Underage Gambling: Senators Concerned With ‘Alarming Rise’

Underage gambling is a growing concern in the U.S. and beyond. Underage online sports betting is particularly concerning due to the industry’s expansion over the past decade and the product’s addictive properties.

In January 2026, a group of U.S. senators asked the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study “the alarming rise in sports gambling among America’s youth.”

“We write to urge the CDC to study how America’s youth are being impacted by the rapid rise of sports gambling across America,” the bipartisan group of senators wrote in the letter dated Jan. 14, 2026.

They said further research should address both legal and illegal sports gambling among minors. The pending SAFE Bet Act aims to address the growth of sports betting-related harm.

“We believe policymakers and American families deserve to know the extent to which our children are engaging in potentially addictive and detrimental behavior,” the federal policymakers wrote.

What is Underage Gambling?

Underage gambling refers to gambling below the legal age set by a jurisdiction’s governing or regulatory authority. In the U.S., states regulate most forms of gambling, including sportsbook and casino apps. There is no federal law on underage casino-style gambling.

The legal age applies whether you are a resident or a visitor to the jurisdiction.

Similar to drinking and smoking, regulated gambling comes with a legal minimum age for participation. Gambling underage exposes a person to potential legal consequences if caught. Jail time is uncommon, as underage gambling is usually a citation of some kind.

Legal Gambling Age in the U.S.

The legal gambling age varies significantly depending on the state and form of gambling. Below is a general overview of how old you must be to gamble.

• Sports betting: Typically 21, but 18 in some states. Legal ages apply to online and in-person sports gambling.
• Casino gambling: Typically 21 for commercial casinos (e.g., Las Vegas or in other major cities) and sometimes 18 for casinos located on tribal lands. State-sanctioned online casinos are typically 21, regardless of whether they are commercially or tribally operated.
• Lottery: Generally 18 for both online and retail lottery gambling products.
• Prediction markets: 18, but age verification checks vary by operator. Advocates say some CFTC-certified prediction markets, which take bets on sports, have weak or nonexistent age safeguards.
• Stock trading: No minimum age to trade, but you must be 18 to open an account. A person under 18 can have a joint account with someone of legal age.
• Cryptocurrency trading: Like stocks, no legal minimum age to trade, but platforms advertise 18+ for account registration in their terms and conditions.
• Daily fantasy sports: Typically 18, but 21 in some jurisdictions, and age verification checks depend on the operator.
• Social gaming sites: No legal minimum age for products that mimic gambling and allow in-app purchases, such as NFL Super Bowl Slots and Bingo Blitz. These products are often advertised as for mature audiences but have weak or nonexistent age verification.
• Offshore casinos: These illegal gambling sites advertise their products as 18+, but age verification checks are often nonexistent.
• Poker: Like slots and other casino games, the age is typically 21 for commercial casinos and sometimes 18 for tribal casinos. Real-money, state-sanctioned online poker is typically 21. Underage gambling laws could apply to poker games in a person’s residence.
• Horseracing: Typically 18 for online and in-person betting on horse races, but some states set their legal age at 21.

Is The Legal Gambling Age Enforced?

Some legal gambling ages are strictly enforced, while others are loosely or rarely enforced.

Casino-style gambling, including house-banked sports betting, is among the most tightly regulated forms of gambling in the U.S. Thus, the legal gambling age is often enforced. Violations (e.g., permitting underage gambling or direct advertising to minors) can result in regulatory sanctions.

That said, not all underage gambling is caught. It is possible to use false identification to enter a brick-and-mortar casino, for example.

Efforts to enforce the legal gambling age are often permitted to be commercially reasonable. In practice, a state regulatory authority usually won’t require a casino operator to bear what is frequently described as an undue financial burden to enforce the legal age.

For example, a casino might argue that it must balance payroll costs with the state’s mission to eliminate underage gambling. A middle ground is usually settled upon, essentially allowing the casino to pay minimal fines for infractions as long as it makes commercially reasonable attempts to catch underage gamblers. Repeated violations can result in escalating fines.

A.I.-powered facial recognition in casinos may be part of the fight against underage players.

Proponents of regulated online gambling claim that these platforms can better prevent underage gambling access than brick-and-mortar casinos. They claim that KYC (know your customer) checks block underage registration. However, it’s easy to poke holes in that argument because registration isn’t the same as access.

Some underage individuals may gamble online through their parents, siblings, friends, etc.

Why Underage Gambling is Dangerous

Decades of research show that gambling in your youth (childhood or adolescence) dramatically increases the risks of developing a gambling problem later in life.

Many people with gambling addiction cite exposure to gambling in their youth as harmful. Even a seemingly harmless game like McDonald’s Monopoly can normalize gambling.

Individual experiences can vary based on the person’s age at the time of their first encounter with gambling, as well as the form of gambling.

A legal gambling age is designed to deter young people from engaging in gambling. You can argue that the legal gambling age is too low, as the human brain is still developing in one’s early 20s. Nonetheless, the legal gambling age is a vital warning label on gambling products.

In addition to addiction risks later in life, underage gambling can harm a person immediately. Typically, young people don’t have much money or wealth. Underage gambling can undermine their financial health at a vulnerable time.

For young adults, gambling has been linked to homeownership struggles.

What to Do if Your Child is Gambling?

The most critical first step is to calmly talk with your child about the risks and dangers of gambling, especially underage gambling. 

A young person might have a hard time understanding the risks of addiction later in life, so you can begin by explaining the potential immediate consequences of gambling.

You can tell your child that gambling can lead to getting in trouble with money and with their school. You can explain that gambling can distract them from their friendships and family relationships. Tell your child that there are other activities they can enjoy and that gambling can take time away from them.

After the talk about gambling, you should consider whether counseling might be appropriate for your child. Gambling is linked to anxiety, stress, and sometimes other mental health conditions.

You should also ensure that your child no longer has access to the platforms or devices they use to gamble. Parental controls and other software features can assist your efforts.

A coach for gambling prevention can also help your family understand the risks and develop strategies to prevent further gambling. Early intervention is often the key to better long-term outcomes.

If you are experiencing a crisis and/or need immediate help with your child’s gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER.