Regulated Online Gambling with Age-Verification Technologies

Age-verification technologies are effective according to many experts, who believe that regulation can establish a framework to block minors from gambling online in the United States. The Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, legislation introduced by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), would require licensed Internet gambling operators to put protections in place to prevent minors from gambling online. Regulation combined with effective and tested safety controls would block minors from gambling online. Controls to combat the threat of underage gambling include verifying the identity, age and residence through existing third-party systems, such as Social Security Administration and Department of Motor Vehicles databases; requiring users to provide a range of personal information and answer questions derived from their credit history; and requesting physical copies of identification documents, such as a utility bill or driver’s license. Additionally, experience to date shows that the available technologies and safety controls are even more effective when combined and used in a multi-layered system of checks. Age-verification technologies have been effective in European nations where regulated Internet gambling is already a reality. “There is clear evidence that steps taken by regulated Internet gambling operators to ensure the age and identification of every online gambler has gone a long way to minimize the threat of underage gambling in the U.K. Age-verification software has proven effective for multiple industries and should be required, as proposed in the regulatory framework of the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, to block minors from gambling online. “Without regulation, we are vulnerable to Internet gambling operators that are not required to protect against underage gambling.” About Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative: The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative promotes the freedom of individuals to gamble online with the proper safeguards to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of financial transactions. For more information on the Initiative, please visit http://www.safeandsecureig.org/. The Web site provides a means by which individuals can register support for regulated Internet gambling with their elected representatives.