How Old Do You Have to Be to Bet on Sports? Sports Betting Age by State

How Old Do You Have to Be to Bet on Sports? Sports Betting Age by State

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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
Alabama21
Alaska21
Arizona21
Arkansas21
California21
Colorado21
Connecticut21
Delaware21
Florida21
Georgia21
Hawaii21
Idaho21
Illinois21
Indiana21
Iowa21
Kansas21
Kentucky18
Louisiana21
Maine21
Maryland21
Massachusetts21
Michigan21
Minnesota21
Mississippi21
Missouri21
Montana18
Nebraska21
Nevada21
New Hampshire18
New Jersey21
New Mexico21
New York21
North Carolina21
North Dakota21
Ohio21
Oklahoma21
Oregon18
Pennsylvania21
Rhode Island18
South Carolina21
South Dakota21
Tennessee21
Texas21
Utah21
Vermont21
Virginia21
Washington18
Washington, D.C.21

Wyoming

18

*Responsible Gambling Disclaimer

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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:

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.

*Responsible Gambling Disclaimer

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Dave Rathmanner

Dave Rathmanner is the Founder & CEO of Odds Assist. After struggling to find helpful sports betting resources and honest reviews when he first started betting, he decided to create the site he always wished he had. Dave has been betting on sports since NJ legalized it in 2018 and regularly analyzes sportsbooks to find the best options for bettors. Aside from creating new content for OA readers, Dave is also passionate about researching betting markets, creating models, and developing profitable betting strategies.