The online gambling market is not the Wild West anymore, online casinos must outright state their owner, business address, and games’ odds, among other things. The same goes for casino players, though. The info you provide when registering a new online casino account must be eventually verified through legal documents, a policy called Know Your Customer (KYC). Failing this step results in account closure or inability to withdraw your winnings.
Read this guide to avoid KYC verification problems at online casinos, your first casino withdrawal will thank us!
What is the Casino KYC Process?
Every online website or business dealing with monetary transactions must verify its customers’ identity and source of funds to ensure that they aren’t involved in money laundering or fraudulent activities.
Information online casinos must verify includes identity, home address, and proof of banking method ownership. How most players complete the KYC process is by uploading photocopies of their ID, a recent utility bill to prove their home address, and a bank account statement.
Casinos review the files to ensure the info matches and that they adhere to their requirements. This process must be completed once at every online casino, withdrawals are not processed otherwise. Some operators request extra verification when huge cash withdrawals are requested, A$5000+.
How to Pass KYC Verification at Online Casinos
Most online casinos allow players to register a new account by only providing a username and password, email address, mobile number, and date of birth. At the same time, the player agrees to the casino’s T&Cs stating that KYC checks must be completed before payouts are enabled.
Initially, you only need to link your email address and make a first deposit to play. When the minimum withdrawal limit has been reached, you can visit your casino profile and fill in all the fields. Casinos ask for your full home address, security questions, full name, and other details.
Then, the verification page will outline the documents the casino accepts as proof of your account details. The easiest way to pass the process is to take screenshots or pictures of your ID or passport, a recent utility bill that displays your name and home address, and a snapshot of your eWallet, bank card or account and upload them to the respective fields.
Casinos then take up to 24 hours to review the documents and upgrade your account if they meet their requirements. Players often fail this process because their photos are blurry, the edges are hidden or have spelling errors. Make sure to avoid inconsistencies and read the casino’s specific requirements to avoid frustration and delays.
Essential Documents
The documents online casinos ask from registered players as part of the KYC process are:
- ID or Passport to prove identity and age (18 is the minimum for Aussie gamblers)
- Recent utility bill to prove home address (issued in less than 3 months)
- Bank account statement, back/front of bank card, or photo of eWallet displaying the owner. This will depend on what option you used to deposit at the casino in the first place.
Some casinos also ask for a selfie in which you are holding your ID or Passport, a signed credit card authorisation agreement form, and a video call to check you are not a robot. The best place to see the document submission details, such as the size of photos, is the casino’s rules page, and specifically the account verification section.
Why is Online Casino Verification Mandatory?
The flow of money has changed significantly in the past 20 years, and gov’ts struggled significantly to trace how and where their residents spend their money. This made accurate taxation and background checks impossible. Several international bills and regulations have been introduced over the years. Now, all banks, money apps, and websites taking deposits and withdrawals must enforce the KYC procedure described above to ensure that they aren’t involved in anti-money laundering activities or fraud.
Crypto is the only way to move funds under the radar in the digital world, yet even crypto casinos enforce KYC checks to avoid getting flagged by regulators.
No KYC Casinos
Most online casinos conduct KYC checks when a withdrawal is requested for the first time. You can deposit and play without completing this process. Some casinos might skip KYC checks unless a payout exceeding A$800 is filed, this is the closest you will ever find to no KYC online casinos.
Nowadays, if a casino states that they don’t conduct KYC checks you should steer clear – they are scammers and will likely take your money and run away.
Pros and Cons
Know Your Customer checks are a requirement for players and casinos. None is happy with the situation, although it does bring some positive features too. Here is our take:
KYC at Casinos Pros | KYC at Casinos Cons |
Prevents fraud | Casinos might ask for extra verification |
Protects against underage gambling | Documents can take up to 72 hours to pass review, and more if the first attempt fails |
Usually completed in less than 12 hours | Often used as an excuse by scammers to refuse payouts |
Aussie casinos require verification at a later point |
Advanced KYC Verification Software for Online Gambling
Online casino customer support teams can take a minute to review the documents players submit for KYC verification. Then, a document might be rejected, and the process begins anew. To avoid frustration and delays, new software systems have been devised that conduct automated KYC checks in real-time, and users scan the documents there directly. Apps like Veriff are used by the following casinos and generally improve this process.
Conclusion
The online casino verification process is now an integral part of online gambling. You cannot bypass it, and casinos without a KYC process aren’t trustworthy. Make sure to correctly enter your personal details during registration, take clear images of the right documents, and submit them for review right after your first deposit. This way you won’t have to wait days to get paid. Also, only play at approved online casinos that protect your personal info and pay out without excuses.
- About the Author
- Affiliate Disclosure
Michael has reviewed and verified all information on this page. Having worked in the iGaming industry for over 8 years, he is the most capable person to help you navigate online casinos, pokies, and the Australian gambling landscape.