Why Is Gambling Illegal Under The Age Of 21?

[DonkSlayer 1]

The really easy, simple, non-dramatic, non-philosophical, kind of boring but true answer:Casinos serve alcohol, and the waitresses don't want to have to card everybody. A casino/bar/restaurant etc. can lose their license if they serve a minor.That's why you can buy a lottery ticket when you're 18 but can't play in a casino. True story.

[Yoda 1]

I think we need a few more replies explaining it is because of alcohol...27 times just isn't enough for me.

[SBriand 4]

It's reasons like you (16, using daddy's name to play online) that we as adults are hindered in our pursuit to play poker online. Clearly by your posts you show why there is an age limit to such ventures.Peace!

[erac22 0]

In OK it depends on the drinking setup at the casino.If they want to be able to have hard drinks on the floor it has to be over 21.If just beer or other "soft drinks" it can be 18.btw i just about won't play in the 18 and over casinos bc of the poor behavior.

While I'm not saying you're experience is wrong and that the behavior isn't worse in the 18+ casinos, I've found gambling makes 40 year olds act like they're 12. No matter what the age of the people at the poker table, I've found a general trend of d.ouche-baggery.erac

[KUPoker5 0]

I think we need a few more replies explaining it is because of alcohol...27 times just isn't enough for me.

Well then Yoda, for the 28th time: I think the 21 issue is due to possible alcohol consumption!

[Yoda 1]

Well then Yoda, for the 28th time: I think the 21 issue is due to possible alcohol consumption!

Ohhhhhhhh! It is so clear now...thanks. Silly me.

[DoinSublime 0]

I've got a good reason why. Because between 14-22, the only you should be doing other than studying is trying to tame as much *** as possible.(and play sports, if you're athletic. as well as see a lot of shows on mushrooms. but i digress.)

[rgold79 0]

The primary reason you can't gamble in a casino unless your 21 is an alcohol issue. A lot of casino revenue can ultimately be traced back to alcohol. From a strictly business standpoint, it would be much more difficult to efficiently run a casino if players less than 21 were allowed to gamble.If you want a better answer as to why you can't gamble unless your 21, then its probably because you touch yourself at night.Alpha

Well, they give the alcohol away for free, so really for most casinos almost no revenue can be traced back to alcohol. Maybe you mean the consumption of alcohol induces people to gamble more? This is definitely true, but you're swinging the issue around on its head. Casinos don't bar minors from the floor arbitrarily, they do it to remain in compliance with the law. Legislators could care less about how casinos are efficiently run, they care about the issues related to youth gambling and it's criminal, social and economic conqsequences. Also, getting back to your comment about efficiency, bars have bouncers at the door checking ID's, and a well-run bar is the very definition of efficient.

[KUPoker5 0]

Well, they give the alcohol away for free, so really for most casinos almost no revenue can be traced back to alcohol. Maybe you mean the consumption of alcohol induces people to gamble more? This is definitely true, but you're swinging the issue around on its head. Casinos don't bar minors from the floor arbitrarily, they do it to remain in compliance with the law. Legislators could care less about how casinos are efficiently run, they care about the issues related to youth gambling and it's criminal, social and economic conqsequences. Also, getting back to your comment about efficiency, bars have bouncers at the door checking ID's, and a well-run bar is the very definition of efficient.

Have you read any of the thread up to this point? I think everything you said is about moot. You've missed every point made so far, go read it all again.

[rgold79 0]

Have you read any of the thread up to this point? I think everything you said is about moot. You've missed every point made so far, go read it all again.

I've posted several times, so, yes, I've read it. You said, "The primary reason you can't gamble in a casino unless your 21 is an alcohol issue." I refuted that comment directly, and have in several posts offered evidence to the contrary. I am sorry you took my disagreeing with you personally.

[KUPoker5 0]

I've posted several times, so, yes, I've read it. You said, "The primary reason you can't gamble in a casino unless your 21 is an alcohol issue." I refuted that comment directly, and have in several posts offered evidence to the contrary. I am sorry you took my disagreeing with you personally.

I took nothing personally, I just can't believe you could still make those arguments after all that's been said already.If the consumption of alcohol is what induces the majority of casino-goers to gamble so much of their money, how is accounting that as a source of revenue swinging the issue around? There's a reason the drinks are free. They make no DIRECT revenue but plenty of indirect revenue. So yes, alcohol is pretty much the numero uno reason for this whole topic. The casino and the government have nothing to do with each other, and their decisions are independent. Uncle Sam doesn't care about a casino's business, so they allow gambling in a general form at 18. Conversely, casinos ONLY care about running an efficient business.An efficient business means generating revenue while expending the least funds to do so. Making drinks are cheap, but they result in $$$. Furthermore, if you don't want to waste your employees' times checking for ID, you just don't allow under-21 minors in at all. It has nothing to do with socioeconomic consequences. Casinos don't care about your moral standing.You also can't compare a bar to a casino, as bar's have nothing for minors whereas casinos DO.

[Socrates 0]

You have no real life experience or understanding of consequences, even at 21. That's why.

[rgold79 0]

I took nothing personally, I just can't believe you could still make those arguments after all that's been said already.If the consumption of alcohol is what induces the majority of casino-goers to gamble so much of their money, how is accounting that as a source of revenue swinging the issue around? There's a reason the drinks are free. They make no DIRECT revenue but plenty of indirect revenue. So yes, alcohol is pretty much the numero uno reason for this whole topic. The casino and the government have nothing to do with each other, and their decisions are independent. Uncle Sam doesn't care about a casino's business, so they allow gambling in a general form at 18. Conversely, casinos ONLY care about running an efficient business.An efficient business means generating revenue while expending the least funds to do so. Making drinks are cheap, but they result in $$$. Furthermore, if you don't want to waste your employees' times checking for ID, you just don't allow under-21 minors in at all. It has nothing to do with socioeconomic consequences. Casinos don't care about your moral standing.You also can't compare a bar to a casino, as bar's have nothing for minors whereas casinos DO.

I don't think consumption is what induces the majority patrons to gamble. The action of gambling does the trick nicely on its own. That said, alcohol is vital tool at the houses' disposal and it pushes up their bottom line. But it is impossible to quantify how much of a jump that is.The question posed at the top of this thread is why gambling is illegal under the age of 21. Your implication was that by virtue of serving alcohol casinos would run less efficiently if forced to discern who was underage and therefore not legally allowed to drink. My point was that casinos don't really care about who can or cannot drink, but will maintain vigilence on that and on who enters the floor because there are legal consequences if they do not comply. Gambling falls under the jurisdictions of state governments. Each state has its own rules and regulations regarding the age at which a person can enter gambling establishments legally. In some states a person cannot enter a gambling establishment at all, as gambling is prohibited statewide. If you follow gaming legislation, particularly at the state level, socioeconomic factors play a tremendous role in the way that laws are debated, written and ultimately implemented. The two-year+ debate over legalization of slots in Pennsylvania is a good encapsulation of this.As far as efficiency and maximizing profitability, my point was that checking ID's does not decrease either in any truly measurable respect. If you're concerned about minors coming into your casino, have security check ID at the door, or ask dealers and floorpersons to do it at the table. I compared bars to casinos because they are both places minors constantly try to get into. Bars do not "have nothing" for minors, they have alcohol, and minors want lots of it. Unless I am misunderstanding what you're saying here.Regardless, I apologize for hijacking this thread with this debate, but the original question is why it's illegal, and my main point was that it is the result of the government rather than the casinos.

[ramenandeggs 0]

16 year olds are dumb but don't want to admit it. I'm 19 and now I know I'm an idiot so I'm probably gonna wait till i'm 21. i'm going to get a job and spend my month's pay in a 3/6 nl live game, get a bad beat and quit life.

[navybuttons 15]

there used to be a strong moral majority in this county (s/w with used to). they had a lot of power in washington and convinced the representatives that they were protecting the people by preventing gambling under the age of twenty one in those states that allowed gambling.when the federal governement wants a state law to be uniform (drinking at 21 for example) it puts pressure on the states to create such law by holding back funding or the like. most states want to comply and even those that don't are eventually forced to.there are a lot of laws that remain of the books (criminalization of marijuana) because legislators are too lazy/irresponsible/misinformed/cowardly to do anything about it.in case you didn't know 18-21 is not the voting age that the big two go after because guess what? they don't vote.

[ramenandeggs 0]

by the way, i know how i'm going to do it too. i'm going to raise the button 10xbb with kings. and the bb will reraise me. i go all in over the top, he quickly calls with pocket jacks. and hits a jack on the flop.

[dead money 1]

I don't think consumption is what induces the majority patrons to gamble. The action of gambling does the trick nicely on its own. That said, alcohol is vital tool at the houses' disposal and it pushes up their bottom line. But it is impossible to quantify how much of a jump that is.The question posed at the top of this thread is why gambling is illegal under the age of 21. Your implication was that by virtue of serving alcohol casinos would run less efficiently if forced to discern who was underage and therefore not legally allowed to drink. My point was that casinos don't really care about who can or cannot drink, but will maintain vigilence on that and on who enters the floor because there are legal consequences if they do not comply. Gambling falls under the jurisdictions of state governments. Each state has its own rules and regulations regarding the age at which a person can enter gambling establishments legally. In some states a person cannot enter a gambling establishment at all, as gambling is prohibited statewide. If you follow gaming legislation, particularly at the state level, socioeconomic factors play a tremendous role in the way that laws are debated, written and ultimately implemented. The two-year+ debate over legalization of slots in Pennsylvania is a good encapsulation of this.As far as efficiency and maximizing profitability, my point was that checking ID's does not decrease either in any truly measurable respect. If you're concerned about minors coming into your casino, have security check ID at the door, or ask dealers and floorpersons to do it at the table. I compared bars to casinos because they are both places minors constantly try to get into. Bars do not "have nothing" for minors, they have alcohol, and minors want lots of it. Unless I am misunderstanding what you're saying here.Regardless, I apologize for hijacking this thread with this debate, but the original question is why it's illegal, and my main point was that it is the result of the government rather than the casinos.

I agree completely. Casinos would do anything they could to keep you losing money to them as long as they can get away with it. But when the governement gets involved, they have to watch themselves or they get smacked where it hurts: IN THEIR WALLET!Now to the point at hand. At 16 you really have no concept of money. You might think you do, as everyone here did, but you dont. You really dont at 21 either, but you have to let ppl live their own life eventually and 21 is as long as they can hold out I guess. There are obvious exceptions. There are ppl in their 50s who shouldnt be allowed to gamble just like there are 16 year olds who are forced to support themselves and others who have a very real understanding of what life really is. But again, thats the minority. And laws are made for the majority. So get used to it. There will be many injustices for you in the future. They are like bad beats that you will become immune to in time.

[no not baxter 0]

I have a very close friend who just recently turned 16 and has already made a lot of money playing online.So, on that note. Why cant all kids this age be able to play? We need more dead money!!

[Socrates 0]

I have a very close friend who just recently turned 16 and has already made a lot of money playing online.So, on that note. Why cant all kids this age be able to play? We need more dead money!!

How much is a lot of money? Do you have any real idea what it costs per year for rent/mortgage, health insurance, gas, bills, entertainment and random expenses? Seeing you have no 401K programs or health insurance programs in poker, you should probably be making around$100K/yr. consistently. You have to figure ~25% of that is going to taxes, at least 20% goes to 401K and other investment/retirement plans and about $5K for medical for any plan worth anything. General cost of living pretty much takes care of the other half.

[Steamed Rice 0]

I have a very close friend who just recently turned 16 and has already made a lot of money playing online.So, on that note. Why cant all kids this age be able to play? We need more dead money!!

cuz then they skip classes and rob banks to pay off debts

[SweetDaddyFreak 0]

I'm 18 and old, mature, smart, responsible, good-looking, not to mention I know everything about the world and can vote. Let me in a mother****ing cardroom

[no not baxter 0]

How much is a lot of money? Do you have any real idea what it costs per year for rent/mortgage, health insurance, gas, bills, entertainment and random expenses? Seeing you have no 401K programs or health insurance programs in poker, you should probably be making around$100K/yr. consistently. You have to figure ~25% of that is going to taxes, at least 20% goes to 401K and other investment/retirement plans and about $5K for medical for any plan worth anything. General cost of living pretty much takes care of the other half.

35k in the past 6 months or so. Pretty good for a 15-16 yr old who is just learning the game.

[Jeff Madsen 0]

If the gambling age was 18 I'd have 6 bracelets by now.

[Footballguru 0]

Additionally, our youth is the future of our nation. You should have to go to school, you should have to experience a job, and learn the value of money and what is important.

problem with our society right here! no personal offense to you sir, many people share this point of view. It is not the governments job to insure all of this. There should be complete freedom, and either a person's parents should teach them these values, or they should have to learn them on their own, soemtiems the hard way. School should not be required, but just available, to parents who want to send their kids there or to kids who want to take the initiative to go on their own. Just my opinion! Dont take offense if you disagree!

[DCJ001 0]

I know this is kind of a random question, but I was just reading over the forum and I started wondering why I'm not allowed to play at a casino. Right now I'm 16 years old and I play poker on a weekly basis. I have my own online account, under my dad's name, and I play in home cash games and tournaments with my friends. Why is gambling illegal if your under 21? At 18 years old your legally old enough to fight in a war, but your not allowed to play cards? That just doesn't seem right to me. I should be getting my license soon, but I'm not allowed to play cards? I understand why drinking is illegal under 21 b/c minors are not experienced to handle it, but you can't really say that about gambling can you? I guess they don't want kids to become degenerates, but many will anyway. Enough of my ranting....Does anyone have a serious answer to why this is illegal and why 16 yr. olds shouldn't gamble at casinos?

If you ever gimme a serious question and I'll give you a serious answer. You haven't given me a serious question yet.