Industries Requiring
Age Verification
Age verification has transformed from an optional compliance measure into a mandatory business requirement across 20+ regulated industries. Driven by aggressive regulatory enforcement—UK Online Safety Act, EU Digital Services Act, Australian Online Safety Amendment, and expanding U.S. state-level laws—organizations must verify customer age before providing access to restricted products or services.
Adult Content Platforms & Streaming
The most heavily enforced age verification sector in 2025
Regulatory Landscape
Adult content platforms face the most aggressive age verification enforcement globally. The UK Online Safety Act (enforced January 2025) mandates that all pornographic websites verify users are 18+ before granting access. Non-compliance has already resulted in major traffic declines—Pornhub UK saw a 77–80% traffic drop since enforcement began.
| Region | Regulation | Requirement | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Online Safety Act | All pornographic sites must verify users are 18+ | Enforced Jan 2025 |
| EU | Digital Services Act | Age verification for adult content on VLOPs | Rolling Out |
| France | ARCOM Regulations | Double-blind age verification requirements | 2025 |
| Australia | Online Safety Amendment | Age assurance trials; mandatory implementation forthcoming | 2025-2026 |
| US (19+ States) | State Age Verification Laws | Age verification required for adult content access | Expanding |
Business Impact
Compliance Requirements
Solution Characteristics Required
Online Gambling, iGaming & Sports Betting
Age verification is table stakes—operators without it cannot legally operate
Regulatory Landscape
The online gambling industry has the most mature age verification requirements globally. Operators must verify age before account creation—including free-to-play demo games in the UK. Self-exclusion registry integration (like GamStop) is mandatory for UK-licensed operators, creating a comprehensive responsible gambling framework.
| Region | Regulator | Requirement | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | UK Gambling Commission | Age verification mandatory for all gambling (including demo games) | Mandatory |
| Malta | Malta Gaming Authority | Government ID or passport verification required | Mandatory |
| US | State Commissions + UIGEA | Age verification for real-money wagering (18–21 varies by state) | Mandatory |
| Canada | iGaming Ontario | Provincial regulation; mandatory verification at account creation | Mandatory |
| Australia | State Regulators | Uniform 18+ requirement with strict enforcement | Mandatory |
Business Impact
Compliance Requirements
Solution Characteristics Required
Alcohol & Beverage E-Commerce
$15B+ global market with age verification at purchase AND delivery
Regulatory Landscape
Online alcohol sales require age verification at two critical points: checkout completion and physical delivery. The US PACT Act mandates verification at both stages, with ATF oversight creating serious compliance risk for non-compliant sellers. International markets vary but consistently require 18-21+ verification.
| Region | Regulation | Requirement | Age Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | PACT Act | Age verification at purchase and delivery; ATF oversight | 21+ |
| US States | Individual State Laws | State-specific requirements (varying strictness) | 21+ |
| EU | Member State Regulations | Individual member states regulate online alcohol sales | 18+ (most) |
| Canada | Provincial Regulation | Provincial age verification requirements | 18-19 |
| Australia | State Liquor Acts | Age verification for online alcohol purchases | 18+ |
Business Impact
Solution Characteristics Required
Tobacco, E-Cigarettes & Vaping Products
PACT Act violations carry fines up to $40,000 per violation
Regulatory Landscape
Tobacco and vaping products face stringent age verification requirements with severe penalties. The US PACT Act treats all online tobacco sales as high-risk, requiring age verification and adult signature on delivery. FDA regulations classify e-cigarettes as tobacco products, triggering the same requirements. The regulatory landscape is volatile as definitions evolve (vapes, nicotine salts, heated tobacco).
| Region | Regulation | Requirement | Penalty Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | PACT Act | All online tobacco sales require age verification | Up to $40,000/violation |
| US | FDA Regulations | E-cigarettes treated as tobacco; age verification mandatory | Significant |
| US States | Individual State Laws | State enforcement of age verification (18–21) | Varies by state |
| EU | EU Tobacco Directive | Member states regulate tobacco e-commerce | 18+ typical |
| Canada | Tobacco Act | Age verification for online tobacco sales | 18-19 |
Solution Characteristics Required
Video Game Publishers & Gaming Platforms
App store operators enforcing stricter age verification for downloads
Regulatory Landscape
The gaming industry faces increasing pressure to verify player ages, driven by concerns about in-app purchases, loot boxes, and age-inappropriate content. California's Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043) requires app store operators to verify age before app download. ESRB and PEGI ratings systems are increasingly tied to age verification requirements.
| Region | Regulation/Standard | Requirement | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| US (California) | AB 1043 Digital Age Assurance Act | App store operators verify age before download | 2025+ Implementation |
| US/Canada | ESRB Compliance | Industry standard for age-appropriate content | Industry Standard |
| Europe | PEGI Rating | European age rating driving verification adoption | Industry Standard |
| Various | Loot Box Regulation | Age verification for games with gambling-like mechanics | Expanding |
Solution Characteristics Required
Pharmaceutical & Controlled Medications
Safety-critical verification prevents medication misuse in minors
Regulatory Landscape
Online pharmacies face strict age verification requirements to prevent medication misuse and ensure patient safety. FDA regulations govern prescription medications, while DEA regulations add additional requirements for controlled substances. HIPAA compliance requirements create additional data handling considerations.
| Region | Regulator | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | FDA | Pharmacist verification and age-appropriate dispensing | Prescription medications |
| US | DEA | Strict age and identity verification for controlled substances | Controlled substances |
| US | State Pharmacy Boards | Regulate online pharmacy operations | State-specific |
| EU | Medicines Regulation | Online pharmacies verify customer age | 18+ typically |
Solution Characteristics Required
Cannabis & Controlled Substance E-Commerce
$30B+ US market with legal sales growing 20%+ annually
Regulatory Landscape
Legal cannabis sales require strict age verification as part of comprehensive compliance tracking. US states with legal cannabis mandate government ID verification at purchase, with adult signature required at delivery. Track & trace requirements create audit trail obligations. Canada's provincial regulation similarly requires verification at purchase (18-19 depending on province).
| Region | Framework | Requirement | Age Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| US States | State Cannabis Laws | Strict age verification for legal cannabis sales | 21+ |
| Canada | Provincial Regulation | Age verification for online cannabis sales | 18-19 |
| Various | Track & Trace Laws | Comprehensive compliance tracking | Varies |
| Australia | Prescription Cannabis | Age verification for prescription cannabis delivery | 18+ |
Solution Characteristics Required
Financial Technology & Cryptocurrencies
Age verification as part of broader KYC/AML compliance
Use Case
For fintech platforms and cryptocurrency exchanges, age verification is typically integrated as part of broader Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance workflows. While not always the primary focus, age verification prevents underage trading and reduces fraud risk.
Solution Characteristics Required
Age Verification That Keeps You Compliant
Regulations are here across every industry. Give your users a smooth verification experience while meeting your compliance obligations with Owl Eyes.
Understanding Age Verification Regulations by Industry
Age verification requirements vary significantly across industries, jurisdictions, and use cases. What started as a niche compliance requirement for gambling and alcohol sales has expanded into a fundamental business requirement affecting adult content platforms, social media, gaming, pharmaceuticals, and financial services.
The Regulatory Push for Age Assurance
The UK Online Safety Act, enforced from January 2025, represents the most aggressive regulatory push for age verification globally. Platforms hosting pornographic content must verify all users are 18+ before granting access, with Ofcom as the regulator enforcing significant penalties for non-compliance. This has created a template that other jurisdictions are following.
The EU Digital Services Act creates obligations for Very Large Online Platforms to implement age verification for high-risk content. Australia's Online Safety Amendment has launched age assurance trials with mandatory implementation expected in 2025-2026. In the United States, 19+ states have enacted their own age verification requirements for adult content access.
Industry-Specific Compliance Considerations
Each industry faces unique compliance challenges. Gambling operators must integrate with self-exclusion registries like GamStop (UK), ROFUS (Denmark), and Spelpaus (Sweden). Alcohol and tobacco e-commerce must comply with the PACT Act requiring verification at both purchase and delivery. Social media platforms must balance multiple age thresholds (13+, 16+, 18+) within a single platform while minimizing friction for legitimate users.
Choosing the Right Age Verification Approach
The optimal age verification approach depends on your industry, regulatory environment, and user experience requirements. Document-based verification provides the highest confidence and is required for gambling, alcohol, and cannabis. AI-powered facial age estimation offers lower friction for social media and content platforms. Combined approaches—using both document verification and age estimation with cross-validation—provide the strongest compliance posture for heavily regulated industries.
Social Media Platforms & User-Generated Content
10+ countries drafting age verification requirements for social platforms
Regulatory Landscape
Social media platforms are facing rapidly evolving age verification requirements focused on protecting minors from harmful content. The UK Online Safety Act requires age assurance for platforms hosting harmful content, while Australia has launched social media age verification trials. The EU Digital Services Act creates obligations for Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs).
Notably, Bluesky rolled out UK-compliant age verification in 2025, signaling the industry's direction. Platforms must balance user acquisition (age gates reduce conversion) against regulatory compliance and safety positioning.
Compliance Requirements
Solution Characteristics Required