DraftKings Rolls Out Biometric Age Verification Across US Sportsbook Apps
DraftKings has deployed facial recognition-based age verification technology across its US mobile sportsbook applications, becoming the first major operator to make biometric checks mandatory for account access. The initiative aims to strengthen underage gambling prevention amid growing regulatory scrutiny.
DraftKings announced Thursday it has completed the rollout of biometric age verification across its sportsbook apps in all 27 US states where it operates. The system, developed in partnership with identity technology firm Incode, requires users to submit a brief facial scan matched against government-issued ID during registration, with periodic re-verification triggered by session anomalies or high-value transactions. The operator described the move as the most comprehensive biometric integration by any US sports betting platform to date.
The implementation follows mounting pressure from state regulators and consumer advocacy groups concerned about minors circumventing traditional knowledge-based verification methods. Internal DraftKings data cited in the announcement indicated that biometric checks during a six-month pilot in New Jersey and Pennsylvania reduced suspected underage account attempts by 84% compared to document-only verification. The company also reported a 31% drop in account takeover fraud during the pilot period.
Industry analysts noted the move could reshape compliance standards across the American market, particularly as states like Massachusetts and New York have signaled interest in mandating stronger verification frameworks. Chief Compliance Officer Stacie Stern said DraftKings would share aggregated performance data with regulators to support policy development, and confirmed the technology would be extended to the company's iGaming products in New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia by Q4 2026.
Competitors are expected to follow suit, with sources indicating that FanDuel and Fanatics Sportsbook are in advanced discussions with biometric vendors. Privacy advocates, however, have raised concerns about data retention and the scope of facial template storage. DraftKings stated that biometric templates are encrypted, stored separately from personal identifying information, and deleted upon account closure in accordance with state biometric privacy statutes including Illinois' BIPA framework.