What is defined as underage gambling?

In the United States, underage gambling refers to individuals who are below the legal age for engaging in gambling activities.

The legal age for gambling in the U.S. varies depending on the type of gambling and the state regulations. For example, the legal age for casino gambling is typically 21, while some states may allow individuals to participate in certain forms of gambling, such as the lottery or bingo, at the age of 18.

Participating in any form of gambling, such as playing slot machines, poker, or betting on sports, before reaching the legally prescribed age is considered a violation of the law.

This is in place to protect minors from the potential risks associated with gambling and to ensure responsible participation in these activities.

State authorities enforce these regulations, and penalties for violations can include fines, license revocation, and other legal consequences.

The risks of underage gambling

Underage gambling poses several high-level risks to individuals and wider society. Understanding these risks is crucial for tackling issues and promoting responsible behavior among anyone under the legal gambling age.

The risks associated with underage gambling include:

Reasons behind underage gambling

Gambling can be appealing to minors for many reasons, here are some of the key factors:

Preventing minors from accessing betting accounts is crucial to ensure responsible gambling practices and compliance with legal regulations. Here are some tips to help you secure your betting accounts and prevent unauthorized access by minors:

Potential signs of underage gambling

Parents need to be aware of potential signs that their child may be involved in online gambling or purchasing lottery-related items. Here are some key signs to look out for:

• Unexplained financial changes, like a sudden increase in spending or unexplained money withdrawals.
• Changes in mood and behavior, such as becoming more agitated or defensive when questioned about their online activities.
• A dramatic increase in screen time and prioritizing online activities over other hobbies, schoolwork, or any social interactions.
• Sudden loss of valuable personal items that may have been sold or pawned to fund gambling activities.
• Installing gambling-related apps on their electronic devices or the unexplained appearance of scratchcards, lottery tickets, or gambling-related materials.
• Developing unusual sleeping patterns such as staying up late or waking up early to engage in online gambling activities.

Protecting minors from gambling

According to The National Center for Biotechnology Information, between 4% and 8% of US minors between 12-17 have a serious gambling problem, and another 10-15% are at risk of developing one.

Fortunately, there are things we can do to try to limit exposure as much as possible within your home and family. Here are some tips to help you secure your betting accounts and prevent unauthorized access by minors.

Know Your Customer (KYC)

In addition to the above points, gambling sites also have measures in place to prevent minors from engaging in gambling activity.

The Know Your Customer (KYC) process aims to authenticate the identity of all players, prevent fraudulent activities, and comply with local legal requirements. This typically involves users submitting their ID and proof of address during the account registration process.

Blocking gambling apps

In addition to the above measures, parental control apps give parents the ability to monitor kids’ internet use and filter out potentially harmful content. Some apps block gambling websites completely for maximum security.

Here is a list of available apps to help you prevent underage gambling:

Legal gambling age by state

18 and 21 are the big milestones for legal gambling in the USA – the specifics tend to vary by state. Some stuff is more consistent than others.

Lottery tickets, for example, are legal at 18 just about everywhere, with the exceptions being Arizona, Iowa, and Louisiana, where it’s 21, and Nebraska, where it’s 19.

Legal gambling ages around the world

The legal gambling age varies between countries and sometimes between internal states or regions. Gambling laws are constantly subject to change and you should always check the local laws to ensure the correct minimum age.

Here is a generalized table with legal gambling ages for various countries:

Sources

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2533814/

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