Kalshi is deploying facial recognition and selfie checks to keep minors off its prediction market, the company announced exclusively to Axios. The new measures require all users to pass a facial recognition scan when opening the app, and target certain accounts deemed at higher risk of problematic trading with requests for selfies. The platform is also promoting two-factor authentication and adding a tool that alerts users to unauthorized logins.
The moves come as prediction markets face growing political scrutiny over their role in America's gambling culture. Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour told Axios the company is acting before regulators force the issue. "We're essentially proactively doing that before we're required to do them," Mansour said, adding that Kalshi wants to set "a new state-of-the-art benchmark" for the industry.
Kalshi is resisting calls to block traders aged 18 to 20, arguing its existing age-verification systems are sufficient. The company already bans minors from the platform. The new tools, which include enhanced identity checks, are designed specifically to prevent underage users from accessing family accounts or bypassing login restrictions.
The policy shift arrives as prediction markets surge in popularity across sports, politics, and breaking news. Critics argue these platforms contribute to normalizing gambling among young adults. Kalshi's approach balances stricter verification with maintaining access for legal-age users, but the debate over appropriate safeguards for 18-to-20-year-olds remains unresolved.
Some consumer advocates say facial recognition and selfie requirements may not fully prevent determined minors from trading, and that the industry should consider broader age restrictions. Kalshi has not disclosed a timeline for implementing the new tools across its entire user base.