NEWS Industry welcomes digital ID to protect gamblers
The gambling industry has welcomed the use of digital ID to protect gamblers who have multiple accounts with different betting operators. It follows a sector-wide consultation conducted by 1account, the digital ID specialist and provider of KYC and AML validation services for the gambling industry. The consultation explored the benefits, opportunities and challenges of linking digital ID to a player’s betting accounts and activities across different operators to gain a consolidated view of their financial position including balances, transaction history and net gains or losses. According to Gambling Commission research, the UK’s online gamblers have an average of three betting accounts, with younger gamblers likely to hold more than five.
Publication of the findings comes as a landmark inquest into the death of gambler Jack Ritchie, aged 24, hit the headlines and raised questions about the adequacy of warnings around the dangers of gambling. The case has reportedly accelerated the Gambling Commission’s drive to make gambling safer, such as increasing online age and ID verification.
The consultation took the form of face-to-face and detailed written briefings amongst online and offline gambling operators, industry regulators, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and providers of gambling support services.
Key findings included:
100% of respondents believe linking different betting accounts to show players’ overall net deposits would be beneficial for all gamblers with multiple accounts, particularly problem and at-risk gamblers
Additional features were also discussed, including salary and rental or mortgage costs that could be accessed from open banking-linked digital IDs as a means of enabling enhanced affordability checks Ralph Topping, former CEO of William Hill, who is on 1account’s advisory board, said: “The gambling industry in the UK takes its responsibilities to customers extremely seriously, however they can only act on the information they themselves hold about a person’s activities.
A clear majority of consultees believed there are benefits in matching the name on the user’s digital ID with the name held on the operator’s account before pairing the gambling account to provide greater identity assurance, if and when sharing player information between multiple operators Respondents felt digital ID linked to multiple accounts would deliver invaluable insights into players’ behaviour. Those consulted felt that this could also deliver an enhanced understanding of affordability over time, which would provide additional KYC benefits
The majority of participants called for a feature that informed players of milestones, for example alerting them when they have reached a certain net deposit position. Different configuration options were also seen as beneficial to provide users with choice regarding how much information is made available to them and how much flexibility they have to moderate their own play The need to tread carefully in terms of data sharing, for example, to ensure losing players were protected from being targeted
Zitro Digital receives MGA certification Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has certified a new
slot game from Zitro Digital’s Link Me family – Gods & Heroes – expanding the game library already certified by Malta’s regulatory authority. Zitro now has three Link Me games – Sweet Tropical Fruits, Totem of Spirits and Gods & Heroes – available to all online casino operators and distributors licensed in this jurisdiction. José Javier Martí, chief operations officer of Zitro Digital, said: “We are committed to our goal
Relax set for Ontario Alexia Smilovic Rønde, chief regulatory
Relax Gaming has been awarded a supplier licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The provider considers Ontario to have sizable growth potential with the province expected to become one of the largest markets in North America. Relax plans to debut in Ontario with 130 games across multiple operators, with almost half of these games coming from 16 of its partner studios.
“Currently, some individual operators provide tools to allow a player to see their net deposit position – their deposits minus withdrawals – which is the financial position of their gambling activity. However, digital ID has the capability to tackle the challenge of players that use multiple accounts which can hide the true extent of a gambler’s financial position. Having access to a consolidated view of their balances, transaction history and ultimately their net gains or losses means such players can make more informed choices. “Likewise, it allows licensed operators to make informed decisions in responsible player account management such as spend or deposit limits. Topping added: “It’s clear to see that there’s a strong appetite for the use of digital ID in the gambling industry. It can protect regular, vulnerable or problem gamblers who hold player accounts across different operators both on and offline and also support operators in making responsible decisions on behalf of their customers.”
An estimated 24 million adults – 35% of the UK population – gamble, with around 10.5 million regularly betting online.
of being among the leading companies in the gaming industry, and that translates to expanding our presence in the online market. With the expansion of our game’s portfolio, online casino operators operating under the Malta license will be able to offer their customers the thrill and excitement of our proven-performance games. The future looks bright for Zitro Digital with new partnership opportunities that will further our growth in the online gaming market.
officer at Relax Gaming, said: “The opening of the Ontario province marks the long- awaited debuts of regulated operations in Canada and is truly a turning point for the industry in the region. AGCO’s pragmatic regulation and approach to licensing should deliver a good channelization from all the stakeholders over time.
“Relax Gaming is delighted to be part of this journey from the very beginning, as well as offer its compliant portfolio and suite of
partners under our regulatory umbrella, to make an equally swift and brilliant entry on the local scene.”
GIO APRIL 2022 5
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