Three Countries Using Biometric Tech for Regulating Gambling
Three countries are using biometric technology to help with their gambling regulation. They are set in place to tackle underage gambling.
Biometric scanning for online gambling seems to be an evolving trend. © Vika_Glitter Pixabay
Key Facts:
- Online gamblers are required to agree to facial biometrics in Brazil.
- Uzbekistan is implementing digital ID checks for lottery players and online gamblers.
- Argentina has quite stringent verification requirements in place to tackle underage and problem gambling.
Three different countries have started using biometric technology as part of ongoing efforts to better regulate gambling. These are Argentina, Brazil and Uzbekistan, which are all keen to crack down on underage and illegal gambling.
Argentina
In Argentina, all websites that offer real money gambling services have to incorporate digital verification through the country’s digital ID service, Registro Nacional de las Personas.
Usually, someone has to undergo a verification check when they join a gambling site. In Argentina, they have to complete biometric ID verification each and every time they log in.
The aim of this is simple: to prevent underage people from accessing gambling sites and to prevent account holders from sharing their details with others, including minors and vulnerable people.
As well as this, people have to complete a biometric ID check whenever they withdraw funds from an online gambling account. This is to improve financial security and reduce the chance of fraud taking place.
Brazil
Brazil has recently launched its fully regulated sports betting market. For anyone to place bets online, they have to meet three key requirements; the first is being 18 or over.
The second is providing their Individual Taxation Registration (CPF) details. Finally, the third requirement is allowing the gambling operator to use facial biometrics to check their age and identity.
Sports betting has been legal in the country since 2018, but its legality wasn’t straightforward. The lack of regulation and taxation didn’t help matters either. As of January 1, it’s now properly under government control.
When the government decided to regulate sports betting, it required operators to use advanced age verification checks, i.e. 3D facial biometrics. With this, underage gambling should hopefully be stamped out.
Uzbekistan
As for Uzbekistan, the country recently approved legislation covering both lotteries and online gambling. According to the new rules, companies offering gambling services must implement identity verification checks.
The National Agency for Prospective Projects (NAPP) will be responsible for overseeing the process as well as handing out licences to qualifying companies and ensuring licensing standards are met.
Anyone in Uzbekistan who wants to buy lottery tickets or play casino games online must do so at a licensed website only. All transactions and identity checks are to be carried out digitally.
For a player to have their ID confirmed, they must supply photo identification. NAPP will then cross-reference this with government databases to ensure the person in question is legally permitted to gamble.
