In New Zealand, it’s illegal for those under 18 to gamble at online casinos¹. However, there are still cases where those under the legal gambling age skirt the law to play. It’s important that online casinos prevent this, not only to stay within the law, but to keep minors safe.
There are a few methods online casinos use to do this, including careful identity verification, promoting responsible gambling and educating parents.
When gambling at a Kiwi online casino, players have to go through a process called “Know Your Customer”. This verifies their identity and ensures that they’re legally allowed to register for an account at an online casino. Some casinos require users to complete the KYC when they’re registering an account, whereas others require it before making a deposit.
It’s a simple process which only involves a few steps. These are:
In certain cases, there may be an additional fourth step that requires users to provide proof of funds. This means providing bank or card statements that verify the funds they use at online casinos belong to them.
Identity verification makes sure that only players who should be able to access an online casino are able to. When a player provides their ID, the casino can verify their age, preventing underage playing. An underage player will not be able to use their details to create an account at an online casino.
In some instances, underage players may register to an online casino using the information of an adult, like their parents. This means they may be able to complete and verify their accounts using these details.
Online casinos are aware of this and have started introducing stricter measures to prevent detail sharing. For example, some gambling sites have started using biometric verification to add an extra layer of security. In these scenarios, players must use their fingerprint, face, or voice to log in to their account.
The most common example of this is face ID. It requires players to match their live image from the camera on their phone to the image on the provided ID. An underage player who has opened an account using someone else’s ID will not be able to match these images.
Another way underage players can gamble is by logging onto their parents' existing accounts. Along with biometric verification, Kiwi casinos aim to prevent this through multi-factor authentication (MFA)². This extra layer of security requires players to enter additional information before accessing their account.
One method commonly used for online casinos is asking players to enter a code. The verification code may be sent to their email or phone number, which only the player has access to. They then have to enter this code on the site before they’re given access to their account. This prevents underage players from logging into these accounts as they aren’t able to enter the code without further access.
Another way that online casinos are able to deter underage players from gambling is by emphasising the importance of responsible gambling. This means highlighting the dangers associated with problem gambling.
Additionally, it involves using education to shift attitudes towards gambling. Underage individuals may develop harmful beliefs - such as thinking gambling is a way to earn income or that losses can be avoided by being a 'skilled player' - often influenced by celebrities or online influencers. These can often be seen on social media platforms. One example of this is Drake, who frequently shares his gambling activity via social media and even livestreams himself gambling large amounts of money³.
Education is essential to prevent minors from engaging in harmful activities. To spread this important message, online casinos highlight it throughout their site and with advertisements. When at a Kiwi online casino, users will see messages relating to responsible gambling, as well as its dedicated section.
Their goal is to ensure underage players know the risks of gambling, deterring them from playing. Being aware of responsible gambling tools also means that when the person becomes legally allowed to gamble, they know what a healthy relationship with it looks like.
There are upcoming changes to online casino advertising in New Zealand, aimed at reducing its appeal to underage audiences. Under current guidelines from the Advertising Standards Authority, ads are not permitted to target individuals under 18. However, there is no clear guidance on what such ads should or shouldn’t look like. Since the Gambling Act was established in 2003, it notably lacks frameworks that address online gambling providers.
Following the proposed changes, specific ads that appeal to young people would be banned. For example, advertisements featuring popular sports stars - such as football or rugby players - could be prohibited. This restriction may also extend to certain celebrities or public figures, particularly social media influencers. Children are at high risk of exposure to gambling ads through influencers, and due to the personable nature of influencer content, it can be difficult for them to distinguish between regular posts and sponsored promotions.
Additional changes could affect when and where gambling ads are displayed. For instance, ads may be banned during high-profile events like football matches. Restrictions could also apply to platforms such as social media, where underage users are more likely to encounter gambling-related content.
Lastly, the proposed regulations would require all gambling ads to include references to responsible gambling. By adopting these changes, providers would help to prevent underage gambling by reducing ad exposure for underage individuals.
In the online world, it can be problematic for parents to know what their child is up to. However, there are a few signs parents should be on the lookout for⁵. These include:
If a parent spots these or other signs of gambling in their child, most gambling sites suggest taking the following actions:
There are a few different types of software that parents can install on their child’s devices to prevent them from accessing gambling sites. Some of these options include BetBlocker, GamBan, and GAMSTOP⁶. On top of this, parents can contact any online casinos where their child may have set up an account to have them blocked and removed.
Online casinos prevent underage gambling through strict identification checks, which stop them from opening an account. To prevent underage players from using someone else’s account to play at online casinos, there are thorough processes like MFA and biometric checks to log in.
An essential part of preventing underage gambling is education. It’s important to make underage individuals aware of the reality of gambling and what a healthy gambling relationship looks like in adults. Online casinos do this through responsible gambling content and providing parents with lists of what to look out for in their children and where to seek support.
To conclude, it is critical that online casinos implement robust identity verification protocols and proactively promote responsible gambling practices to effectively safeguard minors from gambling.
²What Is: Multi-Factor Authentication?, Written by Microsoft Support, Published by Microsoft.
⁴Advertising and Gambling, Written by PGF Services, Published by PGF Services.
⁵Underage Gambling in New Zealand, Written by BetKiwi, Published by BetKiwi.
⁶Blocking Software, Written by GamCare, Published by GamCare.
