Why do you have to 21 to even be in a Casino ?

Question

Because those slot machine things look like fun , so why do you have to be 21 to play ? I'm just curious , because when my family went to the beach there was a Casino right by the beach and i got asked to leave even though i was just standing by the slot machine things because i had nothing to do there and it was too cold to go to the beach .

Thank you :)

Answer 1

It depends on where you are.  Some states will allow 18 year olds to gamble, most are 21 though.  Each casino has to be licensed by the state they are in.  Part of keeping that license is following the rules.  If the age limit is 21 then they can be fined and risk losing their license to operate by allowing under age people on the gaming floor.

Answer 2

So they dont have to ask for IDs when serving alcohol...I think 18 year olds can gamble in Oklahoma though

Answer 3

America is just weird this way.  In almost every country in the world you are considered an adult at the age of 18.  Here in America, they make you an adult, but then put you into a weird limbo for three years where you are not allowed to do certain things.

It is not consistent either.  For example, there is an off track horse betting track in Virginia I've been to, where you can enter at the age of 18, and gamble all you like, even though there are two bars in the betting rooms, serving beer and wine (you still have to be 21) to drink.

So there is no logic and no consistency.  It's just age discrimination against legal adults.  But people 18-21 don't have the power to change anything, and people over 21 don't care because they are over 21.

Answer 4

Because they serve alcohol.

Answer 5

It's just the law. It is intended to protect young people from gambling their money away, and alcohol is also available for "free" to patrons who gamble. This would fall under the drinking law. One could not gain entry into a club that serves alcohol if they didn't have proper ID showing their were 21+.

Answer 6

Because it is addicting and it may ruin your life just don't do it

Answer 7

It is the law that no one under the age of 21 is allowed to gamble. It could have been that because you were standing by the machine the casino did not want to take the chance that you were going to play the machine. I believe its more of a liability thing, they could get fined if people underage are gambling. Just like bars, they can get in trouble for serving alcohol to a minor.

Hope this helps clear things up.

Answer 8

Everyone answered why you have to be 21 to gamble, not why you have to be 21 to be in the casino.  In Vegas, it's a gaming regulation that anyone under 21 not be allowed to "loiter" in a gaming area - you can walk through, but you can't stop & watch for any length of time.  Ostensibly to protect minors from the bad influences of alcohol and gambling, it is really designed to keep kids out of an adult-oriented area.  I don't want a bunch of kids hanging around while I'm gambling, or watching me or their parents gamble or listen to their chattering and c**p.  That's what Disneyland is for.  Minors aren't allowed in casinos because they don't contribute to the casino's bottom line - they can't gamble or buy drinks, all they can do is bother the adults who are trying to gamble and have fun or whine to their parents about leaving because their bored or whatever, so why let them in?  Great rule too - kids have no business loitering in casinos.  You'll appreciate it once you're 21.

Answer 9

My guess is because gambling can become an adiction and they don't want kids to become adicted to it. Also maby because they know that kids don't have money and they don't want the parents mad if the kids get addicted and waste all their money!!

Answer 10

They do not want to take any risks.  It is against the law in that area to gamble if you are under the age of 21 and the casino does not want to get into any legal trouble.  At the race track that I go to, the legal gambling age is 18, so I am allowed to play.  Once in a while, I see children, but they are always accompanied by an employee of the track.  They can only roam freely outside by the race track.