Kazakhstan the Latest to Enforce Biometrics e-KYC for Online Casinos

Biometrics are quickly becoming a standard for ID verification, used for payment services, e-commerce apps, and also for heightened security. But biometrics for ID verification at online casinos could be a tricky business. Kazakhstan became the latest country to adopt facial recognition for online casino ID verification checks, launching its pilot program on October 7th. Just this year, Ghana and Uzbekistan, and before that Argentina and Brazil, all launched similar programs to help strengthen identity verification checks and create a safer national digital ID system for gambling.

The big question here is, will it pay off? KYC protocols and submitting sensitive personal details are a touchy subject for players. For some, it is a deal breaker, and they would rather seek no KYC or minimal KYC compliant online gambling sites, at the risk of signing up for potentially unregulated and unlicensed platforms. Let’s dig a little deeper, exploring how these systems works, whether or not they are beneficial, and how markets may respond to the more advanced KYC requirements.

Kazakhstan Launches Biometrics Verification Pilot Program

On October 7th, Kazakhstan launched its biometrics verification gambling security program. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports partnered with Biometric.Vision, a local company that started in 2017. Biometric.Vision’s first entry into the IT solutions market was through its mobile app, OKAuto – a payment service that allowed Kazakh drivers to check and pay traffic fines. The company now specializes in a variety of fields, including face-to-face detection, face searching, liveness detection, and, of course, AML security technologies and ID document verification.

The initiative to bring biometrics identity verification is made to enhance online casino security by diminishing fraud and money laundering. But it is also a means to make the KYC procedures more efficient for gamers. The pilot program does not stop at the licensed online casinos and sportsbooks. Biometric.Vision is also partnered with the National Bank of Kazakhstan, providing ID verification and liveness detection, so the payment methods for gamers are also rock tight.

Other Countries That Recently Introduced the Technology

As mentioned before, this is by no means new technology, nor is it new to the igaming sector. Ghana launched a national biometric digital ID system in 2025 to boost its igaming market. The goal, to wipe out identity fraud and boost AML transparency. Uzbekistan also rolled out a mandatory facial recognition verification for licensed online casinos in August. Argentina made it compulsory for online and offline gambling operators in Buenos Aires to use biometric verification in the registration forms. Some of the largest Latam landbased casinos, are located in Argentina, and they are mandated to verify your identity through facial recognition.

Of the recent adopters of the technology, Brazil is by far the most prominent. It has one of the biggest gambling markets in Latin America, and Brazil launched major gambling reforms recently. In addition to the KYC biometrics, Brazil also enhanced player and operator taxes, introduced monthly spending caps, restricted gambling advertising exposure, and raised the minimum legal age of gambling from 18 to 21.

Brazilian Banking Biometrics and Restrictions

It didn’t stop there either. The Brazilian gaming authorities also made legislation that limited the payment providers online casinos can use to PiX and other regulated ePayment services. The reforms effectively eliminated crypto gambling from Brazil. Operators cannot provide cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, as payment methods for gamers.

Brazil’s biometrics verification also extends to the National Bank and banking services, such as Pix. This step, which Kazakhstan has also done, effectively secures payments on both ends. From your verified bank account to the online casino, both of which you have biometrics verified accounts, it creates a fault proof system.

How It Changes the Experience

It is quite a divisive move, as there are both pros and cons to having biometrics verified securities on either end of your deposits and withdrawals.

Creating Fixed Ends Security

Starting with the pros, it basically means that money can only travel through officially approved gateways. Licensed online casinos cannot accept money from accounts that are not in your name, especially when you are withdrawing money. But those possibilities will thin out, as you can only send and receive money with your official, and biometrics enforced, bank account. No one can hack your account and send the money elsewhere; the only destination is your bank account.

Reducing Anonymity

However, it rules out any anonymity with your deposits and withdrawals. Brazil especially cut back on the prepaid voucher possibilities, as well as crypto deposit options, so you cannot get away with topping up through payment channels that retain your anonymity. It also means that the banks can track all your withdrawals, and you cannot have your payments sent to eWallets or crypto wallets that are not supervised by the regulated channels.

This cuts down on money laundering and any kind of embezzlement. It also means players who have to pay taxes on their winnings, like those in Brazil, cannot cash out and hide this money.

KYC and Unified Digital Verification

The payoff for players also lies in the convenience of KYC protocols. You don’t need to upload your ID documents and wait for an agent to verify them manually. Nor do you need to make future uploads or lengthy checks when your documents expire or when you are making a sizable withdrawal.

Enhanced verification can lead to AI powered detection systems for faster and more efficient processing.  It can have uses outside online casinos too. Kazakhstan is also trying to achieve unified digital identity, which allows you to make one set of credentials and use them across different platforms. From your eWallet apps to casino accounts, and can even be used in applications such as government portals, travel & border control, healthcare, and so on. It has great potential.

Responsible Gambling Uses

Another aspect to consider is that governing bodies can also use this transparent data to monitor player activity, and learn more about problem gambling habits. They can look for players who show signs of compulsive betting or poor gambling habits, and reach out to them. Or enforce limits to steer them away from the dangerous gambling habits.

Spain is in the middle of launching such a program, but it will use AI technology to detect problem gambling, something that is equally applauded by help organizations, and criticised by industry insiders.

Regulators Considering Making Biometrics KYC Mandatory

Several regions are pondering the practicalities of mandatory biometrics powered KYC. They don’t have these requirements mandatory right now, but some are not far off from putting pen to paper and introducing these measures.

• Philippines: PAGCOR has proposed biometric KYC for both landbased Philippines casinos and iGaming licensees
• Kenya: The Betting Control and Licensing Board is reviewing biometrics for national gambling ID
• South Africa: Consultations are underway for biometric verification tied to the national ID system
• United Kingdom: While not mandatory, the Gambling Commission has hinted at biometric adoption under future enhanced KYC revisions

A mix of fraud prevention, AML compliance, and social responsibility goals drives these moves. But authorities will no doubt keep in mind the stresses and mixed feelings that biometric verification may have on players.

Keeping a watchful eye on Brazil, Kazakhstan, and the other countries that have implemented these rules, authorities cannot be too stringent on gamers, as it can lead to the cobra effect, where players turn to the black and gray markets instead of regulated channels.