There are gambling age limits for good reason. It’s not healthy for young people to gamble, whether it’s online or in real life. So we’re going to give you a round-up of some underage gambling prevention tools and measures used in the online gambling arena.
Underage gambling prevention FAQs
What is the age limit for online gambling?
The minimum age limit for online gambling varies depending on what area you’re in.
In the United States, the age you can gamble ranges from 18 to 21, depending on the rules in your state.
Meanwhile, in Canada, it’s 18 or 19, depending on your jurisdiction.
In many countries worldwide, such as the UK, Mexico, South Africa, France and Australia, 18 is the typical age limit.
Meanwhile, Japan and Nigeria has 20 as the minimum age and 21 is the age in Belgium, India and Greece.
Should you talk to your child about gambling?
Much like sex education or alcohol, gambling is a topic best tackled by a guardian.
Make sure they know that gambling is not a way to make money. And that sport should be enjoyed on its own merits, not enhanced by gambling.
Most importantly, lead by example. Don’t gamble in front of your children. If you gamble, don’t glamourise or glorify it.
Do gambling sites block underage people?
Yes, gambling websites go out of their way to discourage minors from signing up and placing bets.
They do this via age verification checks and ask for supporting documentation.
How can I stop an underage person from using my account?
If you live with a child, never share your password or code for your online gambling account with them.
One of those people who uses the same password for everything (an unsafe practice in itself)? Make sure to change yours immediately.
What happens if a site finds out a young person is gambling?
If it’s discovered that a young person is gambling, the site will immediately forfeit any winnings associated with the account. Then they’ll close it for good.
What are some extra measures I can take to prevent my child from gambling?
First up is parental controls on all smart devices. That can include TVs, tablets and smartphones.
Enable parental controls by going to the Settings menu. Decide what content you need to filter. Then use a passcode that your child doesn’t know or can’t easily guess.
There are also a couple of content filtering software brands you can use. For example, Net Nanny and Cybersitter. Plus, Gamblock and Betfilter, which targets gambling sites.
Do you need help with problem gambling?
If you’re worried that you might be displaying problem gambling signs, you need to get help. You need to stop gambling by taking at the very least a time out, but preferably a long term self-exclusion.
The next step is to get help so you can stop long term, both online and offline. For those in the United States, the National Council on Problem Gambling has lots of online resources and a phone line at 1800 522 4700.
Meanwhile, if you’re based in the UK, you can visit Be Gamble Aware or ring 0808 8020 133 to get help.
Otherwise, there are problem gambling help services all over the world that can help. Please take the time to find the one local to you and get the vital help you need.
And, of course, these organizations can help you with any underage gambling prevention questions you may have.
