Security & KYC

How user data is collected in online casinos, what it is used for, and ways to protect against information leaks.

An important part of how virtual gambling sites work is security. There is hardly any need to explain why. In online casinos, you are dealing not only with money, and often with substantial amounts, but also with users’ personal data. Sometimes not knowing how personal information is protected forces fans of gambling entertainment to give up registering and playing in online casinos, or even leads to a mass of assumptions, myths, and conspiracy theories. To clear up misunderstandings and many imagined reasons for concern, it is worth talking about this aspect of how online gambling clubs work.

Types of information collected about a user in an online casino

First of all, a gambling site accumulates data on each registered user that allows it to identify them and perform verification in accordance with current law. This is:

…and it is precisely the collection of this kind of data that makes current or potential users of virtual gambling platforms uneasy.

The details listed above are provided to the casino by the player personally. But  in addition to this, apart from the user’s direct knowledge of it, the venue also collects and stores data about the devices through which the account was accessed (IP addresses, MAC addresses, and other similar identifiers) . This is how rule breakers who create multiple accounts are identified, and suspicious nonstandard logins from previously unused devices or locations are detected.

What does the casino need this information for?

The collected data, both personal data revealed by the player themselves and additional data obtained later, can be used not only to fight abuse, but also for user security. If criminals gain access to a player’s account and try to withdraw funds to their own payment details, the stored transfer details come in very handy. With their help, it is possible to stop the wrongdoing and the theft of money from a casino account.

Now it should be clear to many why casinos forbid deposits and withdrawals to and from accounts belonging to people who are not connected to the registered user. Here, this is not only about protecting the player’s financial interests, but also about meeting legal requirements for combating the laundering of proceeds obtained by criminal means (AML).

How information is collected

Information about the client is collected by saving the data that the visitor provides about themselves during:

• opening an account,
• filling out a profile,
• communicating with representatives
• and basically using the casino service.

Casinos also turn to special software that sorts, processes, systematizes, and organizes customer data.

What other data gambling sites collect

A casino collects not only personal information about its players. If personal data is needed for identifying the client, meeting legal requirements, and monitoring compliance with the rules, there is also a type of nonpersonal data accumulated while using the venue’s service. This is:

1. which computer devices the user uses to access the online casino (PC, mobile phone, tablet),
2. which browser and operating system they use,
3. which country’s language they choose for the interface,
4. what time of day they are most active,
5. which games they spend the most time on
6. and other actions performed on the resource.

Although the listed data is not private, if it is combined with personal information, it already becomes personal, since it forms a profile of the habits and preferences of a specific person.

What the data is collected for

As already mentioned, personal data is needed to identify the client, meet licensing requirements and legal obligations, fight money laundering by criminal organizations, and prevent casinos from being used as part of schemes to transfer funds to criminals and terrorists. But the range of uses for information collected about casino visitors is much broader. Here are a few more ways the data obtained can be used:

• to fix errors in the gambling platform and improve the service;
• to improve rules and methods for fighting fraud and illegal activity;
• to conduct research and analytical work in the field of gambling;
• to create new products;
• for marketing purposes.

The last point means that the data obtained can be used as notifications about new products, promotions, and other advertising materials that the resource believes may interest the user or that were identified through analytics. And not only on the specific site where the registration took place and regular play is happening, but also on others that belong to the same group of resources, if the company has more than one venue.

All kinds of offers can come in the form of emails, SMS messages, as well as phone calls. If that makes you uncomfortable or you do not like something, you can contact the venue and ask not to use a certain type of notification, or to stop them all at once.

Licensed online casinos that care about their reputation are very sensitive to their customers’ wishes and respect their right to privacy. To opt out of calls or mailings, it is often enough to tick the appropriate option in your account or ask support to remove you.

So, the data collected about players is analyzed and used to make their time in the virtual venue more comfortable, as well as to increase the casino’s own revenue through research that helps make services more attractive, raise player engagement, and generally expand the customer base.

Security in storing data about players and their payment details

Security largely depends on whether the casino has a license, since regulatory requirements include a number of rules that online casino owners must follow in relation to their customers’ personal data and its confidentiality.

That is why choosing a licensed venue for play is an important point. Here the owners will already be concerned about preventing leaks, since this can lead to hefty fines and loss of the license.

Protecting confidentiality is an important part of how online casinos operate. For some players, it is a matter of reputation, since, for example, they do not want anyone to know about their gambling hobby. We should not forget about players who live in countries where gambling is forbidden. Of course, in the first place the organizers fall under the law, but being caught using the services of forbidden venues is not exactly pleasant either.

When a casino goes through the licensing process, it is checked for the necessary equipment and software capable of protecting customer data from leaks. But the venues themselves point out to clients that the highest level of security is provided by downloadable casino versions.

How data protection is ensured

There are several methods that confirm a high level of data protection:

Licensed rated casinos care about safe play

You can play in an online casino safely and without worrying that personal data or payment details will fall into the hands of criminals only when you choose a gambling resource with a high rating from real users. On such sites, information about the license, certificates, and auditing agencies is open, and reviews on independent forums confirm their reliability.

To find out which casinos are leading among gambling fans, just go to the Online Casino Rating section, where gaming venues are rated by real players based on their experience. There you can see which platforms are the most popular. If you want to learn more, just open the casino reviews and read the current feedback left by gamblers.
The reviews contain information about which casino has a license, minimum deposit and withdrawal requirements, restricted countries, and other data, including what loyalty offers are available and whether there are no deposit bonuses.

By choosing a rated licensed online casino for play, you are unlikely to end up in a conflict situation if you follow the venue’s rules, and you can be confident in the security of the data you enter, since such platforms care about their position and their image in the eyes of their visitors.

Identity verification procedure: order, conditions, requirements. How to verify an online casino account. List of online casinos that require a mandatory verification procedure (proof of ownership) for a gaming account

When withdrawing winnings from a casino, the player will need to identify themselves. This process is called verification. And it makes absolutely no difference that you may have been paid out from this casino before without having to go through this procedure.

This is not because the venue wants to make life harder for the player in any way or take away their winnings,  it is a mandatory requirement of the gambling license .
For example, in online casinos operating under a license issued by Malta, the amount of winnings or deposits after which the casino must identify the client is clearly set. It is 2000 euros.

Another reason why an online casino carries out verification is  the large number of players who try to trick the venue and take advantage of bonus offers for personal gain . Such players are called “abusers“, from the English word abuse. And, of course, identity confirmation guarantees the casino that  the player has reached the age of majority  and has the right to take part in gambling.

In this section we are talking specifically about account verification in licensed casinos. These are the venues that have every reason to carry it out, and it is also safe there. A completely different situation arises if you are asked to go through verification in a nonlicensed (script-based) casino. Of course, it is your right to hand over your documents to people who are trying to scam players. But we strongly do not recommend doing this if you do not want your documents sold or used to get microloans online, as mules in every possible illegal scheme.

What set of documents is needed to pass verification?

In most cases, the list of such documents is identical in every venue, but there are also some additions. That is why we will describe all possible options that may be useful to you. This will help you understand whether the request for additional documents is legitimate, and in what form they should be provided.

Document to confirm identity

You need to provide any document confirming the player’s identity. This includes an official document issued by the state whose citizen you are. In most cases, this is of course a passport.

You need to make a scanned copy or a photo of the pages showing your last name, first name, date of birth, who issued the document, and when. Please note that the scanned copies or photos of the document must be readable and of good quality, and all 4 corners and sides of the document must be visible. Otherwise, the venue staff carrying out the check will request the documents again, which will increase the time needed for verification.

Before sending your documents, ask casino support what information you can hide, usually part of the passport number. And be sure to do it. Any graphics program can black out part of the number. For example, Photoshop or the standard Paint that comes with any Windows operating system. Open the document image you received and black out part of the number. This will make you much safer. After that, you can send the documents to the casino.

Document to confirm the address

When filling out a profile in an online casino, the player enters an address. That is what needs to be confirmed. The following documents are suitable for this requirement:

• Bank statement showing the client’s first and last name and address.
• Utility bill showing the address and full name of the person who made the payment.
• Receipt for payment of any services containing the client’s first and last name and address.

The documents are provided as scans or you will need to take photos of them. If you are sending a document containing confidential information, for example an agreement to open a bank account, such information should be hidden on the copies you send, for example by blacking out the account number, and so on.

Document to confirm the method used to make the deposit

You can top up your casino gaming account using a bank card or numerous e-wallets. In the case of:

Selfie

Casinos have started asking people to take a photo of themselves while holding an identity document and, in addition, a sheet of paper with a certain inscription. In our view, this procedure is not clear-cut, and if it is not stated in the online casino’s rules and terms, you may refuse to go through it. And this will not be grounds for refusing to pay out the winnings. But if the casino insists, you can either start disputing this requirement through the regulator, which is a long process, or insist on verification via Skype.

Passing verification using video communication tools

This allows the casino to make sure that you are indeed the full owner of the account and that the documents you provide to the casino are real and belong to you. A casino representative will contact you, ask you to show your passport, and ask a few simple questions. That is basically where Skype verification ends.

Unfortunately, this procedure, like the selfie requirement, has become almost routine because many dishonest players buy document sets and try to “abuse” the venue.

Conclusion about the verification procedure in an online casino

As you can see, confirming your identity in an online casino is quite simple. But still be careful, do not do everything the casino asks if it is not required by the rules. Also, if you have requested a withdrawal and the casino deliberately drags out the identification process, do not panic and do not cancel the withdrawal under any circumstances. In any case, they will pay out the funds, and this situation will be a great indicator that you should not continue playing at this venue.

On average, account verification is completed within 24 hours. But as practice shows, some casinos can do it in 15 minutes.

If you go through verification in a foreign casino that does not have Russian-language support, you may need to translate the documents into another language. You can do this yourself, for example by noting on the copy of the document in English what is where. Or the simplest option is to provide a foreign passport.

We advise you to keep the submitted documents after going through the first verification procedure. Later, you will be able to use them for verification in other casinos.

The verification procedure for a gaming account is an essential part of the rules of every reputable online casino. It is quite possible that right after registration you will not have to deal with identity verification, but sooner or later your withdrawal request may be rejected, and the reason will be the lack of verification, with a request to send the relevant confirmation of the account holder’s details.

Many players are uneasy about this point, after all, they do have to send color copies of their documents, so let us take a closer look at why this rule exists, how necessary it is to follow it, and  whether there are online casinos without identity verification  and when you really should not send document copies.

Why casinos require verification

The first and very strong reason

If we look at reliable gambling resources whose work is regulated by the best jurisdictions in this industry, then certain regulations require identity checks.

In global legal practice there are such concepts as “KYC” – know your customer and “AML” – anti money laundering. By implementing them, state authorities seek to limit the ways of financing and settling accounts in the criminal world, as well as reduce possible channels for funds to reach terrorist organizations. To combat criminals, areas that are directly connected with money circulation are subject to mandatory requirements that must be followed. Online gambling is no exception, because the financial turnover in this sector exceeds $50 billion, and this figure is growing as more and more people interested in gambling turn to virtual services.

The second reason is fighting abuse

To attract new users, virtual gambling houses give out no deposit bonuses. The terms of some of them give a high chance of winning in a casino without investing your own money, and that is why such offers become the target of bonus hunters. After an unsuccessful attempt, or even after cashing out winnings from a no deposit bonus, they may come back to the casino for another bonus by registering a new account. Such actions violate the rules of gambling venues, but even experienced bonus hunters have their own methods for bypassing some of the measures casinos use to fight abuse. When identity verification is required, it becomes much harder to create multiaccounts, so casinos may turn to this procedure when they suspect that a player is abusing the gambling resource’s generosity, even when the casino policy contains a clause stating that verification is not mandatory at all.

Documents for verifying an online casino account

Checking email and mobile phone now begins play in almost every online casino.
Then verification of the data may be required.

The list of documents that casinos consider acceptable for confirming your identity is usually standard:

• passport (a resident passport or a passport for traveling abroad), driver’s license, or another document proving that you really are who you claim to be. But, to avoid wasting time, it is best to always check the list with casino support.

• Often another verification point is proof of residential address. Some casinos focused on the Russian market check it using the passport page with registration. There are also those for which the address is not important. But European gambling sites and sites that work in the same style require a scan of a utility bill no older than 2-3 months.

• There is also a verification option where you need to send not only scanned or photographed copies, but also take your own selfie with the document in your hand.

• Sometimes you also need to write the casino name, the date, or another phrase on a sheet of paper.

Since the likelihood of going through identity verification is quite high, you should fill in your personal details in the profile carefully and avoid mistakes. Typos or deliberate distortion of information may later lead to further delays in document checks and withdrawals.

The casino rules almost always include a clause about confidentiality. But it is best to rely on that clause when using online gambling services that are provided by a truly licensed casino with high ratings and reviews. They are forced to carry out verification at least for the strong reasons listed under the first subheading of the article. The goals of dubious sites can be very different. But mostly it is an excuse to delay payment or to try to find a reason not to make it.

Playing in a casino without document checks

You can play without verification. Large venues may even not ask for a check when the stakes are small and withdrawals do not exceed a certain level, usually up to 2-3 thousand euros.

But, for example, in the United Kingdom, home to one of the most highly rated jurisdictions, the UK Gambling Commission, the issue of introducing new mandatory rules is being considered, under which the identity verification procedure will have to be completed before the gaming session begins. That means you will not be able to spin a slot or place bets in another game until you confirm that you are who you say you are. On the one hand, it is convenient: all the paperwork with document checks is already done, you know for sure that the account is verified, there will be no problems with withdrawal, and the winnings will be received quickly. Although, of course, there will be those who do not like the new changes. This concerns players who do not want to give out their data for reasons known only to them and try by any means to avoid the procedure.

If new rules are introduced, you will have to decide whether to play in a licensed casino with a high rating or turn to other gambling resources. For example, cryptocurrency gambling platforms try to preserve confidentiality. But before depositing money into such venues, you should definitely read up on the casino’s reputation, and even if players have rated such a casino fairly well, no one is protected if the owners suddenly decide to change the rules and the established order.

There are virtual gambling venues that do not have a license from the most reliable jurisdictions, but still keep an eye on their rating and may adopt some requirements that help the venue work well. This applies to some online casinos in rubles aimed at Russian-speaking users.

Identity verification and casino scams

Fraudulent structures posing as gambling venues or gambling sites from the blacklist may be attractive because they do not require identity verification from their visitors. Here you are either highly likely to run into script-based software where the outcome is predetermined. Or, in the second case, after a successful run, they may apologize and tell you that the casino rules were changed literally yesterday or starting today and that verification is required. But sending documents by email to an online fraudulent organization does not guarantee that you will receive your winnings. It is good if this is done to delay payment in order to increase the likelihood that you will come back to play and lose everything. This practice is also present in online casinos with medium or low ratings, but there, if you do not fall for the trick and stay persistent, you can still get your winnings.

Sometimes, of course, complaints and appeals to a third party are unavoidable. If necessary, you can go to the Casino Complaints section on our site, where it would also be useful to see which platforms have had conflicts and for what reason with other players. But if you have really landed on a fraudulent site where the game itself is just a facade, you will not be able to withdraw money. Information about such resources is published in the Casino Blacklist. A financial dispute can also arise with venues that have a low score in the Online Casino Rating, so it is better not to play in them.

So, to sum up, we note that although online casinos without verification of a gaming account (identity check) do exist, using their services may be accompanied by certain risks, especially if you are dealing with venues that are known to be rather weak.