Gambling law shake- up is unveiled

[Tinky]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3754960.stm

[Tinky]

Sorry wrong link

http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?s...to_force_today

[TheNorm]

This is worrying:

"The children's charities have been calling for better online age verification systems for several years but the whole situation has suddenly taken a turn for the worse with the emergence of prepaid credit cards. It allows anyone, to register themselves at any age they want.

"Even more worrying, perhaps, is these cards can allow anyone that wishes to buy illegal products, for example child pornography or illegal prescription drugs, to pay for them in ways which are now completely untraceable."

So "online verification" can easily be fooled (now there's a surprise ) - but worse, the method will allow for untraceable transactions. Who had this brilliant idea???

[Paul]

I would have thought that people would have to register for a pre-paid credit card and then the transactions on them would be tracked for fraud etc reasons? Why would transactions on a pre-pay card be untracable unless you allow anyone to just pick one up off a counter and use it without having to go through some form of registration?

[TheNorm]

From http://www.cardguide.co.uk/articles/...dit_cards.html

It is also ideal for teens, as ... they can apply for one themselves. The fees are the same whether under or over 18.
For both prepaid and secured credit cards, there is normally a much easier application process than with an unsecured card. There is no credit check, no employment verification etc. ....

[Paul]

Just because they don't do an employment or credit history check it does not mean that the card does not have to be applied for in the usual manner with proof of ID and proof of residence. These things would give traceability to a point. Oyster card users do not do credit or employment checks but all transactions are trackable.