In the U.S., we have two major milestone birthdays that take place within 3 years of each other: 18 and 21. At age 18, a person is considered a legal adult and can vote, play the lottery, and join the armed forces. At age 21, a person can legally drink and buy alcohol and patronize casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. But in many states, people can gamble at age 18—and there's no better place to host a milestone birthday than a local casino. Here's a roundup of the various states and their restrictions regarding 18 and over casinos.
Pari-mutuel betting
Legal Gambling Ages By State – States Where You Can Play Online Casinos Legally At 18+ The following is a list of all US states that allow you to gamble at 18 years old. Click the links to learn more about specific gambling laws for that particular state and how they implement their minimum gambling age requirements.
Pari-mutuel betting is a type of wager where the final payout is determined after all bets are made, which is different from the fixed odds offered by casinos. The most popular type of pari-mutuel betting is off-track betting facilities. When you bet on horse races, all bets are pooled together and the house takes its fee. Once betting closes, the payouts are finalized based on how much money is in the pool and the results of the event. States that allow pari-mutuel betting for people aged 18 and over include:
- What's New Mexico's Minimum Legal Gambling Age? As discussed earlier on this page, New Mexico's minimum gambling age varies per available gambling option. 18-year-olds can play the lottery, video slots at racinos, participate in parimutuel betting on horses, and charitable gambling like raffles, bingo, pull tabs, and door prize drawings.
- Make sure to follow your state laws when it comes to gambling age. Many of these sites only require you to be 18, but the gambling age in New Mexico is 21, so go with that number to ensure you are not breaking any laws. Find Out More: Is Online Gambling Legal In New Mexico? Legal New Mexico Sports Betting Sites.
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- New Mexico
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Washington
Bingo
Anyone can participate in a few rounds of bingo at the local church, but most casino bingo halls have an age limit to gamble. States that allow people age 18 and up to play bingo in a casino include:
- Connecticut
- Florida
- New Mexico
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
Mixed age limits
Some states allow gambling for ages 18 and up or 21 and up, some depending on the particular casino, others depending on the particular casino game. For example, Florida allows those 18 and up to gamble on pari-mutuels, bingo, and poker, but has an age minimum of 21 for slots. States with mixed age limits include:
- Florida
- New York
- Oklahoma
- Washington
- California
Age 18+ welcome
A few states welcome anyone age 18 and older to gamble at local casinos, including California (with a few exceptions). California is home to casinos in over 100 cities—the largest number by far in the U.S., exceeding even the number found in Nevada. Southern California alone boasts two dozen cities with casinos, including Campo, which is home to Golden Acorn Casino! States that allow gambling at the age of 18 include:
- Alaska
- Idaho
- Minnesota
- Wyoming
- California (with a few exceptions)
Celebrate your 18th at Golden Acorn Casino
If you're looking for the best place to celebrate your birthday at one of the 18 and over casinos near San Diego, come see us at Golden Acorn Casino. We offer hundreds of slot machines and dozens of table games to choose from, and we're conveniently located right off the I-8, about an hour away from downtown San Diego. And who knows, maybe your wish for a big jackpot will come true when you blow out your candles!
Related
What types of gambling are legal in New Mexico?
New Mexico offers most forms of legalized gambling. There is a state lottery. Tickets must be purchased at retailers. Casinos are permitted at racetracks and on tribal land. Sports betting is offered at tribal casinos. Charities may operate games of chance.
Horseracing is the only form of legal online gambling in New Mexico. All other forms of online gambling are illegal in the state.
This list shows the types of gambling found in New Mexico and where to find it:
- Horse racing (off-track and mobile)
- Slots and video poker (racetracks, tribal casinos)
- Table games and poker (tribal casinos)
- Sports betting (tribal casinos)
- Bingo and raffles (charities and tribal casinos)
- Lottery (instant games and lotto at retailers)
Online Gambling in New Mexico
Horseracing is the only form of explicitly legal online gambling in New Mexico. Sites like BetAmerica, TVG and TwinSpires accept players from the state.
Daily fantasy sports contests are presumed to be a legal skill game in New Mexico. All major sites accept players in the state. These include DraftKings, FanDuel, Fantasy Draft and Yahoo.
Online Gambling Laws in New Mexico
There are no New Mexico laws that directly pertain to online gambling. Gambling is presumed illegal unless licensed by the state. Online horse racing is permitted through the federal Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978. It is regulated by the New Mexico Racing Commission. Mobile horse bettors must be at least 18 years old.
Daily fantasy sports are not regulated by the state. Bills to change that have failed to gain traction. Daily fantasy sports companies accept players that are at least 18 years old.
There are no licensed websites that offer online poker, casino games or sports betting in Missouri. These are considered illegal.
New Mexico Casinos
Land-based Casinos in New Mexico
There are two types of casinos in New Mexico. One is at racetracks. These gaming establishments may only have slots, video poker and other electronic table games. Live tables are not permitted at New Mexico racinos.
New Mexico tribal casinos may offer any game available at the racetracks. Reservation casinos may also have live table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette and poker.
Casino Laws in New Mexico
There are two types of casinos in New Mexico. Racetrack ones pay a 46.25% tax rate. Of that, 26% goes to the state, 20% to racing purses and 0.25% to problem gambling resources. There are also annual licensing fees. Racinos may only operate slots, video poker and other electronic games like video table games and keno. Operations are only permitted on days of live or simulcast racing.
Tribal casinos operate through a gaming compact with the state. There is an annual licensing fee. The tax rate is 8.75% to 9.5%, depending on annual gaming revenue.
All New Mexico casino patrons must be at least 21 years old.
New Mexico Sports Betting
Sports betting is legal at tribal casinos in New Mexico. Bettors may choose from a typical menu of games across college and professional sports. There are no betting restrictions. Mobile sports betting away from tribal land is not permitted.
Sports Betting Laws in New Mexico
Sports betting is generally illegal in New Mexico. This includes online sportsbooks. Tribal casinos determined that existing gaming pacts permitted sports betting when the Professional and Amatuer Sports Protection Act was overturned by the US Supreme Court in 2018. As this facet of gaming was never specifically addressed in gaming compacts, there are no regulations permitting mobile betting outside reservations. Bettors must be at least 21 years old.
New Mexico Poker
Live poker in New Mexico is only permitted on tribal lands. There are no game restrictions or bet limits. Online poker is not licensed to operate in New Mexico.
Poker Laws in New Mexico
Live poker is covered by tribal gaming compacts that permit table games at reservation casinos. The minimum age to play poker in New Mexico is 21.
Home Poker Games
There are no social gaming exceptions to New Mexico gambling laws. This means that home poker games are technically illegal in the state.
New Mexico Fantasy Sports
Fantasy sports contests are presumed legal in New Mexico. All major operators accept New Mexico residents. The sites include DraftKings, FanDuel, Fantasy Draft and Yahoo. Players must be at least 18 years old, per site rules.
Fantasy Sports Laws in New Mexico
Anyone can participate in a few rounds of bingo at the local church, but most casino bingo halls have an age limit to gamble. States that allow people age 18 and up to play bingo in a casino include:
- Connecticut
- Florida
- New Mexico
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
Mixed age limits
Some states allow gambling for ages 18 and up or 21 and up, some depending on the particular casino, others depending on the particular casino game. For example, Florida allows those 18 and up to gamble on pari-mutuels, bingo, and poker, but has an age minimum of 21 for slots. States with mixed age limits include:
- Florida
- New York
- Oklahoma
- Washington
- California
Age 18+ welcome
A few states welcome anyone age 18 and older to gamble at local casinos, including California (with a few exceptions). California is home to casinos in over 100 cities—the largest number by far in the U.S., exceeding even the number found in Nevada. Southern California alone boasts two dozen cities with casinos, including Campo, which is home to Golden Acorn Casino! States that allow gambling at the age of 18 include:
- Alaska
- Idaho
- Minnesota
- Wyoming
- California (with a few exceptions)
Celebrate your 18th at Golden Acorn Casino
If you're looking for the best place to celebrate your birthday at one of the 18 and over casinos near San Diego, come see us at Golden Acorn Casino. We offer hundreds of slot machines and dozens of table games to choose from, and we're conveniently located right off the I-8, about an hour away from downtown San Diego. And who knows, maybe your wish for a big jackpot will come true when you blow out your candles!
Related
What types of gambling are legal in New Mexico?
New Mexico offers most forms of legalized gambling. There is a state lottery. Tickets must be purchased at retailers. Casinos are permitted at racetracks and on tribal land. Sports betting is offered at tribal casinos. Charities may operate games of chance.
Horseracing is the only form of legal online gambling in New Mexico. All other forms of online gambling are illegal in the state.
This list shows the types of gambling found in New Mexico and where to find it:
- Horse racing (off-track and mobile)
- Slots and video poker (racetracks, tribal casinos)
- Table games and poker (tribal casinos)
- Sports betting (tribal casinos)
- Bingo and raffles (charities and tribal casinos)
- Lottery (instant games and lotto at retailers)
Online Gambling in New Mexico
Horseracing is the only form of explicitly legal online gambling in New Mexico. Sites like BetAmerica, TVG and TwinSpires accept players from the state.
Daily fantasy sports contests are presumed to be a legal skill game in New Mexico. All major sites accept players in the state. These include DraftKings, FanDuel, Fantasy Draft and Yahoo.
Online Gambling Laws in New Mexico
There are no New Mexico laws that directly pertain to online gambling. Gambling is presumed illegal unless licensed by the state. Online horse racing is permitted through the federal Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978. It is regulated by the New Mexico Racing Commission. Mobile horse bettors must be at least 18 years old.
Daily fantasy sports are not regulated by the state. Bills to change that have failed to gain traction. Daily fantasy sports companies accept players that are at least 18 years old.
There are no licensed websites that offer online poker, casino games or sports betting in Missouri. These are considered illegal.
New Mexico Casinos
Land-based Casinos in New Mexico
There are two types of casinos in New Mexico. One is at racetracks. These gaming establishments may only have slots, video poker and other electronic table games. Live tables are not permitted at New Mexico racinos.
New Mexico tribal casinos may offer any game available at the racetracks. Reservation casinos may also have live table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette and poker.
Casino Laws in New Mexico
There are two types of casinos in New Mexico. Racetrack ones pay a 46.25% tax rate. Of that, 26% goes to the state, 20% to racing purses and 0.25% to problem gambling resources. There are also annual licensing fees. Racinos may only operate slots, video poker and other electronic games like video table games and keno. Operations are only permitted on days of live or simulcast racing.
Tribal casinos operate through a gaming compact with the state. There is an annual licensing fee. The tax rate is 8.75% to 9.5%, depending on annual gaming revenue.
All New Mexico casino patrons must be at least 21 years old.
New Mexico Sports Betting
Sports betting is legal at tribal casinos in New Mexico. Bettors may choose from a typical menu of games across college and professional sports. There are no betting restrictions. Mobile sports betting away from tribal land is not permitted.
Sports Betting Laws in New Mexico
Sports betting is generally illegal in New Mexico. This includes online sportsbooks. Tribal casinos determined that existing gaming pacts permitted sports betting when the Professional and Amatuer Sports Protection Act was overturned by the US Supreme Court in 2018. As this facet of gaming was never specifically addressed in gaming compacts, there are no regulations permitting mobile betting outside reservations. Bettors must be at least 21 years old.
New Mexico Poker
Live poker in New Mexico is only permitted on tribal lands. There are no game restrictions or bet limits. Online poker is not licensed to operate in New Mexico.
Poker Laws in New Mexico
Live poker is covered by tribal gaming compacts that permit table games at reservation casinos. The minimum age to play poker in New Mexico is 21.
Home Poker Games
There are no social gaming exceptions to New Mexico gambling laws. This means that home poker games are technically illegal in the state.
New Mexico Fantasy Sports
Fantasy sports contests are presumed legal in New Mexico. All major operators accept New Mexico residents. The sites include DraftKings, FanDuel, Fantasy Draft and Yahoo. Players must be at least 18 years old, per site rules.
Fantasy Sports Laws in New Mexico
There are no laws that directly pertain to fantasy sports contests. The sites operate as a skill game in New Mexico. There are no regulations.
New Mexico Lottery
The New Mexico Lottery offers two types of games. Instant games are sold as scratch-off tickets and Fast Play. There are lotto drawings that include intrastate and interstate drawings. Ticket prices range from $1 to $10. Lottery sales are only made at retailers like convenience and grocery stores. There are no online lottery sales in New Mexico.
Intrastate Lottery Drawings
- Pick 3
- Pick 4
- Roadrunner Cash
Interstate Lottery Drawings
- Lotto America
- Mega Millions
- Powerball
New Mexico Lottery Laws
The New Mexico Lottery was created through a state constitutional amendment in November 1994. It passed 54 to 46. Lotto tickets were first sold in October 1996. College scholarship programs receive at least 30% of New Mexico Lottery proceeds. Players must be at least 18 years old.
New Mexico Horse Racing Betting
There are six horse racing tracks in New Mexico. Five are operated commercially. The other is a state fairground. The commercial racetracks double as casinos. Live and mobile bets on horse races may be made. New Mexico racetracks may have simulcast betting. Mobile betting is allowed on out of state races from sites like TVG, Twin Spires and BetAmerica.
Racetracks may operate slots, video poker and electronic table games on days where there is live or simulcast race betting. Racinos must close at least six hours a day.
New Mexico Horse Racing Laws
New Mexico permits live and simulcast wagering on horses. This includes mobile off-track betting. Legal horse racing started in 1946. It held a regional monopoly until the 1980's. Mobile betting was approved by racing regulators without a referendum due to the Horseracing Act of 1978. New Mexico horse players must be at least 18 years old.
eSports
eSports are not explicitly addressed by New Mexico law. Reservation casinos could make an argument for booking action on these games. None have offered these games on betting menus. Wagers made on these events by spectators outside a reservation would likely be illegal. This includes online sportsbooks. Participants could claim a skill game exception.
Traditional Games of Skill
Traditional games of skill sites and activities are legal. This includes skill competition websites like Worldwinner and cash game apps.
Skill-based Gaming Machines
Can You Gamble At 18
Skill-based gaming machines are legal for prizes away from casinos. These are permitted on racino and tribal casino floors in New Mexico.
New Mexico Charity Gambling Law
What Age Can You Gamble In New Mexico
New Mexico was late to charitable gaming legalization. It was not fully permitted until 2009. Registered charities may offer bingo, pull-tabs, sweepstakes and raffles to raise funds. This was done through the ratification of the New Mexico Bingo and Raffle Act. Licenses cost $100 per year. Venders must pay $500 per year.
What Is The Legal Gambling Age In New Mexico
New Mexico Gambling Regulator
