In most states, you have to be at least 18 to play the lottery. Nebraska sets the minimum at 19, and Arizona, Iowa, and Louisiana require you to be 21.1Mega Millions. How to Play and Minimum Age Requirements – Mega Millions Rules The rule covers everything a state lottery sells: Powerball, Mega Millions, state draw games, and scratch-offs alike.2New Jersey Lottery. Underage Gambling – NJ Lottery
The Age Minimum by State
Eighteen is the default across the country and lines up with the general age of majority. A few states go higher:
- Arizona: 21 to buy and 21 to redeem, meaning you can’t cash a winning ticket there until you turn 21.3Arizona Lottery. Frequently Asked Questions – Arizona Lottery
- Iowa: 21.1Mega Millions. How to Play and Minimum Age Requirements – Mega Millions Rules
- Louisiana: 21.4Louisiana Lottery. Frequently Asked Questions
- Nebraska: 19 to purchase and 19 to redeem.5Nebraska Lottery. Nebraska Lottery Tickets Make Great Gifts, If You’re At Least 19
New York keeps the general minimum at 18 but bumps it to 21 for Quick Draw games sold in places that serve alcohol.6New York Lottery: Official Site. General Guidelines
Which State’s Age Rule Applies
The age minimum of the state where the purchase actually happens is the one that controls. If you live in Kansas but drive to Nebraska to buy a Mega Millions ticket, Nebraska’s 19 applies, not Kansas’s 18. Online purchases work the same way: the platform enforces the age rule of the state you’re playing in.
How Age Gets Verified
At the counter, the clerk is the gatekeeper. Most retailers card anyone who looks like they could be under 25, borrowing the same instinct alcohol sellers use, because the store takes the hit if a sale to a minor goes through.
Self-service lottery vending machines handle it automatically. Minnesota’s machines require you to scan a valid government-issued ID before selecting a game; the machine reads the barcode, confirms your birthdate meets the cutoff, and doesn’t store personal data beyond that check.7The Minnesota Lottery. Have Your ID Ready
Online accounts add more layers. Signing up with the Pennsylvania Lottery requires your full legal name, date of birth, the last four digits of your Social Security number, a physical address, and sometimes extra documentation to verify identity and age.8Pennsylvania Lottery. Terms and Conditions of Use and Account Agreement Platforms often cross-check that information against public records, so a made-up birthdate rarely gets through.
Can an Adult Buy a Ticket for a Minor
In many states, yes. The law prohibits selling tickets to minors, not gifting them. Michigan’s statute is explicit: a ticket can’t be sold to anyone under 18, but an adult can buy one and give it to a younger person.9Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 432.29 – Sale or Gift of Lottery Ticket to Minor; Penalty Indiana and several other states have similar carve-outs.10National Research Council (US). Legal-Age Gambling Opportunities and Restrictions
Not every state agrees. New York’s gaming commission discourages giving lottery tickets to anyone under 18 and treats them as inappropriate gifts for minors. If a gifted ticket does win, a parent or legal guardian generally has to claim the prize for the child, with the money held in a custodial arrangement until the child reaches the age of majority. Rules vary, so check the state lottery’s guidance before slipping a scratch-off into a birthday card.
What Happens if You Play Underage
The ticket is worthless. In Texas, a ticket bought by or sold to someone under 18 is automatically void and any prize is treated as unclaimed, whether the win is five dollars or five million. Lottery commissions investigate suspicious claims, and if it comes out that a minor made the original purchase, no adult can rescue the payout by cashing it on the minor’s behalf.
Criminal charges against the buyer are uncommon but possible. Nebraska treats a knowing purchase by someone under 19 as a minor misdemeanor.10National Research Council (US). Legal-Age Gambling Opportunities and Restrictions Most states aim their enforcement at the seller instead. In Kansas, a first-offense sale to someone the retailer knows is under 18 is a Class A misdemeanor, and a second offense is a felony.11Kansas Legislature. Kansas Statutes 74-8718 Lottery commissions can also suspend or revoke a store’s license to sell tickets, which for many convenience stores is a serious revenue loss.
Age at Purchase Versus Age at Claim
Your age matters at two moments: when you buy the ticket and when you claim the prize. Some states treat both the same way. Arizona requires 21 for purchase and 21 for redemption.3Arizona Lottery. Frequently Asked Questions – Arizona Lottery Nebraska applies its 19 minimum to both as well.5Nebraska Lottery. Nebraska Lottery Tickets Make Great Gifts, If You’re At Least 19
If you buy a ticket underage and then turn 18 before trying to claim it, the ticket is still void. The age check applies at the point of sale, and waiting until your birthday to cash it doesn’t fix the original problem. In states that allow gifting, a minor who receives a winning ticket as a legitimate gift generally claims through a parent or guardian acting as custodian.