- New York state officials are pushing for biometric age verification requirements on online sports betting platforms.
- The New York State Gaming Commission may require facial recognition and fingerprint identification to access sports betting accounts.
- Harsher penalties for adults who share betting accounts with minors are also being explored alongside the new measures.
ALBANY - New York officials are pushing for tougher access controls on legal sportsbooks, with face scans and thumbprint requirements potentially on the way for anyone looking to place a bet.
During her January State of the State speech, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the initiative and instructed the New York State Gaming Commission to investigate biometric methods for age verification on online sports betting sites.
The gaming commission has observed an increase in the number of minors gaining access to betting accounts, usually by stealing login credentials from a parent, sibling, or friend rather than using any kind of technical workaround.
New York is not the only city dealing with this issue. This issue affects all USA online gambling industries, where typical username-and-password protection has proven to be easily bypassed by anyone with access to another person's account information.
Biometrics Could Change How Online Accounts Are Accessed
According to Gaming Commission Chair Brian O'Dwyer, the commission is investigating facial recognition and fingerprint identification requirements for both account creation and each and every login. Current account holders can either have their accounts terminated or be given a 60-day window to provide biometric information.
In addition to technical measures, the commission is looking into more severe consequences for adults who share accounts with kids, such as permanent bans from New York gambling sites and the potential reclassification of the behavior as threatening a minor's welfare.
The Sports Betting Alliance, which represents major sportsbook operators, has indicated that it is willing to work with authorities on identity and age verification technology. With wagers totaling about $26.3 billion in 2025 alone, New York has developed into the largest online sports betting industry in the country since legal betting started in January 2022.
Before the commission's next meeting, formal proposals are anticipated. A vote on recommendations may then take place, which might result in a major change to the way online sports betting accounts are handled throughout the state.