The Gambling Age Versus Global Drinking, Driving, and Smoking Laws
Belgium – known for its irresistible waffles and chocolates – is making headlines but not over sweet treats. It’s over their gambling age. This year, Belgium in Western Europe raised its gambling age from 18 to 21. It cited the associated risks of gambling addiction as the rationale behind the move. But was it a case of ensuring responsible gambling and mitigating access to the best online casinos and minimum-bet sportsbooks?
Why, would a country raise the gambling age when all other European nations such as Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Finland, Austria and others stand in stark contrast with a legal age of 18? This raises many questions about global inconsistencies when it comes to the responsibility levels and maturity of young adults.
Why do age restrictions for driving, smoking, drinking alcohol, gambling, and even watching adult content vary so differently around the world?
Due to the fact that such a decision impacts the best online casinos and minimum bet sportsbooks, MDC decided to explore the regulatory age gaps further. Here is what we found.
| Countries | Belgium | Canada | New Zealand | Germany | Japan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Drinking Age | 16 for beer and wine 18 for spirits and stronger alcoholic beverages | 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec 19 in the rest of the provinces and territories | 18 | 16 for beer and wine 18 for other alcoholic beverages and spirits | 20 |
| Legal age to watch porn | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Legal age to smoke cigarettes | 18 | 18 in Manitoba, Quebec and Alberta 19 in the rest of the provinces and territories | 18 | 18 | 20 |
| Legal age to drive a vehicle | 18 for a full driver’s license 17 for a learner’s permit | Learner’s Permit 16 (17 in Quebec) Full Driver’s License: 18 or 19, depending on the province or territory | Learner’s Permit: 16 Full Driver’s License: 18 | Learner’s Permit: 17 Full Driver’s License: 18 | Learner’s Permit: 18 Full Driver’s License: 20 |
| Legal age to gamble | 21 | 18 years old in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec 19 years old in the rest of the provinces and territories | 18 | 18 | 20 |
Global debate needed on legal age restrictions
What is clear from the above data is that 18 year olds across most countries allow accessibility to adult content online. So, the perceived maturity level is 18 and despite the internet being rife with potential harms, we allow 18-year-olds to navigate this space independently.
It then seems arbitrary to single out gambling as needing stricter age controls while leaving other equally, if not more, risky behaviours less regulated. Perhaps, they should apply the same logic across all these risky activities, and not in isolation.
So if lawmakers in Belgium believe that 21 is the right age for gambling, then shouldn’t this age limit be instituted for all these activities – the consumption of alcohol, smoking tobacco, driving, and watching adult content.
In my book, alcohol poses huge health risks including liver disease and addiction. What’s more is that driving a vehicle requires a high level of responsibility and can have dire life-threatening risks as well.
Also, while gambling can lead to addiction so too can alcohol consumption, smoking and pornography. These can all be addictive. Protecting young adults from the potential harms of any of these activities means taking the same step across the board.
What are the regulatory concerns?
While the decision to raise the gambling age in Belgium may reflect some concern from decision-makers, it highlights huge gaps in how we regulate adulthood. If the objective is to protect young people from any kind of harm, wouldn’t a more holistic approach be more appropriate – one that addresses all high-risk behaviours consistently?
This could involve a well-rounded education program on the risks of gambling, alcohol, and internet use, in addition to support systems.
Policymakers should strive for regulations that treat young adults fairly and uniformly but also recognise that maturity levels and responsibility do not change that much between the ages of 18 and 21.
By aligning the legal ages across all these activities, we can create a more realistic framework that respects their transition into adulthood while also protecting them from potential dangers.
The conversation on the gambling age should not exist in isolation but as part of a broader global discussion. To this end, best online casinos, minimum bet sportsbooks, and low-deposit casinos should also converse on the matter to ensure decision-makers are presented with a far more aligned approach.
Latest Casino News
