This guide outlines how to avoid sending your ID when using online sites, by implementing the KYC verification protocol.
The gambling industry can be a target for malicious fraud and money laundering crimes due to the high revenue and profit involved with the industry. It is not difficult to use accounts illegally for theft of funds unless the online gaming sites are licensed by gambling commissions. To prevent money-related crimes in the industry, a process of checking and identification has been involved which blocks the account upon observing any suspicious activity.
What is KYC verification?
This requires information on players including their personal details like identity proof, bank account transactions, and deposit proofs. Therefore, many punters decide to choose UK casino operators without documents verification to not disclose personal data. To avoid spilling personal information to gambling operators, players can use service providers who will aid in transferring money directly from their respective banks into the betting games. They can combat the fear of identity disclosure by depending upon the services.
Steps and reasons to perform KYC verification
KYC verification — the ‘Know Your Customer’ process — is a vital part of the program which makes sure that there are no risks of money laundering or fraud in financing. KYC verification collects personal information and monitors player accounts to investigate malicious activities. In case any evidence is found, KYC and AML regulated programs will freeze the account, disabling withdrawal of funds from the account. The KYC verification regulated system has led to the decrease of successful money laundering to 0.2% as stated by the UN.
Check Age
The first step in checking the identity requires confirming the age of the player, to check if they are underage. Gambling is illegal for minors and even though there are variations in the official gambling age in different countries, there are some betting games that cannot be played by minors like pokies or betting at online casinos.
Check Source of Funds
Often some account holders try to use their online gaming accounts purely for money laundering, which transforms illegal funds into legal funds or use funds from questionable sources that lead casinos and gaming sites to suffer from irreparable loss. More than $3.1 billion has been laundered worldwide alone in the year 2009.
Hence, it has become mandatory for gambling operators to carefully check the source of funds before allowing players to deposit any money in the accounts. To check funds, players are often asked to provide proof of employment, deposit slips, and payment receipts additionally with the personal details already being verified. Operators then decide whether the player is eligible to place huge bets or not and if not how they were able to get the funds from.
AML Checks
AML or Anti-Money Laundering services inspect extensively through various compliance programs. The battle against gambling crimes can be dealt with functionally with AML programs that seek to investigate, approach, and expose crimes related to casino finances. Apart from the AML integrated services, there are other types of regulators that have different functions of their own.
- Simple Due Diligence (SDD): Simple Due Diligence is for organizations that have been proven trustworthy and reliable and the inspection is more lenient but it follows all the procedures needed in other processes. SDD works for smaller funds, a reason for its leniency.
- Customer Due Diligence (CDD): Customer Due Diligence specifically checks the personal information of players and verifies whether they are true or not. This may include address proofs, identity proof, employment proofs, deposit statements, and IDs to run a background check on the player.
- Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD): Enhanced Due Diligence is used to check the source of the funds and to tackle problem users, countries that have tricky gambling policies, and international issues. EDD has a more extensive reach than SDD or CDD.
Ways to avoid KYC verification
It is not easy to avoid KYC processes and the services which claim to offer assistance to players may not be entirely reliable. Although players may feel that most of these services are unreliable, there are other modes of payment that provide commendable assistance to players seeking an alternative to KYC and AML regulated services.
Use No Verification Gambling Sites
Some gambling sites which are placed under less strict observances allow players to register without needing any identity proof or additional information. These casino sites are extremely popular among players and offer more benefits and lesser restrictions. Some may consider these sites to be harmful as they are not registered with formal gambling associations but they need not worry since placing bets without verification is quite safe and secure, and have a good reputation in the gambling industry. In fact, these sites are highly sought out by players who do not want their personal information to be revealed.
They are independent sites that do not need ID proof or other evidence but they are neither registered with self-exclusion services nor do they have the authority of licensed casinos. Yet, they provide services to all players without running a background check and accept credit cards as payment. Although they do not require any information while registering and deposits, they do need them when a player withdraws money from their account. Hence, there is some verification involved with the sites.
Use Trustly or Poli Casinos
Trustly, formed in 2008 and formerly InstantBank, is a payment mode used in Europe that does not require customers to register with the service. Trustly is a well-protected and safe payment mode that works with PayPal to offer a user-friendly and hassle-free mode of payment. This new technology tool connects the players’ bank directly to the online gaming site via an electronic interface where only banking details are required. If the online gaming site accepts Trustly, the payment will reach the site directly from the respective account. Trustly not only offers fast payments but also provides charge-free services.
Poli is a service based in Australia and New Zealand, formed in 2006 which does not require credit cards for transactions and connects the bank account directly to the online gaming and casino sites. Like Trustly, Poli does not require any registration or personal details and just needs the bank account details to direct the funds from the bank to the casino site. It is an easy-to-use and safe method of payment and does not require any additional charge for its service.
Conclusion
There are some ways by which players can both escape the stern observance of KYC-regulated gambling sites and also enjoy betting online. Yet, players must keep in mind the possibilities of developing unhealthy gambling practices and fear of debts if they continue to bet without restrictions. There are ways out of strict compliance but players should always practice safe gambling habits to protect their interests.
