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In most states in the United States, you must be 21 or older to bet on sports. In Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming, you only have to be 18.
While not all states have legalized sports betting, most have laws for how old you have to be to gamble, in general. Note that there are some exceptions for casinos and other establishments that sell liquor, in which case you have to be at least 21.
Below is a breakdown of what age you have to be to bet on sports by state. In states without legalized sports betting, we put the gambling age requirement.
State | Sports Betting Age |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 21 |
| Alaska | 21 |
| Arizona | 21 |
| Arkansas | 21 |
| California | 21 |
| Colorado | 21 |
| Connecticut | 21 |
| Delaware | 21 |
| Florida | 21 |
| Georgia | 21 |
| Hawaii | 21 |
| Idaho | 21 |
| Illinois | 21 |
| Indiana | 21 |
| Iowa | 21 |
| Kansas | 21 |
| Kentucky | 18 |
| Louisiana | 21 |
| Maine | 21 |
| Maryland | 21 |
| Massachusetts | 21 |
| Michigan | 21 |
| Minnesota | 21 |
| Mississippi | 21 |
| Missouri | 21 |
| Montana | 18 |
| Nebraska | 21 |
| Nevada | 21 |
| New Hampshire | 18 |
| New Jersey | 21 |
| New Mexico | 21 |
| New York | 21 |
| North Carolina | 21 |
| North Dakota | 21 |
| Ohio | 21 |
| Oklahoma | 21 |
| Oregon | 18 |
| Pennsylvania | 21 |
| Rhode Island | 18 |
| South Carolina | 21 |
| South Dakota | 21 |
| Tennessee | 21 |
| Texas | 21 |
| Utah | 21 |
| Vermont | 21 |
| Virginia | 21 |
| Washington | 18 |
| Washington, D.C. | 21 |
Wyoming | 18 |
*Special offers from our partners. May vary by state. Must be 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
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Where Can 18-Year-Olds Bet on Sports?
You only have to be 18 to bet on sports in Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming.
You may see other sites recommend using an offshore sportsbook like Bovada for those who are 18 that live in a state that requires people to be 21 to bet, but these sites aren't regulated by state governments and you risk losing your money if you use them.
Where to Bet on Sports If You're Old Enough
If you're old enough to bet in your state, we recommend checking out the following guides to see our top picks for the best online sportsbooks currently available:
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Arizona
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Colorado
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Connecticut
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Florida
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Illinois
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Indiana
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Iowa
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Louisiana
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Maryland
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Michigan
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Nevada
- Best Online Sportsbooks in New Hampshire
- Best Online Sportsbooks in New Jersey
- Best Online Sportsbooks in New York
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Ohio
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Oregon
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Pennsylvania
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Rhode Island
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Tennessee
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Virginia
- Best Online Sportsbooks in West Virginia
- Best Online Sportsbooks in Wyoming
Sports Betting Age FAQs
How old do I have to be to bet on sports?
In most U.S. states, you must be 21 or older to bet on sports. In Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming, you only have to be 18.
How do online sportsbooks know how old I am?
Online sportsbooks all have to follow Know Your Customer (KYC) laws which require them to verify the identity of customers—including confirming their age—before taking any bets.
What happens if I get caught betting on sports underage?
While laws vary by state, if you get caught betting on sports underage, you may face fines, be charged with illegal gambling, have to forfeit your winnings, and/or be suspended or blocked from betting in the future (even once you're of legal age).
What states can I bet on sports if I'm 18?
In Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming, you only have to be 18.
How old do I have to be to use FanDuel?
You must be 21 to use FanDuel in all states where it's legal except Wyoming, where you only have to be 18.
How old do I have to be to use DraftKings?
You must be 21 to use DraftKings in all states where it's legal except New Hampshire, Oregon, and Wyoming, where you only have to be 18.
How old do I have to be to use BetMGM?
You must be 21 to use BetMGM in all states where it's legal except Wyoming, where you only have to be 18.
How old do I have to be to use Caesars?
You must be 21 to use Caesars in all states where it's legal except Wyoming, where you only have to be 18.
How old do I have to be to bet on the NFL?
You must be 21 or older to bet on the NFL in all states except Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming, where you only have to be 18.
How old do I have to be to bet on the MLB?
You must be 21 or older to bet on the MLB in all states except Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming, where you only have to be 18.
How old do I have to be to bet on the NBA?
You must be 21 or older to bet on the NBA in all states except Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming, where you only have to be 18.
How old do I have to be to bet on the NHL?
You must be 21 or older to bet on the NHL in all states except Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming, where you only have to be 18.
How old do I have to be to bet on soccer?
You must be 21 or older to bet on soccer in all states except Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming, where you only have to be 18.
How old do I have to be to bet on college football?
You must be 21 or older to bet on college football in all states except Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming, where you only have to be 18. Note that the following states don't allow betting on college sports: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
How old do I have to be to bet on college basketball?
You must be 21 or older to bet on college basketball in all states except Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming, where you only have to be 18. Note that the following states don't allow betting on college sports: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
