Yes. Rhode Island requires anyone gambling at casinos to be at least 18 (some games require 21). Underage gambling can result in charges under both criminal statutes and casino regulatory penalties. The criminal charge is typically a misdemeanor with fines and possible jail. Casino regulatory penalties include lifetime bans from Rhode Island gaming facilities. Parents of underage gamblers can also face civil liability in some cases. Defense angles include challenging the identification methods used to verify age, contesting whether the conduct met the statutory definition of gambling, and negotiating diversion programs for first-offense young defendants.
