Why do Bookmakers need to Verify my I.D?

No matter which betting or gambling site you visit today, you will have to provide a valid ID to proceed with the betting. These can include your driving license, bank statements, proof of your address, and so on.

Now, this practice may sound annoying and unnecessary to a lot of punters. Some of them are even suspicious of these practices. After all, placing a bet has nothing to do with where you live, right? Wrong!

The UK Gambling Commission requires every licensed bookmaker to verify a punter's ID before allowing them to place their bets. There are valid legal reasons why all the legit bookies ask for your ID. It is done for your own financial safety and bookies aren't getting any benefit out of this.

But the question remains, "why exactly do bookmakers need to verify your ID?" Read this piece till the end to get the answers!

Laws around gambling

The UK Gambling Commission has devised certain laws and regulations for every betting and gambling site in the country. Here are some major gambling laws that every bookmaker must follow to legally operate in the UK:

·      To prevent fraud and money laundering cases, every betting and gambling-related business must be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.

·      To continue being in business, the gambling sites should abide by the terms of their license.

·      Any association with criminal or suspicious activity will result in permanent revocation of their license.

·      All bookies need to verify the ID of their customers.

·      Every online gambling site needs to perform a thorough "Know Your Customer (KYC)" check for all their customers.

Money Laundering Checks

Money laundering cases have always been a big issue with gambling sites. When it comes to gambling, there is always a risk of illegal transactions. Punters can use their illegally obtained money to place their bets.

Fraudsters can conceal their true identity to turn their illegal money into gambling winnings. Since gambling winnings are a legal source in the UK, the money obtained from illegal sources or activities becomes legitimate in no time.

The UK gambling commission has taken several steps to combat money laundering cases. And customer ID verification is one such step. Every online bookmaker is bound by the law to frequent their customer's valid IDs and perform KYC checks before giving them access to the betting facilities.

Know your Customer (KYC) Checks

The bookmakers need to know their customers before they allow them to place their bets. They have to do this to ensure that no illegal activities are taking place through their services. For this, they need to perform "Know Your Customer" checks - also known as (KYC) checks.

Here's how it works:

·      As soon as you sign up for an online betting site, the bookie will perform a thorough ID check through their electoral registers.

·      Sometimes, due to a variety of reasons, ID verifications cannot be completed through this method.

·      In such cases, the bookmaker will ask you to provide your official issued to you by the UK government. It can be your driving license, passport, or any other valid photo ID.

·      The bookmakers will especially ask for your ID in case you are making an unusually large transaction or if the transaction has the potential of being suspicious.

·      You can also expect to receive a direct conversation from the bookmaker's end to confirm that it is indeed you making the transaction. It provides an additional layer of security and ensures that nothing illegal is going on.

·      Such verification is known as KYC or Know Your Customer check.

Types of ID documents accepted

Now that we have understood why bookmakers need to verify your ID, let's look at some valid ID documents accepted by most UK-based bookies.

1. Official photo ID

Most bookmakers will accept any photo ID issued to you by the Government of the UK. It can include your national ID card, driving license, or passport.

But why do you need to provide a photo ID?

As per the UK Gambling Commission, every punter must be 18 years old or above to indulge in any kind of gambling or betting. Underage betting is a crime in the UK. So, to ensure that you are of legal age, the bookmakers request your official photo ID.

2. Proof of address

Sometimes, bookmakers can also request your address proof. It is usually done to ensure that you are indeed a citizen of the UK and are currently residing in the country.

A valid proof of address includes a recent utility bill, phone statement, Council tax bill, or statement from Credit Union.

3. Bank statements or payment IDs

Lastly, bookies may also request you to provide bank statements or your payment IDs. In such cases, you can submit a recent bank statement and a scanned photograph of your valid debit card.

How can to provide your ID to the bookmaker?

You can either submit your IDs through email or by post. However, email is the most preferred method as it is safe and instantaneous. All you need to do is scan your valid documents, attach the copies to your email, and send them to your bookmaker.

You are allowed to hide certain sensitive data to maintain your security. So, make sure to conceal any confidential information like transactions on your bank statement and the CCV code on your debit card. Bookmakers do not need such information to perform a KYC check.

Any legitimate will not ask for any of your confidential information. So, if any site is requesting information like your CCV code or PIN, they are probably illegal. Make sure to know about your rights as a punter and stay away from any betting site that seems to be suspicious.

Wrapping up

So that was all about why do bookies need to verify your ID before allowing you to place your bets. We hope you liked the information presented in his piece and that we were able to provide you with more clarity about the UK betting laws.