The New York State Gaming Commission has put forward proposed regulations that would require sports wagering operators to collect biometric data from every account holder and mandate biometric confirmation before each betting session, in what would be among the most stringent biometric requirements ever applied to online gambling in the United States.
The proposal, released April 7, 2026 following a directive from Governor Kathy Hochul in her 2026 State of the State address, is open for public comment through May 15, 2026. Under the draft rules, operators must require biometric data at account creation to verify that the person placing bets is the same individual who established the account. Existing account holders would have 60 days to provide biometric data or face account closure. Biometric confirmation would also be required before any wagering session begins and whenever the platform detects access from an unfamiliar device or location. The regulations do not prescribe a specific biometric modality, leaving implementation to operators.
The package extends beyond authentication to address broader responsible gambling concerns. Operators would be prohibited from using artificial intelligence for personalized promotions or to suggest wager amounts, while AI tools for detecting problematic gambling behavior would remain permitted. Age-assurance controls would be required to prevent minors from downloading gambling apps. Adults who enable underage gambling would face reporting to the Commission and statewide exclusion from all gambling activities, including the lottery. Adults could also register Social Security numbers to prevent minors from using them to create accounts.
The Commission is also proposing a tiered responsible gaming intervention system incorporating 13 behavioral triggers. Examples include deposits exceeding $10,000 in a 24-hour period and account turnover surpassing $1 million quarterly. “No other form of gambling has pervaded our consciousness like sports wagering, and impressionable kids are constantly exposed to the practice,” said Commission Chair Brian O’Dwyer.
Governor Hochul framed the proposal in terms of consumer protection, stating that mobile sports wagering is “everywhere, enticing everyone – including our youth – to place bets without fully considering the consequences.” New York is the largest mobile sports betting market in the United States by revenue, having legalized mobile wagering in 2022. The Commission’s proposal extends New York’s biometric authentication requirements beyond financial services, where the state’s Department of Financial Services already mandated biometric multi-factor authentication for regulated institutions in late 2024. The proposal is also consistent with biometric gambling mandates emerging globally, including Ghana’s requirement for national biometric verification across all licensed gambling activities in August 2025.
Implementation timelines will be set after the comment period closes. Comments may be submitted to [email protected].
Sources: Office of Governor Kathy Hochul, Best In Slot
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
