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Legal sports betting now operates in most parts of the United States, delivering record handle and tax revenue for states. Behind those numbers, new reporting shows a quieter issue growing alongside the market: minors continue to access legal sportsbooks at a rising rate.
Good to Know
Data reviewed by USA Today points to a pattern regulators and sportsbooks struggle to contain. Hundreds of suspected fraud reports filed with state agencies show teenagers and younger children placing wagers through legal sportsbooks, even though age limits remain in place nationwide.
Sportsbooks file these reports as part of regulatory obligations in many states. The documents outline how underage users slip through safeguards, often without lasting consequences. In most cases, operators close the account and alert regulators. Beyond that step, enforcement rarely goes further.
The methods repeat across jurisdictions. The most common scenario involves shared access, where a minor uses a parent or relative account, sometimes without consent and sometimes with it. Another frequent pathway involves identity misuse, including the use of stolen personal data or information tied to deceased individuals. A smaller set of reports describe accidental access, where young children place bets through accounts already logged in on a device.
Despite those violations, criminal charges remain uncommon. Reports reviewed show sportsbooks acting internally by banning accounts, yet long term penalties for the bettor almost never follow. Regulators receive the information, but outcomes beyond documentation often remain unclear.
Measuring the full scope proves difficult. States follow different reporting standards, and some regulators classify fraud data as confidential. Even so, states that release figures show a steady rise.
Tennessee offers one example. Sportsbooks there logged 105 cases of underage account usage during 2024. The following year, that total more than quadrupled, signaling rapid growth rather than isolated incidents.
Iowa regulators received dozens of reports sent to the Division of Criminal Investigation. Public records do not confirm whether those cases resulted in charges, leaving enforcement outcomes uncertain.
Massachusetts provides the clearest snapshot so far. DraftKings reported blocking more than 4,800 underage registration attempts within a single year. FanDuel also disclosed hundreds of account suspensions connected to minors. State regulators there acknowledged the figures likely reflect only a portion of attempted access.
As sports betting continues to scale, regulators face pressure to balance market growth with enforcement. Fraud reports show how easily age barriers break down when accounts, devices, and identities overlap inside households.
Most cases involve shared or borrowed accounts tied to parents or relatives. Identity misuse also appears frequently in fraud reports.
Yes. Many states require sportsbooks to file suspected fraud reports when underage activity appears.
Criminal charges remain rare. Most cases end with account bans and regulator notification.
Massachusetts provides the most transparent reporting, while Tennessee and Iowa also show rising case counts.
No. Regulators acknowledge reported numbers likely capture only part of total attempts.