Your Complete KYC Guide for Online Gambling

When you go to a casino, someone at the door will ask you to show your ID. The same thing happens at online casinos. It’s called the Know Your Customer (KYC) process. In this guide, we’ll explain what this process is, why Canadian gambling sites have it, and what you need to do to complete the process.

What Are Casino KYC Requirements and Why Are They Necessary?

Casino KYC requirements are rules that online casinos follow to verify the identities of their players. Typically, these rules require you to upload a copy of your driver’s license or other ID. if it matches the information you used to create your account, congrats, you’ve passed the KYC requirements and can start playing.

Why the KYC process is essential

There are three main reasons:

Age Verification: Anyone can create an online casino account and say that they are over 18 or 21. KYC requirements require you to prove it.
Fraud and Anti-Money Laundering: When a casino asks you to give your ID before making a deposit, it’s basically asking you to show that your name matches your card, bank account, etc. This stops people from using stolen identities or payment methods and can be important for adhering to international Anti–Money Laundering laws.
Responsible Gambling: KYC rules can help online casinos and betting sites identify banned players or persons who had voluntarily signed up for self-exclusion.

Extra legal requirement

In addition to these reasons, KYC rules also often have a legal requirement. Regulators won’t give licenses to casino sites that don’t verify the identities of their players. For example, all online casinos in Ontario must have a KYC process in place.

What our expert thinks: In my experience, all casinos have KYC requirements, even if it’s not required by law. This is because the requirements are so good at rooting out fraud and underage gambling. However, I have seen some casinos that aren’t as strict about KYC. These will only ask you to upload your ID once you withdraw above a certain amount of money. This is rare, though.

How to Verify Your Casino Account in a Few Easy Steps

Now that we’ve gone over what KYC gambling requirements are, let’s talk about how to actually go through the process of verifying your identity.

1. Prepare your documents

Every online casino has slightly different KYC requirements, but most require the same documents, so it’s useful to get them ready before you create your account.

You should definitely have your government-issued ID close by or have a clear picture of it saved on your computer/smartphone. I also recommend having a copy of a utility bill or bank statement (no older than 3 months) for proof of address. Also be prepared to take a selfie, since you might be asked to provide a picture to compare with your ID.

You may also be asked to provide proof of your payment method, such as a photo of your credit/debit card or screenshot of your e-wallet account. In my experience, this is pretty rare and usually only comes up after you create your account or if you make a series of high-value transactions.

2. Create your casino account

Once you have your documents ready, pick a casino you want to play at and create your account. Make sure the information you provide exactly matches your ID and other documents.

3. Upload your documents

Most online casinos will make it very clear where and how to upload your documents. Many will send you directly to a verification page as soon as you sign up or before you make your first deposit or withdrawal.

From there, just have to follow the steps provided by the casino. Typically, all you’ll need to do is upload your files and sometimes take a picture of yourself

4. Wait for verification

After you submit your documents, all you have to do is wait. For how long? It honestly depends on where you play. Some casinos automatically process identity checks, while others do it manually.

Most casinos will complete the verification process within 24 to 48 hours. Make sure to pay attention to your email and casino account page for updates.

5. Receive confirmation and withdraw funds

As soon as the KYC process is complete, you will enjoy all the perks of your casino account. This means instant deposits, faster withdrawals, and a wider variety of casino payment methods available.

Top 5 KYC Mistakes – and How to Avoid Them

The KYC process is very simple, but you’d be surprised how often things go wrong. Documents get rejected all the time for tons of reasons. Thankfully, most of these issues can be avoided if you avoid making these five KYC mistakes.

Step 1

Using an expired ID

Online casinos will accept passports, driver’s licenses, tribal IDs, and pretty much every other type of government-issued ID, but not if it’s expired. Ensure that whichever form of ID you choose to submit is still valid and not expired. If it is, don’t be surprised if the ID is rejected.

Step 2

Submitting blurry or cropped images

If your documents aren’t accepted right away, double-check to make sure the photos are not blurry or obscured in any way. A lot of the checks are completely automatic, and some of the programs aren’t great at dealing with low-quality pictures that a human might be able to read. Try to get the best picture possible with good lighting. I even recommend scanning your ID to get the highest -resolution copy possible.

Step 3

Mismatched details

When registering a casino account, you’ll be asked to enter your name, address, and other personal information. Make sure the information you provide is exactly the same as it is on your driver’s license, utility bill, etc. This may seem minor, but trust me, it could make a huge difference if you’re ever asked for additional proof of identity or source of funding.

Step 4

Not providing all the required documents

Casinos want you to play with them. They will tell you the exact documents they need from you. If you don’t provide all the documents they ask for, expect delays.

Step 5

Ignoring additional requests

Online casinos often reach out for more information, especially if you are a frequent player or high roller. If they send you a message asking for more documents, respond as soon as possible. If you ignore it or take too long to get back, your account might get suspended.

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About Our Casino Expert

Stephen Abiola

Casino and Games Specialist

Stephen Abiola is an experienced Canadian iGaming writer with over 10 years dedicated to covering the best in online casinos. To date, he has written more than 5,000 articles, and has no plans to slow down. Always exploring new betting techniques; Stephen ensures readers get the most up-to-date insights. He’s also a strong advocate of responsible gambling, reminding players that knowing where to play is just as important as knowing when to stop.

FAQ

No, all regulated casinos require you to verify your identity before being allowed to make any withdrawals.

KYC processing periods differ from casino to casino. Some sites take just a few minutes. More realistically, though, you should expect to wait between 24 and 48 hours.

The only things you can do are retake the photo with better lighting or scan your document using a scanner.

Some casinos may accept a bank statement or other document from your financial provider instead, but this isn’t guaranteed. If you recently moved and your address changed, you may need to provide additional proof of address.

This doesn’t happen often, but it is simply an additional security measure to prevent identity fraud. Hold your ID next to your face and take a clear selfie as instructed.