Bookmakers and prediction markets in the U.S. could be required to check players' age using facial analysis
American lawmakers have proposed adding another barrier against underage betting. H.R. 9706, titled the Facial Recognition to Protect Children Act, applies to online bookmakers and prediction market platforms. It was introduced in the House of Representatives on July 15, 2026.
Under the initiative, services would have to use commercially available technology that analyzes facial features and structure and then determines whether the user has reached the age of majority. The check may be carried out when a user logs in to an account or immediately before placing a bet or an order to buy an event contract. Despite the word Recognition in the document's title, the measure is more about age estimation than identifying a person.
The bill's authors believe that standard document checks during registration are no longer enough. A child could gain access to a verified account belonging to a parent, older sibling, or friend, and then calmly place bets from someone else's phone. The new procedure is meant to check not only the account holder but also the person actually using the service at that specific moment.
The document includes limits on the handling of personal data. Operators would have to collect, process, and transmit only the information reasonably necessary to determine age. Data that is not needed to perform the check would have to be deleted. Proposed violations would be treated as unfair or deceptive practices, and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission would oversee enforcement of the requirements.
Kalshi has publicly supported the initiative. The platform's CEO, Tarek Mansour, said that protecting minors should become a common standard for the entire industry rather than a voluntary measure taken by individual companies. At the same time, practical questions remain: how accurately the systems will be able to determine age, what should be done with users close to the set threshold, and how to prevent people from bypassing the check with a photo or recorded video.
For now, H.R. 9706 is only at the beginning of the legislative process. The document has been referred to the House Committees on Agriculture and Energy and Commerce. To take effect, it still needs to pass both chambers of Congress and receive the president's signature.
Olivia Grant is an iGaming news reporter at CasinosInCanada who covers casino industry updates, regulations, and market developments.
