Skip to content
Gambling-trends — Harnessing the Power of Cloud Computing — Spin & Win — **Explore Your Next Career Move!**

Australia's controversial plan: Mandatory facial scans for online gamblers

A new law could force online gamblers to submit to facial recognition—but at what cost? Privacy advocates warn of hacking risks and ethical dilemmas.

,   and  Administrator
1 min read
The image shows a map of Australia with red areas indicating the percentage of underage teenagers...
The image shows a map of Australia with red areas indicating the percentage of underage teenagers in each state. The text at the bottom of the image reads "Underage Teenagers Can Be Put on the Sex Offender List for Having Consensual Sex".

Australia's controversial plan: Mandatory facial scans for online gamblers

Australian online gamblers could soon face mandatory facial scans to verify their age. The proposed Identity-matching Services Bill of 2019 aims to introduce this requirement. However, the move has sparked concerns over privacy and data security despite its potential benefits for compliance and law enforcement. The bill, if passed, would make facial recognition a key tool for confirming the age of online gamblers. Supporters argue that this method is less intrusive than alternatives like credit checks, personal questions, or video calls. Casinos could also use the technology to assist with regulatory compliance, security, and targeted marketing—though only with explicit player consent.

Critics, however, warn that collecting biometric data poses serious risks. Stored facial scans could be vulnerable to hacking or misuse, raising questions about how securely the information would be handled. Both customers and gambling operators may face legal and ethical challenges in managing this sensitive data. The debate over facial recognition in gambling will take centre stage at an upcoming conference. On January 17, 2020, the UNLV Boyd School of Law will host discussions on biometrics and AI in the casino industry, addressing the implications of these technologies.

The proposed law would make facial scans a standard part of online gambling in Australia. While it offers a streamlined way to verify age, the risks of data breaches and privacy violations remain unresolved. The outcome of the bill—and its impact on gamblers and casinos—will depend on how these concerns are addressed in practice.

Read also:

Related

Latest