KYC Verification Guide

KYC verification is mandatory for all legal and trustworthy online casinos. All players must go through this process and you will too if you want to have fun and cash out winnings. Let’s see what is it all about, why is it helpful, and what you need to do!

What is KYC

KYC stands for “Know Your Customer” and is a common procedure for online casinos and other businesses. The process allows online casinos to verify their customers' identity and age, address, and payment method or source of funds. It is part of the AML (Anti-Money Laundering) compliance.

All casino customers must go through this procedure when they are getting started as a new gambler on a casino site. The failure of completing it may lead to a temporary or permanent account ban.

Our online gambling beginner guides walk you through all aspects of gambling, so keep on reading and find out how to complete online casino KYC!

Why is KYC important in casinos

KYC is very important for both casinos and players for the following reasons:

• It prevents underage gambling - underage gambling is a big problem and fair online casinos do their best to prevent it. The best method to do that is the KYC, which requests a form of ID to be sent and validated by the casino team. In some cases, a staff member will even call the customer to verify their identity;

• Helps with responsible gambling - when going through the KYC process and providing all the information and documents required, the online casino is able to see if you have self-excluded from other platforms or have been excluded for any reason.

This helps players who are struggling to deal with gambling addiction stay away from this activity and focus on their recovery;

• Combats money laundering and illicit activities - the KYC procedure was not always around, and back then, casinos were the place to be for all criminals trying to launder money. 

• They were able to do this by placing low-risk bets. Also, anyone could sign up and play on new online casinos with any amount of money and have no problem.

Now, thanks to this verification process, they can identify the users who show suspicious activity. This may mean depositing unusually large amounts of money, only placing low-risk bets, or trying to cash it out without even playing.

In many cases, the procedure also requires the player to provide a source of funds. This means they have to disclose where they have the money from and prove it using specific documents.

• Ensures casino fairness - some players try to cheat the casino in various ways. These may include abusing bonuses, exploiting technical issues, or breaching the platform’s terms. Through performing KYC, the casino staff is able to correctly identify the player in question and come up with solutions to the problem.

• Ensures account safety - by providing all the information required during the KYC, you can easily recover your account in case it was hacked. 

Documents required for KYC

Here are some other verifications you may go through: 

• Contact details verification - upon creating your account, you will have to verify your email and phone number. The latter can be verified via SMS or phone call;

• E-wallet checks - when using an e-wallet as a payment method, you have to verify the email address associated with the e-wallet;

• Reconfirming account details - if suspicions that someone else is using your account arise or if you try to cash out unusually large amounts of money, you will need to reconfirm your contact details and physical address. Also, you may need to verify your payment method again.

3-Step Guide to the KYC procedure

Once you have browsed through our online casinos list and picked your favorite, create an account and verify it via SMS or email. Then, you are ready to begin the KYC process. Here is what you need to do:

1. Access the KYC tools - some casinos prompt you with a pop-up that takes you to the KYC software. However, some do not, and you will have to access it yourself from your account.

2. Send the required documents - scan or take pictures of the required documents and upload them using the platform’s software. In some cases, you may have to provide all the documentation via email.

3. Wait for the procedure to complete - this process is manually handled by the casino’s staff. This means it may take a while for it to be completed. Have patience and check your KYC status. If it takes longer than the timeframe stated by the casino, you may have run into some problems. Keep on reading to find out what they could be and how to fix them!

Problems during KYC and their solutions

If you have gone through all the verifications but your KYC status still has not changed, here are some common problems and their solutions:

• KYC completion is taking too long - many online casinos do not state anywhere on their website the time they take to perform this procedure. Usually, it is between 24 hours and a couple of days. Keep in mind that there may be busier times.

If you find yourself waiting for more than a couple of days, check your email for updates from the casino staff. It is possible that you will have to send some of your documentation again.

• Photos are unclear - when taking ID photos, make sure you focus your camera on the document. Also, it is important to have enough light for the picture to be clear so the text on the documents can be easily read.

Try to capture as few other external elements in the picture as possible by placing the documents on a clear surface.

• Photos did not follow guidelines - there are certain rules you need to follow when taking pictures of your documents. In some cases, you may have to hold the ID and both your face and your entire arm holding the ID must be visible.

This is in order to prevent people from sending documents that are not theirs or altering the images in any way. Read the requirements or ask customer support for details.

• You have to send additional documentation - sometimes, when the information on the documents is not identical, the casino may ask for further documents to confirm your details.

This may mean that you changed your name recently and the one in the ID is not the same as the one on your last utility bill. You should not worry, as this is nothing out of the ordinary. Simply retake the pictures following the rules. 

For any problem you encounter or question you may have, reach out to customer service! They can tell you exactly why they need each document and how to photograph and send it. They can also give you an estimate of how long it will take for the procedure to be completed.