08-08-2007 Only regulation can establish a framework to block minors from gambling online

"There is clear evidence that steps taken by regulated Internet gambling operators to ensure the age and identification of every online gambler has gone a long way to minimize the threat of underage gambling in the U.K.," said Andrew Poole, Managing Director for GamCare Trade Services.

"The structure of the Internet provides a unique opportunity to put in place protections that are not necessarily available in traditional gambling environments. Instantaneously, a user's identity can be compared to multiple databases and verified for accuracy," added Poole.

"Age-verification software has proven effective for multiple industries and should be required, as proposed in the regulatory framework of the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, to block minors from gambling online," said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative.

"Without regulation, we are vulnerable to Internet gambling operators that are not required to protect against underage gambling."