There is no general rule for all the countries in the world where a lottery ticket is offered. In fact, even states within the same nation can differ in the decision of how old you have to be to buy a lottery ticket there. This guide aims at eliminating all your questions connected to your minimum lottery age, especially when playing the lottery online and accessing games from other countries.
Quick Jump
Why Is Age Important When It Comes to Lottery?
The minimum age requirement applied to lotteries is not exclusive to them. In fact, anything that is connected to making money through wagering is restricted to adults – and forbidden in some countries. However, each jurisdiction might have a different understanding of when adulthood begins or when the person has enough discernment to play lotteries in a responsible manner.
If there were no limits as to how old you have to be to buy a lottery ticket, teenagers and even children would be able to purchase tickets. As it is better explained in our problem gambling guide, they are more subject to irresponsible wagering activity and to getting addicted. While the age restriction on lotteries cannot prevent problem gambling from occurring, it is a necessary measure to reduce its incidence.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy a Lottery Ticket Online?
The online lottery sites that we recommend operate in a more neutral zone when it comes to jurisdictions and must follow the rules of the authorities that license them. As a result, they will always require you to be at least 18 years old to buy lottery tickets online.
However, if you want to buy a lottery ticket online on the official website of your local lottery, it will require the exact same minimum lottery age applicable in your country or state.
Minimum Lottery Age in Different Countries
Since every single jurisdiction can determine how old you have to be to buy a lottery ticket, I have listed the most common countries and states where people wonder about the minimum age.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy a Lottery Ticket in the United States?
| Minimum Lottery Age | States |
|---|---|
| 18 | Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. |
| 19 | Nebraska |
| 21 | Iowa and Louisiana |
How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy a Lottery Ticket in the United Kingdom?
In 2021, the UK National Lottery determined that the minimum lottery age in the United Kingdom was 18. For a long time, people could play the lottery from 16 years old, and there are even interesting lottery winners’ stories with people from that age. Therefore, now you have to be 18 years old to play any lottery game in the UK.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy a Lottery Ticket in Europe and Other Countries?
| Country | Minimum Lottery Age |
|---|---|
| Australia | 18 |
| Austria | 16 |
| Azerbaijan | 18 |
| Belarus | 18 |
| Belgium | 18 |
| Brazil | 18 |
| Bulgaria | 18 |
| Cameroon | 18 |
| Canada | 18 – 19 |
| Croatia | 18 |
| Cyprus | 18 |
| Denmark | 18 |
| Finland | 18 |
| France | 18 |
| Germany | 18 |
| Ghana | 18 |
| Greece | 23 |
| Hungary | 18 |
| Iceland | 18 |
| India | 18 |
| Ireland | 18 |
| Israel | 18 |
| Italy | 18 |
| Kenya | 18 |
| Latvia | 18 |
| Lebanon | 21 |
| Lithuania | 18 |
| Luxembourg | 18 |
| Macedonia | 18 |
| Malta | 25 |
| Mauritius | 18 |
| Morocco | 18 |
| Netherlands | 18 |
| New Zealand | 18 |
| Nigeria | 20 |
| Norway | 18 |
| Poland | 18 |
| Portugal | 18 |
| Romania | 18 |
| Russia | 18 |
| Serbia | 18 |
| Slovakia | 18 |
| Slovenia | 18 |
| South Africa | 18 |
| Spain | 18 |
| Sweden | 18 |
| Switzerland | 18 |
| Turkey | 18 |
| Ukraine | 18 |
| Zambia | 18 |
| Zimbabwe | 18 |
If your country is not listed, consider checking any official source on the minimum lottery age in your region. Remember that, similar to what happens in the United States and India, the states within a country might have different conditions.
Divergence of Minimum Lottery Age Regulations When Playing Online
It is a fact that you will find most of the recommended online lottery sites with a minimum gambling age of 18. Therefore, if your country allows lottery gambling from 16, you would still not be allowed to play online until you are 18.
On the other hand, if your country has a minimum lottery age of 19, 20, 21, or more, and you play any type of online lottery, that would be considered illegal in your country. Even though the websites accept players from 18, the legislation in your country overcomes that of the lottery site or game when it has a stricter demand.
Therefore, in order to make sure that you are playing a legal online lottery, observe the local legislation and, only then, the terms of each website.
