Vegas May Lower Gambling Age to 18

[Joeylc]

Vegas May Lower Gambling Age to 18


LAS VEGAS, NV -- The legal age for gamblers has been 21 since legalized gambling began in Nevada, but that age could change soon.

Some believe that if you can smoke, vote, marry, and go to war, you should be able to gamble.

Tom Smock is an attorney who has worked in the gaming industry for years.

Last week he suggested to the Nevada Gaming Board and Gaming Commission that they take a look at reducing the legal gambling age from 21 to 18.

"If Nevada wants to stay competitive internationally, we need to take a look if we've set the bar at the appropriate age," claims Smock. "We ought to look beyond cutting costs and we ought to look at how we can drive additional revenue. And one way is to increase the player base."

Smock points out that in California and Arizona, along with other international gaming destinations like Mexico, Canada, and Australia, the legal age to gamble is 18.

"The issue to me is they're adults. In this state at least, if you're 18, there's not too many things you can't do," said Smock. "You can get married, have babies, buy cigarettes, buy guns, drive cars."

The MGM-Mirage Corporation's Alan Feldman opposes the idea.

"Simply put, this is a bad idea. Within our industry, we've adopted the America Gaming Associations Code of Conduct, which specifically talks about maintaining the gambling age at 21."

Feldman says there are numerous scientific studies which prove that the legal age of gambling should remain at 21.

"What this ends up doing is creating a class of players that are not acting responsibly, and that creates a class of players you don't want to have," Feldman said.

State Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander has said that the board neither supports nor opposes the idea, and will take the suggestion to the state legislature for them to decide whether or not to move forward.

  What do you think? Good Idea or Bad Idea ??

[Foster]

I think if you are of age to die for your country you should be able gamble, drink alcohol, etc without having to be 21.

[jay]

Legal age for gambling, drinking is 18 in Alberta Canada.
I am sure the reason for this in Nevada is the current budget crisis. The county only gets tax money when the casinos make more than they can hide.
They are already applying a heafty room tax and entertainment tax.

I think LasVegas could solve its current budget crisis by simply allowing legalized prostitution within Clark County and taxing the hell out of it.

[stayouttadabunker]

There's hookers in Vegas? NO!

[uniman]

Age minimum at The Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasent Michigan is 18 years old. A college town, go figure!
Because of that no free alcohol can be served to players. 

At my age I would not want to be playing while surrounded by 18 year olds.
But I do think they should be able to gamble if they wish. I have seen on several occasions people who appear to be irresponsible compulsive gamblers and they are all ages.
So my belief is, as an adult, your either responsible or not, no matter the age.