Age checking service proven to protect children.

M2 PRESSWIRE-27 July 2004-EXPERIAN: Age checking service proven to protect children(C)1994-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:07272004

Nottingham, UK - The report out today by leading children`s charity NCH, GamCare and Citizencard, revealed that the ID authentication scheme developed jointly by CitizenCard and Experian , successfully prevented its mystery shopper, a 16-year old girl, from registering her details online and gambling.

The report tested a sample of gambling sites and found that only seven out of 37 gambling sites had the measures in place to stop a 16-year old from registering and being exposed to gambling. The law prevents anyone under the age of 18, or under 16 for the National Lottery, from gambling online.

Both Ladbrokes and Camelot use age verification systems delivered by Experian to block accounts for under-18s and under-16s (in the case of the National Lottery).

Jill Stevens, Director of Consumer Relations at Experian, said: "The report exposes the ease with which children are able to lie about their age and gamble online, despite the fact that there is a system available that can prevent this from happening. Companies must use the tools available to them to protect children."

Andrew Chevis, Chief Executive, CitizenCard, said: "It came as no surprise that two leading gambling sites were able to block the youngster from going online and gambling because they use age verification systems delivered by Experian.

"Experian`s solutions incorporate iAC authentication and are the only proven age verification systems available which provides for both safer Internet commerce as well as offering valuable extra protection for young people who use chat rooms and other online communications. As a matter of urgency, gambling sites should install effective age verification systems to block youngsters from registering online. Social responsibility should be considered by banks as well. Gambling transactions sent to the banks are specially coded and banks could, and in our view should, check that their account holder is over 18 years of age."

Richard Hurd-Wood, Camelot's Director of Interactive, said: "Prior to launching National Lottery products on the web, we developed appropriate software to prevent not only under age but also excessive play. At present, about 10% of people are excluded because their age and address cannot be verified. Some of these may be legitimate players - and there is an additional facility for them to send in proof of age and address by post - but if they can't be verified, we won't let them play online."

"Our online prevention strategy was drawn up to comply with the GamCare Code of Practice for online lotteries and we were delighted to be the first site to be awarded GamCare certification in acknowledgement of Camelot's achievements in implementing the Code. We remain committed to the highest standards of player protection for all our interactive sites."

Ladbrokes e-Gaming director David Briggs, said: "Ladbrokes.com has invested heavily in both software and people to safeguard against underage gamblers using our site. However, we are not complacent and work constantly to improve our systems as we recognise the determined underage gambler is always looking to find new ways to beat the system."

Information provided by iAC and the CitizenCard application, combined with other information held on Experian's proprietary and public information databases, is used to authenticate the age and identity of individuals for the purpose of purchasing eighteen-plus goods and services on the Internet.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About iAC

interactiveAgeCheck (iAC) is an ID authentication scheme developed jointly by CitizenCard and Experian. Each application is stringently checked using a number of measures to counter fraudulent applications.

iAC incorporates the only Internet-based software application that allows secure and instant on-line verification of age and identity for retailers such as chatrooms, financial services, airlines and train operators, medical and pharmaceutical, merchants selling age-restricted goods such as video films and games, online gaming and adult entertainment.

As well as offering protection for consumers, iAC will open up new market opportunities for Internet retailers as the verification process will allow them to trade with people using payment methods other than credit cards to pay for age restricted goods. Current estimates indicate that 35 per cent consumers over 18 do not possess credit cards and therefore this market could be very valuable to Internet retailers.

iAC is available to all UK-based websites and aims to set a global precedent in the protection of young people when using the internet. Initial enquiries should be directed to Andrew Chevis at CitizenCard on 07775 765050.

About CitizenCard

CitizenCard is the UK`s largest photo-ID scheme offering to all a singly widely recognised card. Each application is verified stringently using several measures to counter fraudulent application. The scheme is supported by government, the police and retail groups.

CitizenCard is a non-profit company limited by guarantee. Its members are: Association of Convenience Stores, Camelot, Experian, National Federation of Retail Newsagents, Ladbrokes, Somerfield and the Tobacco Manufacturers Association.

CitizenCard is the only UK-wide ID scheme to comply with the Home Office-backed PASS (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) criteria, externally audited by the Trading Standards Institute.

CitizenCard is the only card available to anyone legally resident across the whole of the UK, whatever their age.

The majority of cardholders are young people under 18 who need to prove their age to be able to buy age-restricted goods. Under 18s get their card free.

It enables shopkeepers and other retailers to check the age of would-be purchasers and avoid sales to under-age children.

CitizenCard has issued more than 870,000 cards.

CitizenCard verifies applicants using hologram-protected cards embedding a laser-etched colour photo to reduce the risk of forgery.

It maintains all its cardholders' details on a single secure database that is not available to third parties.

About Experian

Experian is a global leader in providing information solutions to organisations and consumers. It helps organisations find, develop and manage profitable customer relationships by providing information, decision-making solutions and processing services. It empowers consumers to understand, manage and protect their personal information and assets. Experian works with more than 40,000 clients across diverse industries, including financial services, telecommunications, healthcare, insurance, retail and catalogue, automotive, manufacturing, leisure, utilities, property, e-commerce and government.

Experian is a subsidiary of GUS plc and has headquarters in Nottingham, UK, and Costa Mesa, California. Its 13,000 people support clients in more than 60 countries. Annual sales exceed GBP1.3 billion.

The word 'Experian' is a registered trademark in the EU and other countries and is owned by Experian Ltd and/or its associated companies.

CONTACT: Ellen Carroll, Press RelationsTel: +44 (0)115 992 2515e-mail: ellen.carroll@uk.experian.comAndrew Chevis, CEO, CitizenCarde-mail: achevis@citizencard.com

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