FBI Online Casino Probe Forces Second Life Upgrade

Apr 17, 2007

An updated registration system has been introduced to the Second Life game by creators, Linden Lab. Federal interest in online gambling at Second Life casinos is making Linden Lab cautious, but the move is also related to child protection issues.

In a press release, the company stated, "It has been a basic tenet of Second Life that all Residents are legally responsible for their own activities and for complying with the laws of the local jurisdiction in which they reside."

Two classes of user will now be created: 'verified' status indicates a registrant has submitted valid identification and payment to the company, "unverified" means they have not. Users can then confirm aspects of each other's identities, such as age and jurisdiction.


"Hopefully, these features will help Residents as they conform to their own local laws."

Second Life businesses can then screen casino customers to avoid engaging customers whose age or local legislation prohibits online gambling. The option of identity confirmation also puts the responsibility for any illegal activity back with the provider and not Linden Labs themselves.

Teen/adult segregation will also be more thorough – adults found in teen areas face total exclusion, and teens in adult areas will be ‘deported’ back to the teen grids.