New Verification Requirements In UK

Online gambling sites, including casinos, Poker rooms, and sportsbooks, will need to implement new age and verification procedures from 7th May 2019. The rules are designed to ensure that no underage gambling takes place and that operators confirm the identity of their customers before they can play.

About The New Laws

The changes to the Licensing Codes of Conduct Practices (LCCP), have been introduced after a consultation period with regulators and operators. The UK Gambling Commission aims to ensure that the details on a new player are quickly and reliably determined. It will affect remote gambling operators, such as those based in Gibraltar, or Malta, and also covers certain lotteries. Consultation documents are available from the UK Gambling Commission, which have the full details of the amendments.

Operators will now have to meet Condition 17 of the license agreement which established minimum requirements for identification and verification of a customer. Section 3.2.11 of the Social Responsibility Code Provision has been amended for remote betting and gamblings sites to verify age. Section 2.2.13 covers the requirements for some remote lotteries.

Changes From 7th May

The new rules have to be implemented by 7th May 2019. It means that any players who have not verified their address, age or identity by then will not be able to gamble online. The UKGC has emphasised that operators cannot confiscate deposited funds or winnings made by players before the 7th of May. This follows on from decisions made by the Competitions and Markets Authority in 2018, which stated that consumers are legally entitled to their own money, even if age and identity have not been verified, unless or until operators discover a discrepancy.

Source - Press release - New age and identity verification rules - Changes to the LCCP from Tuesday 7th May www,gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news 7th May 2019