In 2025, venues face more pressure than ever to keep patrons safe, prevent underage entry, and comply with Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) laws. While physical ID checks are still necessary, Digital IDs are becoming increasingly popular, especially amongst the newest generation of revellers. This uptake and the increasing sophistication of fake IDs mean that old-school ID check methods aren’t enough anymore.
That’s where Scantek’s Digital ID Verification solution comes in. With real-time back-to-source checks against government databases, we ensure the person standing at your door is exactly who they claim to be, not someone borrowing their older sibling’s digital licence or spoofing a Digital ID.
Why Digital ID verification is more important than ever
Australia is seeing a huge shift toward Digital ID use. Digital IDs are used in varying capacities across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland & South Australia. Each state has its own nuances regarding how Digital IDs have been implemented and managed. We look at these nuances more closely on our recent blog.
But their popularity is undeniable – as of late 2023, 4.5 million NSW drivers had downloaded a NSW Digital Driver Licence (DDL) via the Service NSW app, which is about 75% of all NSW drivers.
At major events like Schoolies, where some partygoers are just turning 18 and others are still underage, patrons aren’t fumbling with plastic cards anymore. Instead, they’re flashing Digital IDs on their phones, and your team needs a reliable way to spot fakes instantly.
The risks you’re facing without proper Digital ID checks
As part of our Digital ID solution, we do back-to-source checks on all New South Wales, Victoria & Queensland Digital IDs. We’re also ready to expand the scope of these back-to-source checks to include South Australian Digital IDs as soon as this is available. In the meantime, for those patrons who attend your venue using a NSW, Vic or Qld digital ID, our back-to-source checks mean that you can be confident that the ID document is legitimate.
Without this back-to-source verification, your venue faces some serious risks:
- Underage patrons slipping through → leading to heavy RSA fines (generally thousands of dollars per offence)
- Fake or spoofed Digital IDs being presented → these are much harder to spot manually
- Potential identity theft → someone entering under another person’s name
- Reputational damage to your venue → patrons and regulators lose trust fast
- Increased insurance premiums or legal exposure → non-compliance costs add up
To put it another way – in a world where one viral TikTok about underage drinking at your venue could go global, can you really afford to leave ID checks to guesswork?
How Scantek’s technology is strengthening your venue’s safety
Back-to-source checks aren’t the only way our Digital ID Verification solution protects you and your patrons. We believe there is no better way to protect yourself and your venue than multiple checks so that nothing slips through the cracks. This is why our Digital ID solution is leading the industry with:
- Back-to-source checks: We verify digital licences directly with the issuing government authority. There is no guesswork for your team, and they aren’t relying on visual inspection alone.
- Instant facial biometric matching: Our scanners match the ID photo to the person standing at your door, adding an extra layer of fraud prevention.
- Australian Digital ID compatibility: Our system is compatible with NSW, QLD, and AusPost Digital IDs.
- International ID Support: With over 10,000+ supported ID types globally, we make it easy to verify tourists, international students, and overseas guests.
Why back-to-source verification is a game-changer
Back-to-source checks mean we validate the information against government records in real time. Our system doesn’t simply take them on face value. This closes the loophole where someone can:
- Screenshot an ID
- Photoshop a date of birth
- Use an altered or expired document
Without this, your door staff are left trying to spot sophisticated fakes in what is often a busy, stressful and dimly lit environment. We can tell you from experience that today’s fake IDs can be almost impossible to spot with the naked eye.
How our solution supported the Responsible Service of Alcohol during Schoolies
During Schoolies Week 2024 on the Gold Coast, our technology played a significant role in helping venues uphold RSA compliance. Instead of relying on hurried visual checks, businesses using Scantek could quickly scan patrons’ Digital IDs, match faces via biometrics, and verify IDs against government databases.
Feedback from these businesses is that the technology was successful in preventing access to dozens of underage patrons.
Stay ahead of the Digital ID game
Digital ID adoption is only going to grow.
Fake IDs are only going to get better.
Regulators are only going to get stricter.
The time to act is now.
Upgrading your ID verification processes before issues arise is the best way to protect your venue’s licence, reputation, and bottom line.
At Scantek, we make the transition simple, seamless, and tailored to your venue’s needs. We have successfully transitioned hundreds of venues across Australia, from bustling nightclubs, trendy bars and five-star event venues.
If you’re ready to chat about how Scantek’s Digital ID Verification solution can keep your venue safe and your customers flowing through the door faster, book a free demo today with our team and see our back-to-source checks and biometric verification in action.