Casino KYC Decoded: A Guide to Casino Verification Checks

Shockingly, 28% of players report issues verifying their identity and claiming winnings. This guide demystifies Know Your Customer checks – the ID and proof of address submissions needed to confirm your account is legitimate before casinos release payments.

Learn how to send documents, the required papers, and much more, all analyzed by our team of experts.

What is KYC?

KYC stands for “Know Your Customer.” It refers to identity verification processes used by online casinos to confirm players are who they claim to be.

The critical goals of KYC are:

1. Confirm the legal name, age, and address of players.
2. Ensuring player funds come from legitimate sources.
3. Preventing fraud, money laundering and underage gambling.

Casinos meet KYC requirements by collecting identifying documents like passports and addresses via utility bills. Players provide this documentation during signup or before withdrawing winnings.

KYC helps casinos operate safely and comply with anti-money laundering regulations. While a hassle, valid casinos also require ID verification for player protection.

KYC: An Overview for Newcomers

Whether you are experienced or a newcomer, you might have heard about at least once about KYC. 

In May 2019, the UKGC officially announced that all casinos operating under their regulations must verify their players’ identity through a KYC procedure. 

KYC, a short form for ‘Know Your Customer’, indicates a casino process. All newly registered players must follow this to prove that the information on their account is accurate. 

It usually implies sending copies of personal documents that testify to the user’s identity.

Gambling platforms will request the following documents:

• Proof of age: passport/ driving licence/ national ID card
• Proof of address: a recent (less than three months old) utility bill or bank statement
• Proof of payment method: front and back copy of a debit card/ photo of an e-wallet account

How do you upload documents for the KYC?

1. Log into your account.
2. Scan the required documents or take a clear photo of them
3. Go to the ‘My Account’ section and look for a button that says ‘Upload Documents’
4. Drag the files onto the page and press ‘Send’ or ‘Upload’
5. Wait for the casino’s approval (it usually takes no more than 24 hours

The procedure is as easy as possible, requiring only a few minutes.

Most gaming sites provide a ‘Upload’ feature beneath the account information. However, some will request that you supply the appropriate files by email.

The email address is often listed on the ‘Contact Us’ page or in the terms and conditions.

Sometimes, the verification process might be conducted twice to avoid errors.

1. First, it will be done by staff members. 
2. After that, a third party may use existing databases to confirm if the personal details submitted match the information in those bases. 

If that’s the case, the online casino will specify it in its terms and conditions. In some cases, websites may even accept birth certificates as proof of age.

To avoid an extended KYC process, ensure your documents are not expired and the photos are visible.

Pay attention to the requirements on the ‘Upload’ page, as some files must have a specific size and format (e.g. JPEG, PNG, JPG, BMP, PDF, DOC). If the files you upload have a different format than the ones required, they will get rejected.

KYC vs AML: what is the difference?

Several players, especially those who are new to online gambling, may find it difficult at the beginning to differentiate between KYC and AML. However, the distinction is relatively straightforward once we look into the processes these acronyms stand for.

If KYC is short for the Know Your Customer Process, AML refers to the Anti-Money Laundering guidelines online casinos implement to fight financial crimes. 

The KYC verifications undergone on online casinos are an integrated part of the AML governmental procedures.

Why is The Casino KYC Procedure Essential?

You might wonder why this procedure is necessary. Well, there are several reasons why top online casinos implemented this precautionary measure even before it became mandatory.

To prevent underage gambling

Underage gambling is a serious issue among British teenagers. A study conducted by the UKGC showed that 39% of 11-16-year-olds had bet their own money, while 6% of them have gambled online using their parents’ accounts. 

In some cases, websites may even accept birth certificates as proof of age.

Fraud prevention

Regarding online gambling, fraud can be encountered in many forms. Due to the lack of face-to-face interaction, detecting individuals who practice fraudulent activities is a lot harder. These are the most common kinds of fraud in the gambling industry.

Identity theft 

Users can fraudulently obtain card details and use someone else’s funds as their own.

Moreover, they can even play games under other people’s identities by registering with their documents to avoid repercussions, such as losing a large sum.

Owning multiple accounts

Individuals may try to create multiple accounts on the same platform to claim various bonuses or manipulate a game’s outcome. 

Suppose one creates five fake accounts and enters them into a poker game. In that case, one of the accounts will automatically win, and the player won’t experience any losses.

Anti-money laundering

Gambling platforms are common targets for individuals who practice money laundering. They are using those websites as filters to ‘clean’ illicit funds. 

Money launders often gamble the illegally obtained sums to cash out legitimate amounts and avoid being tracked by authorities. 

KYC helps casino businesses fight money fraud.

To avoid gambling addiction

When a player chooses to exclude from any gambling activities on a particular website, that company must take imperative steps to prevent him from accessing their services. 

This includes checking if a self-excluded person is trying to gamble under a different identity.

Casinos without KYC

Online casinos where you can play without sending documents are usually not approved by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission or other regulatory bodies. Moreover, those that lack a casino KYC procedure are often associated with ‘rogue’ websites. 

These are home to fraudulent activities and unfair practices, such as refusing to pay out customers or manipulating game outcomes. To avoid rogue online casinos, always check whether the website you are accessing has a valid license provided by the UKGC. Licensing information is often found in the website’s footer or, less frequently, on the ‘About’ page.

Fortunately, all casinos reviewed by us and listed on our website are incredibly safe, as they are licensed and regulated by the UKGC. So, you can expect to have your identity thoroughly verified when registering with any of our casinos.

In the UK, all online casinos operating within British territory must have valid UKGC licenses for their activity to be legal. Hence, if the casino you are accessing has another valid license but does not hold a UKGC validation, it would be better to avoid playing on that website in the UK.

Additional information on the KYC verifications done on UK top online casinos

• Casinos can ask for such documents at any time (before any deposits or withdrawals)
• Some websites may allow making deposits and playing games before sending the KYC documents. However, in most cases, uploading them before requesting a withdrawal is mandatory.

What Problems Can You Have With the KYC Procedure?

Sometimes, you might need help passing the identity verification stage.

Check your email if more than 24 hours have passed and your account still needs approval.

You may be contacted by customer support regarding some issues with your documents. This can happen due to one of the following reasons:

Incorrect account details

It is possible that the personal details provided upon registration, such as your date of birth or address, don’t match the documents you sent. 

Ensure you enter your information correctly and check it twice before pressing ‘Register’ or ‘Sing up’.

A recent change of address

If you moved to another address and still need to update your documents, you might have to wait until the change has been officially acknowledged. 

You can also contact the support team and ask how to proceed.

Unclear photos or missing information 

Avoid accidentally covering any information when scanning or taking pictures of the documents.

Due to solid KYC policies, there might be occasions on which you won’t be able to access your account before sending the necessary files.  

Taking Everything Into Account: Our Verdict

Now that you know the essentials of the KYC process, you can look at multiple offers on our website and choose the best online casino. Find out more about choosing a legit and safe UK casino to take an offer for boosting the bankroll. 

Remember that all the websites on our platform are UKGC-licensed, so they will thoroughly verify your identity through several personal documents. 

Don’t rush into depositing; some platforms will not allow that before approving your account. Thus, prepare your documents and double-check them before hitting ‘Send’.

References

• Number of child gamblers quadruples in just two years
• New age and identity verification rules – changes to the LCCP from Tuesday 7 May
• Why ID verification is important