Zona de Azar UK – New ID Checks in Move to Create National ‘Self-Exclusion’ Scheme for Addicts

UK.- March 19th 2019 www.zonadeazar.com Gamblers face rigorous ID and age checks from May before they can bet money under plans to create a legally-enforced national “self exclusion” scheme for online addicts.

The Gambling Commission wants tougher ID and age checks where gamblers will have to document their name, address, date of birth and email address in order to be able to bet money online.

The move is partly designed to close loopholes in a planned national “self exclusion” scheme, Gamstop, that will force all gambling firms under their licences to block gamblers that sign up to it.

There are fears that unless there is a tough ID system, addicts could circumvent the scheme by opening a new account under a different name or amended version of their name.

The new regulations will also force the gambling giants to carry out checks on credit and debit card bets to ensure they are not being used as a proxy by addicts, who, for example, may have stolen them or be using a partner’s.

“The changes will help operators better prevent harm or detect criminal activity because they have more information about their customers,” said the Gambling Commission.

Gamstop already has 60,000 gamblers signed up to its “self-exclusion”. Gambling firms will be expected by law to block all of them as a condition of their UK licence when the Government gives the green light, which is expected in the next few months.

The move comes as a special House of Lords committee is to be set up to investigate the impact of Labour’s gambling deregulation in 2005, which critics claim has led to increased addiction including mental ill health and suicides.

The Lords’ powerful liaison committee backed the year-long investigation after it was proposed by the Bishop of St Albans, Dr Alan Smith, who said the explosion in online betting had seen the number of problem gamblers increase to 450,000 including 55,000 children and young people.

It is expected to consider proposals including curbs on gambling adverts in sport – similar to that with tobacco, a ban on the use of credit cards for gambling and a mandatory levy on the industry to pay for research and treatment.

Dr Smith said it was a “long overdue” inquiry that would establish the scale of problem, in particular claims that as many as 500 suicides a year are linked to gambling addiction.

Edited by: Zona de Azar Press www.zonadeazar.com