Know Your Customer (KYC) Procedures

Updated: December 30, 2020

All legitimate NZ online casinos are required by law to include KYC procedures in their operations. What do they mean for players and why are they a must in the virtual gambling space?

What is KYC?

KYC is a process that online operators, as well as thousands of businesses of other verticals, use to verify the identity and financial details of their customers. The main reason behind it is:

assessing risk potential
preventing illegal and/or underage gambling
preventing bribery and money laundering

The process ensures an extra layer of safety from both the operator and player sides. Although it may mean a little hassle for a casino player and few more minutes spent on collecting information, the guaranteed peace of mind that we receive back is rather worth it.

How Do KYC Checks Look Like?

All online casinos licensed by recognised gambling authorities, such as the Malta Gaming Authority, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission or Kahnawake Gaming Commission, are required to perform identity and finance background checks of their users.

The checks might take slightly different forms depending on the operator, however, the key aspects remain the same for all casinos. In order to pass the verification process at an online casino, you will be able to provide:

ID/passport/driver’s licence – thanks to one of these documents, an operator will verify your identity and age
Utility bill or bank statement – this will provide your proof of address
Payslip/pension/dividends – you will often have to verify your payment method or provide proof of earnings to show that your funds have been generated legally

It’s important that all the documents required by the casino are scanned properly so that the information is readable and of good quality. Also, any financial statements should not be older than 3 months in order to pass the check.

How Do Casinos Use and Store Player Information?

Online casinos must inspect users’ documentation thoroughly to ensure players can get legally involved in real money gambling. Such information is stored in their systems, which for many constitutes a cybersecurity concern.

In the times of cybercrime and unstable data protection, one might fear that their personal information can be easily accessed by third parties. However, all licensed casinos are bound by harsh data privacy policies, such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) that regulate how they manage your data.

No gambling operator can share your personal or financial information externally without your consent. Only authorised and trained staff can access it, hence why you should not worry about the misuse of data.

If you suspect that the casino of your choice wrongly handles your data, you have a right to investigate it and, eventually, turn to the gaming authority for further help.

List of licensed NZ casino operators