Know Your Customer
KYC (Know Your Customer) checks are now part of the online casino world. They are employed to verify players’ identities and ensure that nothing is illegal and that players are protected.
What are these checks?
Know Your Customer (KYC) checks are tests that a company dealing with transactions (such as a bank or casino) performs to ensure that its operations are secure. They authenticate a customer’s identity, the source of the money they’re playing with, and any other pertinent information about them that pertains to the casino’s operations.
Many legislative regions require them as a condition of establishing a casino, to prevent underage gaming, financial fraud, and money laundering.
Why Do Casinos Have KYC Requirements?
Governments and gaming authorities have mandated that casino operators include a KYC procedure on their websites. This is for two reasons: to deter unlawful activity and safeguard vulnerable people.
Knowing casinos ask for little or no information, money launderers show up at a casino and gamble for thousands of dollars – and therefore swap their unlawfully obtained money for clean casino money.
If a player gambles for big sums of money, KYC requires verification of funds to ensure they come from a genuine source. Protecting vulnerable populations such as minors and problem gamblers is another aspect of KYC.
When internet casinos initially became popular, it was too simple for these groups to get involved in gambling. There was no need for verification, and you could play and ultimately rack up thousands of dollars in debt provided you had access to a credit card.
Betting businesses are now required to do KYC checks on all their players to confirm that they are of legal gambling age. The casinos also keep track of how much money customers wager, flagging accounts that wager excessively or begin to rapidly increase their wagering.
They will want proof of income to ensure that players can afford to bet and questionnaires to determine whether or not they are or are in danger of becoming problem gamblers. Age verification services help both players and operators with this procedure.
What Do You Need To Complete The KYC Check?
The procedure may differ slightly across operators. However, you will most likely be required to provide the casino with a variety of papers, including:
- A copy of your passport, driver’s licence, or ID card.
- A photo of you holding the documentation.
- Proof of payment (like your credit card).
- A recent utility bill showing your name and other identifying details.
- A document that proves your funding source (like a payslip).
It is worth noting that the casinos may require different kinds of documentation and have varying levels of strictness in checking. It is always good to have all the documentation you need if the casino asks for it.
Which Documents Are Accepted For The KYC Check?
You will need to submit documents that identify you and are issued by a government agency or a recognized business, such as your energy or internet provider. They should be current and official. You can’t just give your document number; instead, you’ll need to send a copy of your whole document that doesn’t obscure any crucial information.
Sending KYC Verification Documents
Make sure your document is fully scanned or photographed before sending it. The corners should be visible on all sides, and the front and back of the paper should be included wherever applicable.
This is crucial because if your document photograph is damaged or illegible, they will have to ask you to resend it, which will prolong the verification procedure.
You could also be able to filter data that isn’t required. For example, if you’re asked to provide your credit card information, most online casinos in Europe will just ask for the first three and final four numbers.
What Is The Difference Between Source Of Wealth And Source Of Funds Checks?
Although they are similar, the Source of Wealth and Source of Funds checks ensure that your money is validated, and each one requires separate evidence.
A source of funds check verifies that your money is coming from a genuine source (such as a bank account in your name), while a source of wealth check verifies that you are only gambling with money you can afford. The papers you’d ordinarily utilize for this are those relating to your earnings from work.
Who Is A PEP (Politically Exposed Person)?
A Politically Exposed Person (PEP) is someone who would pose a risk to the casino if they were allowed to play. For example, if someone worked in government, it might be suggested that if they were threatened with bribery, they would utilize the casino to launder the money.
As a result, casinos frequently refuse to open accounts for persons who are either PEPs or are tied to them in some way, which makes sense, given the sensitive nature of what people with political power have access to or deal with.
How Do Canadian Casinos Enforce KYC Requirements?
Players in Canadian online casinos must provide KYC information at the time of their first withdrawal, regardless of the amount. Players must submit photo identification, proof of address, and deposit verification.
This might be a snapshot of the bank account from which the funds were received and verification of the deposit method (Skrill, Neteller, etc.).
The information illustrates the ‘trail’ of money to comply with Canadian government AML requirements.
KYC rules, or “Know Your Customer” policies, are restrictions enacted by governments and gaming commissions to safeguard persons who gamble online. It demands that players show legal identification and proof of finances if they frequently gamble. The casino will not allow players to play on their site if they cannot give this information.
KYC regulations require players to submit a legitimate form of identification and residence proof that matches the previously provided details. A casino site can utilize these papers to verify that a user is of legal gambling age in their location, and if they aren’t, they can be denied entry.
If a player does not comply with KYC processes, their account will be suspended immediately, regardless of whether it has money. The customer must fulfill the KYC processes to acquire access to the account and any suspended funds.
When a casino required to do KYC checks fails to enforce the policy, it can lose its gambling licence and no longer be able to operate in the jurisdiction that allows them to operate.
