by Jerry "Jet" Whittaker

Dec 11, 2006

Tourists who flock to Las Vegas to try their hand at gambling often forget that the city of Las Vegas has strict rules on minors not being legally allowed to engage in any form of gambling. In fact, these stringent rules have been fashioned with the explicit aim of discouraging minors, adolescents and young adults from indulging in even rudimentary forms of gambling. It has long been recognized that gambling has a downside, which is that it may become addictive and lead to behavioral problems in young adults. This duly takes into account the immaturity of the unformed mind in not being able to discern the crucial differences between right and wrong action. Keeping this view uppermost, the legislators of Las Vegas have formulated a code of law that disallows anyone below the age of 21 to gamble. Thus the minimum gambling age in Las Vegas is 21 and above.

Law explained

In fact, for any person below the age of 21, even being present in a gambling casino is prohibited. No person below the age of 21 is either permitted on gambling premises or can loiter in an area reserved for gambling. This proviso also includes the stricture that no one below 21 should be spied in the vicinity or close proximity to a slot machine. This stricture is strictly enforceable by the casino representatives. However, children and young adults are permitted to walk through the casinos on their way to the hotel lobby, the hotel rooms, the hotel pool or the hotel restaurant. Thus the Las Vegas law is not blindly discriminatory and does not restrict free movement of children and young adults.

Law enforced

In retrospect, the Las Vegas gambling age fixing law is commendable because it recognizes the propensity of the young mind to abuse privileges. Gambling is by definition a risky business even in the best of circumstances. Furthermore, gambling is premised on betting inordinate amounts of money. The young adult may not have access to funds and may steal or lie in order to gamble. Again, gambling can degenerate into an addictive habit that can wreck personal lives. By directly discouraging young adults, the Las Vegas law recognizes the inherent potential for personal harm that uninhibited gambling can engender. Thus the Las Vegas gambling age is unwaveringly fixed at 21 and no allowances are made on the strict enforcement of this rule. As a matter of fact, gambling casinos violating this principle are fully answerable to the law.

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