Washington Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on January 18, 2008

Click here to view bill details.

Gambling is destructive to families and communities. If the age of consent is twenty-one for drinking it should be the same for gambling. Support this bill!

This change will settle the conflict and risk that occurs when 18-20 year olds are able to gamble next to those who are drinking alcohol. It will also lessen the likelihood that 18 year olds will leave high school during the day and go to the local casino (tribal or otherwise) to gamble.

As a parent I fully support this bill. The stories about 18-21 year olds having lost college money to gambling gave me another thought however--let's go a step further by raising the drinking AND gambling age to 22 (the age when most young people have completed college). Or even more radically, let's raise the age to 25 for both activities. As we have seen over and over in the media, people in this age group tend to have a difficult time with these adult activities. In any event, thank you for this bill I hope it passes.

I believe that while those in favor of this have valid arguments, as long as the age of legal consent and the age at which one can volunteer to fight for our country, 21 y/o is an arbitrary number. Why should you be held accountable for your actions as an adult (18+), be able to sign legal documents and be eligable to risk your life in the service of our country, but not be able to enjoy all of its freedoms? "Wait a couple of years until you're more mature, Corporal" Does this make sense?

I disagree with this bill. If you are legally responsible for your actions at 18 then you should legally be allowed to take part in ALL the advantages and disadvantages of being an ADULT. They should raise the age of joining the armed forces, getting a license, being accountable for crimes, etc. to 21 also.