How casino apps verify your identity

The rule behind casino app identity checks

Identity checks in UK casino apps come from a licence condition, not from operator choice. Gambling Commission condition 17.1.1 says licensees must obtain and verify information to establish a customer's identity before that customer can gamble. It has applied to online operators since 7 May 2019.

The full text of condition 17.1.1 (opens in a new tab) has four parts, summarised below. Each one shows up somewhere in the app you use.

Our page on identity checks before you play covers the regulation itself. This guide focuses on what happens on your phone.

How casino apps verify your identity, stage by stage

Verification usually happens in layers. Most people only see the first, because the automatic check confirms them straight away.

1. Registration: you enter your full name, home address, date of birth and contact details in the app.
2. Automatic check: the operator compares those details with databases, such as credit reference agency records and the electoral roll.
3. Self-exclusion check: the operator also confirms you aren't registered with GAMSTOP; if you are, it must refuse the account.
4. Document request (only if needed): if the automatic check can't confirm you, the app asks you to upload photo ID or proof of address.
5. Extra checks (only if prompted): a selfie may be requested if fraud is suspected, and financial questions may follow later depending on your activity.

Age is confirmed in the same pass, which is why our separate guide to casino app age verification covers the age side, app store ratings and parental controls in more depth.

Which documents casino apps may ask for

If an operator needs documents, the Gambling Commission's consumer guidance mentions passports, driving licences and household bills as typical examples. Exactly which ones a brand accepts is set out in its own help pages.

PlayOJO's help page, for example, names a passport, driving licence, ID card or utility bill, and says documents should go through its upload tool rather than by email. For brand-specific detail, see the PlayOJO verification guide or Coral app verification, and our general guide to what documents casino apps ask for.

How long identity verification takes in a casino app

An automatic database check typically completes during sign-up. Document checks take longer, because someone has to review what you've sent.

Few operators publish a target time, but PlayOJO does: its help page says it aims to verify documents within 12 hours and suggests contacting support if you've heard nothing within 48 hours. It also says documents may be requested after a first withdrawal request, and that limits may apply until verification is complete. That's the operator's own description of its process, so check the help pages of any app you use.

Source of funds and financial checks explained

Identity checks confirm who you are. Financial checks are a separate step that some customers meet later, and the Gambling Commission explains why gambling businesses want to know about your finances (opens in a new tab). There are two main reasons: preventing money laundering, and spotting signs that someone may be gambling money they can't afford.

• Financial vulnerability checks: since 28 February 2025, these light-touch checks apply when your deposits minus withdrawals pass £150 in a rolling 30 days. They use public records, such as bankruptcies or county court judgments, and you usually won't be asked for anything.
• Source of funds requests: an operator may ask for bank statements or other evidence to show the money you gamble with comes from a legitimate source.
• Financial risk assessments: these credit-reference-based checks were piloted but are not live; the Commission hasn't decided whether to introduce them.

Our pages on source of funds and financial risk checks explain these in more detail. If a request makes you think about how much you're spending, that's worth listening to.

Identity checks and your withdrawal rights

This is where the rules work most clearly in your favour. Part 2 of condition 17.1.1 says an operator can't make information a condition of withdrawal if it could reasonably have asked for it earlier. The Commission also says a business can't confiscate your money because you didn't log in or verify your ID within a time limit.

There is one exception: where another law requires information at that point, for example anti-money laundering rules. So a request at withdrawal isn't automatically wrong, but you're entitled to know why it's being made.

If a withdrawal is stuck, see casino app withdrawal pending and how to complain about a casino app.

Identity verification at Coral, Ladbrokes and PlayOJO

All three are licensed by the Gambling Commission, so the same core rule applies. The differences are in how much each brand publishes about its process.

• Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (account 54743), part of Entain. Coral's welcome offer terms say the account must be verified, and both brands' deposit help pages set out rules about using payment methods in your own name. Because one company runs both, you may not be able to hold new accounts at both; see why you can't open accounts at Coral and Ladbrokes.
• PlayOJO, run by Skill On Net Limited (account 39326), publishes the most detail: accepted documents, a 12-hour target and a 48-hour point to contact support, as described above.

The Ladbrokes verification guide and our Coral app review cover each brand's process in more depth.

Is it safe to upload ID to a casino app?

Uploading ID to a licensed operator through its official app is a normal part of UK gambling. The bigger risk is being tricked into sending documents to someone else. Scammers sometimes copy a casino's branding and ask for 'urgent verification' by email or text.

1. Only upload documents inside the official app or the operator's website after logging in.
2. Don't send ID as an email attachment unless the operator's help pages say that's the method; PlayOJO, for one, says not to.
3. Check the app's store listing names the publisher you expect, such as Entain or Skill On Net.
4. If you're unsure a request is genuine, contact support through the app rather than replying to the message.

App privacy labels show which data each app links to you; Coral's and Ladbrokes's iOS labels both list financial info and identifiers. If you think a company has mishandled your personal data, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (opens in a new tab). Our guides to fake casino apps and scams and how casino apps use your data go further.

When a casino app can't verify your identity

Failed checks are common and usually fixable. A recent move, a name change after marriage, or a typo in your address can all stop the automatic check matching your records.

Contact support, correct anything entered wrongly and send the document they ask for. Don't open a second account to try again, because multiple accounts can cause problems under operators' terms. Step-by-step fixes are in our guide to casino app verification failed, and every other practical how-to is in the casino app guides hub.

Verified casino apps with a welcome offer

You'll need to pass identity checks before you can claim any of these offers, so having your details and documents ready makes sign-up smoother. Each offer is limited to new customers aged 18+, with terms applying.

• Coral Casino: deposit (certain payment types excluded) and bet £10 on slots to get 100 free spins on selected games at 10p each, worth £10 in total. Accept within 48 hours and use within 7 days; winnings from the spins have no wagering. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify. Runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027.
• Ladbrokes Casino: deposit and spend £10 on slots to get 50 free spins a day for your first 10 days, up to 500 at 10p each (£50 in spin value if you claim every day). Spins must be claimed by 23:59 each day and expire after 7 days, with no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits don't qualify.
• PlayOJO: first deposit of £10 or more for 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each, with cash winnings and no wagering. New UK customers excluding Northern Ireland; can't be combined with other offers; only via the designated link.

Free spins are for slots, and the house edge applies to every spin, so treat any offer as part of your entertainment budget. Reviews: Ladbrokes and PlayOJO.

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.