selfie required before you can play?

[Fiatless]

It's a good step if only it will help restrict minors from accessing gambling, but some minors even look older than their age, and you can't determine how old someone is based on just a simple selfie.

But if regular casinos start asking for selfies before one will be allowed to play, some will feel discouraged, especially me, as I would rather look for alternative options than go through that stress before I will be able to place a bet, which can only be done if I have something to lose if I don't do it.

Will they be able to identify underage gamblers with a selfie? Some children these days look like adults and age cannot be mainly determined by facial outlook. However, if it is to curb underage gambling, it's not bad.

But if these new rules are for KYC, it's not a good step. A casino hack would lead to a data leak that can be challenging.  The casino can also sell customers' information, including pictures, to third parties.

[Nwada001]

But if these new rules are for KYC, it's not a good step. A casino hack would lead to a data leak that can be challenging.  The casino can also sell customers' information, including pictures, to third parties.

Selfies are even less compared to what some casinos ask for these days, all in the name of advanced KYC. Once we submit our document for KYC verification, not just to the casino, we have already agreed to the term that it's no longer private to us.

Data breaches happen, and information is sold out to those who might use it for something else. It's not just for selfies alone, but hacking and employees selling users data is no longer new.

[Fiatless]

But if these new rules are for KYC, it's not a good step. A casino hack would lead to a data leak that can be challenging.  The casino can also sell customers' information, including pictures, to third parties.

Selfies are even less compared to what some casinos ask for these days, all in the name of advanced KYC. Once we submit our document for KYC verification, not just to the casino, we have already agreed to the term that it's no longer private to us.

In some countries where there are unfriendly stereotypes about gamblers, a leak of a seffie or other sensitive document could lead to public backlash. A political office holder or teacher might lose their position or job if such a thing happens.

Data breaches happen, and information is sold out to those who might use it for something else. It's not just for selfies alone, but hacking and employees selling users data is no longer new.

Data breaches happen, but if we have the option of casinos that have lesser KYC requirements, there is no need to patronise the ones with stricter rules. So we shouldn't just submit our details because we think there are no better offers on other betting platforms.

[Hatchy]

at least it allows governments to do something between “do nothing” and “ban everything”..

It's still trash mate. If during registration on a casino you have already gone through the kyc stage and submitted all necessary documents, why then will it be compulsory to take a selfie before playing your game? It makes no sense at all. And it's obvious the government are really pulling a lot of trigger. It's really going to be annoying for me because I won't have that time to always place my face on screen just because I want to gamble. I'd rather look for other casino and if they all decide to implement such, I'll just keep off completely..

[TravelMug]

Just wanted to share my recent experience because it seems like there might be big changes coming to how we gamble. As we all know, gambling in the Philippines is already widespread, and addiction has become common since it’s so easy to gamble through mobile apps. Even payment apps like GCash have added casinos to their platform, letting people bet with just a small minimum amount.

But earlier, I was surprised when I opened the app to gamble because it now required me to take a selfie before proceeding. I’m thinking this might be part of the government’s move to ensure minors can’t gamble. Do you think this is a good first step?

I just talk about it in the other community, that before I can play on our local casinos, you have to take a selfie. But most of the gamblers around me that play Bingo Plus is not going into this routine and it is just me. So it's good to hear that I'm not the only one who goes everything I wanted to play and go with selfie. Although it might be a hint for me to at least minimized the play in Bingo Plus or any other games in Gcash. And it's obvious, a way by our government to trim down the online gambling as this has been a rampant case of gambling related violence in our country. And the Philippines is already the top country in terms of gambling. But I'm not sure though if this is a good first step. If the Philippine government wanted to stop it, then they should shutdown online gambling for good.

[cryptomaniac_xxx]

But earlier, I was surprised when I opened the app to gamble because it now required me to take a selfie before proceeding. I’m thinking this might be part of the government’s move to ensure minors can’t gamble. Do you think this is a good first step?

I can't understand though why you have to take a selfie before you proceed? It is because of how much you bet and you are being treated as possible to fall on the category of a gambling addict? (no offense). That's what I heard and read thru out this community though, that the Philippines is cracking down hard on gambling because of this case, Cockfighting led to a horrible case.

I also posted this numbers 20 Biggest countries in Asia. At least you are seeing that your government is moving on a positive direction to stop the explosion of gambling in your country. But if they are going like this way, then everyone accessing their Gcash to play and gamble should also to this selfie and not like only a few of time.

[Samlucky O]

But earlier, I was surprised when I opened the app to gamble because it now required me to take a selfie before proceeding. I’m thinking this might be part of the government’s move to ensure minors can’t gamble. Do you think this is a good first step?

I am as well thinking what you are thinking too, it's obvious that they want to the age range of Gamblers in Philippines since there gambling age is 21 years and above, they will like to see the face of the gambler in question to know if they are truely UpTo age to help reduce or minimize underage gamblers. But what I don't understand is weather this happens often or repeatedly anytime you want to login, just as Charles Tim have asked. Because if this happens each time a person want to gamble then it will be boring. just like some site will always want you to do a captcha, to know if you are a human or Robot. Which sucks and may reduce the number of gamblers who don't want their identity revealed.

[blockman]

But earlier, I was surprised when I opened the app to gamble because it now required me to take a selfie before proceeding. I’m thinking this might be part of the government’s move to ensure minors can’t gamble. Do you think this is a good first step?

Is this with Gcash? it's normal that they will ask us with a selfie verification whenever they want to. Or usually, they will ask this when you change your phone/device or your login/number details have already expired on the app. So by the time that you open and login to them, that's what they will ask us at most times. Even before the hot issue about online gambling and ewallet apps have exploded, Gcash has been doing that way of verifying users. I think I was able to do this step maybe 3-4 times and just the same face, of course mine.  

This is what I also thought. With the recent ban of the Philippine government on online casinos, their reveneu must have really gone down a lot since they lost many users or gamblers.

While it's a good measure to avoid the young ages to get into gambling, I don't think they will implement it during this time where they need people to come back playing on their platform. I also suspect it was from gcash since I also experience what you've said. It usually occurs when there is a frequent transaction on a user's gcash account.

It was from Gcash then and this is their normal step and it adds more force because of the recent government issues that they have been in. There is not that much for them to comply to the government because they have this feature already. But we shouldn't be shocked anymore if they are going to continue doing this because it is to be expected to also check if the user of their app is a teen or someone adult enough already to be allowed to use them to deposit into the casino or just rotate around their platform.

[maydna]

That is a good step in preventing minors from gambling. Taking a selfie before gambling can give information to the casino about who their customer are. If they are minors, casinos will not let them enter the place.

It will be a start so we may see many more than that especially if this step succeeds in preventing minors. But it needs control from the government and casinos to always monitor their customers.

[MAAManda]

But earlier, I was surprised when I opened the app to gamble because it now required me to take a selfie before proceeding. I’m thinking this might be part of the government’s move to ensure minors can’t gamble. Do you think this is a good first step?

If the goal is to prevent minors from gambling, OFC that's a good way. Gambling by minors occurs in our country (Indonesia), it's sad to see this happening where those who are not mentally stable & can't think critically have to deal with gambling platforms.

The Philippine government is one step ahead of the government here, unfortunately, even gambling is illegal in our country, so there are no preventative measures that can be taken.

[Cityhunter34]

Just wanted to share my recent experience because it seems like there might be big changes coming to how we gamble. As we all know, gambling in the Philippines is already widespread, and addiction has become common since it’s so easy to gamble through mobile apps. Even payment apps like GCash have added casinos to their platform, letting people bet with just a small minimum amount.

But earlier, I was surprised when I opened the app to gamble because it now required me to take a selfie before proceeding. I’m thinking this might be part of the government’s move to ensure minors can’t gamble. Do you think this is a good first step?

This isn't really a wise move because if all they require is a selfie then minors can just bypass or they would just tell someone that's older to do it for them. KYC is already there, this alone should be able to keep minors away from gambling. A lot of people say that KYC isn't what it used to be but that's not true. If bettors takes this seriously it would help to curb irresponsible gambling. Minors shouldn't gamble

You are absolutely right because if only taking a selfie is the only requirement then it is pretty obvious that gamblers would definitely look for a way and bypass the process without much stress. Of course KYC is far better than this selfie of a thing because even with the KYC most of the minors still look for a way and bypass, talkles of when selfie is the only requirement. The honest truth is that a gambler is always a gambler so no matter what government might do, there would always be a way in for them to manover.

[viljy]

Just wanted to share my recent experience because it seems like there might be big changes coming to how we gamble. As we all know, gambling in the Philippines is already widespread, and addiction has become common since it’s so easy to gamble through mobile apps. Even payment apps like GCash have added casinos to their platform, letting people bet with just a small minimum amount.

But earlier, I was surprised when I opened the app to gamble because it now required me to take a selfie before proceeding. I’m thinking this might be part of the government’s move to ensure minors can’t gamble. Do you think this is a good first step?

Well, these are some kind of exclusive local rules in your country. In general, reading the threads here on the forum, for some reason it seems that almost the entire population in your country is gambling. Apparently, this is one of the government's policies. As I understand it, there are extremely simple ways to deposit and withdraw money, very easy mobile access to the casino, etc. In many other countries, this is not the case. You have no idea what difficulties gamblers have in such countries. So the requirement to take a selfie is an insignificant trifle, compared to when you get your bank card blocked because the money is from the wrong casino or bookmaker, etc. Moreover, the funny thing is when old retired women transfer tens of millions of dollars to telephone scammers, no bank has any questions about such transfers.

[Sim_card]

Since GCash is a payment app, you should expect them to ask for selfie whenever they feel they need to confirm that it's the real owner of the account that's using the account. Especially, when you change your phone or you want to withdraw a big amount of money that is more than your normal withdrawals. I was thinking that OP was referring to a casino app and not a fintech payment app.

[iv4n]

But earlier, I was surprised when I opened the app to gamble because it now required me to take a selfie before proceeding. I’m thinking this might be part of the government’s move to ensure minors can’t gamble. Do you think this is a good first step?

This is the first time I have heard of something like this, and it sounds like you are saying some kind of step to prevent underage gambling. Is this a good first step? I'm not sure... This sounds like too much of an invasion of privacy if we have to take a selfie every time we want to gamble.

I think parents should make sure their children don't gamble... as a parent, I think it's better & smarter for me to do it than to allow the state to pass laws like this that impose additional (unnecessary) controls that are questionable in terms of how effective they will be.

[Pandu Geddon]

But earlier, I was surprised when I opened the app to gamble because it now required me to take a selfie before proceeding. I’m thinking this might be part of the government’s move to ensure minors can’t gamble. Do you think this is a good first step?

Do you find those requirements in all applications or specific gambling sites? You may need to check the terms and conditions of the gaming application you are referring to, as each casino certainly has its own policies. It is very possible that there are regulations emphasized by your government regarding facial verification for gambling applications and sites before the game. It may be true to avoid children accessing gambling. Whether it is good or not, I think it is less convenient for customers.

[Marvelockg]

But earlier, I was surprised when I opened the app to gamble because it now required me to take a selfie before proceeding. I’m thinking this might be part of the government’s move to ensure minors can’t gamble. Do you think this is a good first step?

most if not all financial banking platforms now allow you to gamble through their app and for such kinds of apps, they might want to make you take a selfie before getting access to the gambling section of the app firstly for security reasons so a third party does not make use of your app for gambling. for gambling specific site that prioritize users privacy, such might not be necessary except they have a reason for such but with options available to choose from, whatever platform that introduces a policy that does not sit down well with you, you can opt out and go use one that serves you better.

[crwth]

In a way, it's an approach, but I would like to have a more alternative verification method to really see the effectiveness of using just selfies. A comparison between other methods that is trustworthy. Additionally, data storage should be secure and in line with the Privacy Act.

I see this in a way that "at least" there's something happening.

[mindrust]

It might be a good step depending on where you are viewing this from. If you are an adult gambler who values privacy, then that’s a terrible idea. I would never play on a casino that wants my selfie tbh and it certainly doesn’t make sense to do so if it is a crypto casino. If you are a parent then this selfie demand might make sense to you. I guess the casino had to make a decision and instead of shutting their operations down, they complied with the law and drove away the privacy enthusiasts. Bad move if you ask me.

[junder]

Just wanted to share my recent experience because it seems like there might be big changes coming to how we gamble. As we all know, gambling in the Philippines is already widespread, and addiction has become common since it’s so easy to gamble through mobile apps. Even payment apps like GCash have added casinos to their platform, letting people bet with just a small minimum amount.

But earlier, I was surprised when I opened the app to gamble because it now required me to take a selfie before proceeding. I’m thinking this might be part of the government’s move to ensure minors can’t gamble. Do you think this is a good first step?

Considering that gambling laws differ across countries, some countries legalize gambling and others prohibit it, I believe the regulations vary. However, one thing casinos must do is limit access, preventing minors from accessing gambling. Even if gambling is permitted in their country, it's not a good idea to allow minors to access gambling.
I quite agree with the updates you mentioned by casinos, as they allow them to identify and ensure that minors are not allowed to gamble. This is a step I believe is correct and acceptable for casinos to implement.

[Text]

I get your point and honestly your concern makes a lot of sense. Even I have second thoughts about the selfie requirement especially if the identity check isn’t foolproof. You’re right even with these steps minors can still use someone else’s account like their parent’s or older sibling’s just to be able to play.

Also I noticed the earlier crackdown on influencers promoting online gambling it seemed like they were becoming stricter. I also thought they were really cracking down but now it looks like gambling is continuing in different forms.

I guess if the authorities are really serious, a selfie alone isn’t enough. They need stronger verification and should also monitor the platforms to make sure the system isn’t being abused.