How Old Do You Have to Be for Online Sports Betting in New York?

• New York may be only weeks away from legal online sports betting
• What is the age limit for placing an online wager in NY? Is it different than betting in person?
• See the answers below

With online sports betting imminent in the Empire State, many New Yorkers are eager to start placing wagers. Like most activities deemed risky by public authorities, there is an age requirement when it comes to betting on sports.

Prior to the introduction of specific sports-betting legislation in New York, it was reasonable to assume that the age requirement would be 18 when NY sports betting commenced. After all, the existing law in New York set the legal gambling age at 18. But the age requirement for entering a casino that serves alcohol (which is almost all of them) was still 21, so people aged 18 to 20 were generally unable to gamble at New York’s casinos anyway.

Then New York lawmakers drafted a bill focused directly on sports-betting and it diverged from the law pertaining to casino gambling.

What Is the Age Requirement for Sports Betting in New York?

The answer is straightforward: New York residents must be 21 years of age in order to place a sports wager in New York, in person or online.

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Not only that, New Yorkers must be 21 years of age in order to even register an account at an online sportsbook. People under the age of 21, even by a day, cannot legally register in advance of their 21st birthday.

Sportsbooks require all customers to provide detailed personal information during the sign-up process. This includes customers’ date of birth. If the date of birth indicates the persona has not yet reached the age of 21, the application for registration will be denied.

What Happens If Bettors Provide a False Date of Birth?

If you are under 21 and thinking of providing a false DOB, don’t. First, it’s fraudulent. Second, it’s likely to end poorly for you. even if you manage to register an account, you will have to provide proof of identity before you will be able to withdraw any funds.

In order to verify your identity at the sportsbook, you will likely have to provide more than just a New York drivers license.  So a fake ID, even a convincing one, isn’t likely to be enough to satisfy the sportsbook’s KYC department.

If the ID you provided does not match the information you provided during the sign-up process, your account is likely to be shut down and the money therein forfeited.

It is never a good idea to give false personal information to a sportsbook. They are subject to strict KYC (know your customer) laws in order to prevent money laundering and fraud. If you cannot meet the KYC requirements of your sportsbook, your account is likely to be banned.