IThe British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is furthering its efforts to support players at casinos by introducing new ID requirements. The changes start this summer and will mean that anyone wishing to enter a casino in the province will need to show an official government ID to do so. The aim of the changes is to support people who have self-excluded using the BCLC Game Break scheme.
t’s not surprising that the Crown corporation wants to offer more support given that it has received 10,818 Game Break enrolments and re-enrolments in a 12-month period. In addition, in each fiscal quarter of the year, between 964 and 1,177 self-exclusion infractions were logged.
New initiative aims to support players at casinos in British Columbia
The new ID requirements are being introduced to strengthen the current self-exclusion program, which players at casinos in the province can sign-up for. This will be a system that all of the best online Casinos licensed in Ontario will have in place and other provinces where people complete a know-your-customer (KYC) process. This process involves providing a photo ID and proof of address. These casinos are also fully licensed, so they have their own customer care initiatives, including the ability to self-exclude.
The self-exclusion programs operated by individual casinos and by the BCLC help people to overcome gambling issues and make it easier for them to overcome debt issues when accompanied by financial information and advice.
What does the new ID system involve?
When the new ID system is introduced, it will involve anyone entering a casino in British Columbia providing an official ID. The security personnel at the casino will scan the ID and check to see if the individual is registered with Game Break. No information will be stored. It will only be used to help the individual stick to their self-exclusion wishes.
People visiting casinos in the province already need to carry ID to show they are of a legal age to play if challenged and to present if they win a significant amount of money. However, these changes mean that everyone will need to show this ID on entry. Official forms of ID that will be accepted include any North American driver’s license, the BC Identity Card, and any passport.
ID requirement is the latest change by the BCLC
The ID requirement is the latest of three changes made by the BCLC this year. These changes aim to strengthen its self-exclusion program, and they are:
- Changing the name of the program to Game Break to make it sound more user-friendly and remove any associated stigma.
- Introducing an active reinstatement process for when the self-exclusion period comes to an end which involves completing an online course called Game Plan which encourages people to examine whether returning to gambling is right for them.
- Introducing ID requirements when entering a casino in the province.
The first two of these changes were introduced in January 2023, with the ID requirement to follow this summer. The aim of the changes is to encourage people to critically examine their gambling habits and to strengthen the Game Break program that is in place.
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