KYC – What it means and why it matters
When signing up at a licensed UK online casino, one of the steps is completing the Know Your Customer (KYC) check. This is an identity verification process that aims to reduce fraudulent activity and prevent issues like underage gambling. In this short guide, we’ll be exploring how KYC checks work, what they require from the player, how to complete them smoothly and of course, why they are important.
What are KYC checks?
KYC checks are a legal requirement for all British casino sites. You won’t be able to withdraw, and sometimes even deposit, until you’ve completed them. Essentially, the goal of KYC is to confirm that you are who you say you are. To do this, you need to submit 2 types of document:
- Photograph ID (such as a passport or driving licence)
- Proof of address (such as a recent bank statement or utility bill)
Once submitted, these documents will be verified by the casino and cross-referenced against the information you gave when signing up, so it’s important to fill in these details correctly to begin with.
Most of the time, the process goes smoothly, but sometimes the casino may request additional documentation, or there may be slight delays.
Why KYC checks are important
KYC isn’t just about regulatory compliance – it’s a crucial part of keeping the industry safe for everyone. ID verification helps to ensure that only those aged 18 or over can gamble, and that casinos cannot be used for money laundering or to facilitate other types of financial crime.
The gambling industry has been associated with criminal behaviour in the past, and has worked hard to tackle that reputation. KYC helps the legitimate industry to keep its nose clean.
But there’s another side to KYC. It also helps casinos to monitor players for risky behaviours or indications that an intervention should be made. This is about protecting the player and assessing high-risk behaviour patterns, and it’s a Gambling Commission (UKGC) requirement.
KYC is also used to prevent bonus abuse, and to check that players aren’t opening multiple accounts. Our focus at No Wagering is obviously on bonuses that don’t require the player to complete wagering requirements, and these bonuses are prone to abuse. KYC helps to avoid this, keeping no wagering bonuses fair and accessible to everyone.
Whilst it may seem like a pain at the time, and an obstacle for both players and operators, KYC checks are an important part of keeping gambling safe.
Completing a KYC check
You’ve registered for an account, set a secure password, and logged in, but the casino is requesting ID verification. This is the typical starting point for a KYC check. The process of completing it may vary a bit from one site to the next, but these are the general stages:
- Review requirements: Proof of address and photo ID are standard
- Upload documents: Sites may have a dedicated email address or portal
- Wait for approval: This can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days
- Receive approval: Now you’re ready to begin banking, playing, and withdrawing winnings!
What if I skip KYC?
The casino may not force you to complete the KYC check immediately. You may even find that you can make deposits, but you won’t be able to withdraw your winnings. Unverified accounts are also restricted or frozen by some casinos.
If the casino were to let you withdraw without completing KYC checks, they could be acting unlawfully – so don’t be surprised if they’re strict about it!
Summary
Know Your Customer checks might seem like red tape, but these are mandatory for a good reason. They exist to ensure that players are who they claim to be, and to monitor customers for specific red-flag behaviours. Completing them is usually a straightforward process which you can do fairly quickly and easily. Most KYC checks are performed automatically and only take a few minutes. However allow up to a few hours in case manual intervention is required.