U.S. lawmakers propose facial recognition age checks for sportsbooks, prediction markets

U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer introduced bipartisan legislation on 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, in an effort to curb underage gambling.

The proposed Facial Recognition to Protect Children Act, backed by prediction market operator Kalshi and advocacy group ParentsRISE, would require platforms to estimate a user’s age using facial structure and patterns when they log in or before placing a wager. The legislation specifies that the technology would not store users’ identities or personal biometric information.

“We’re asking our kids to self-police their way past a system built entirely on the honor code. A kid can log into a parent’s, an older sibling’s, or a friend’s account and place a bet with no verification at all. Nobody checks. That’s it. That’s the whole system,” Gottheimer said. “We wouldn’t accept that at a casino in Las Vegas. We shouldn’t accept it on the phone in our kid’s back pocket.”

The bill comes as prediction markets have grown rapidly in popularity and lawmakers scrutinize safeguards preventing minors from accessing betting platforms.

According to Gottheimer’s office, Americans wagered about $160 billion on sports last year, generating roughly $16 billion in industry revenue. Citing Common Sense Media, the release said 36% of boys aged 11 to 17 gambled in the past year, rising to 40% among boys aged 14 to 17. It also cited more than 80 reports of underage betting in Iowa and more than 400 underage sportsbook accounts identified in Tennessee in 2024.

Kalshi Chief Executive Officer Tarek Mansour said the company already employs measures to prevent minors from accessing its platform but supported making similar protections an industry-wide requirement.

“Protecting kids should be a no-brainer and is a top priority at Kalshi,” Mansour said. “Beyond what’s required of us, we already self-regulate and have a suite of measures in place to keep minors off our platform. But this can’t just be one company’s responsibility — it has to be an industry standard. I am grateful to Congressman Gottheimer and Congressman Van Drew for driving it forward.”

Kalshi has also introduced additional child-safety measures, including making facial identification the default for users who have it enabled on their phones, encouraging two-factor authentication, and adding account-monitoring tools and selfie verification for higher-risk logins.

“We’re grateful to see action taken to address the harms of predatory betting apps and prediction markets to children. Meta has already struck a partnership integrating Kalshi’s real-money betting markets into Threads,” ParentsRISE said. “We are glad these members see the threat of this next wave of products engineered for compulsive use.”

The bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Jeff Van Drew, Nick LaLota, Kristen McDonald Rivet, Jimmy Panetta, Darren Soto, Tom Suozzi, Ritchie Torres and Bruce Westerman. 

“Prediction markets are becoming more popular, and we need to be realistic about the risks that can come with that for our children,” said Congressman Van Drew. “Kids should not be able to get onto these platforms and start placing bets. This bill puts another protection in place to help stop that from happening and gives parents some added peace of mind.”