“Īny winnings by a person prohibited under the above section must be forfeited and put into the State’s gaming revenues fund. No person under the age at which a person is authorized to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages shall enter, or wager in, a licensed casino provided, however, that such a person may enter a casino facility by way of passage to another room. You must be 21 to gamble at any new facility licensed under the Act (Schenectady, Seneca Falls/Tyre, Tioga, and Monticello).

Although the general age to gamble in New York State is 18, the Upstate New Gaming and Economic Development Act of 2013 added an exception for the commercial “destination” casinos approved by that statute. Here is the Comment I left at the Gazette explaining the legal situation and speculating on reasons: See “ Underage gambler caught - but only after he won $1,300 on slot machines : Schenectady casino fined for letting him on the gambling floor” (Albany Times Union, by Paul Nelson, March 24, 2017) “ State fines Rivers Casino $6k for underage-gambler” (Schenectady Daily Gazette, by Steven Cook, March 23, 2017). They wondered why the age for gambling at the casino isn’t 18, like at racinos and Indian casinos in the State. A number of people have left comments in the media this week, after learning that Rivers Casino at Mohawk Harbor was fined for allowing an underaged person - someone not yet 21 - to gamble.

Casino for under 21