Account Verification – Casino KYC explained

These days, online account verification is a normal part of playing at an online casino in Canada. In fact, almost all Canadian online casinos require this, especially if they are regulated and licensed within a specific province (here’s looking at you Ontario). Even offshore online casinos typically need verification, unless you’re accessing a dodgy crypto casino. As even crypto casinos tend to require some kind of KYC to be completed. No KYC casinos don’t really exist and neither would those be recommended place to gamble with real money anyways.

Of course, many players balk at the idea of verification. It requires providing personal documents with private information, can take time (both to collect and photograph the documents and wait for the casino’s response), and is generally considered to be a bit of a pain to complete. But, as it is a requirement across most online casinos, getting to understand what it’s for and why it’s there is essential to enjoying your gaming environment.

Why do you need to verify yourself?

For those concerned with the verification process, let’s take a look at why it’s so important to complete. There are advantages to both sides here too, so what’s in it for you, the player?

Player benefits

If your account is hacked, and this can happen on the rare occasion, then the hacker will not be able to do anything with the money you have in your casino account. This is because, not only is personal identification required for your account, but there is a specific bank card or account linked to this account. If there are any attempts at transferring money to a different account to the one that’s been verified, then the profile and account will be blocked until everything is clarified. As such, it’s a great way to add yet another layer of security to your account.

Another benefit to the player is that it makes it impossible to make a second account at the same casino. This is a great feature to have in place as it aids responsible gambling. If you’ve decided to self-exclude due to addiction, then you won’t be able to make another account with the same casino as a way to by-pass the block. It’s a very effective way to enforce this.

Casino benefits

For the casino, there are benefits too, as let’s not forget, players can be fraudulent as well. For example, this is why there are wagering requirements in place for casino bonuses, as they prevent players using and abusing bonuses. But let’s focus on the positives of verification for casinos.

With player verification in place, casinos are able to make sure there are equal opportunities for all players. This is in relation to players only using a single account. Without verification, players could make more than one account which would be defrauding the casino as well as adding an unfair advantage when playing against other players or taking on bonuses. This is because, with multiple accounts, players could claim more than one bonus, something that is usually only given once. With verification, documents are tied to an account preventing repeat registration.

Additionally, it helps to safeguard the casino against fraud. One reason is that it could be underage person who is attempting to create a casino account. It also means that it’s not an=possible for a person to use someone else’s bank account or card to gamble with. As such, this enables casinos to fully comply with all necessary regulations.

Finally, licensing requirements require verification. This is because verification is an effective way to prevent attempts at money laundering through the casino. If data identification is required, fraudsters are not able to make such transactions, which can be detrimental to everyone involved.

Documents required for verification

So, now you know why verification is important, but how does it actually work and what documents do you need? There are three main document verification categories: identity, address and payment.

Identity verification

In order to verify you are who you say you are, you need government-issued ID. This means you can use your passport, driver’s licence or national ID card. However, the ID has to be current and not expired. And, you must have a good, clear photo of your face. Importantly, the name on the ID must also match the name on your account. No tears or changes to your ID will be accepted either — it must be in perfect condition.

As you submit your ID, the full ID must be visible. You may also need to provide the front and back of the ID as well. Additionally, it needs to be nicely lit and clear so that all areas are completely easy to read. Any signatures on the ID must also be visible.

Address verification

For this documentation, you need to have a document that has your address, but also your name on it. Documents like utility bills, bank statements, mortgage or rental agreements will all count. However, the document has to be a recent one. Essentially, it must be from the last three months otherwise it won’t count. Again, it has to have the same name as the one on your casino account, as well as your address.

In similar vein to the identity documents, it must be clear and legible to read. The document must also have your name, address and the issuing date clearly shown alongside which company, business or bank actually issued it.

Payment verification

For this step, a photo (front and back), of your credit or debit card is needed. If you’re using an eWallet, then you will need to provide a complete eWallet statement. This is because the casino has to be able to verify that the payment method you are using is indeed yours, and that it’s not a fraudulent or an in the red account.

Similar again to any other verification documents, what you provide here has to be clearly readable. The name on the payment method should be exactly the same as the one on your casino account. It should also clearly show the billing address and the last four digits of your card number in the case of an eWallet statement. Any transactions linked to the casino account should be clearly shown.

If you’re depositing large amounts of money, source of funds can be asked as well. Providing a payslip or other proof is usually accepted.

Submitting your verification docs

Once you’ve got all the documents ready, the process of submission is relatively simple. The vast majority of online casinos have a specific section for verification. Click here, and you will find (in your account settings), a section for uploading these documents. You may also be required to email these documents to the casino’s support team, but this will be specifically requested if it’s necessary. For privacy reasons it is however better to always upload the documents to your casino account instead of sending them via email.

As mentioned, it’s key to submit clear copies. Many online casinos will have specific guidelines to help you get it right from the off. And, if you’re having to submit more than one document, following the correct labelling is important so that the casino knows which is which. For emailing any documents, only ever use the email linked to your casino account as this adds another layer of veracity.

Can verification be rejected?

In some cases, yes, your verification can be rejected by the casino. However, they will always give a reason why this has occurred. Typically, it’s simply a case of your documents not being clear enough, so you simply need to resubmit better versions. Sometimes, the casino has found differences between your casino account and the information you have provided.

Do not worry if you get rejected. You can resubmit following the feedback or get in touch with the casino’s support team. In some instances, they simply want a live photo verification as well, or even will contact you over the phone to make the final steps complete.

Different verification processes across Canadian provinces

For the most part, all provinces within Canada have verification requirements in place, especially if they’re registered casinos within that province. The steps and requirements outlined above, are the same across all Canadian-based casinos.

However, Ontario does have slightly stricter requirements. In this province, they use FINTRAC-compliant digital infinity data verification. This means that the name, address and DOB you provide, must also match against the Canadian credit bureau data. This can be done as either single credit or dual credit file source. Once the player has been verified this way, then their account becomes unlocked again and the process can continue.

Importantly, offshore casinos also have verification, though not always. Some casinos do not have verification at all, which may seem like a good thing. For some players, providing documents and personal information is something they avoid. This is why no verification casinos or no KYC casinos are popular. However, there are so many reasons why this is bad. Joining a casino without verification exposes you to fraud (both external and internal). You could be hacked, or the casino could be fraudulent itself. If the latter is the case, bonuses may not be awarded, winnings not paid out, or even deposits stolen, and there is nothing you can do about it.

As such, we highly suggest that you go complete the verification process, even if it takes time. The best casinos in Canada all require it, just make sure you check the steps for each province and individual casino.