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A Michigan congresswoman is among the cosponsors of new federal legislation that would require facial recognition technology to verify a user’s age before they can place a bet on an online sports wagering site or prediction market.
Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) is one of eight original cosponsors of the bipartisan Facial Recognition to Protect Children Act, introduced last week by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ).
The bill would require Michigan online sportsbooks and prediction markets to use facial recognition technology to estimate a user’s age, either at login or before a wager is placed, without storing biometric data or identity information.
Michigan lawmaker weighs in
McDonald Rivet, who represents Michigan’s 8th District, said current age-verification standards leave too much room for kids to slip through.
“As every parent knows, when you tell a kid not to do something, they almost always end up trying to do it.
“Kids under the age of 18 shouldn’t be making bets, but now it’s just a few taps away on their phones.
“Our commonsense, bipartisan bill will put a stop to it.”
What the bill would require
The legislation targets what Gottheimer’s office describes as an honor-system approach to age checks that’s easy for minors to bypass, whether by using a parent’s login or a sibling’s account. Under the bill, operators would need to:
- Verify a user’s age using facial recognition technology at login or before a wager is placed
- Use scanning technology limited to estimating age from facial structure, without retaining a user’s identity or biometric data
The numbers behind the push
Supporters point to research showing a sizable share of underage bettors are already finding ways onto wagering platforms.
Backers cited data shows 36% of boys ages 11 to 17 have gambled in the past year, according to Gottheimer’s office, citing Common Sense Media, with that number climbing further among older teens. Kalshi and the survivor-parent group ParentsRISE have both backed the bill.
The bill also has support from Reps. Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), and Bruce Westerman (R-AR).
Because it’s a federal bill, it would apply nationwide if passed, covering regulated operartors and prediction markets in every state rather than being limited to Michigan or any single market.
It’s the latest addition to a growing list of federal proposals aimed at online age verification, as prediction markets and mobile sports operators continue to expand their reach, with minors increasingly able to access wagering apps through family devices and shared accounts.
The bill has not yet been scheduled for a committee hearing.
