The short answer
In most states with legal online sports betting, the minimum age is 21. A smaller number of states set it at 18. On top of whatever your state requires, individual operators — including FanDuel and DraftKings — commonly set their own platform-wide minimum at 21, even in states where the law would technically allow 18-year-olds to bet. It’s simpler for a national operator to enforce one age rule everywhere than a different one per state, so that’s usually the number that actually applies to you, regardless of what your state’s law technically says.
Why there’s no single national answer
Sports betting in the US is regulated state by state, not federally — there’s been no single nationwide framework since the Supreme Court struck down the old federal ban in 2018. That means the legal minimum age is whatever your specific state’s law says, and then the specific operator’s own terms sit on top of that as a second, sometimes stricter, layer.
How to find the real answer for your state and platform
- Check the specific operator’s own terms or FAQ page — search “[operator name] minimum age” rather than assuming it matches your state’s gambling age for casinos or the lottery.
- Don’t assume sports betting shares an age minimum with other forms of gambling in your state — casino gambling, lottery, and sports betting are often regulated under separate rules with separate age requirements, even within the same state.
- If you’re checking before a specific state legalizes or changes its rules, your state’s gaming or racing commission website is the actual source of truth — not a forum post or an old article.
Age is only one gate — see Is Sports Betting Legal in Your State? to confirm you clear the other one before signing up anywhere.
Does the age requirement differ for daily fantasy or pick’em apps?
Sometimes, yes. Daily fantasy sports and pick’em-style apps have in some cases operated under a different regulatory category than licensed sportsbooks — skill-based contests rather than sports betting — which can come with its own separate age rule that doesn’t automatically match the sportsbook minimum in the same state. Check the specific platform’s own terms rather than assuming it follows the same rule as a licensed sportsbook.
How old do you have to be to bet on sports?
Usually 21 in the US, though a smaller number of states set the legal minimum at 18. Many operators, including FanDuel and DraftKings, set their own platform-wide minimum at 21 regardless of state law, so confirm directly with the specific platform you're using.
How old do you have to be to bet on FanDuel?
FanDuel generally requires users to be 21, even in the handful of states where the underlying state law would technically permit 18-year-olds to bet. Confirm the current requirement directly with FanDuel for your state.
How old do you have to be to bet on DraftKings?
DraftKings generally requires users to be 21 as well, following the same platform-wide-minimum pattern as FanDuel. Confirm the current requirement directly with DraftKings for your state.
Is the sports betting age the same as the casino gambling age?
Not necessarily — casino gambling, lottery, and sports betting are often regulated under separate state rules with separate age minimums, even within the same state. Don't assume one automatically matches another.