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Gambling Legal Age
by Jerry "Jet"
Whittaker
May 5, 2006
About gambling legal age in US –
A lot of variations can be seen in the way laws of
different places treat the issues relating to the
minimum legal age for gambling. This variation can be
found especially in the different state laws of United
States.
In the conventional American society, till mid 1960s,
most of the state and federal laws considered 21 as the
appropriate age for acquiring adult status. The issue of
the majority age was highlighted with the Vietnam War,
where people of 18 were sent off to war, but not allowed
to vote. With the 26th Amendment to the US
Constitution, the voting age was lowered to 18 for all
the federal and state laws. After its ratification in
1971, the minimum age limit for all purposes was brought
down at 18.
During this period, the wave of legal gambling came up
and most of the US State Lotteries created between 1971
and the present made 18 the minimum age.
For most other purposes, the legal age is still 18;
however, the legal age for drinking has been raised form
18 to 21 in all American States. Since casino games are
closely associated with alcoholic beverages, the states
have declared the minimum age of 21 for gambling in a
casino.
About gambling legal age in other countries –
Compared to US, other countries present a different
scenario. Countries other than US have been more
consistent as regards the
legal age for
gambling. They have just one minimum age applying
throughout the nation. The legal consequences where a
minor is involved in illegal gambling do not differ much
from province to province. Lawmakers have come to a
conclusion that the maturity is reached at a younger
age.
France had 21 as the minimum age till 1987 and then was
lowered to 18. Bahamas had the minimum age for gambling
at 21 in 1969, now it is 18.
Similarly, in 12 of the 16 states in Germany, the age
for gambling was lowered from 21 to 18. In Portugal, the
rules for the locals and the tourists vary. For casinos,
it is 18 for foreigners and 21 for locals, even 25 in
some cases.
In Canada, the legal age is 18, casinos are open to 18
and 19 year olds.
England has 16 as the minimum limit for buying a lottery
ticket (in America it is 18).
In some countries, the casinos are restricted to locals,
open only to foreigners. With an objective of preserving
the adult atmosphere, to protect foreign children and
avoid bad press, such casinos still have the minimum age
limits for the locals. For instance, as per Nepal’s law,
casino gambling is restricted to foreigners of 21 or
older.
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