What Reusable Digital ID Could Change About Casino Verification in Canada
Canada, like many other countries, has a bit of an identity problem, at least in terms of how residents prove they are who they say they are when signing up and logging into digital services. The Canadian iGaming market is a microcosm of this larger issue, with players expected to send over images of ID documents in order to register, and often encountering hiccups in terms of verification and security when doing so.
Reusable digital ID is the proposed solution, with proponents claiming it will take the friction out of casino site sign-ups while still providing platform operators with a compliant way of verifying the identity of the customers they serve. Let’s go through what this involves and why it could be a positive change for the whole industry.
Unifying & Simplifying the ID Process
Sending off a picture of a passport or driver’s license to a third-party platform, whether that’s an online casino or a banking service, is something Canadian consumers have become accustomed to, but it’s hardly an ideal solution. Aside from the fact that not everyone has the means to take a clear picture of these documents that will be accepted at the other end, there’s also the fear that sensitive information contained within them could end up in the wrong hands if a site gets breached.
A reusable digital ID would serve the same purpose for sign-up identity verification, but without involving document photos or anything else for that matter. Instead, for anyone in Canada, online casino registration would involve the use of a cryptographic credential that confirms who they are, which can be used time and again for any service that requires it. Going through the involved identity verification process once, rather than every time a new platform requires your ID, means a process that used to take minutes or hours would take seconds.
Overcoming Age Verification Hold-ups
Another sticking point for casino verification in Canada is that the ID process hinges on confirming that the customer is old enough to legally gamble. Having their age confirmation wrapped up in the reusable digital ID, without actually having to hand over specific personal details like date of birth, once again gives customers confidence that their privacy is protected, while also allowing iGaming operators to adhere to strict industry regulations and avoid penalties for admitting underage gamblers.
Reusable digital IDs are effectively turning personal data into a need-to-know tool. Given the value of information, some operators might well feel short-changed by this shift, but players can’t help but see it as an unmitigated positive.
Accelerating Payouts
The final potential change that a reusable digital ID could bring to Canada’s online casinos is that financial transactions will be streamlined, particularly when it comes to withdrawing large sums from the platform following a win. This process can be protracted because casinos are required to go through additional steps to detect potential money laundering, but with a reusable ID in place, such roadblocks should disappear.
Ideally, the industry will eventually be able to adopt a reusable digital ID standard that’s applicable in a range of contexts beyond iGaming. Solutions like Interact Verified already offer this level of verification convenience, although universal adoption is needed to make them wholly recommendable.