How To Pass the KYC Process at Online Casinos

Writer: Patrik Lidin Principal Writer and Editor / Head of Content

Experience: Sports Trader, Market Maker, Product Owner Sportsbook, Professional Gambler, Poker Player

Updated: 1 week ago

Reviewed by:   Expert review board

The Purpose of Know Your Customer Processes

All online casinos in the United States conduct KYC (Know Your Customer) processes at one point or another. KYC identifies and verifies the client’s (your) identity and proves the source of funds deposited onto the platform.

KYC checks are done to establish player identity to:

• Prevent money laundering.
• Prevent fraud.
• Counter underage gaming.
• Comply with license requirements.
• Practice responsible gaming.
• Establish trust and credibility.

KYC in Real Money Online Casinos and Sweepstakes Sites

Various stages when KYC is triggered where you must submit KYC documentation to keep access or carry out an action:

Different KYC Checks and Necessary Documentation to Provide

A thorough KYC process would require players to do one or more of the following depending on the operators’ request.

Proof of Identity: Scanning and Uploading Either of the Following Documents 

• US Driver’s License: The name on the card needs to match the name you used when signing up.
• EEA Member State Identity Card.
• US Passport.
• SSN OR ITIN - taxpayer identification number(2).
• US military photo identification card - Common Access Card(3).

Other forms of documentation which may be accepted:

Employee Identity Card (only for listed or public sector companies) or University Card.

Proof of US Residency: Scanning and Uploading Either of the Following Documents 

• US Driver’s License - The card's address must match the address you stated when signing up.
• Property tax bills or letters from the IRS from last year.
• An original lease or rental agreement in your and the landlord's names, including signatures.
• Bank statements where your address and name are present will be accepted. “Neo bank” statements will not be accepted; it has to be a local “brick-and-mortar” bank.
• Utility Bill (Gas, electricity, etc.)
• First-class mail from any government agency stating your name and address.

Other forms of documentation which may be accepted:

Utility Bill, Council Tax Bill, Bank Statement, House or Car Insurance Certificate, House Deed, or Lease Agreement with three months’ worth of rent receipts.

Proving Source of Funds - Triggered When Making Large Deposits or Withdrawals

• A bank statement showing the funds in your bank account with an explanation of where the funds originate;
• Employer contract.
• Recent payslip.

Submitting KYC Documentation to the Operator

After collecting the requested KYC documents, you can submit them via the website or mobile application. Typically, there will be a specific section and process for uploading your documentation.

Sometimes, you’ll come across operators asking you to provide KYC documentation through email. We advise caution when submitting over email as nearly all email services lack adequate encryption that ensure 100% safety. Ideally, a serious operator should have a specific user flow with adequate security measures in place for KYC documentation.

A Word of Caution About Sensitive Financial Information

A potential redflag to be aware of is when operator ask for debit or credit card information. It can happen that you’re asked to provide a photo of the front of your bank card.

Normally, this information isn’t necessary as there are other supporting documentation that are less sensitive that suffice in all situations.

Furthermore, submitting bank card information over email, live chat, or instant messaging goes against PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Digital Security Standards) guidelines(4). 

Furthermore, submitting bank card information over email is typically a policy breach against your card issuer. If payment details are requested, contest it and only provide photocopies where essential details are blurred and refer to the fact that such procedure goes against general guidelines around handling of sensitive financial information.

Wait For Confirmation and Potential Follow-Up

After your submission, you’ll receive an acknowledgement of successful submission. After that, depending on the operator, their KYC team will go through your documents and either ask for complementary documents or accept or deny your KYC submission.

The KYC process can take anywhere from two working days up to one week.

“During our testing of online casinos and gambling sites in general, we’ve found that the standards of KYC verification are much higher in real money online casinos and sports betting sites. There are dedicated secure flows, and the processing times align with the operator's promises. Sweepstakes, on the other hand, tend to take longer. It’s not uncommon that a sweepstakes operator takes 7-14 days to process your KYC request. We’ve also encountered several sweepstakes casinos that only do KYC verification over email, which is far from ideal.”

Patrik Lidin, Gambling Expert

KYC Troubleshooting Common Problems

It’s possible to fail the KYC process. Most often this relates to not providing documents according to the specifications. The following are some of the more common reasons why KYC fail:

Failing to follow Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures can result in rejection of the verification process. Some common examples where individuals may fail KYC checks due to not following the instructions on document submission include:

• Providing Incorrect Documents: Instead of submitting a government-issued ID like a passport or driver’s license, you submit a social media profile picture or student ID, which may not be considered an acceptable form of identification.   
• Submitting Expired Documents: You submit an expired passport or driver’s license, which cannot be accepted for identity verification. Only valid, unexpired documents are typically accepted.
• Uploading Blurry or Low-Quality Images: You submit a photo of your ID that is too blurry or unclear, making it difficult for the system to verify your identity details such as your name, date of birth, or the ID number.
• Mismatching Information Between Documents and the KYC Application: You fill in your application with one name (e.g., a nickname or a variation of your legal name) but submit a formal ID with a different name or different spelling. The mismatch will cause the KYC to fail.
• Submitting Incomplete Documents: You submit a scanned copy of only the front of your ID card, whereas both front and back are required for verification.
• Providing Documents in a Non-Approved Format: The instructions require a PDF or JPEG format, but you submit documents in a non-standard format like TIFF or BMP, which the system cannot process.
• Failure to Provide Proof of Address: When asked to provide a utility bill as proof of address, your submit a bill that’s older than the allowed period (e.g., older than 3 months) or provide a bank statement that doesn't contain a full residential address.
• Not Submitting All Required Documents: The KYC process asks for both a government-issued ID and proof of address, but you only provide one and neglect the other.
• Submitting Altered or Edited Documents: You submit photoshopped or edited versions of your documents, even if the changes are small or superficial (such as cropping), leading to suspicion that the document has been tampered with.
• Not Following the Correct Selfie/Photo Requirements: The KYC process may ask you to take a selfie while holding your ID next to your face for identity matching. If you take a selfie without the ID, or if the photo is unclear (poor lighting, face not fully visible), the verification will likely fail.
• Not Including Translations (When Required): If the submitted document is in a language not accepted by the KYC system and you don’t provide an official translation, the document may be rejected.
• Ignoring State-Specific Document Requirements: In some cases, certain documents may be specific to certain states. For instance, a national passport might not be accepted for a state-specific online casino where they require a state-specific ID.

Make sure to follow the instructions precisely to maximize the chances of clearing the KYC process in a timely manner. If you’re unlucky, the failure of submitting documents correctly is seen as a redflag and the operator takes precautionary measures where they ask for additional, complementary documentation. The longer it takes for your to clear the KYC, the longer it will take to withdraw funds or redeeming coins.

FAQ KYC Process at Online Casinos

Resources and Sources

1. New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement Know Your Customer (KYC) Requirements, accessed on September 25, 2024, <https://www.nj.gov/oag/ge/docs/BestPractices/KnowYourCustomerBestPractices.pdf>
2. Information about Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN), accessed on September 27, 2024, <https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin>
3. Information about Common Access Card (CAC), accessed on September 27, 2024, <https://www.cac.mil/common-access-card/>
4. PCI Data Storage Do’s and Don’ts, accessed on September 25, 2024, <https://listings.pcisecuritystandards.org/pdfs/pci_fs_data_storage.pdf>