue as an investment for public funds such as education and welfare.