How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Vegas?

In Las Vegas, gambling and spending an evening testing lady luck are part of the culture. Many prominent hotels, particularly those on the Las Vegas Strip and in downtown Vegas, have their own casino, making it tough to resist temptation.

What if you’re one of the numerous young adults who go to Vegas every year? At what age may you legally gamble at a casino?

Legal Gambling Age in Las Vegas, Nevada

Although Las Vegas is the United States’ gambling and entertainment center, the regulations governing the minimum legal gambling age are the same as in the rest of Nevada. Whether you like it or not, the gambling rules in Las Vegas are no different than those in other big towns.

In the United States, the legal gambling age is 18, although in most states, including Nevada, the legal gambling age is 21. To gamble at a casino, gaming establishment, or online casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, you must be 21 years old or older.

Casino gambling, sports betting, horse racing, Online slots, poker rooms, video bingo, and all other gambling games are available in Las Vegas with a legal gambling age of 21.

Legal Age for Online Gambling or Online Casinos in Las Vegas

So, you can’t gamble in Nevada casinos until you’re 21, but what about Las Vegas internet gambling? Does it really matter whether you’re 21 if they can’t see you and it’s quite easy to hide your age?

My buddy, the answer is yes, it still means a great deal.

Digital gambling is likewise regulated and only available to adults over the age of 21. Until you are 21, playing online poker, visiting an online casino, or attempting to gamble online in any manner is unlawful.

If you’re not old enough to gamble on a brick-and-mortar casino floor, you’re not old enough to gamble online.

Why Some Casinos Have Different Age Requirements

Although this is not the case at Las Vegas casinos, there are casinos around the United States where the minimum age to gamble is 18. Other states may have different gambling age requirements, such as 21 in certain casinos and 18 in others.

It might be disheartening to travel all the way to Las Vegas and not be allowed to play at some of these casinos if you’re between the ages of 18 and 20.

The reason for the age disparity is because tribal casinos are free from gambling rules, allowing them to accept younger customers. Tribal casinos operate on sovereign land, which puts them in a different category.

Different states technically have the legal authority to determine their own gambling age laws, as long as they follow federal requirements. The legal drinking age in most places, including Las Vegas, is 21, with the exception of tribal casinos.

Poker rooms, bingo, and the state lottery are also available to gamblers aged 18 and above in several states. Unfortunately, this is not the case for younger folks who wish to spend some time at one of Las Vegas’ world-class casinos. All private and commercial casinos, poker rooms, sportsbooks, and bingo halls are subject to the 21+ rule.

Can You Enter a casino if You’re Under 21?

The answer to this question is a resounding nay in Las Vegas. You can’t be on the casino floor until you’re old enough to bet and play games for money.

The sole exception to this rule is if the hotels and casino are designed in such a manner that cutting through the casino is the most convenient way to travel from point A to point B, however anticipate this path to be well-lit and well-monitored.

Even if you’re not at a table or a slot machine and merely want to observe, this regulation applies. If you’re caught on a casino floor while under the age of 21, you’ll be asked to leave at the very least.

What Is the Penalty for Using a Fake ID to Gamble in Las Vegas?

So, you’ve arrived in Las Vegas and are eager to explore the casino scene. The issue is that you are still under the age of 21. What’s the worst that may happen if you sneak into a casino’s floor?

In a nutshell, most casinos are uninterested in appeasing the whims of young players, therefore the situation is generally swiftly resolved. First, Las Vegas casino employees are well-versed in spotting phony identification. They are constantly exposed to identification from other states and even nations, making it extremely difficult to deceive them.

Even if you get through the first checkpoint with a forged ID, casino management maintains a tight eye on the floor and the people that come in. A guest who seems or acts under the age of 18 will be contacted and required to present identification once more. With a keen eye for detail, your forgery is likely to be discovered quickly.

At the absolute least, you’ll be taken off the premises and maybe barred from entering the casino or hotel. Underage gambling and ingesting alcoholic beverages on casino property are both punishable by law in Las Vegas.

You may be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor, for starters. Second, in addition to jail time, you may be required to pay a large sum of money in the form of a fine. All of this is on top of the fact that you absolutely botched your trip to Sin City.

In other words, pretending to be of legal gambling age in Las Vegas is never a good idea, whether it’s at one of the large hotels on the Strip or a tiny operation off the beaten path.

Bottom Line

Some of the most famous casinos in the world may be found in Las Vegas. The gaming and gambling scene in Vegas is one you don’t want to miss if you enjoy the adrenaline and excitement of a high-stakes table or the pleasure of pulling a slot machine.

Except if you’re under the age of 21.

The legal gaming and betting age in Las Vegas cannot be avoided. You may want to visit the greatest casinos in the world, but that will have to wait till you reach the age of 21!