Are biometrics the answer to underage gambling in Africa?
As online gambling grows across Africa, regulators and operators face mounting pressure to curb underage play. Traditional age verification checks, such as document uploads, often prove insufficient or easily bypassed. Biometrics, combining identity proofing with real-time age estimation, are emerging as a potential safeguard. But can they truly prevent minors from registering and wagering on gaming platforms?
Rising concerns over underage gambling in Africa
Across the continent, mobile internet adoption and the proliferation of betting apps have fuelled rapid market expansion. While this growth brings economic opportunity, it also raises social concerns. Underage players may gain access to credit or digital wallets, jeopardising their financial security and exposing them to addictive behaviours. Regulators in several African markets have introduced stricter know-your-customer (KYC) rules, yet reliance on uploaded IDs and self-attestations leaves gaps for fraudsters and underage users.
Biometrics for age verification
Implementing selfie biometrics can help gaming platforms confirm a user’s age at onboarding. While fraud prevention is the primary driver, age verification is a relatively benign challenge where biometrics deliver high assurance with minimal friction.
Chief product officer at Jumio, Philipp Pointner, said, “By requiring a corroborating selfie as well as an ID, operators can have higher levels of assurance. Plus, requiring a selfie will cut down on fraud by almost 90%.” In an African context, rapid onboarding and mobile-first user journeys make selfie checks an attractive solution—provided connectivity and device capabilities support live liveness checks.
Selfie biometrics and fraud prevention
Beyond age checks, the gaming market’s fraud landscape is evolving. Cybercriminals deploy bots, spoof GPS locations, and tamper with ad deliveries to siphon advertising fees or rig in-game awards. The “real target, however, is financial information that can be used to take over accounts and other potentially lucrative hacks.” Jumio’s technology uses 3D face mapping during the selfie process, “which not only prevents spoofs but can also be used for downstream authentication,” Pointner explains. Such continuous authentication can secure riskier transactions, making it harder for minors or fraudsters to re-enter under a new identity.
ICU API for facial recognition and age estimation
Innovative Technology (ITL) has launched a new API to meet the specific needs of online gaming operators. The ICU API performs biometric facial recognition and age estimation by integrating ITL’s ICU Intelligent Identification device with existing customer software and device cameras.
“In addition, with ICU API, loyalty and VIP schemes can be managed to identify key customers to improve engagement,” comments ICU Product Manager Dr. Andrew O’Brien. He adds that “implementing self-exclusion schemes in order to prevent and control underage gambling is vital for online gaming websites to encourage responsible gambling.” The company reports that its facial recognition technology is 99.88% accurate, helping platforms enforce age limits without creating undue friction.
Biometric payments and responsible gaming
While age verification remains central, biometrics extend into payment authentication—further reducing the chances that minors can fund bets with stolen or borrowed credentials. notes that real-time payments, powered by wallets and biometric authentication, are fast becoming the norm in gaming. “Whether it’s buying in-game items, funding 바카라 accounts, or withdrawing winnings, real-time payments are becoming the norm,” Canary states. 바카라ers demand speed, security, and zero hassle when moving money, pushing operators toward seamless biometric solutions.
In African markets, mobile wallets and even crypto payments are gaining traction. Fingerprint scans or facial recognition can replace passwords or PINs, with blockchain models and biometrics contributing to a stronger security posture. Canary predicts that “gaming platforms will rely more on AI to keep payments secure. These systems detect unusual betting behaviour, prevent account takeovers, and stop fraudulent withdrawals.” While AI underpins fraud detection, the moment-of-transaction check remains biometric.
Challenges and prospects
Deploying biometric systems in Africa faces infrastructure hurdles—spotty connectivity, varying device quality and privacy concerns. Regulators must balance child protection with data-protection standards and consumer acceptance. Platforms should educate users on how biometric data is stored, encrypted and used solely for age or identity proofing.
Yet momentum is building. As governments tighten regulations and introduce licensing frameworks for online gaming, biometric checks may become mandatory. Partnerships between African regulators, telcos, and technology providers can fuel device-based identity ecosystems, creating a trust layer for digital services.
Ultimately, biometrics alone cannot solve all underage gambling issues. They must sit alongside self-exclusion programmes, financial limits, and customer-education initiatives. However, by confirming age at sign-up and authenticating transactions, selfie biometrics and facial recognition offer a powerful deterrent against underage play. With 3D face maps and sub-90% fraud reduction, biometric solutions could help African markets balance growth and responsibility.
