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How old do you have to be to gamble in UK?

How old to gamble UK
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Gambling in the UK is strictly for adults only. Playing with real money is very serious business which should only ever be done by British residents who are legally old enough to gamble. The consequences of underage gambling can be severe for both individuals and operators.

You need to be 18 years old or over to bet on most gambling products in the UK. However, there are a couple of cases where a younger age is permitted. We’ll explain all the different scenarios and requirements in detail throughout this article.

How old do you have to be to gamble online?

You always have to be 18 or older to gamble online in the UK. This rule applies to all online casinos in the UK and other gambling sites without exception. You will be asked for your date of birth when creating a new account which must be verified before being allowed to gamble.

The 18+ limit also applies to bets on all kinds of online gambling products including:

  • Slots
  • Live dealer games
  • Table games
  • Sports betting
  • Bingo
  • Poker
  • Lottery
  • Scratchcards
  • Betting exchanges
  • Fantasy sports

However, there are different max bet limits on slots based on your age. For example, players aged 18-24 face lower stake limits on certain games compared to those 25 and older. This tiered approach to gambling limits is part of the UK Gambling Commission’s efforts to protect younger adults who may be more vulnerable to gambling-related harm.

How old do you have to be to enter a casino or betting shop

The legal age requirement is 18 for all land-based casinos and betting shops located across the country. This age restriction also applies to all kinds of gambling that the casino or betting shop offers, including slot machines, table games, sports betting, and more. Unlike online gambling, there’s no max betting limit based on age once you’ve been permitted entry.

Some other premises, such as arcades, may have what are called Category D machines. This includes things like crane-type games to win prizes and similar low-stakes amusement games. For these machines, there is no legal minimum age. However, venues have to keep Category D machines separate from any other categories that do require you to be 18 to play. This separation is strictly monitored by regulatory authorities.

While most gambling activities require participants to be 18 or older, there are some notable exceptions:

  • Football pools – the minimum age is 16.
  • Some non-commercial gambling activities – certain small-scale raffles and private gaming may have different age restrictions

It’s worth noting that these exceptions are specific and limited. The general rule that gambling is an activity restricted to adults 18 and over applies to the vast majority of gambling opportunities in the UK.

Underage gambling

Underage gambling refers to anyone under the legal age participating in gambling activities. Underage gambling is illegal in the UK, so anyone under 18 to bet on games that require you to be 18 years old or over.

This law applies to both online and offline gambling establishments, both of which are required to conduct strict age verification checks when you’re signing up to play.

Any experienced UK player will know that online casino verification must happen before you can deposit money or gamble on their platforms. This is done as soon as you create an account to check you’re old enough to play.

How physical venues check you’re old enough to gamble depends on the premises. Most major casinos will require you to sign up using photo ID which needs to contain your date of birth. Other establishments may ask you for the same document if you appear to look under 25, in conjunction with the UK’s widely used Challenge 25 policy for age-restricted products.

What happens if you get caught gambling under 18 in the UK?

The consequences of underage gambling are very serious. According to the Gambling Act 2005, a young person, defined as being between the age of 16 and 18, is considered to be committing an offence if gambling underage. In general, punishments are mostly aimed at operators, particularly if they’re considered to have acted in a socially irresponsible way.

Once caught, your gambling activity will be stopped immediately. This includes having online accounts closed and being ejected and banned from physical premises. Any winnings will be taken from you, as underage gambling contracts are not legally enforceable.

Help for underage gambling

Due to the seriousness of gambling under the legal age in the UK, there are dedicated resources available to help young people who may be experiencing gambling-related problems: