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State
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Tier
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Pop %
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Gay Male
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ID Req?
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Max Penalty |
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| State | Abbr | Population | Pop% | Tier | ID Req? | Citation | Effective | CC | Bank | Fin Doc | Com DB | Trans | Com SW | 3rd Pty | Dig ID | Gov ID | IAL2 | Photo | Anon | Per Viol | Per Day | If Minor | Private | Atty Fee | Punitive | Injunct | Statutory | Gay Male | Lesbian | LGBT Total | Density | Notes |
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Source: Human Progress Survey (HPS) 2022 and Gallup estimates
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State
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Total Pop
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LGBT %
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Gay Male Count
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Gay Male %
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Lesbian Count
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Total LGBT
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Density
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|---|
Understanding age verification options: Strategy, friction, and implementation costs
Tiers are based on the MOST restrictive requirement, not the easiest option available.
Example: Why Florida is Tier 4
Florida law states: "Must offer two methods"
Result: Florida = Tier 4, because businesses MUST implement BOTH methods. The anonymous option requirement (most restrictive) determines the tier classification.
Important: When a state requires multiple methods (using "AND" instead of "OR"), you must implement ALL of them, not just pick one.
Our ranking prioritizes methods that minimize both user friction and implementation costs while maintaining legal compliance.
Key Principle:
A $0 method requiring document uploads (high friction) ranks lower than a $0.10/check automated verification (zero friction). User experience matters more than raw cost.
No age verification law exists in these states. Your standard business model applies without modifications.
States: 27 states including California, New York, Illinois, etc.
Coverage: 52.9% of US population
Credit card ownership inherently requires users to be 18+ or have parental authorization. This method is explicitly accepted by several states as sufficient age verification.
How it works:
User completes payment → Age automatically verified → Instant access granted
User experience:
Seamless - No additional steps beyond payment
Legal acceptance:
Explicitly accepted in South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska. May qualify under "commercially reasonable" in 20+ states.
Credit bureaus and commercial databases verify age using billing information already provided. This happens invisibly in 1-2 seconds after payment.
How it works:
API call to Experian/Equifax using billing info → Age confirmed → Access granted
User experience:
Completely invisible - 1-2 second background check
Implementation options:
Legal acceptance:
Accepted in Virginia, North Carolina, Kansas, South Carolina
Requires users to input personal information (full name, date of birth, address) for database matching against mortgage, employment, or education records.
User action: Enter personal details → Wait for verification
Processing time: 3-10 seconds
Success rate: 70-90% match rate
Flexible legal term that varies by state context. May mean credit card alone OR require additional verification.
Context matters:
Legal coverage: Accepted in 20+ states with varying interpretations
Redirects users to external services like Yoti, Veriff, or ID.me for verification.
User action: Leave site → Create account → Verify → Return
Abandonment risk: High - Users may not return
Cost: $1k-5k/month
Confirms bank account ownership through micro-deposits or instant verification.
User action: Link bank account or verify micro-deposits
Time delay: Instant to 2-3 business days
Friction: Requires bank login or waiting period
Government-Issued ID
Upload driver's license or passport photo → OCR processing → Manual review if needed
Cost: $2k-10k/month | Required in 14 states
Digitized ID
Digital driver's license from state apps or Apple Wallet (limited availability)
Cost: $2k-10k/month | Mentioned in 13 states
Financial Documents
Upload mortgage statements, tax returns, insurance policies
Cost: $0-10k/month | Very high user friction
Photo Matching
Live selfie + ID photo → Facial recognition match → Liveness detection
Cost: $5k-15k/month | Required in Tennessee
IAL2 Certification
NIST standard: Multi-factor verification with biometrics + documents + background checks
Cost: $10k-25k/month | Required in Arkansas, Georgia
Anonymous Option
Cryptographic tokens for age verification without sharing personal data
Cost: $5k-20k/month | Required in Florida
⚠️ Business Impact: These methods cause significant user drop-off. Consider geo-blocking states requiring these methods until revenue justifies the cost and friction.
Start with credit card verification. Covers 30 states (58.8% of US).
✅ Zero additional cost
✅ No user friction
✅ Immediate market entry
Add commercial database checks. Covers additional states with minimal friction.
💰 $500-2k/month
⚡ 1-2 second verification
📊 Covers major markets
Implement transactional data verification for remaining compliant states.
💰 Additional $500-2k/month
📝 Requires user input
🎯 Acceptable conversion rates
Decision point: Implement expensive biometric verification or geo-block.
⚠️ $10k-25k/month for full compliance
📉 High user abandonment rate
🚫 Consider geo-blocking until scale justifies cost
Friction Matters More Than Cost
A free method requiring document uploads loses more revenue through abandonment than a $0.10 silent verification.
The "OR" Rule
When laws say "ID upload OR database check," always choose the lowest-friction option that satisfies the statute.
Geographic Strategy
4 states (7.8% of US) require extreme verification. Calculate if their revenue justifies $10k-25k/month compliance costs.
Payment = Verification
Your paid model inherently provides age verification through credit card requirements, satisfying many state laws.
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