Although there has been some pressure from campaign groups to increase the legal gambling age, it seems as though the UK government will – for the time being, at least – stick with their minimum age limit of 18.
It’s interesting to compare and contrast UK gambling law with that in Europe, where the minimum legal age varies considerably from one country to the next.
Will the UK ever follow the lead of some EU nations and raise the minimum age? Or will European countries use the UK as an example and lower the legal limit to 18?
Here’s a look at gambling age laws in Europe compared to UK rules — and what it could mean for players and operators like Prime Slots. Why do some nations set the minimum age at 18, some 21, and others at a different number altogether?
Legal Gambling Ages by Country
It’s amazing how individual countries can vary so differently when it comes to gambling legislation.
As we’ll discover later in this article, there are various reasons for this – ranging from the cultural and the religious to the overall regulatory policy of each nation.
But for now, here’s a quick snapshot of the gambling age limits in the EU compared to the UK:
- Croatia – 18
- Czech Republic – 18
- Denmark – 18
- France – 18
- Germany – 18 (although it’s 21 in some states)
- Ireland – 18
- Italy – 18
- Malta – 18 for foreigners, 25 for Maltese residents
- Netherlands – 18 (parliament is considering raising age for online slots to 21)
- Norway – 18
- Poland – 18
- Portugal – 18 in some casinos, 25 in others
- Romania – 18
- Spain – 18
- Sweden – 18 (20 for land-based casinos)
- Switzerland – 18
- Ukraine – 18
- UK – 18
- Belgium – 21
- Estonia – 21 (18 for sports betting)
- Greece – 21
As you can see, the minimum legal gambling age in most major European nations is 18, with some caveats across the varying categories of gambling.
Belgium, Estonia and Greece have raised the minimum age to 21 for casino gaming, while in Germany and Portugal you have to be 21 and 25 respectively to gamble in some states and establishments.
Why the Minimum Gambling Age Differs in Each Country
When it comes to setting the minimum legal gambling age, policy makers have a fine line to tread between safeguarding their young people while also allowing them the autonomy to make their own decisions.
In many European nations, the legal minimum is set at 18 because this is when youngsters are said to ‘come of age’; in many cases, they can now legally drink alcohol, drive a car and start a family.
Belgium didn’t raise their legal gambling age to 21 until 2024. That was to protect young people from the ‘possible harms’ of gambling, according to senior politicians in the country, although there is no research to suggest that a 21-year-old is less prone to the dangers of problem gambling than an 18-year-old.
In Estonia, the decision to impose a legal minimum age limit of 21 on casino gaming is a cultural decision; children as young as 16 can start a family and play the lottery, but they have to wait until 21 to try their hand at casino games.
In Greece, the minimum gambling age is 21, although you have to be 23 or older before you can set foot in a land-based casino. This is a country that is more stringent than most European nations in other ways too; for example, you have to be aged 18+ to buy a lottery ticket and 21+ to hire a car.
How the UK’s Gambling Laws Compare to Europe
When making a UK vs EU gambling comparison, it’s clear that – for the most part – there’s not a huge amount of difference between the laws in the United Kingdom and those in the majority of EU countries.
The legal gambling age is 18 in the majority of cases, so therefore there is a general sense of agreement that this is the right age at which people can begin to gamble sensibly, while making appropriate decisions with regards to their finances.
The UK government has shown no signs of raising the legal minimum age, although their decision to introduce maximum stakes for online slot games based on age – £2 for 18-24-year-olds and £5 for over 25s, suggests that they are beginning to consider the possibility that people of varying ages should be governed differently when it comes to gambling.
Will International Insights Inform UK Gambling Policy in the Future?
When we look at Europe’s gambling laws, there’s not a huge amount of precedent for raising the legal minimum age from 18 to 21 (or any other number, for that matter).
However, the UK’s close relationship with the United States may yet be a factor. In the USA, the minimum legal age for gambling in the majority of states is 21 – there are regional variations, but 21 is generally the limit imposed.
Could the UK follow suit? Given how much the legal landscape has changed for the gambling industry in the UK over the past five years or so, nobody can say with absolute confidence what’s around the corner.
