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ID theft is one the major reasons the casinos DO require positive confirmation that you are who you say you are BB1.
Think about it… If they didn’t require you to provide that proof ANYONE with a phraked or stolen credit card number could begin racking up charges and withdrawels on a STOLEN card. The vicitim would have to contest the fraudulent charges and if the thieves had already sucessfully withdrew any funds then the casinos would be left holding the bag. They would be forced to pass these costs on to consumers and affiliates. We would ALL lose, the victim, the legitimate players, the casino and the affiliates. The only winner in an unsecure enviroment would be the crooks.
Also if the casinos reduce their security checks then fraud and ID Theft would probably INCREASE as the thieves know they have another big outlet where they can use those stolen IDs to generate cash.
Good post, Steve. I had been thinking about some of the same things. The public IS becoming more aware of identity theft, and the ability to keep private and off the radar in some ways is becoming more difficult because of the government and the current state of the nation.
There are a couple of good websites about these issues, both by authors. The first is How to Be Invisible which was written by JJ Luna. Jack Luna was a privacy consultant in Spain under the dictatorship there–he’s a fascinating individual, and his book is also very interesting.
Another good one is Frank Abagnale’s Site. Frank is the man whose character was featured in the movie Catch Me If You Can. He’s a renowned speaker on preventing identity theft now. I’m in the middle of his book The Art of the Steal right now.
And more to the point, the online casinos need to understand that privacy issues like this are going to hurt retention and conversion ratios. When your market is really big, it’s tempting to just burn through a lot of customers, because it’s easy to believe that demand is truly infinite. Reality is that demand is finite, and you don’t want to leave a bunch of scorched earth in your wake.
I agree to some point with both sides of the fence.
1). We are losing a lot of players due to those requirements.
2.) As Lou stated the casinos are doing it to protect not only themselves but the player as well.
I do think something can and should be done to reduce at the very least the burden placed on the player while still offering the casinos and players protection. What? I’m not sure!
I still don’t understand why it is only when money is being paid out that the casinos are so strict with proof of identity, and not when their customers are making deposits.
Good point, Fergie!
Excellent and obvious point
IF they truly want to protect people then why not require the verification stage prior to allowing any wagering at all?Maybe they are hoping that you lose it and that cashing out wont be an option – LOL What other reason could there be?
Hi again,
well its just that I fear that things are going to get worse; the thing is; is that their needs to be a way for players to be able to deposit/withdraw without having to send info which can be used to steal your ID.
asking people to send this kind of info to somebody who lives in another country – which basically means you’d have little recourse in going after them; short of having to rely on whatever country’s law enforcement to track them down. And that’s not too likely: is asking a hell of a lot.
You’ve got to consider what the player stands to lose; compared to what they have to gain.
In most cases; especially the bigger, more desired players; they stand to lose; if they’re ID is stolen, literally hundreds; if not thousands of times more than they stand to gain, even if they happened upon a big win streak.
Few of these types are going to be interested in risking so much … just to get paid on their gambling hobby.
I think that there surely could be a system set up that keeps everything tilted in favor of the casino; ie that say for instance you couldn’t use the e-wallet until your deposit into the account had completely cleared any possible red tape:
and upon having agreed to special terms stating that if you open a casino account; that the deposit method you chose was done so with the understanding that all winnings on that account will be paid back to the e-wallet; and nowhere else.
basically a NETeller without the red tape from the casino to get paid; but with the understanding that all cash-ins will be paid back into the e-wallet and no where else.
Since the e-wallet would of course have verified all the stuff that NETeller currently makes you go thru; I don’t see where there is a lot more room for fraud than there already exists.
But it would take away that feeling of sending your important info to what you know are people that are probably not the highest paid (which always is a breeding ground for illicit behavior), and would restrict your info sent to one place instead of several (assuming they would gamble more than once place).
I mean, I feel a lot more comfortable that NETeller knows my private info; than I do about a lot of casinos I have gambled at.
does that perhaps illustrate my angle better?
at some point; somebody has to take the leap of faith; why put the burden on the player?
Perhaps I’m just a bit paranoid. Maybe I should have made this thread a poll; asking are you more afraid of ID theft today; than you were a year ago?
personally the more I find out about it; the more scared it makes me; and it has definitely curbed my spending habits away from any situation I deem is a risk; and the current cash-in policies would definitely fall into my category of a risky move.
Its easy to say right now that you’d have no problem sending in the info required; but I wonder if you’d be so quick to say that; if you’d already been a victim of ID theft.
Surely not. And the thing is; is that it is a very real possibility and its a huge, huge hassle in many cases; to fix the problem. Meaning that if it is that widespread; its merely a matter of time before you will be victim if you keep on sending your private info to a bunch of places. simple math tells you that the more eyes seeing your info; the more likley the chance it will be stolen.
the gain simply doesn’t justify the risk as things are now IMHO.
if it weren’t for the fact that I am in this biz, I’d opt to not gamble other than maybe I’d risk one poker room.
But that in itself should speak volumes to any seasoned aff.
I’m willing to risk (because I love gambling so:) my private info at one place; a poker site no less….
but that I’d pass on the risk for the privledge of playing at a casino on games that I know I have a much less chance of winning; and that I’d surely be spending more money on.
I have to think most cautious (or the word I’d use is smart) players of any size would think along the same lines.
Maybe they are hoping that you lose it and that cashing out wont be an option
you have to think that is exactly the case at least in some instances; which is incredibly ignorant thinking.
This is SO FREAKING TRUE!!! most times even if a player wins; they are going to give it back and then some; they just can’t resist the chance of more easy money; and as any of us gamblers know; that easy money ain’t so easy to come by; but when you’re winning it often seems like it is;
so the thing is; is you’ve got to be smart enough to let the players hold the money once in a while.
and mark my words; once it is established that people can get their money easily; without any hassle; that most of the people who had once been adamant about cashing-out; will no longer be concerned with cashing out.
Well, personally I do NOT send in my info. However, these days I can usually end up getting away with it because I am a known entity in the industry.
I have, though, in the past refused to send in winnings and forfeited $3000 becaue I worry about identity theft.
I know a few of my players have too.
Even if you trust the casino itself, that doesn’t mean you can trust every employee. When you are done proving who you are, they have absolutely everything to impersonate you with.
I find it unacceptable.
Some casinos do it just because of bonus abuse.
Then make the bonuses sticky.
Or give people an option to get a loyalty bonus sometime later – without wagering requirement and ID request. I bet a lot of people would take that option if it was presented to them.
without wagering requirement and ID request. I bet a lot of people would take that option if it was presented to them.
exactly. just anything that gives people who are afraid of sending such information; a way around the obstacle.
