I Want To Play Online Poker, But I Am Only 16. Can I Play?

The answer is no. it is illegal in most parts of the world for anyone under the age of 18 to gamble. In some parts it is anyone under the age of 21 years. As online poker sites are providing a service, they must adhere to all laws that regulate the gambling profession. This means that they can not allow anyone under 18 to play.

The online gaming company would be sued if they let under-age gambling to occur. If it was a persistent problem, they would be closed down. This includes under-age gambling on free and demonstration play modes also. The reason for this is that under-age gambling is not only considered illegal, it is also considered morally wrong.

Playing for free would encourage improved skill levels and promote enjoyment of the game and so may lead to opening an under-age money account. Many checks are completed to ensure the age of the person playing is over the legal age. Any under-age gamblers found will be removed from the site and parents advised to contact the authorities.

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Thanks for your comments tvisdog.

Firstly I would like to make it clear that I do not believe poker to be morally wrong; I play poker myself! My answer above clearly states that encouraging minors to play any gambling game is morally wrong. It does not suggest that the game of poker is immoral in any way.

Regardless of opinion, it is a fact that underage gambling is illegal and will not be tolerated by online gaming sites. These companies have rules and regulations that must be followed or else they will be closed down. This means following laws on underage gambling.

Of course, nothing is infallible and there will be occasions when minors manage to access a gambling site. Anything considered out of bounds for minors holds a certain amount of curiosity, and fake information can be provided. All gaming companies have a department dedicated to investigating this matter. If a minor is found accessing a site, they will be banned. If it is thought that the environment contributes, others in the household may even be banned also.

The gaming industry is beginning to take its social responsibility more seriously. You will find that more and more online gaming companies are being voluntarily regulated by bodies such as eCogra, and are now assisted by charities such as Gamcare to make sure that their site does not target minors in any way. The reports are often published on the site for people to read.

I don't believe for one second that the gambling companies are only motivated by the idea of chargebacks. In fact, you will find that companies return any funds that are proven to have been deposited by a minor. The fact is that gaming companies must follow strict laws and regulations. I would be interested to know which countries do not have laws which state a minimum age for gambling as this would help my studies in this area.

As for the UIGEA in America; this was nothing to do with underage gaming. Gambling has always been a subject of much debate. As money is involved, it always will be. The best efforts of this bill merely vetted gambling companies in other countries, but provision is still allowed within the US. There was no link to underage gambling, which this question and answer specifically targets.

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