We would all agree that protecting young and vulnerable players from the dangers of underage gambling is vital.
It means that online casinos and betting sites have to adopt the most rigorous verification measures when new customers open an account – ensuring they are who they say they are (and are aged 18+) – to ensure they comply with their Gambling Commission licence requirements.
Of course, this can be a source of frustration for people who just want to start playing their favourite casino games, without the need to upload identity documents to satisfy ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) requirements.
Not only is this ‘onboarding’ process slower, it can also unsettle some players, who may be left asking the question: just how is my personal data being used and stored?
So here’s everything you need to know about UKGC age verification measures. What are the rules and how do they protect players of all ages?
What are the UKGC’s Age Verification Rules?
As part of the UK Gambling Commission’s licensing rules, all online casinos must source two verification documents when new customers open an account with them.
These player ID checks ask individuals to send in a proof of identity document, such as a passport or driving licence, as well as proof of address (bank statement, utility bill, mobile phone bill etc).
The I.D. document will confirm the player’s age, ensuring that they conform to the legal minimum age for gambling in the UK (18).
This data is only stored for as long as the casino needs it to complete their verification checks, before being deleted.
Sometimes, an online casino is able to complete these checks using information that is already in the public domain; examples include the electoral roll and credit reference agencies.
If they cannot do this automatically, that’s when they’ll ask new customers for the two documents mentioned: they typically have an online upload tool to make this process easier, or you may be asked to send them via email to the casino’s customer support team.
How Age Verification Checks Protect the Young and the Vulnerable
If betting sites DIDN’T perform these verification checks, it would open the door to anyone and everyone having the chance to gamble – including vulnerable persons and/or those aged under 18.
It is vital that casinos take underage gambling prevention seriously; a Gambling Commission survey in 2024 found that 27% of respondents aged 11-17 had at some point gambled with their own money.
Although around 36% of this was non-regulated gambling – penny arcades, claw grab machines, card games etc, around a quarter of all youngsters surveyed said that they had been able to gamble on regulated activity, be it casino games, sports, poker etc.
To make matters all the more troubling, approximately 4% of the 11-17-year-olds surveyed showcased problem gambling behaviour.
So, KYC and age verification measures are crucial to preventing young people from gambling… which seems to be a problem that’s growing in magnitude.
How to Verify Your Account Quickly and Safely
It’s easy to see why players get frustrated by what they might consider to be annoying admin; that is, having to dig out their identity documents, take a photo, upload etc.
But as we’ve already learned, it’s vital that young people are protected from gambling. And, lest we forget, it’s also a licensing requirement: if an online casino didn’t perform KYC checks, they would almost certainly have their operating licence revoked.
So, you’ll just have to accept that you will need to verify your identity when signing up for a new customer account. You can speed up this process by having your documents handy when creating your account.
Betting sites are aware that unnecessary delays only add to the frustration, so they will do everything in their power to expedite the process. That includes checking the public databases already detailed in this article… who knows, maybe your identity can be verified in this way?
Even in the worst case scenario, most betting sites are able to identify their customers’ identity within an hour these days, with dedicated support staff employed to oversee the KYC process around the clock.
We know that some players are concerned that a betting site will use their data inappropriately, or at least store it online in a way that could be hacked or misappropriated.
This information should not be shared with third parties, as detailed by the casino’s privacy policy, but if you are concerned then track down the site’s policy – this should be detailed via a link in the footer of their homepage.
The data is stored in a highly-secure environment, which is protected by firewalls, SSL encryption and other forms of robust online security.
Why Compliance Benefits All Players
At Prime Slots, we take our commitment to age verification measures very seriously.
But we’re also determined to maximise our players’ user experience, which is why we aim to make our verification processes as quick and as seamless as possible.
In doing so, we’re able to deliver a safe, secure and compliant experience for everyone.
