Protection of minors: Minors are not accepted at the Casino

Since the arrival of the site casino and online gambling, it would seem that any person can play it! Think again, laws and regulations are always present whether they are so-called real or virtual games. More than important state of play on the particular situation of minors facing gambling.

Gambling and minors: what are the regulations in France?

French law prohibits access to gambling halls to a minor, even if the latter :

• is emancipated,
• don't play,
• is accompanied by a person of legal age,
• is accompanied by one of his parents.

The French law is firm and strictly applied with the aim of "protecting a population that does not have the same relationship with gambling as the adult population".

That is why, at the entrance to each casino, identity documents are mandatory. Sports betting, national lottery, national lotto and other gambling are also prohibited for minors.

There are, however, some exceptions provided for by law: a minor has the right to participate in a lotto, a raffle or a lottery at a local funfair or a party organized in an associative setting.

Some examples abroad

The regulations obviously vary according to the country in which the minor is located. In the United States, access to gambling halls is not supervised, but the age required to be able to play is 21 years old. In Austria, the legal age even varies depending on the region of the country: you can therefore go from 14 years old in Lower Austria to 18 in other regions. A country like Greece, on the other hand, has a much stricter policy and only allows entry to gambling places from the age of 23. The gap can therefore vary considerably depending on the country.

The case of online casinos

You have to be of legal age to play for money online!

The rule also applies online even if it is more difficult to control, but not that easy to circumvent.

Lying about your age behind your screen may seem easy, but gambling sites have adopted, especially since the 2010 bill, more advanced security and control measures aimed at minors, such as requesting an additional identity document to be scanned or faxed to receive winnings. A little more complicated to spoof.

Unfortunately, this policy of protection of minors is not yet adopted by all online gaming sites but, it is on the right path.

Online games accessible to minors

Good news, there are still different ways that will allow minors to play :

• Some online gambling sites allow minors to play in "fun mode", that is, for free and without wagering money.
• Other gaming sites allow access to minors with the prior consent of the parents. In a more or less adapted way, they make it possible to win gift vouchers and prizes rather than money.

How can I prevent a minor from playing online gambling?

Do you have children? It may happen that they stumble, by chance, on online gaming sites. Teenagers at home? They may be tempted by these attractive online gambling, without having full knowledge of the consequences. What can be done to prevent these potential risks at a time when children, from an early age, are ultra-connected and handle digital tools like simple toys? We advise you to take certain measures :

• Install child protection software that will automatically block sites prohibited to minors such as Cyberpatrol
• Do not provide your account or credit card number.
• Ask your bank for a check by sending an SMS when making a payment on the internet, even if today this is done almost automatically
• Do not leave your computer or tablet unattended when it is connected, especially on online gaming sites
• Do not remember your password when you log in and on the online gaming sites you use
• Create a session for each computer user. Personalized, each member of the family has their own account, adapted to their needs, age and profile

Its few rules may seem common sense, but as we know " Prevention is better than cure "and immediately adopt good reflexes.