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from illegal jurisdictions, are underage or may have voluntarily added their names to problem-gambling exclusion lists. GeoComply of Canada is among the world’s leading companies that offer advanced anti-fraud and geolocation compliance technologies. One key service for the gaming industry includes all-in-one IDComply technology, which proactively weeds out fraud and underage players by confirming player identifies on their first attempt. Techniques include comparing personal details, including date of birth, address, phone numbers, email addresses and Social Security numbers. They have a 95 percent pass rate solution to combat fraudulent registration.
This is huge news after years of debate about its effectiveness, and just in time for the 2025 Super Bowl last month in New Orleans. GeoComply’s data reveals a 14 percent increase in active secure accounts over 2023.
I must happily brag a bit… my Philadelphia Eagles handily beat the heavily favored Kansas City Chiefs. Fly Eagles Fly! Viewership for the game soared to more than 137.7 million across all platforms at its peak time. It’s no surprise that Americans continue to support legal sports betting they can trust. The 2024 American Attitudes Survey revealed that 75 percent approve of it in their own states. Ninety percent consider sports betting an acceptable form of entertainment.
In February 2023, GeoComply advocated that U.S. state and federal authorities crack down on illegal online gambling. That would guarantee regulatory enforcement to protect customers and promote increased legal betting nationwide.
There is evidence of the program’s success. GeoComply claims that in those states where regulators have actively pursued and taken action against illegal offshore sportsbooks, some operators have refused customers. GeoComply’s signup rate for new
sports betting accounts averages twice as high as in those states not taking similar enforcement action.
GeoComply CEO and Co-Founder Anna Sainsbury said, “When states take enforcement action, we see a correlation with increased engagement on our customer’s platforms. More fans are choosing legal sportsbooks… This means even greater tax revenues to support local communities and promote responsible growth while reducing reliance on illegal sportsbooks.” Everyone wins. Another critical element is geolocation technology. More on that later. On a lighter note, did anyone know we can trace the roots of the amusement and casino industries back hundreds of years to Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519)? Not me, but after visiting a new da Vinci exhibit in South Florida, I learned his genius went way beyond his painting the immortal Mona Lisa. Da Vinci’s scientific mind created concepts for life-changing inventions like airplanes hundreds of years before the Wright Brothers in 1903. He also created movement of round objects that ultimately became a blueprint for 20th century pinball games. In the “Machines” exhibit, his inventions turned into interactive games. Viewers can experience the fun of “aiming for points in
Pinball” as the balls move around on a large screen. Da Vinci’s schematic would appeal to consumers’ competitive nature and need for entertainment during the Renaissance. Who needed the court jester when they had Da Vinci? Good job, Leo.
Sharon Harris
Sharon has worked in the casino and coin- operated amusement industries since the 1980s. In the early 1990s, Sharon transferred her public relations and journalism skills to the gaming industry. She wrote her fi rst feature for Casino International predecessor EUROSLOT magazine in 1994.
As Associate Editor, North America for Casino International, Sharon has chronicled the explosive growth of U.S. gaming and reported on its most signifi cant changes. She has traveled across America to participate in dozens of industry events and has interviewed
hundreds of gaming operators,
executives and suppliers.
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