Gottheimer introduces bill requiring facial recognition age checks for online sports betting
Bipartisan proposal would require online sportsbooks and prediction markets to verify users' ages before wagers are placed.
More Stories
U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer introduced bipartisan legislation Wednesday that would require online sportsbooks and prediction markets to use facial recognition technology to verify users' ages before allowing them to place bets or trades.
The proposed Facial Recognition to Protect Children Act would require platforms to estimate a user's age by analyzing facial structure and patterns either when logging in or before placing a wager. Gottheimer's office said the technology would not store a user's identity or personal biometric information.
Gottheimer said the bill is intended to prevent minors from accessing online gambling platforms by using the accounts of parents, siblings or friends.
The legislation is backed by prediction market platform Kalshi and advocacy group ParentsRISE.
According to Gottheimer's office, Americans wagered about $160 billion on sports last year. The congressman's office also cited Common Sense Media research that found 36% of boys ages 11 to 17 gambled in the past year.
The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., along with lawmakers from New York, Michigan, California, Florida and Arkansas. Van Drew said the legislation would add another safeguard to keep children from accessing betting platforms and give parents additional peace of mind.
