RESPONSIBLE GAMING
Age verification in real-money games: hardly child’s play THE PROLIFERATION OF PLATFORMS AND TECHNOLOGIES, AND THE WIDESPREAD USE OF GAME MONETIZATION MAKE ROBUST AGE VERIFICATION STRATEGIES VITAL TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE AND PROTECT MINORS, SAYS DAVID B. HOPPE
M ost US states say gamblers must be 21 to participate in most games (some make it 18 for playing the lottery, bingo daily fantasy sports, and a few other exceptions.) While several states and countries recognize the distinction between gambling and playing skill games for money, 1 many still impose age restrictions on games such as horse race handicapping, poker, sports betting, 2 and fantasy sports in which skill arguably plays an important role in determining the outcome. As skill-based real-money games become prevalent, 3 both online and in the physical world, game developers, social media platforms, and dedicated outlets rush to cash in. As the trend becomes more mainstream, varied businesses can be expected to seek ways to gamify their customer experiences.
While the digital and decentralized nature of Web3 introduces complexities and nuances, companies looking to incorporate real-money gaming into their business models should seek legal advice to ensure they adhere to regulations across all jurisdictions in which they operate. Regulations governing gambling and skill-based gaming differ from state to state and according to country. Adding to the confusion, several jurisdictions have only recently legalized many forms of gambling, and modern communications and data technologies make it easier than ever to place a wager. For example, before 2018 only Nevada allowed betting on professional and college sports. Now, it is legal in approximately three-dozen states. Among these, at least 27 permit sports betting online.
1 https://gammalaw.com/law-of-probability-real-money-games-and-gambling/ 2 https://gammalaw.com/the-impact-of-paspas-repeal-on-sports-betting/ 3 https://gammalaw.com/real-money-gaming-taking-off-and-cashing-in/
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IMGL MAGAZINE | APRIL 2024
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