How old do you have to be to bet on sports?
21 in most states that allow sports betting, and 18 in a few, New Hampshire and Rhode Island among them. The age that counts is the one set by the state you are in when you place the bet, so check that state's regulator.
The state sets the age
There's no national betting age. Each state that allows sports betting writes its own, in its law or in its regulator's rules, and a licensed book has to check your age before it takes a bet. Most states with legal betting chose 21, the same as a casino floor. A few chose 18.
Missouri is a 21 state, and it's written into the state constitution: a licensee shall not offer sports wagering to anyone under 21. Florida's law on the Seminole Tribe's compact sets 21 for sports betting too. At the other end, the New Hampshire Lottery says plainly that you must be 18 and in New Hampshire to bet, and the Rhode Island Lottery's rules set 18 for sports wagering (21 for its online casino games).
The age can change, too. Kentucky started at 18, then its legislature passed HB 904 in 2026 to raise it, and since 15 July 2026 a Kentucky book has to keep out anyone under 21. I'd not trust any list of ages that doesn't carry a date. For your own state, the where is sports betting legal page links each state's own answer, and the regulator's site is the last word.
What the offshore books say
An offshore book sets its own age in its terms, and it isn't always the state's. Bovada says 18. Xbet says 21. BUSR says 21 in its rules and 18 in its FAQ, which tells you how carefully some of these pages are kept.
None of that changes the law where you live. A book that will open an account for a 19-year-old in a 21 state hasn't made the bet legal for him, and I've seen how books use their own terms when a big ticket comes in: a player who broke a rule at sign-up, even one he never read, has handed the book a reason to keep the money. The offshore sportsbooks page covers what you give up outside a state license.
If you're under the age, wait. And whatever your age, if betting has stopped being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER or start with our responsible gambling page.
*Checked against the Missouri Constitution, Kentucky's KRS 230.805, the New Hampshire Lottery and the Rhode Island Lottery's rules on 28 October 2026. Laws change; this page is re-checked every quarter. This is not legal advice.*
Related questions
Where is sports betting legal?
Of the 38 states we have checked, 31 allow legal sports betting in some form and 7 do not, as of 28 October 2026. The form varies a lot: some states let you bet on your phone anywhere inside their borders, others only at a casino counter, a tribal casino or through one state-run book.
Is sports betting legal in Missouri?
Yes. Missouri has allowed online and in-person sports betting since 1 December 2025, for adults 21 and over, licensed by the Missouri Gaming Commission.
Is sports betting legal in Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky has allowed sports betting at licensed retail sportsbooks since 7 September 2023 and on mobile apps since 28 September 2023, for adults 21 and over, regulated by the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation.
Can you use a VPN to bet on sports?
You can try, but the book will usually catch it, and a sportsbook that finds a VPN on your account can void your bets, keep your balance and close you down. Nearly every book's terms forbid it.