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Sightline Persuades Nevada to Consider Remote ID Verification
By Shane Addinall Nov 25, 2021 IndustryNevada Gaming Control Board considers presenting amendments regarding ID verification to the state’s gaming commission. Sightline proposed that the state allows for remote verification if a player makes use of cashless wagering.Modern technology may soon bring a sigh of relief to Nevada casino patrons and staff alike. Sightline Payments petitioned the Nevada Gaming Control Board to change regulations regarding player identification in land-based casinos. Sightline suggests that remote identification should be available to players who make use of cashless services.
After a meeting with the payment provider, NGCB agreed to consider the amendment following further scrutiny of the proposal at a special hearing.
Board member Phil Katsaros seems in favour of the proposal and explained that it is a nuisance for players to wait in a queue when they could easily do this remotely, which it seems they already do.
Sightline co-founder, Omer Sattar pointed out that remote ID verification is already legal when playing online poker, a practice that the State adopted in 2013.
The Bottleneck at Cashless Resorts World
Sightline originally submitted a proposal, asking for the same, in 2020 as they prepared for the launch of Resorts World Las Vegas. The mammoth facility is the first fully integrated cashless casino that functions on Sightline software. Guests at the casino can pay for everything they need using no cash, but first they need to register in-person.
This process, according to Sattar, has proved to be far from customer friendly. Sightline and Resorts World weighed the options of holding back with their launch for an unknown period or moving forward. Both parties agreed it was a good idea to launch and smooth out any bumps as they go along. The red tape bottleneck is proving to be a problem, though, as patrons sometimes wait in line for over two hours, with hundreds of punters waiting to register. Sattar said:
“We and our competitors that are payment providers in Nevada have spent a lot of time thinking about what is the optimal flow.”
These payment experts believe the process should take no longer than 3 minutes, should it take place via a cashless app.
The payment solutions provider only focused on land-based casinos and is not contending for remote gambling regulations to change. They also did not touch on sports betting and the request links directly to players who make use of a cashless system, like Sightline Play+ available at Resorts World.
Legal Implications
Mark Rubinstein, attorney for Station Casinos, argued that Sightline based the request on the situation at Resorts World. He believes it would be unwise to change regulations with the motivation coming from one casino scenario. According to Rubenstein, federal law stipulates that in-person ID verification is a requirement of anti-money laundering (AML) laws.
Sightline pointed out that the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) allows for non-documentary verification methods. Digital validation includes KBA (Knowledge-Based Authentication) and MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication). It is also worth noting that State law trumps federal law in the US. The company argues that proper application of digital ID verification could strengthen AML and KYC practices.
Katsaros addressed the concern of factors discouraging players from coming to brick-and-mortar casinos, and he believes that this would be a change that would draw patrons in. Should NGCB agree at the following board meeting, they will present the proposal to the states gaming commission who has the final say.
Golden Opportunity for Change
As US gambling facilities pick the fruits of open doors following pandemic-driven closures, the country’s gambling revenues skyrocket to record heights. Consumers favour the service providers that offer convenience and quality wrapped in one. Time is essentially the most precious commodity and if casinos can give patrons streamlined services, their bottom line will reap the rewards.
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