Should the Legal Gambling Age be Raised in Pennsylvania?

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Pennsylvania residents enjoy gambling. However, as time passes, more and more young people are taking an interest in gambling, and they are more likely to use gambling exclusively to win money. So the question arises: should the legal gambling age be raised?

Although the primary purpose of gambling is relaxation and entertainment, younger players see gambling as a way to earn money, not to relax and have fun. 

The Pennsylvania casino age depends on the type of gambling the player wants to use. You must be at least 18 years old to play horse racing and the lottery. 

On the other hand, if you want to get into casinos and play games like slots, blackjack, and poker, you must be at least 21 years old. 

The three types of games that younger generations want to play are:

  1. Sports betting
  2. Roulette
  3. Slots

All of the above-mentioned things have one thing in common. They are games that mainly rely on luck. Most young people don’t bother to learn to play games that require skills and take significant time and energy. 

Although the law in Pennsylvania prohibits all people under the age of 21 from entering a casino, the legal gambling age for online casinos is 18. 

Generally, kids under 21 should not be allowed to gamble at all. The period between 18 and 21 is very fragile, their brain is not fully developed yet, and they are more likely to become addicts.

That said, it would be best if the legal gambling age for online casinos were the same as the legal gambling age for land-based casinos. 

Finally, you can check the guide for the PA gambling age at legalgamblingage.com. You can see all the details and specifics not mentioned in this article. 

Online Casinos are Overshadowing Traditional Casinos in Pennsylvania

While land-based casinos are very popular in Pennsylvania, more and more people turn to the internet to fulfill their gaming wishes. Traditional casinos have had their fair share of fame among PA residents, but online casinos seem to be taking away their spotlight.

Although online casinos are on the market for quite some time, people constantly ask and check if online gambling is legal in their state. No one wants to risk having legal consequences over something they do out of fun and curiosity. 

In a nutshell, gambling online in PA is totally legal, and anyone over 18 can do it. As long as you don’t start operating your own site without the state’s permission, you’ll be okay. But, even with the rise of the gig economy, the generally good terms of getting those permits make such occasions relatively rare.

Due to the numerous advantages and benefits, online casinos offer to their players, no wonder why it’s a massive hit worldwide.

People are enjoying the freedom, convenience, and multiple options that they have while gambling online. The novel, holistic approach to such entertainment draws in many people who might not have liked how things were done traditionally.

We have yet to see the comeback of land-based casinos. But, until then, make sure you stay safe while gambling on the internet. Plenty of scam sites and cybercriminals want to misuse your bank and personal data, so be extra careful and gamble only on licensed sites.  

Dangers of Gambling

Although gambling is a fun activity, it’s pretty addictive as well. It can get ugly quickly if you’re not careful and reasonable. 

No one wants to get addicted to gambling, and the best thing you should do is follow some basic steps so you don’t lose yourself and everyone around you. There’s truly not a worse feeling than losing someone due to addiction

Gambling should be a once-in-a-while activity, so the greatest indicator of addiction is if you can’t stand a few days without playing some games.

Anyone who gambles must set a time limit on how much they want to spend on gambling. And if you notice that as time passes, you are more glued to the slot machine, then you must step back and stop gambling for a while. 

Another sign of addiction is detaching from reality. If you catch yourself neglecting your real-life problems and turning to gamble, that’s a pretty big sign that something is not right. You should consult with your loved ones or a psychologist in that case. 

Finally, it’s normal to feel some way when you lose a certain amount of money, but as long as you are a responsible player who doesn’t go over the budget. Talk to a therapist the first time you notice yourself overreacting and spending over the budget. 

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