Gb Group Regulatory News (GBG)

9 Oct 2006 09:02

GB Group PLC09 October 2006 For immediate release: 09 October 2006 GB GROUP PLC ("GB" or the "Group") GB Launches New Service Allowing Online Gaming Businesses to Exclude US Customers As previously announced, the introduction of new US legislation on 30 September2006, if signed into law, will effectively make Online Gaming illegal in theUSA. GB Group has responded quickly to this development and announces today that ithas extended its international identity verification technology, ID3 (TM), toinclude the capability for its clients to monitor the geographic location oftheir customers. The service, included as part of GB's new international age andidentity verification service called ID3-Check, will enable Online Gamingbusinesses to identify instantly where a customer is located before processingtheir application. They can then either divert the applicant to a legal "freeplay" area on their site or block the transaction altogether. The ID3-Checkservice will be launched to the world's largest gaming businesses at theindustry's flagship event in Barcelona this week, EIG (European I-Gaming) Expo(www.eigexpo.com). ID3-Check provides the Online Gaming industry with the ability to confirm theage and identity of a customer and then monitor the location of all transactionscoming from that account on an ongoing basis. ID3-Check will be used for theverification of overseas citizens in 21 countries. Richard Law CEO commented: "GB's strategy for electronic age and identityverification is to provide a service of the highest quality and reliability. Theservice should be unobtrusive to the consumer, enabling businesses to sign upmore "good" customers and at the same time it should take away the risk of fraudand illegality for the Online Gaming businesses. Identity theft and fraud are global issues and it is GB's strategy to provideits clients across all sectors with electronic age and identity services thathave global reach. This is based on innovation and the latest web servicestechnology and it has enabled us to fast track this solution to meet the needsof our Online Gaming clients. Although ID3-Check is being launched to the Online Gaming sector first, I expectthe greatest long term potential for this International service to come from theglobal Financial Services sector for the electronic age and identityverification of individuals making cross border financial transactions. " - Ends - For further information, please contact: GB Group plcRichard Law, Chief Executive 01244 657333Mona Navin-Mealey, Finance Director Weber Shandwick Square Mile 020 7067 0700Richard HewsHelen Thomas Website www.gb.co.uk Notes to Editors About ID3-Check ID3-Check is an international electronic identity verification service developedby GB's DataAuthentication business. It is a hybrid international version of thetechnology underpinning URU, GB's joint project with BT which is now the UK'sleading electronic age and identity verification service.The service helps organisations to protect themselves from the growing globalproblem of identity theft and fraud. ID3-Check enables organisations subscribingto the service to make an instant decision whether to accept the identityclaimed by an individual and confirm their age in seconds. ID3-Check can confirmthe age and identity of nearly half a billion people in 21 countries includingAustralia, Canada, the USA and most Western European countries. ID3-Check works by cross checking personal information provided by an individualat the point of acquisition against a comprehensive range of data sources toconfirm that an individual is who they claim to be, live where they claim tolive and meet certain minimum legal age requirements. No personal data is disclosed by the reference databases and as a resultID3-Check is compliant with Data Protection laws. ID3-Check also provides a valuable audit trail demonstrating that the necessarychecks have taken place, thereby helping companies comply with legislation,including the 2nd European Money Laundering Directive, Proceeds of Crime Act andMinimum Legal Age requirements of certain industry sectors. As a result of legislation, new opportunities and social responsibilityrequirements, the market for electronic ID verification across borders issignificant and growing. The market is moving towards electronic checks as fraudulent documents becomeever more sophisticated, more readily available and more difficult to checkmanually. GB works closely with trade and industry associations, such as the Finance andLeasing Association, the Remote Gambling Association and the FinancialTechnology Research Centre and other international organisations, to advisebusinesses that more robust processes can prevent financial crime. We haveworked closely with the Gaming Industry to address social issues such asunderage gambling and addiction and our Social Responsibility Consultancy helpsGaming operators formulate best practice to comply with regulatory requirementsand improve profitability. About GB Group plc GB Group plc provides a range of products and services to enable organisationsto capitalise on one of their greatest assets - customer data. The Company hasexpertise across a range of sectors and is able to transform customer data intovaluable information, enabling clients to make better, more informed decisions. The development of innovative software and services, through to the provision ofthe UK's most comprehensive consumer business databases - The National Register(R) and the National Authentication Register - positions GB Group as a widelyacknowledged industry leader in its specialist markets. We are constantly improving business processes by building on our core values ofInnovation, Quality and Excellence. This is reflected in our customersatisfaction surveys and also through research, carried out by ManchesterBusiness School, which confirms our products are out performing the competition. GB Group plc has three complementary offerings: • DataAuthentication helps businesses validate personal identity information and provides anti-fraud solutions to fight crime. • DataIntegrity helps companies capture and maintain accurate customer contact data, an essential foundation for any profitable customer relationship. • DataSolutions empowers companies to consolidate and analyse customer data from various sources, enabling them to make better, more informed decisions. Established since 1989, GB's core competencies combined with industry sectorknowledge have enabled the company to deliver significant value to organisationssuch as Standard Life, Scottish Power and TD Waterhouse in helping them derivemaximum value from their customer data and sustain real advantage over theircompetition. GB Group is supported by its key relationships with major organisations withwhom it works with on major initiatives (an example being British Telecom),together with a team of highly talented and motivated staff successfullydelivering business solutions. GB Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (www.gb.co.uk). This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange