The online gambling market is one of the rapidly growing industries globally. Several factors have contributed to the significant growth, including new advanced technology. The availability of smartphones, tablets, and other modern devices has improved the user experience by providing a variety of gaming options, convenient and cost-effective options from the comfort of your home.
Currently, around 4.4 billion people worldwide have access to the internet. These statistics and other factors have played a part in the widespread and flourishing of the online gambling and betting market. Even though the industry is already highly regulated, the rapid growth has compelled regulators to focus more on Know Your Customer (KYC) as well as Anti-Money Laundering (AML). This article provides information about KYC in the iGaming industry, the benefits, the verification process, and more.
Verification Process
As aforementioned, the KYC process is done to determine whether the customer is underage or to confirm the provided information. The casino or betting site will ask you to provide different government-issued documents that match details you used when signing up. Some of the standard documents you will be asked to provide include:
- Proof of Identity (ID). The operator may request the player to prove their ID by providing different documents such as the National ID, Passport, Driving license, Provisional license, Voter’s card, or Armed forces ID.
- Proof of Address. These documents may be requested to proof where you live, and it must match with the one you used when registering. Most casino operators will ask for documents with your full details, including the name. The common documents you may provide include a household utility bill, bank or building society statements, local authority tax bill, or a solicitor’s letter confirming your ID.
- Proof of Payment. Online casinos and bookmakers support a wide range of banking options for adding and withdrawing funds. Even some gambling sites with no ID and documents required will ask you to provide some information before depositing money into your account. Credit/Debit users must provide the first 16 and last 4 digits, name and expiry date to verify their cards. Other payment options like Neteller, Skrill, or Bank Account require a screenshot of the statement to verify the transaction.
The time it takes for the verification of documents to be completed will vary depending on the payment option and the casino site you are using. This could be between 24 and 72 hours.
Importance of KYC
KYC is one of the mandatory procedures used in the online gambling and gaming industry. To protect users and sites from illegal activities in countries like the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, Sweden, Japan, operators are required to verify the identity, age, location, and source of money. The same way reputable gambling sites provide a fair and safe gambling environment, customers should also trust them with their data.
All information collected by casino operators is protected by the latest sophisticated technology like the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. Failing to comply with the ‘Know Your Customer’ protocol may lead to the closure of your account and losing funds. These procedures also help operators to offer a flawless, trustful, and incredible user experience.
However, the KYC is only mandatory to gambling platforms that are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).
Conclusion
When choosing an excellent online casino, the quality and range of games are not enough. You must ensure that the operator is fully licensed and regulated, and adheres to the KYC policies.
These procedures are created to prevent fraudulent activities in the gambling industry and to ensure that the player is safe and secure at all times. Most casinos allow customers to update their personal information in case there are some changes to avoid clashes in the future.
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