Solutions to ensure responsible age verification

Ensuring responsible age verification in gambling is crucial for preventing underage access and protecting vulnerable individuals from the harmful effects of gambling. Both physical casinos and online gambling platforms need to implement robust age verification systems to ensure that only legal-age individuals can participate. The following solutions outline strategies and technologies that can enhance age verification processes, safeguard minors, and create a safer gambling environment.

Solutions to Ensure Responsible Age Verification

1. Enhanced Multi-Factor Age Verification (For Online Platforms)

• Description:Online gambling platforms should adopt multi-layered age verification systems that go beyond simple self-declaration. This could involve the use of government-issued identification, biometric checks, or third-party verification services.

• How It Works:

• ID Verification:When registering an account, users should be required to upload a valid government-issued  ID (e.g., passport, driver’s license) to verify their date of birth. This       can be cross-checked against public or commercial databases to ensure accuracy.

• Facial Recognition:Biometric authentication, such as facial recognition, can be used to       verify that the person submitting the ID matches the photo on the document. This can help prevent minors from using fake IDs or adults’  information to create accounts.

• Third-Party Verification: Platforms can partner with age verification  companies that specialize in identity verification and have access to  global databases. These companies can validate the user's age and identity through trusted sources, ensuring that minors cannot bypass the system.

Benefits:

• Reduces the likelihood of minors using fake or altered identification.

• Strengthens the overall security of the registration process.

• Provides a more secure and foolproof method for age verification.

2. Cross-Referencing with Public and Commercial Databases

• Description: Gambling operators can use public and private databases to cross-reference the details submitted during the age verification process. These databases contain information such as birth dates and other identifying details that can verify the authenticity of a user's information.

• How It Works:

• When a user submits an age verification request, their  personal details (e.g., name, birth date) are checked against a third-party service or database. If the details match, the user is      allowed to proceed.

• This method can be particularly useful for verifying age when users do not have access to physical documents or prefer using  electronic IDs.

Benefits:

• Enhances the accuracy of age verification by cross-checking with multiple data sources.

• Reduces the chances of minors bypassing verification using fraudulent or fake documents.

• Provides an additional layer of security and compliance for gambling operators.

3. Continuous Verification During the Gambling Session (For Online Platforms)

• Description:Age verification should not end after registration. It should be an ongoing process, especially for high-stakes gambling or when users make large deposits or withdrawals. Operators can implement systems that monitor gambling patterns and trigger periodic re-verification, particularly if suspicious activity is detected.

• How It Works:

• Trigger-Based Re-Verification: If a user begins to gamble large amounts or engages in risky behavior, the platform can prompt the user to re-verify their age through biometric checks or a secondary verification step (such as uploading another ID).

• Suspicious Behavior Detection: Platforms could deploy algorithms that detect unusual patterns of activity, such as rapid increases in bets or spending, which might indicate that someone is circumventing the age verification process.

Benefits:

• Prevents minors from continuing to gamble if they manage to bypass the original age verification.

• Increases the security and integrity of the gambling environment, ensuring that only legally eligible individuals can access higher-risk activities.

4. Stronger Age Verification for Payments and Withdrawals

• Description:In addition to verifying age at the point of registration, gambling platforms should implement age checks during financial transactions, such as deposits and withdrawals. Payment service providers can play a key role in ensuring that funds are not transferred to or from accounts registered  by minors.

• How It Works:

• Payment Method Verification: When users add a payment method (credit card, e-wallet, etc.) to their account, the platform can verify that the  account holder is of legal age by checking payment details with the financial institution.

• Transaction Monitoring: Certain thresholds for deposits or withdrawals can trigger additional verification steps. For example, if a user tries to withdraw a large sum, the system can prompt for further identity verification to ensure the individual is of legal age.

Benefits:

• Adds an additional layer of protection by ensuring minors cannot bypass age verification when handling money.

• Provides a safeguard against minors accessing gambling services through their parents' or guardians' accounts.

• Limits the financial impact on minors by blocking unauthorized transactions.

5. Parental Control and Monitoring Tools (For Online Gambling)

• Description:Online gambling platforms can offer features that allow parents or guardians to control and monitor the gambling activities of minors. These tools can block access to gambling websites or restrict certain activities.

• How It Works:

• Account Linking:Parents can link their child’s online gambling account to their own,       allowing them to monitor their child's activity and ensure compliance with age restrictions.

• Age Verification for Shared Devices: If multiple people use the same device, operators       can require re-verification every time someone accesses the platform to ensure the person using the device is of legal age.

Benefits:

• Provides parents with the ability to prevent minors from accessing gambling services.

• Offers peace of mind that minors cannot access gambling services without parental consent or monitoring.

• Encourages responsible gambling behavior by involving guardians in the verification process.

6. Enhanced Age Verification in Physical Casinos

• Description:In physical casinos, stronger ID checks and security measures should be  implemented to prevent minors from accessing gambling areas. This includes verifying age not just at the entrance but also at gaming tables and slot machines.

• How It Works:

• Multiple ID Checks:Patrons can be required to present an ID at various stages, such as when entering the casino, when signing up for a loyalty program, or when playing certain games. Casinos could also utilize facial recognition technology to verify the age of patrons during these interactions.

• Enhanced Staff Training: Casino staff should receive ongoing training on how to spot fake IDs, as well as techniques for politely but firmly verifying age to ensure compliance with age limits.

Benefits:

• Minimizes the chances of minors entering and gambling in physical casinos.

• Ensures that age verification is enforced consistently throughout the casino, not just at the entrance.

• Helps reduce the risk of underage gambling and strengthens the reputation of the casino as a responsible operator.

7. Regulatory Compliance and Auditing

• Description:Gambling operators must comply with national and international regulations for age verification and anti-money laundering (AML) policies. Regulatory bodies should audit gambling platforms to ensure they are enforcing appropriate age verification measures.

• How It Works:

• Regular Audits:Gambling regulators can perform surprise audits on both physical casinos   and online gambling platforms to ensure compliance with age verification regulations.

• Penalties for Non-Compliance: Operators found failing to meet age verification       standards should face financial penalties, reputational damage, or even suspension of licenses. Regularly updated guidelines should be established to help operators stay compliant with new verification technologies and best practices.

Benefits:

• Provides legal accountability for operators and incentivizes the maintenance of effective age verification systems.

• Ensures consistency in the enforcement of age verification across the gambling industry.

• Helps build public trust in gambling operators as responsible entities.