What it does: Raises the minimum age for mobile sports wagering to 25, delaying access to always-available, high-speed betting during a high-risk developmental and financial period.
Sources
6–12 months after enactment to allow operators to
update verification, account-closure, and refund workflows.
$25,000 per violation is a workable baseline; if you include patron misrepresentation
penalties, keep them modest (e.g., $250–$1,000) and focus enforcement on operator controls.
21. This draft raises the minimum age
specifically for mobile sports wagering, leaving in-person policy choices to
the state.
CASPR is available for legal and technical support adapting this bill to specific state contexts.
Download as Word .docxA BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO MOBILE SPORTS WAGERING; RAISING THE MINIMUM AGE FOR MOBILE SPORTS
WAGERING TO 25; REQUIRING AGE VERIFICATION AND ACCOUNT TERMINATION FOR
INELIGIBLE PATRONS; PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES; AND PROVIDING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF [STATE]:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Minimum Age for Mobile Sports Wagering Act".
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) "Commission" means the [STATE GAMING COMMISSION] or successor agency.
(2) "Mobile sports wagering" means accepting, facilitating, or enabling sports wagers via
internet, mobile application, or similar digital platform by a person located in this State.
(3) "Operator" means a person licensed or otherwise authorized under [STATE LAW] to conduct
mobile sports wagering in this State.
(4) "Underage person" means a person under 25 years of age.
SECTION 3. MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT.
(a) Prohibition. A person shall not place, attempt to place, or redeem a wager through Mobile
sports wagering unless the person is at least 25 years of age.
(b) Operator duty. An Operator shall not accept a wager, open an account, or allow a person
to access an account for Mobile sports wagering unless the Operator has verified that the
person is at least 25 years of age using age-verification procedures approved by the Commission.
SECTION 4. AGE VERIFICATION; ACCOUNT CONTROLS.
(a) Verification required. The Commission shall, by rule, establish minimum age-verification
procedures for Operators, which shall include:
(1) identity verification using reliable documentary or non-documentary methods; and
(2) ongoing controls to detect and prevent account sharing and identity misrepresentation.
(b) Existing accounts. On and after the effective date of this Act:
(1) an Operator shall suspend and close any account held by an Underage person; and
(2) the Operator shall return the remaining account balance to the person using lawful
withdrawal methods, subject to anti-fraud and anti-money-laundering controls.
SECTION 5. ENFORCEMENT; PENALTIES; RULEMAKING.
(a) Operator violations. A violation by an Operator constitutes grounds for license discipline.
(b) Civil penalties. The Commission may impose a civil penalty of up to [$25,000] per violation.
Each wager accepted from an Underage person constitutes a separate violation.
(c) Patron violations. A person who knowingly misrepresents age or identity to wager through
Mobile sports wagering commits a [misdemeanor / civil violation] punishable by [fine amount],
provided that enforcement priorities should focus on Operator compliance rather than individual
patrons.
(d) Rulemaking. The Commission shall adopt rules to implement this Act.
SECTION 6. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Act or its application is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect
other provisions or applications of this Act that can be given effect without the invalid
provision or application.
SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act takes effect on [DATE].