Age verification laws in the United States are rapidly evolving. Driven by concerns over online safety, youth exposure to adult content, and access to harmful products, a growing number of U.S. states are implementing strict digital age verification requirements. These regulations now affect a wide range of industries, including adult entertainment, vaping, online gambling, CBD, and escort directories.
The Legal Landscape of Age Verification in the U.S.
Unlike the UK or EU, the U.S. does not have a single federal age verification law. Instead, individual states are introducing their own legislation requiring websites that host or promote age-restricted content to block access to minors using robust age assurance methods.
As of 2025, over 19 states have passed or proposed laws mandating high-assurance age checks for online platforms. These laws generally apply to websites that:
- Publish or host sexually explicit material
- Sell vapes, tobacco, or CBD products
- Offer online betting, lotteries, or casino-style games
- Operate as escort directories, dating sites, or cam platforms
State-by-State Overview
Here’s a snapshot of key states with active or upcoming age verification laws:
- Texas: Enforces mandatory ID or third-party age verification for pornographic content.
- Louisiana: Requires government-issued ID verification or a third-party certified AV provider.
- Utah, Virginia, Arkansas: Demand platforms hosting 18+ content implement age verification technology.
- Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, Montana, Kansas: Enforcing or proposing strict AV laws.
- California and New York: Exploring broader privacy-compliant AV regulations for digital platforms.
How 18Verified Keeps Your Website Compliant
18Verified provides a turnkey, nationwide age verification solution that helps online businesses meet varying state-level compliance requirements, without sacrificing user experience or privacy.
Our platform uses high-impact, Ofcom-aligned age verification methods, including:
- Credit card verification
- Photo ID + facial match authentication
- Mobile network age checks
- Estimation de l'âge par courrier électronique
- Digital ID and open banking (coming soon)
Each method is fast, secure, and tailored to meet the highest legal standards in the U.S. while respecting user anonymity. No intrusive data harvesting. No tracking. No pay-per-verification model.
With 18Verified, your users only verify once and get instant access to all connected sites, making it a cost-effective, privacy-first, and fully compliant solution for the American market.
Conclusion: Stay Compliant, Stay Online
The enforcement of state-level age verification laws in America marks a turning point for online businesses. Failure to comply can result in legal penalties, lost revenue, and blocked access. As laws tighten, especially around pornographic, vape, gambling, and escort websites, the need for a trusted verification partner is more urgent than ever.
18Verified helps your business navigate this complex legal terrain with confidence. Our one-time verification, cross-site access, and subscription-based model give you everything you need to stay legal and grow across all 50 states.
Protect your users. Stay compliant. Grow your business with 18Verified – Get Started Today.