KYC stands for Know Your Customer: the checks a UK casino app must complete to confirm your name, address and date of birth before you can deposit or gamble. Most are done automatically against databases when you sign up, with documents such as a passport or utility bill requested only if those checks can't confirm who you are.
KYC means Know Your Customer: confirming who you are before you gamble.
UK operators must verify name, address and date of birth before you deposit or play.
Database checks come first; documents are asked for if they're needed.
Source-of-funds questions are part of anti-money laundering and safer gambling duties.
A withdrawal mustn't trigger ID requests that could reasonably have been made earlier.
Stands for
Know Your Customer
Minimum details
Name, address, date of birth
When
Before you deposit or gamble
Rule
LCCP licence condition 17.1.1
In force
7 May 2019 (previously 72 hours allowed)
What KYC means
KYC is a term borrowed from banking. It describes the process a regulated business uses to establish who its customer is, and to keep that information up to date. In gambling, it combines age verification, identity checks, and, at higher spending levels, questions about where your money comes from.
You'll often see it in an app as "verify your account" or "identity check". It's one of the account terms explained in our casino app glossary.
Operators must obtain and verify your identity, including name, address and date of birth, before you're allowed to gamble.
Before you deposit, they should tell you what documents or information may be needed, when, and how to provide them.
This replaced an older system that gave operators 72 hours to complete age checks after an account was opened. Since 7 May 2019, checks must be done up front. Our page on identity checks before you play covers the history.
How KYC works in a casino app
The usual layers of a casino KYC check
Layer
What happens
When
Database check
Your details are matched against sources such as credit reference agencies and the electoral roll
At sign-up, usually automatic
Self-exclusion check
The operator confirms you haven't self-excluded
At sign-up
Documents
Photo ID such as a passport or driving licence, or a household bill for address
Only if database checks can't confirm you
Selfie
A photo to match against your ID
Where fraud is suspected
Source of funds
Bank statements or similar
For anti-money laundering or safer gambling reasons
Send documents through the operator's official route; PlayOJO, for example, asks for uploads through its upload tool rather than email.
Photograph the whole document in good light, with all four corners and the text clearly visible.
Make sure the name and address match the details on your account exactly.
Use a recent bill or statement for proof of address, and check the operator's rules on how recent it must be.
Wait for confirmation, and contact support if you haven't heard back within the stated time.
PlayOJO's help pages list a passport, driving licence, ID card or utility bill as accepted documents, say it aims to verify within 12 hours, and asks you to contact support if there's no answer within 48 hours. Our list of what documents casino apps ask for covers the common ones.
KYC, source of funds and spending checks
As spending rises, KYC can go beyond identity. The Commission's page on why gambling businesses want to know about your finances (opens in a new tab) gives two reasons: anti-money laundering, which means checking your money comes from a legitimate source, and social responsibility, which means spotting signs you may be gambling money you don't have.
Since 28 February 2025, a light financial vulnerability check, using public records such as bankruptcies and county court judgments, applies once deposits minus withdrawals pass £150 in a rolling 30 days. Fuller financial risk assessments using credit-reference data were piloted but aren't live. See source of funds and financial risk checks.
Your protections during KYC
No surprise checks at withdrawal. A withdrawal request mustn't trigger requests for information that could reasonably have been asked for earlier, unless another legal duty requires it then.
No confiscation. Terms shouldn't allow funds to be removed because you couldn't verify your identity, and money can't be taken because you didn't verify within a time limit.
Clear notice. You should be told before depositing what might be needed.
You'll need to pass KYC with any partner before a deposit, so the welcome offer comes after verification. The three below are slot spin offers for new customers aged 18+, and terms apply. Each app's verification page sets out what it asks for: Coral, Ladbrokes and PlayOJO.
Coral Casino: once verified, deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slots for 100 free spins at 10p on selected games. Accept within 48 hours, use within 7 days; no wagering on winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards are excluded. Offer period 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027.
Ladbrokes Casino: deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day over 10 days, capped at 500, 10p each on selected games. Claim each day's spins before 23:59; they last 7 days; no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers don't qualify.
PlayOJO: first deposit of £10+ for 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, 10p each; no wagering, cash winnings. For new UK customers, Northern Ireland excluded; not combinable; designated offer link only.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open another; check the terms first.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Coral app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Time limitClaim daily for 10 days; each batch valid 7 days
Worked valueUp to 500 spins at £0.10 (up to £50 in spins)
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Ladbrokes app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our PlayOJO app reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, Gambling Commission account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What does KYC stand for in gambling?
KYC stands for Know Your Customer. In UK gambling it means the checks an operator runs to confirm your name, address and date of birth before you can deposit or gamble, plus later checks on where your money comes from if needed. The term comes from banking and anti-money laundering rules. Our guide on how casino apps verify your identity explains each step.
Why does a casino app need my ID?
Because the law requires it. Gambling Commission licence condition 17.1.1 says operators must verify your identity before you gamble, and checks also confirm you're 18+ and haven't self-excluded. Most people pass through automatic database checks; documents are only requested if those can't confirm you. Our answer on why a casino app asked for your passport covers document requests.
How long does KYC take on a casino app?
Database checks at sign-up are usually automatic. If documents are needed, timing depends on the operator: PlayOJO says it aims to verify within 12 hours and asks you to contact support after 48 hours without an answer. Clear, matching documents help. Our answer to how long casino app verification takes compares what operators publish.
Can I gamble before KYC is complete?
No. Since 7 May 2019, UK operators have had to verify age and identity before you can deposit or gamble, and that includes using a bonus. Free-to-play demo games also need age verification first. Earlier rules gave operators 72 hours. Our page on age verification rules for casino apps explains how the change came about.
Is it safe to upload documents to a casino app?
Use only a licensed operator's own app or website, and its official upload tool, rather than sending documents to anyone who contacts you. Check the operator on the Gambling Commission's register first. Keep your phone and app updated, and use two-factor authentication where offered. Our guide to keeping your casino account secure covers the basics.
Why is a casino asking for bank statements?
Usually for anti-money laundering or safer gambling reasons. The Commission says operators may ask about your finances to confirm your money comes from a legitimate source and to spot signs you may be gambling money you can't afford. Requests can come directly or through a third party. Our source of funds entry explains what's typically asked.
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