Australia tightens customer identification requirements for operators

Companies offering online gambling services in Australia must now complete the appropriate customer identification procedures (ACIP) before allowing players to play.

According to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), the changes were initially introduced in September 2023 to tighten customer identification procedures for online gambling operators. The aim was to ensure that criminal elements could not take advantage of these services.

Operators had one year to prepare for the stricter rules. During this period, customer identification could be delayed in some circumstances, but these temporary measures have now officially expired.

As a result, from 29 September 2024, all online gambling service providers must complete the ACIP process before creating an online gambling account or starting to provide any designated services.

Companies must now not allow players to play until they are reasonably certain that the customer is who they claim to be. This means that operators must integrate robust identity verification systems and processes to quickly and accurately verify submitted documents and thereby avoid breaching stricter laws set out by the Australian Government.