The roadblock to allowing legal sports betting in Oklahoma has often come from negotiating with the state’s tribes. However, in April 2020, the state and two local tribes (the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and Comanche Nation) were able to come to an agreement where they would be able to offer sports betting at their casino properties.
- Most states do permit players to enter casinos and other gambling establishments at age 21 to bet on sports, but there are a handful of states that allow players as young as 18 to gamble. It doesn’t matter whether the sports bettor is using a mobile device or visiting the land-based facility, the sportsbook age is set by the state.
- Type of gambling Minimum age Relevant sections of the Act Gambling in casinos or other licensed gambling premises It is illegal to permit any person under the age of 18 to enter a licensed gambling premises. The only exception is licensed family entertainment centres. 18: 46, 47, 48 and 49 Gaming machine (Machine category: A, B1, B2, B3, B3A.
Before you start gambling in the Bay State, it is important for you to be informed of the Massachusetts gambling ages. The reason for that is fairly simple. If you do not meet the required age to gamble, you cannot do so. Bookies and casino operators will not serve those who are underage in Massachusetts. Luckily for you, there are plenty of gambling options available in Massachusetts. From sports betting to casino games, online to offline, there are many different options available for those who want to gamble in Massachusetts.
But due to the variety of options that are available, there are a couple of different gambling ages that you need to be aware of. In Massachusetts, some forms of gambling allow you to start when you are 18 years or older while others require that you need to be at least 21 years old to gamble. This page is designed to answer your questions about how old you need to be to gamble in Massachusetts and give you some insight into the gambling scene in the Bay State.
Massachusetts Ages For Gambling | |
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Legal Sports Betting Age in Massachusetts | 21 |
Legal Casino Age in Massachusetts | 21 |
Legal Poker Age in Massachusetts | 18 |
Legal Lottery Age in Massachusetts | 18 |
Legal Horse Betting Age in Massachusetts | 18 |
Legal DFS Age in Massachusetts | 21 |
Legal Bingo Age in Massachusetts | 18 |
What Is The Legal Gambling Age At Casinos In Massachusetts?
If you want to gamble in the casinos of Massachusetts, you need to be at least 21 years or older. There a couple of land-based casinos that are available in the state along with casinos that are in boats. No matter which area you choose to go to, you need to be 21 years or older to gamble at any casino in Massachusetts. Trying to gamble underage could end you with some legal trouble, so we do not recommend you trying to do so.
Legal Online Casinos For Massachusetts Residents
To get the full gambling experience in Massachusetts, you do not need to go to a casino in the state. In fact, it would be more beneficial if you did not. Casinos are crowded and do not have many benefits for casino players. But online casinos such as Bovada have plenty of bonuses for casinos players. Sites like Bovada are completely legal and regulated and it will give you a better casino experience than a typical land-based casino.
Bovada – Win Big With Bovada At Home Or On Mobile
Casino games have never been better than with Bovada. Bovada is the industry leader when it comes to online gambling and they are trusted in the greater gambling community. Not only can you take advantage of Bovada while you are in the comfort of your own home. You can use your mobile device.
One way that Bovada proves they are the number one option for casino goers in Massachusetts is the number of bonuses they have. One of the best bonuses they have is without a doubt the $3,000 casino welcome bonus. For your first deposit, you will receive a 100% matching bonus for up to $1,000. Just enter the promo code NEWWELCOME. For your next two deposits, enter the promo code BV2NDCWB and you will receive the same exact bonus. If you want more out of your gambling experience, check out Bovada today.
Lucky Red Casino - 400% Sign Up Bonus
Lucky Red Casino allows players who are 21 years of age to play through their casino. If you live in Massachusetts, you will not be left out of the fun. Lucky Red gives their players the option of over 100 different games, many of which are backed by the 400% to $4,000 match bonus that the casino offers. You can collect this bonus through any of the many methods available. Since Lucky Red provides their players with the safe gambling center, you can expect to be a winner through their site. VISA, MasterCard, WinPalace, and many other deposit methods are available through Lucky Red.
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Massachusetts Sports Betting Sites
If you are in Massachusetts, then you have plenty of gambling options available for you. Although there is no land-based sports betting available yet in the state, online sportsbooks have been legally taking action from locals for over 15 years now. Daily fantasy sports (DFS) are also fully regulated and accepted in Massachusetts. There are also a few casinos in-state along with all the online casinos that are available. This means that poker has a wide range of availability as well. From bingo to slots, Massachusetts has plenty of gambling options available.
What Is The Legal Sports Betting Age In Massachusetts?
If you want to bet on sports in Massachusetts, you have to be at least 21 years or older to do so. Typically, states match the legal sports betting age to the legal casino age. That is due to the fact that most sportsbooks are opened inside of casinos. Massachusetts does not yet have state-based sports betting, but waiting until you are 21 is the safest bet to be within the legal age while you bet online.
Legal Sports Betting Sites For Massachusetts Residents
There are a good number of legal sports betting sites for Massachusetts residents. They are the only method of sports betting in the state available due to the lack of retail sportsbooks. But even if brick and motor sportsbooks were open, online sportsbooks like BetOnline would have many more benefits available. Read our review to find out more.
BetOnline – The Best Site To Bet On Sports In Massachusetts
If you need a great site to bet on sports in Massachusetts, you cannot go wrong with BetOnline. The website has been around for many years and is one of the most trusted sportsbooks in the entire world. You can bet on the biggest football games or even obscure sports such as table tennis. The number of options you have on BetOnline is nearly endless.
The best way for new BetOnline users to take advantage of the website is the 50% Welcome Bonus. Just enter the promo code BOL1000 and you will receive a 50% matching bonus up to $1,000. That is plenty of extra funds to keep your new BetOnline account going. We highly recommend those in Massachusetts to take advantage of this bonus.
Bovada Sportsbook - Best For All Sports
One online sportsbook we promote above any other is that of
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What Is The Legal Poker Age In Massachusetts?
For younger gambling who want to get started sooner rather than later, the legal poker age in Massachusetts is 18. You might have trouble getting to poker tables in retail casinos, but our recommended poker sites will have no problem servicing those who are 18 years or older. Poker is a great way to get started for new gamblers and there are plenty of online sites to do so.
Legal Poker Sites For Massachusetts Residents
There are plenty of online legal poker sites for Massachusetts residents. BetOnline and Bovada not only provide casino games and sports betting, but you can also play poker on them as well. Our recommended online poker sites will reward you a large number of bonuses, no matter if you are new or a veteran player. We highly recommend them if you are interested in playing poker.
BetOnline - Top Poker Site in Massachusetts
If you are going to play poker online, we suggest you run with the poker room known as BetOnline. BetOnline's poker room is a favorites because they make sure each card drawn is random. There is no poker room that is more honest than BetOnline. They have a 100% match bonus, which is one of the best online. They give up to $1,000 in free cash. BetOnline's poker room has games covering the entire gambit, including stud and hold 'em games. Keep the Massachusetts gambling age in mind before you join.
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What Is The Legal Gambling Age To Bet On Horses In Massachusetts?
The legal gambling age to bet on horses in Massachusetts is 18 years or older. Betting on the ponies is how plenty of gamblers get started due to the fact that kids can go to horse tracks. That gets newcomers introduced to the world of gambling and to accommodate that, many states elect to allow those 18 years and older to bet on horses.
Horse Betting Sites For Massachusetts Residents
The horse betting sites for Massachusetts residents are often preferred to be used over going to an actual horse track. The reason is horse tracks do not often give you many bonuses to take advantage of. But sites like Bovada provide a large number of bonuses that will help fuel your bank account. Plus, online racebooks take action on races around the world while in Massachusetts, you are stuck betting on only races happening in the United States.
How Old Do I Have To Be To Play The Lottery In Massachusetts?
You need to be at least 18 years old to play the lottery in Massachusetts. Playing the lottery is simple. All you need to do is buy a lottery card, scratch it, and see if you have any wins. It is a matter of luck if you win and it is a great way for younger bettors to get started with gambling in Massachusetts. Just be at least 18 years old and you will be ready to play the lottery in Massachusetts.
What Is The Legal Gambling Age For DFS In Massachusetts?
Sports Gambling Age By State
The legal gambling age for DFS in Massachusetts is 21 years or older. There are many states with DFS, but plenty of them do not fully regulate the activity. Massachusetts is one of the few states that have DFS fully regulated. Lawmakers decided that people in the state needed to be 21 years or older to play DFS contests on sites such as FanDuel or DraftKings. Once you are 21, you are more than free to participate as well.
Online Bingo For Massachusetts Residents
Bingo is one game we have not ignored, and we have found that you can play bingo online if you are above the legal gambling ages in Massachusetts. In order to play bingo online you only have to be 18 years of age, as per the legal gambling ages, though this could be raised to 21 if you join an online bingo hall with casino games.
Vic's Bingo - Open To Massachusetts Gamblers
Vic's Bingo provides players with a very secure bingo environment. They do not let players fall victim to hacks or thievery. They have over 300 patterns to play with, so the fun need never end. You can join only join Vic's Bingo if you are 21, however, as they also offer casino games. Vic's Bingo offers two unlimited deposit bonuses, which are good for 150% each. Vic's Bingo is one of the few bingo halls we promote, as it carries some of the best games, hottest bonuses, and safest software.
The average sports bettor is younger than you might expect, but the cigar stereotype is probably still true for one or two of them. At least, we suspect. (Shutterstock)
Back when we wrote an article attempting to clear away the stigma that some people place on sports betting, we talked about some of the assumptions that many people make about the average sports bettor. However, in terms of talking about stigma, the primary stereotype we addressed was the notion that those who indulge themselves in this simple hobby are all gambling addicts. It didn’t take much work to clear this notion, since most rational people would not have trouble seeing that it is not only untrue, but rather implausible. But what of sports betting demographics in general?
There are certainly some stereotypes to be had here. A person who has never partaken in the art of sports betting, or who does not know a fair amount of sports bettors, might occasionally leap to the conclusion that most sports bettors are not unlike the people you see at the race track in the movies. In many films, you see old men in shabby clothes, presumably reeking of smoke and quite possibly whiskey. For obvious reasons, this is not a stereotype with which most people prefer to have themselves associated.
But if you look at actual sports betting demographics, you will see that these stereotypes are not quite accurate. Back in 2008, a Gallup poll confirmed that certain sports betting demographics showed trends that bucked the stereotypes, even if more recent data from the American Gaming Association concerning the gaming industry at large would appear at first glance to corroborate them. Bear in mind that the following data applies primarily to the United States, without accounting for overseas markets.
Sports Betting Demographic #1: Age
This is actually Ernest Hemingway. But you thought it was an old bookie at first, didn’t you? (Earl Theisen Archives/LOOK Magazine)
The first of the sports betting demographics we will look at concerns the age of the sports bettors. The stereotype associated with this particular demographic tends to skew toward older persons. One often assumes that sports bettors are approaching or even beyond retirement age. Even those who assume them to be younger will generally have an image of someone who is middle-aged and perhaps a bit down on their luck. And while there is certainly nothing bad about living well into your golden years, the issue with any stereotype such as this is that it doesn’t necessarily present an accurate image.
Of course, if you look at the link from 2013 concerning data surveyed by the American Gaming Association, you might be inclined to believe that this is true. While that data showed that 39% of casino visitors in the United States are relatively young (between 21 and 35), it also showed that younger casino-goers are generally there to seek entertainment, with far less interest in gaming than older patrons. In fact, it showed that less than half of a casino’s younger patrons are inclined to partake in casino games upon every visit to the venue.
While it might seem as if the above data confirms the common stereotypes, you are forgetting one key factor. Sports betting is largely performed online these days, which means that sports betting demographics must account for more than just the casinos. As pointed out by Covers, companies such as CG Technology (who we have mentioned before) are experiencing a number of customers who are as young as 21.
This might have something to do with the tendency of younger generations to embrace technology, although the Gallup poll linked at the beginning of this article indicates that youth in general is much more likely to bet on sports. Their sports betting demographics indicated that just over a quarter of American sports bettors are between 18 and 34 years old, with just under a fifth of sports bettors fitting the demographic between 35 and 54 years old.
In fact, only just 11% of American sports bettors in the aforementioned Gallup poll were 55 or older. This means that, at least seven years ago, only just over a tenth of sports bettors in the United States were in the right age group to conform to popular stereotypes. With the internet growing more and more popular as the years bear on, it’s hard to imagine a reversal in this data arising any time soon.
Sports Betting Demographic #2: Gender
See? It’s not like women don’t enjoy the gaming industry at all. (Kzenon/Colourbox)
It goes without saying that the common stereotype for sports bettors in terms of gender is that most of them are male. This is not altogether surprising, especially when you consider that men are often more likely to be sports fans. And while there may be some sports bettors out there who do not religiously watch sports, those who want to profit still need to do a fair bit of research if they hope to succeed. This means that those without an interest in sports are not as likely to play.
In fact, data collected in 2012 regarding whether or not Americans would support a change in current sports betting laws indicated that only 7% of women polled had placed a bet on a sporting event, while only 2% of women polled had actually done so through a bookmaker. These numbers are certainly quite low, even though many women did seem to support the act of sports betting (close to half of them supported the notion of reforming current legal regulations).
The above-linked Covers article did suggest, however, that a fair number of female sports bettors will participate in large events such as the NBA Finals, March Madness, the Stanley Cup or the Super Bowl. In addition, the Gallup poll conflicts with the data collected in the survey on regulatory reform, suggesting that 13% of women surveyed were likely to place wagers on sporting events. While this data was collected four years earlier than the data suggesting only 7% were likely to place wagers, it is hard to believe that women are becoming less interested rather than the other way around.
Since Covers suggests that more and more women are becoming interested in sports betting, the lack of growth in actual sports betting demographics could be attributed to gender bias. In Uganda, a woman actually had to sue for her rights as a sports bettor just earlier this year. And while this incident may have taken place far from the United States, it is not outlandish to suggest that these types of issues might exist across the globe.
Sports Gambling Age Illinois
As long as this type of bias is not too widespread, then the apparent growth of interest in female sports bettors might start to level the playing field over the next few years. It is possible, of course, that males will always dominate this particular area of sports betting demographics. But that does not mean that women will not make at least some progress in bridging the gap.
Sports Betting Demographic #3: Income
Some stereotypers like to picture a person only slightly wealthier than the guy on the left. Except, you know…holding a laptop. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)
One of the prominent myths regarding sports betting demographics is that your average bettor is likely down on their luck. This is one of those images that definitely stems from race track stereotypes, and just sort of spirals out to affect the whole of the gaming industry. Many people picture a chain-smoking drunk, possibly someone with no job and a gambling addiction, who’s spending the last of his money trying to earn a quick buck.
In 2012, ESPN reported that the average sports bettor is likely to be a suburbanite with about a $74,000 annual income. They even said that around 6% of those who bet frequently make over half of this amount. And while that 6% may not sound like a lot, the percentage of people with a $150,000 who don’t bet at all is actually smaller. Of course, the problem with this is that you might be tempted to stereotype in the opposite direction, assuming that sports betting is a hobby for the rich and no one else.
This isn’t quite true. Yes, the “down on their luck” stereotype is thoroughly false. If we harken back to the Gallup poll from 2008, they found at the time that only 6% of people from low-income homes were trying their luck at the sportsbooks. And yes, they found that more than a quarter of people from homes with an income of $75,000 or more were engaged in the hobby of sports betting.
But they also found that 17% of the middle class was betting on sports. You might be thinking that 17% is less than 28%, but what you’re forgetting is that households in which the income falls between $30,000 and $75,000 are pretty common. In other words, 17% of middle-income homes is actually a significant number, possibly much more significant than 28% of upper-class homes.
So what does this mean? Well, it basically means that sports betting demographics don’t necessarily skew far enough toward either the lower or the upper class to establish a stereotype. Your average sports bettor and your average Joe are basically the same person. And while some bettors might be lower-income individuals trying to press their luck while others are higher-income individuals simply throwing their wealth around, neither of these demographics is great enough to warrant a stereotype.
Sports Betting Demographic #4: Education
Are we the only ones that actually kept our mortarboards after graduation? (Salon Media)
Legal Sports Gambling Age
There isn’t necessarily a specific stereotype that fits the education demographic, but it isn’t too hard to figure out what the stereotype would be. Think about that stereotypical guy at the race track that we mentioned in the introduction to this post. The cigar-reeking souse of advanced age who’s spending the last of his family’s money on what he thinks to be a sure thing. Doesn’t exactly sound like an Ivy Leaguer, now does he?
Well, maybe he should. And given how badly common stereotypes have fared against the sports betting demographics listed above, you shouldn’t be too surprised by what we’re about to tell you. According to the Gallup poll from 2008, college graduates at that time were about 10% more likely to engage in sports betting than their uneducated counterparts. More specifically, only 14% of those surveyed who had not graduated college appeared likely to wager on sports, compared to 24% of those who had graduated.
This makes sense, given that the Covers article on this issue specifically explored which types of sports bettors are the most likely to be “sharps,” which is a slang term denoting highly skilled professional sports bettors. While sharps can fit into any one of the sports betting demographics discussed above (after all, it’s more about skill than anything else), there is one particular type of sharp which Covers states is comprised of mostly younger sports bettors. These are the “pure math” types, who primarily use their knowledge of mathematics to assess betting lines and try to beat the sportsbooks.
Perhaps this purely mathematical approach explains why the American Gaming Association found that almost all visitors to the Vegas sportsbooks tend to budget less than $300 per visit, while over half of those patrons budget only $100 or less. After all, an important part of the mathematical approach would no doubt include smart bankroll management. The college graduate is also likely to know a thing or two about variance in sports betting, as well as how to beat the juice.
The fact that a predominance of sports bettors are college graduates does more than simply refute a stereotype regarding sports betting demographics. It also establishes that the modern sports bettor is savvy enough to figure out how to really profit from their endeavors. From picking the right sportsbook to utilizing complicated mathematical principles such as the Kelly criterion, today’s modern sports bettor should be able to turn a decent profit.
What Sports Are They Betting On?
They’re probably betting on one of these, but with less high school kids. (Marc Guberti/Inquisitr)
We’ve covered a lot of sports betting demographics. And while there are probably more to cover, we’ve hit the key points by examining age, gender, income and education. It appears that the primary picture of today’s average sports bettor is generally either a young male of respectable income, or a high-income male in a married relationship. Either way, you can usually bet on the idea that they’ll probably have a college education.
But to really paint a fuller picture of the average sports bettor, we need to look at which sports they’re actually sinking their money into. It was mentioned in one of the previous entries that men are more commonly sports bettors because they’re more likely to be fans of the sports on which they’re betting. So which sports tend to gain their attention the most?
Well, according to the information from the American Gaming Association, the answer is football. And this isn’t by a small margin, either. They found that 45% of the wagers they surveyed were placed on football games, for a total worth of $1.567 billion. But since we’re currently in the off-season (and awaiting a new season under new rules), you might be wondering what people are betting on right now.
And the answer is basketball, which came in at 28% for a total worth of $975.01 million. This is pretty far below football, but we’re sure the bookmakers aren’t complaining. And once the NBA Finals are over, odds are that a lot of people are going to be betting on the MLB. Bets for baseball ranked at 20%, worth a total of $693.17 million. And while the MLB has shown itself not to approve of sports betting in some circumstances, we again have to say that these should represent some decent profits for the sportsbooks.
All other sports only ranked at about 6%, worth a total of %215.9 million. So the sportsbooks probably won’t miss hockey season too much. Either way, there you have it. While the major attractions for sports bettors are generally going to be determined by which sports are in season, it appears that they will usually favor football when available. This is followed by basketball, then baseball, and then anything else they can get their hands on. Which, if you’re utilizing our handicapping consulting services, pretty much just means hockey.
You certainly shouldn’t let your own habits be influenced by the sports betting demographics above. If you do not fit into a certain age group, gender group, education level or income bracket, then you are naturally still permitted to lay wagers to your heart’s content, and on whichever sport you choose. But it’s nice to know that, as far as stereotypes are concerned, there’s really no such thing as the definitive sports bettor. It’s a fun and profitable hobby, and everyone is invited to partake.