Mandatory installation of identity scanners in all gambling venues across Belgium
In a bid to bolster player protection and regulatory compliance, Belgium and Denmark are implementing measures to use ID scanners at gambling venues. These moves aim to prevent underage gambling, fraud, and money laundering.
Belgium's ID Scanner Regulations
Belgium has mandated that gambling facilities equip themselves with ID scanning technology to verify player identities in real-time. The goal is to ensure compliance with age restrictions, improve player protection, and enhance Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols.
The full implementation of this regulation is set for the mid-2020s, with gradual adoption already underway. Belgian regulators stress that the use of such technology must align with privacy laws, ensuring data protection for players while enabling traceability of gambling transactions.
Denmark's ID Scanner Regulations
Denmark is following a similar path, requiring gambling operators, including land-based casinos and betting shops, to use ID scanners upon entry or before allowing players to gamble. These scanners help authenticate identities to comply with strict age limits and identify individuals who are excluded or banned from gambling facilities.
The Danish Gambling Authority aims for full compliance within 2025-2026. ID scanning supports the integrity of gambling markets by preventing fraud and ensuring operators meet player protection standards.
Common Goals of These Regulations
The primary goals of these regulations in both Belgium and Denmark are:
- Prevent underage and problem gambling by verifying identities at entry or during transactions.
- Combat illegal gambling and fraud by ensuring only licensed and eligible players can participate.
- Enhance regulatory compliance with AML and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.
- Promote transparency and accountability through secure, auditable records of player identities and transactions.
- Protect players' personal data respecting privacy laws while leveraging advanced biometric or ID scanning technologies.
Supporting Context
The increasing use of biometric analysis and AI-powered scanning technologies is evident in broader gaming sectors globally, improving fraud prevention and secure fund withdrawals. These regulatory moves reflect a trend toward stricter controls in gambling markets amid concerns about unlicensed operators exploiting data gaps.
In summary, Belgium and Denmark are progressing toward mandatory ID scanner use in gambling facilities with full implementation expected by 2025-2026. The primary goals of the new regulations in both countries are to secure gambling activities, ensure player protection, and maintain market integrity while respecting data privacy.
Additional Information
- The Belgian government is planning to modernize EPIS to improve player protection and reliably exclude all players from access to both online and stationary gambling. The EPIS - Excluded Persons Information System, a self-exclusion register for problem gamblers in Belgium, has been in place since 2004. [Link in English]
- In Denmark, prior to the new regulations, participants in sports betting only needed to identify themselves online, and identification was only required in the stationary trade for stakes over 15,000 Danish Krone (approximately 2,011 Euro).
- Denmark has already implemented a law requiring player ID for sports betting at betting shops, effective from October 1, 2023.
- Identification is now mandatory at all times in Danish sports betting establishments, aiming to prevent money laundering and minors from participating in gambling. This measure is aimed at enhancing player protection and preventing access to gambling for individuals under the age of 21.
- In Belgium, a new regulation requires online gambling providers to lower the daily limit for game stakes from 500 Euro to 200 Euro, effective from October 20, 2023. The primary goal of the proposal is to protect the Belgian population from harm caused by gambling.
- The Belgian Minister of Justice, Vincent Van Quickenborne, stated that this is a significant step in the fight against gambling addiction.
- The Danish government has introduced a requirement for ID verification in gambling establishments, although this fact is not directly related to the earlier bullet points but is relevant to the broader topic of gambling regulations.
- Some online casinos in Germany, following gambling trends worldwide, are actively adopting ID scanning technology to enhance player protection, meet regulatory compliance, and support Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols.
- The integration of policy-and-legislation, such as those implemented in Belgium and Denmark with ID scanners, has influenced the casino-and-gambling industry, signifying a growing focus on gambling-trends that prioritize player protection, market integrity, and data privacy in the face of politics and general-news discussions about unlicensed operators exploiting data gaps.
- As Denmark and Belgium move toward mandatory ID scanner use in gambling facilities and online casinos, questioning the role of politics will be crucial in shaping future policy, ensuring a balanced approach that promotes general-news topics like transparency, accountability, and personal data protection while maintaining a secure and fair gambling environment.
