Gambling Age In California

Assemblyman Jim Wheeler introduced a bill to lower Nevada’s legal-gambling age to 18, arguing that “if you’re old enough to serve our country in foreign lands you’re old enough to come to Las Vegas or Reno or Lake Tahoe and have a good time.” However, the bill. 18: People below the age of 18 can gamble with parental permission in a private dwelling-house or in the presence of a parent. For certain small lotteries, one only needs to be 16 in order to buy a ticket. Vanuatu: 18: The given references only prevent people under the age of 18 from gambling online and gambling in casinos.

Last month Nevada State Assemblyman Jim Wheeler introduced legislation based on a rather apt philosophical argument. He argued that if men and women are of age to fight and die for their country, they should be able to go out and have a little fun on the tables in Vegas.

Wheeler’s proposed legislation seeks to lower Nevada’s gambling age from 21 to 18. However, officials don’t seem to share his views and are standing firm in maintaining the status-quo of Vegas gambling age restrictions.

In a recent meeting between officials, one gambling regulator was quoted to have uttered the phrase, “dead on arrival.” One that no lawmaker wants to hear in connection with their proposed legislation. Regulators see this bill being passed as more trouble than it’s worth to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.

Granted, the lowering of the gambling age would increase tax revenues for the state derived from gaming activity, but as Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Tony Alamo put it, “The industry has not come to us with any wants for dropping this,” adding, “Everyone’s happy with 21 years of age.”

President of the Nevada Resorts Association, Virginia Valentine also contributed during an interview, “We’ve never supported it in the past. There’s really no compelling reason to change that position.”

What officials do want to emphasize is that the proposed bill would in fact create a problem for operators if the gambling age is lowered to 18. That is in conjunction with the practice of alcoholic beverages being served in casinos. If 18 year old men and women are able to begin gambling, how then do casinos get a handle on the use of alcohol in their establishments? To get police patrons to check IDs at every slot and table seat would be no small task, not to mention a nuisance to players.

Officials also point to the fact that Vegas is no longer the only state with legalized gambling. In other locations the legal age would remain 21. This of doesn’t take into account several exceptions where gambling within certain tribal lands, in places like Alaska, Idaho, Minnesota and Wyoming, the legal gambling age is 18. There are also pari-mutual betting practices open to those 18 and up in Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington. Bingo can be played by those 18 and up in Connecticut, Florida, New Mexico, Oregon, Wisconsin and at tribal casinos in South Dakota. Even more confusing is that the legal gambling age is 18 or 21, depending on the casino, in California, New York and Oklahoma.

It seems pretty clear there is already a quagmire of gaming rules throughout the country depending on the games being played. What many officials in Nevada are now asking is: Would lowering the age draw that many more gambling patrons? The consensus is no. Another point brought up is how much are these younger patrons actually expected to spend with their new found gaming freedom. Most don’t think it’s enough to justify the investment in time and money to get the laws changed.

Gambling Age In California

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Gambling Age Lowered To 18