Based on a consultation conducted by the company, which also provides know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) services, 100% of stakeholders involved believed that linking players’ different betting accounts would be beneficial for all gamblers.
The company cited Gambling Commission research which showed that British online gamblers have, on average, three betting accounts.
Respondents, according to 1account, felt that digital ID connecting multiple accounts would deliver “invaluable insights” regarding players’ behaviour, providing additional KYC benefits.
“Currently, some individual operators provide tools to allow a player to see their net deposit position - their deposits minus withdrawals - which is the financial position of their gambling activity,” said former William Hill CEO Ralph Topping, who now sits on 1account’s advisory board.
“However, digital ID has the capability to tackle the challenge of players that use multiple accounts which can hide the true extent of a gambler’s financial position.
“Having access to a consolidated view of their balances, transaction history and ultimately their net gains or losses means such players can make more informed choices.”
The consultation took the form of face-to-face and written briefings with online and offline operators, as well as suppliers, regulators and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Topping added: “It’s clear to see that there’s a strong appetite for the use of digital ID in the gambling industry. It can protect regular, vulnerable or problem gamblers who hold player accounts across different operators both on and offline and also support operators in making responsible decisions on behalf of their customers.”
