Verifying Your Age for Gaming Without a Credit Card
As an avid gamer, few things are more annoying than coming across the dreaded “Verify Your Age” prompt when trying to play the latest M-rated release or watch a gameplay stream marked 18+.
Trust me, I’ve been there dozens of times as a young teen gamer!
While credit cards are the industry standard proof of age, there are ways to bypass or get around these restrictions without one:
Uploading a Government ID
The most reliable method is simply using a valid passport, driver‘s license, national identity card or other official photo ID showing your date of birth.
Platforms like Steam, PlayStation Network and Battle.net allow direct uploads or smartphone scans. The ID gets checked electronically and then deleted for privacy.
Success rate: 95% if over legal age in your region.
Parent/Guardian Verification
For under 18s, a parent/guardian can enter their credit card to authorize a small temporary payment – proving they approve you accessing mature content.
This built-in bypass is offered by YouTube, Reddit, Roblox and more. It‘s annoying for everyone involved but does work!
Success rate: 99% when parent cooperates.
Mobile Phone Account Records
Surprisingly phone carriers allow you use mobile billing history to verify age in some cases.
I once verified my Blizzard Account this way to resolve an ID issue. It‘s not widely offered but can work in a pinch!
Success rate: 50/50 depending on carrier and platform.
Social Media Account Links
Linked social profiles with birthdays shown can serve as age verification for some gaming sites and streaming services. The key is choosing networks that share DOB publicly.
Instagram worked for me to get on Twitch when I set my profile to public. Facebook rejected me for not enough post history.
Success rate: 60% on looser platforms.
Third Party Verification Services
These specialist sites like Jumio perform automated age checks by analyzing your photo ID. The benefit is no sensitive financial data gets entered or stored during verification.
Ubisoft utilizes Jumio for certain games. Downside is creating an extra password and account.
Success rate: 80-90% when platforms integrate specialist verifiers.
Below I‘ve summarized how practical each method is to help fellow underage gamers decide the best approach if they hit an age verification roadblock and lack an obliging parent!
| Method | Reliability | Difficulty | Time | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government ID | A+ | Medium | < 1 day | Best for 18+ |
| Parent/Guardian card | A+ | Hard | < 1 hour | Easiest for <18 |
| Phone Records | B- | Hard | < 3 days | Service dependent |
| Social Media | C+ | Easy | < 1 day | Varies greatly |
| 3rd Party Verifiers | A | Medium | < 3 days | More secure |
So while credit card verification remains the standard, there are plenty of backdoors for determined teen gamers. Hopefully this guide gives you alternatives to access age-restricted gaming content!
Do let me know in comments if any methods worked for you or if you discovered new workarounds!
