If you are 18 years old and looking to gamble online in the US, your options are limited. Real money casinos are only legal in 6 states, and all require you to be 21 +. Shady offshore online casinos allow you to play if you are 18 +, but they are illegal, and there is a serious risk that you won’t receive your winnings.
Your best option is to play at sweepstakes casinos like WOW Vegas or McLuck which are legal in 48 US states and almost always accept 18 + players. Also, if you feel like a brick-and-mortar casino experience, many land-based casinos like Kewadin Casino, WinStar World Casino, and Resort accept 18-year-old gamblers.
In this article, we will explore all of the casino gaming options available to 18-year-olds. We will break down the different online casino games available and reveal the best sweepstakes sites where you can legally win cash prizes even if you are under 21!
Online Casinos That Accept 18-Year-Olds in the US
Legal online casinos in the US do not accept 18-year-olds. However, 18-year-olds located in New Hampshire and Wyoming can bet on sports online. If you are under 21, we recommend playing at online sweepstakes casinos.
Sweepstakes casinos are legal in all US states except Washington and Idaho and accept 18-year-olds. This is because sweepstakes sites use a different business model compared to online casinos, which is not considered casino gambling.
At sweepstakes sites, you receive sweeps coins for free via bonuses or when you purchase gold coins. You use this virtual currency to play casino-style games like slot games and blackjack. Then you can redeem your sweeps coins for cash or gift cards.
To remain legal, sweepstakes casinos must follow the no purchase necessary requirement, which basically means they can’t sell sweeps coins and have to give away lots of sweeps coins via bonuses. They also must provide an alternate method of entry which they typically do via a mail-in bonus where you send the sweepstakes casino a letter requesting free sweeps coins, and they oblige.
If you don’t mind making the trip to your local tribal casino, they also accept 18-year-olds. In the US, according to federal law, the minimum gambling age is 18. However, many states have a minimum age requirement of 21. Lucky for you, tribal casinos are exempt from state laws and fall under federal jurisdiction.
But before you set off on a road trip, double-check that the tribal casino you wish to check out accepts 18-year-old players because some have a 21 + rule to comply with state-issued liquor licenses.
Full List of 18 And Over Casinos Near You
Are you 18 years old and looking to gamble online? Then check out these incredible legal online sweepstakes casinos and start winning real cash prizes now!
| 🎰Sweepstakes Casino | 🎲Games | 🌐Version |
|---|---|---|
| WOW Vegas | 400 + slots and table games | Online |
| Fortune Coins | 170 + slots, video poker machines, fish games | Online |
| High 5 Casino | 550 + slots, table games, live dealer games | Online |
| McLuck | 460 + slots | Online |
| Stake.us | 400 + slots, table games, crypto games, live dealer games, crash games | Online |
| NoLimitCoins Casino | 70 + slots and fish games | Online |
| TaoFortune | 70 + slots and fish games | Online |
| Pulsz | 350 + slots, table games, scratchcards | Online |
| Sweepstastic | 1000 + games, poker, blackjack, roulette, Plinko | Online |
| LuckyBird.io | 20 + slots and table games | Online |
| Pulsz Bingo | 6 bingo rooms, slots, and 200 + scratchies | Online |
| Loyal Royal Casino | 15 + slots and video poker machines | Online |
| Ding Ding Casino | 30 + slots and bingo | Online |
Age Limits at US Gambling Venues: Legal Gambling Age By State
The federal minimum age for gambling activity in the US is 18, but states are free to set their own laws, and many have a 21 age minimum. Then there are tribal casinos that can set their own laws and typically allow players who are 18 +, and sweeps casinos that follow separate regulations.
Here is a breakdown of the different legal casino gaming age state by state:
| 🇺🇸 State | 🎰Casinos | 🌐Online Casinos | 🖥️Sweepstakes Casinos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Alaska | 18 | Banned | 18 |
| Arizona | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Arkansas | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| California | 18 | Banned | 18 |
| Colorado | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Connecticut | 21 | 21 | 18 |
| Delaware | 21 | 21 | 18 |
| Florida | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Georgia | 18 (casino cruises) | Banned | 18 |
| Hawaii | Banned | Banned | 18 |
| Idaho | 21, 18 for tribal casinos | Banned | Banned |
| Illinois | 21, 18 for tribal casinos | Banned | 18 |
| Indiana | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Iowa | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Kansas | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Kentucky | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Louisiana | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Maine | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Maryland | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Massachusetts | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Michigan | 21, 18 for tribal casinos | 21 | 18 |
| Minnesota | 21, 18 for tribal casinos | Banned | 18 |
| Mississippi | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Montanna | 18, 18 for tribal casinos | Banned | 18 |
| Nebraska | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Nevada | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| New Hampshire | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| New Jersey | 21 | 21 | 18 |
| New Mexico | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| New York | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| North Carolina | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| North Dakota | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Ohio | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Oklahoma | 18 | Banned | 18 |
| Oregon | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Pennsylvania | 21 | 21 | 18 |
| Rhode Island | 18 | Banned | 18 |
| South Carolina | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| South Dakota | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Tennessee | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Texas | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Utah | Banned | Banned | 18 |
| Vermont | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Virginia | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Washington | 21, 18 for tribal casinos | Banned | Banned |
| West Virginia | 21 | 21 | 18 |
| Wisconsin | 21 | Banned | 18 |
| Wyoming | 18 | Banned | 18 |
States You Can Legally Gamble at Online Casinos At 18
Online casinos are only legal in 6 US states (Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia), and you have to be at least 21 years old to play. However, if you are 18 years old, don’t despair, there is a loophole, sweepstakes casinos.
As discussed earlier, due to the unique business model that sweepstakes sites use, they are not considered online casinos. This allows them to offer casino-style games and real cash prizes in all US states except Washington and Idaho. Washington and Idaho have specific legislation that outlaws sweepstakes sites.
Even though sweepstakes sites technically aren’t online casinos, the gaming experience is almost identical. You can play hundreds of games, including slots, video online poker, fish games, blackjack, roulette, and more, and effortlessly redeem your sweeps coins for cash via online bank transfer and e-wallets like Skrill.
Sweepstakes sites actually offer a superior gaming experience compared to online casinos in terms of bonuses. Sweepstakes casinos are legally obligated to give away sweeps coins, and all legit sites have generous no deposit bonuses, daily login promos, and hand out tons of SC via social media.
It gets even better, all bonuses come with a 1x wagering requirement, and there are zero gaming restrictions, so you can play high RTP games like baccarat and blackjack. This is in stark contrast to online casinos, where you are lucky to get a no deposit bonus, and bonus funds come with 30x wagering requirements.
Can An 18-Year-Old Gamble In California?
If you are an 18-year-old and in California, you can gamble at sweepstakes casinos and win real cash prizes. Virtually sweepstakes sites accept 18-year-old players, and they are 100% legal in California. Some of the top sweepstakes casinos in California for 18-year-olds include WOW Vegas, Fortune Coins, and Stake.us.
18-year-olds in California also have a few land-based casinos they can legally gamble at. Here are some Californian tribal casinos where you can play slot games, poker, blackjack, and more, even if you are only 18 years old:
- Barona Resort & Casino
- Bear River Casino Resort
- Blue Lake Casino Hotel
- Casino Pauma
- Chicken Ranch Casino
- Coyote Valley Casino
- Eagle Mountain Casino
- Fort Independence Travel Plaza & Winnedumah Winn’s Casino
- Gold Country Casino Resort
- Golden Acorn Casino & Travel Center
- Lucky Bear Casino
- Morongo Casino Resort & Spa
- Red Fox Casino
- Table Mountain Casino Resort
- Tachi Palace Casino Resort
- Viejas Casino & Resort
Before you go to California casinos, double-check the age restrictions. According to California law, it is legal to gamble when you are 18, but many casinos won’t let you in because they serve alcohol.
Online Casino Games Legal for 18-Years-Olds
Thanks to sweepstakes casinos, 18-year-olds can legally play 1000s of amazing casino games, including slots, table games, and even live dealer games. These games are exactly like the ones you find at online casinos and, in many cases, are made by the same providers. Here are some of the exciting titles you can try out right now:
- Slots – Sweepstakes casinos have every type of slot imaginable, from old-school 3 reel games to the latest video slots and even progressive jackpot slot machines. WOW Vegas has 300 + slots from Pragmatic Play and Betsoft, including our personal favorite, Sweet Bonanza, while McLuck has 450 + slots from top providers like NetEnt, BGaming, EvoPlay, and Playson.
- Blackjack – You don’t have to sacrifice blackjack when playing at sweepstakes casinos. Pulsz has exciting blackjack variants, and Stake.us even has live blackjack, which is always great fun.
- Baccarat – If you are looking for a low-house edge pure game of chance, then baccarat is the game for you. Stake.us has some fantastic online and live baccarat titles, just remember to bet on the banker’s hand to give you the best shot of winning.
- Roulette – Are you feeling red or black, or maybe you have a lucky number? You can play American and European roulette + some other new variants of roulette at WOW Vegas and Sweeptastic and win real money prizes now.
- Fish Games – Fish games are a unique skill-based arcade-style game where you control a cannon and shoot sea creatures. The more sea creatures you eliminate, the more you win, but it costs money every time you expend ammunition. Fortune Coins has 10 + fish games, including the ultra-fun Emily’s Treasure.
- Live Dealer Games – With live dealer games, you connect to a gaming studio via live stream, and you get to play table games with a professional dealer running the action. This creates a nice blend of brick-and-mortar and online play. Stake.us and High 5 Casino both have excellent live games, including live blackjack, live roulette, and live baccarat.
- Crash Games – Crash games are a unique arcade-style game where you set your bet and watch the screen as the multiplier increases. You need to cash out your bet before the game crashes, or you lose everything. Stake.us is your number 1 sweepstakes casino for crash games.
FAQs
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Do any online casinos let you gamble at 18?Legal licensed US online casinos do not let you gamble at 18. However, sports betting is legal for 18-year-olds in Wyoming or New Hampshire.
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Can 18 year olds go to Indian casinos?You can play at a number of Indian casinos when you are 18 years old, including Kewadin Casino, WinStar World Casino and Resort, and Riverwind Casino. 18 years is the lowest legal age you can play at Indian casinos. The rules vary between establishments, and many are 21 + to comply with their alcohol license.
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Can you play online casinos at 18?You must be 21 + to play online casinos at legal licensed sites in the US. If you are 18 years old, your options are playing at an offshore online casino or playing at a US-based sweepstakes site.
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Is it possible to get into a casino without being 18?Legally it is not possible to get into a casino without being 18. Casinos that also feature hotels and restaurants are very careful about ensuring that these areas are separate from the gaming space and regularly check patrons’ IDs to ensure they are 18 + or 21 +.
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Is it possible to gamble at 18 in Vegas?Unfortunately, you can’t gamble anywhere in Las Vegas when you are 18 years old. You must be 21 years or older to gamble in Nevada. Casinos are very strict, and you will be regularly carded.
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Is it legal to gamble at 18 in Texas?You must be 21 years or older to gamble in Texas. To play bingo games, poker, and slots in Texas, you must be 21 years or older. However, it is legal to play casino games at sweepstakes sites when you are 18 years old because this is technically not considered online gambling.
