About PKR
A revolutionary new concept in online poker, PKR.com combines the latest innovations in 3D video gaming with online poker to create a rich and deeply involving user experience. The concept has proven immensely popular with over 500,000 users from over 200 countries signing up to the site since its launch in August 2006.
The Problem
1. Preventing underage gambling is a very high priority for PKR.com. Both in terms of meeting its licensing commitments with Alderney Gambling Control Commission (one of the strictest online gaming jurisdictions in the world) and living up to PKR.com’s own commitment to offering a socially responsible product.
2 As with most start-up companies, PKR.com had to address both the concerns of corporate revenue protection and excellent customer service in a competitive marketplace.
3. Naturally, this presented a challenge for PKR: making the registration process as seamless as possible for legitimate customers, while keeping robust measures in place to prevent underage gambling.
The Solution
At launch in 2006 PKR’s experienced founders knew that, while customer acquisition was key, it was equally important that all customer enrolments were legitimate. They chose to use 192business from the start.
Working with 192.com Business Services pre-launch helped to ensure PKR.com complied with social responsibility guidelines right out of the gate. The company was adamant about adhering to responsible gambling best practice and took strong measures to ensure safe and responsible online gaming. In order to do this, it chose 192 Player-ID to provide a comprehensive age and identity verification solution tailored specifically for the gaming industry.
With 192business PKR.com is able to check names, addresses and dates of birth against datasets and shared databases with banks and building societies. The checks happen in real-time – but in the background, so a prospective customer never knows they’re taking place – a key feature for a growing start-up. Players may have been less likely to sign up with PKR.com if they felt they were being ‘checked up on’, so it was critical that identity verification was invisible to customers.
"We chose 192.com Business Services as it was the most effective for screening underage gamblers. The breadth and depth of its datasets meant it was especially helpful for verifying our European customers as we continue to grow our numbers."
Head of Transaction Services, PKR
The Benefits
192business allows PKR.com to perform multiple checks behind the scenes without preventing its customers from enjoying the site. This lets the company continue to grow, and ensures it’s staying clear of fraudulent or underage customers.
Since its launch, the site has grown exponentially, and with this growth, greater attention is being given to deterring fraud. By default, an age check is also an identity check, ensuring that customers are not only of legal age, but that they are who they say they are. Fraudulent bets can cost the business dearly, so accurately identifying potential customers is of ever-increasing importance.