• Where Can I Gamble Online Hypercasinos
• Where Can I Gamble At 18
• Where Can I Gamble

Gambling addiction—also known as pathological gambling, compulsive gambling or gambling disorder—is an impulse-control disorder. If you’re a compulsive gambler, you can’t control the impulse to gamble, even when it has negative consequences for you or your loved ones. Legal Gambling Ages By State – States Where You Can Play Online Casinos Legally At 18+ The following is a list of all US states that allow you to gamble at 18 years old. Click the links to learn more about specific gambling laws for that particular state and how they implement their minimum gambling.

If you have ever wondered if that bet on the Super Bowl with your friends was legal, you are not alone. Though billions of dollars are spent on sports betting each and every year, there are still questions concerning just how legal your March Madness office pool or friendly wager on the NBA Finals really is. Betting with friends on sports at your home or at the bar falls into the category of social gambling. Many sports enthusiasts do not realize that this activity falls into its own legal category in many states. There are some states that permit social gaming, others that strictly prohibit it, and a few that draw no distinction within their laws. If a state does have a social gambling carve out, you will typically find it within in the same chapter that pertains to gambling.

The simplest way to bet on sports with friends- or even by yourself - is to use an online sportsbook. The laws for online sports betting are typically more cut and dry, and using offshore sites does not carry the risks that land-based sports wagering can. Still, it is worth understanding the legality behind betting on sports with friends at your home or in a social setting. As you continue reading, you will be able to get an overview of how social sports betting works in the U.S.

The definition of social gambling will differ slightly, but it is generally considered wagering amongst friends in a non-public area. Participants must compete on equal terms and no player can be a professional gambler. A $10 bet that you with your buddy while watching a football game at your home would constitute a social wager. On the other end of the spectrum, running books and creating a large-scale operation crosses into standard gambling territory, which is illegal and punishable by law.

Here is an example of social gambling as written in the Arizona Revised Statutes:

“’Social gambling’ means gambling that is not conducted as a business and that involves players who compete on equal terms with each other in a gamble if all of the following apply:

• (a) No player receives, or becomes entitled to receive, any benefit, directly or indirectly, other than the player's winnings from the gamble.
• (b) No other person receives or becomes entitled to receive any benefit, directly or indirectly, from the gambling activity, including benefits of proprietorship, management or unequal advantage or odds in a series of gambles.”

There are certain states that permit social gambling, however the exact laws can vary drastically from state-to-state. Some states will have clearly defined laws on the terms that players must compete on, while others will limit the amount that can be won and wagered. There are other states that have rather vague laws where the types of social contests permitted to wager on are not clearly defined. The one commonality between all states that allow social gambling is that there cannot be a house cut, meaning that the host or a certain individual does not make a profit from the pool. It is best to research the individual social gaming laws in your particular state to ensure that friendly sports bets are legal in your state. That being said, here are the states that do have social gambling laws that permit betting with friends in some capacity:

Betting with friends on sports online is legal as long as you use offshore betting sites. There are certain federal laws that prevent sports betting sites from operating within the United States. The Wire Act of 1961 makes it illegal for those in the business of gambling to accept bets or provide assistance with the placement of sports wagers via wire communication facilities. Being that the law has been interpreted to include the internet, you will not find state-regulated online sports betting sites. The legal sports betting sites that US citizens use every day are those that are regulated overseas. Though headquartered in locations such as Antigua and the United Kingdom, these sites are licensed to accept players from the USA. You can join a legitimate sports betting site and not have to worry about the often times confusing social gambling laws that apply to land-based sports betting.

Betting with friends on sports is best done in a regulated, online environment. Let’s say that you make a bet with your friend and win, but they decide not to hold up to their end of the deal. In some states, you will have no way of recovering your funds. In some jurisdictions, the loser may be able to sue the winner and recover losses. With murky social gambling laws, many sports fans prefer to just use an online sportsbook. You can all place bets online and see who comes out on top.

You and your friends can join an online sportsbook to get started with placing wagers. When you visit a sports betting site, you will be asked for basic contact information such as your name, address, telephone number, and email address. After registering, you will be presented with several deposit options and be prompted to fund your sports betting account. You can choose a fast and reliable method like bitcoin that will have your account credited within minutes. Or, you may opt to use a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express for your sportsbook deposit. One of the major benefits of betting with friends on sports online is that each person can choose their own preferred deposit method.

There is no denying that you have more betting options at a legal online sportsbook that you will anywhere else. You and your friends may be interested in different sports, and online sportsbooks will have a wide selection of sports to choose from. You can bet on NCAA basketball, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLB, NCAA football, and more. Some of the available wager types include moneylines, totals, point spreads, parlays, teasers, and if-bets. Rather than having to come up with a system to track all of your friends’ bets, everyone will have their own bet slip where bets are automatically graded and payouts instantly calculated.

Betting with friends on sports is made even more convenient when you take the wagering to your smartphone. With mobile sports betting apps, you and your friends can bet while on the go. You will have the same selection of sports and wager types at your fingertips. Easily fund your account or request a payout while waiting in line or watching the game. With no download required, no one in your group has to worry about space being taken up on their mobile device. Simply visit the sports betting site from your iOS, Android, or BlackBerry device to be automatically directed to the mobile-friendly sportsbook.

Betting with friends on sports is best done in a regulated, online environment. Let’s say that you make a bet with your friend and win, but they decide not to hold up to their end of the deal. In some states, you will have no way of recovering your funds. In some jurisdictions, the loser may be able to sue the winner and recover losses. With murky social gambling laws, many sports fans prefer to just use an legal online sportsbook. You can all place bets online and see who comes out on top.

Back to Sports Betting States

If you’ve just recently become a legal adult, you might wonder where you can go to gamble as an 18-year-old in California. With some exceptions, many legal casinos or card rooms in California will let you enter as soon as you turn 18. The same goes for any online gambling apps, although these are very limited because of California’s strict gambling legislation.

Here we will break down where you can enjoy 18+ gambling in the Golden State.

California Indian Casinos: Gambling Options For 18+

The legal gambling age is 18-years-old on all land under California jurisdiction. Because Indian casinos technically operate on reservation land, they aren’t beholden to California legislation. They can set their own legal gambling age to some extent (with some government oversight). Because of this, some Indian casinos allow anyone 18-years-old or older to enter, while others have a higher minimum of 21-years-old.

The reason for this is that some Indian casinos serve alcohol on open gambling floors or otherwise make it very easy for anyone to obtain alcohol, even while following licensing verification practices. They set their legal entrance ages to 21-years-old to prevent any instances of underage drinking on their premises.

This means it’s important to always double-check whether a tribal casino has a legal age of 18-years-old or 21-years-old before making the trip. Most tribal casinos follow the 21-year-old rule. However, there are more than 20 (out of 63) that currently allow 18-year-olds to enter.

Northern California 18+ Casinos

Northern California casinos are usually based around Sacramento or San Francisco: the two largest metropolitan areas in the top half of the state. These resorts run from large to very small, featuring diverse themes and lots of different gambling activities that range from slot machines to lottery games to blackjack and other electronic games. Most tribal casinos are located in the southern half of the state, but there are still plenty of worthwhile ones to check out north of Fresno.

Here are some of the best Northern California 18+ casinos:

Table Mountain Casino

Just 20 miles north of Fresno, this casino is due for a big renovation over the next few years. For now, it includes several thousand gaming machines and over 40 table games. It also offers 10 poker tables for reserved or spur-of-the-moment Sit’N’Go games. The casino is currently looking into creating an adjacent hotel, but there are plenty of other accommodations nearby as well. Dining and live entertainment activities round out its offerings.

Lucky Bear Casino

A smaller tribal casino totaling 5000 ft.², Lucky Bear is one of the most northern tribal casinos in California. It’s nestled in the beautiful mountains and features dozens of slot machines and other games. It’s an ideal place to gamble and relax while touring the Northern California wilderness or road tripping up the coast.

Elk Valley Casino

This Northern California casino is open 24 hours daily. It features 23,000 ft.² of gaming space, 11 table and poker games, and over 300 distinct gaming machines. These are available alongside a single restaurant for convenient dining access.

Southern California 18+ Casinos

Southern California casinos outnumber their Northern California counterparts by a fair margin, and they’re mostly concentrated around Los Angeles, Fresno, and San Diego. They also include plenty of spas to take advantage of the typically relaxing, sunny Southern California ambiance. Additionally, many of the casinos feature entertainment venues reflecting a focus on the show business industry. These venues often utilize iconography or themes that draw from Hollywood or other iconic neighborhoods.

Here are some of the best Southern California 18+ casinos:

Morongo Casino Resort Spa

This casino is a perfect choice if you want to mix some spa time with your gambling activities. It’s very close to Palm Springs and has over 150,000 ft.² in total with nearly 3,000 slot machines. It also includes a poker room and 13 reserve poker tables for private games, plus a variety of spa and resort amenities like massages services, and pool access.

Tachi Palace Casino Resort

This famous casino is located in Lemoore just south of Central California. It’s one of the best casinos in the region, with over 2,000 slot machines, a seven-table poker room, and a 255-room hotel and spa. Several restaurants and other dining venues nearby make it a great place for general relaxation and vacationing.

Full List of 18+ California Casinos

Sweepstakes Online Casinos In California 18+

There are a few ways you can enjoy 18+ online gambling in California even though the activity is broadly illegal. One way is by using sweepstakes sites. Sweepstakes sites technically don’t have you gamble with real money. Instead, you play with digital Sweeps Coins or other types of fake currency.

Because you aren’t gambling with real money, California’s anti-gambling legislation does not ban the activity. Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots are great examples of online sweepstakes casinos.

LuckyLand Slots offers hundreds of digital slot games if those are your favorite. Chumba Casino, on the other hand, offers a broader online casino experience and provides several options for digital table games. Of course, you have to be 18-years-old or older to sign up for either website.

Sweepstakes Online Poker In California 18+

Sweepstakes poker, which also follows the sweepstakes gaming model, is another option that circumvents anti-gambling legislation in California. Global Poker is really the only option you should consider, as it’s a well-regulated and well-designed website that allows you to find poker games against human opponents any time, all over the world. It’s also legal in most US states.

Global Poker offers two classic poker games: Texas or Omaha Hold’Em. You can purchase digital currency or get free bonus Sweeps Coins just by playing regular poker games. These coins can be redeemed for cash prizes, which adds a little bit of excitement to every game.

Traffic is fairly consistent, so it shouldn’t be difficult to get a game even if you want to play during the middle of the week when most people (in your location) are at work. There are some daily and weekly tournaments offered as well, although the Sit’N’Go format of poker is by far the most common type.

Be aware that poker tables can vary dramatically. Skill level matches are hit or miss, so you might sit down with one game and dominate the competition, only to find yourself drastically outmatched during the next.

See our full Review of Global Poker in California.

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) In California 18+

Daily fantasy sports in California is still a gray legal area. In short, daily fantasy sports is neither legal nor illegal because there isn’t any California legislation outright stating either position. Big daily fantasy sports operators like DraftKings and FanDuel have so far managed to continue providing DFS without challenge.

Currently, anti-gambling legislation in California only bans players from wagering real money on games of chance. However, DFS operators claim that fantasy sports is a skill-based wagering activity.

Until California legislation rules one way or the other, both DraftKings and FanDuel are excellent online DFS apps that anyone 18-years-old or older can enjoy.

Signing up for either app is pretty easy, and both providers offer intuitive user interfaces that look remarkably alike when you see them side by side. Both also provide opening bonuses, although DraftKings’ is much better, with a $500 deposit match guarantee and some free site credit.

You’ll also be able to enjoy tons of sports lineups and activities, ranging from major leagues like the NFL or NBA to women’s leagues or international soccer. The apps even have some options for eSports.

California 18+ Gambling FAQ

If you’ve recently turned 18-years-old, be sure to have an up-to-date version of your driver’s license or government-issued ID.

Where Can I Gamble Online Hypercasinos

Yes. However, in California, the only online gambling apps that are legal are for daily fantasy sports and horse racing. These apps will ask for your date of birth and your Social Security number to verify your information before allowing you to make an account.

Where Can I Gamble At 18

No. Sports betting currently isn’t legal anywhere in the state. However, tribal organizations may bring this to their brick-and-mortar casinos in the near future.

Not likely. The law is there to prevent underage drinkers from gaining access alcohol, not necessarily to stop them from gambling.

Where Can I Gamble

There are slightly more in Southern California. In general, you’ll find more casinos or card rooms around big cities anywhere in the state.