KYC & AML in Online Gambling: How to Stay Compliant

AML and KYC legislation applies to all types of iGaming businesses. Operators must implement compliance solutions that ensure they meet their obligations while not introducing too much player friction.

Below, we explore this and other challenges of AML and KYC in iGaming.

What Is KYC in Online Gambling?

In iGaming, gambling and other sectors, the term KYC verification refers to a series of checks conducted to satisfy the legal obligation to request identifying documents from new customers at the sign-up stage. 

These can differ depending on locale or licensing authority, but generally mean the new user will be asked to prove their name, address and age. 

At online casinos, it is justifiable and fairly normal for money to be moved in ways that are unusual in other contexts – and this makes the sector more susceptible to money laundering.

Reasons for this include the fact that sizable transactions are commonplace here, as well as that it’s not unusual at all for bankrolls to be full of money one day and then completely empty the next one, and vice versa. 

What Is AML for Online Gambling?

In gambling, iGaming and adjacent sectors, AML verification refers to a set of controls put in place to prevent these platforms from being used for money laundering and/or terrorism funding.

Real-money gaming, both online and offline, is considered an activity that is more likely to attract those who seek to launder money, such as money mules. 

Why Are KYC & AML Important in Gambling?

KYC and AML are vital in iGaming to ensure legal compliance, protect players, prevent fraud, and maintain a trustworthy reputation within a highly regulated industry.

Regulatory compliance: Most jurisdictions require iGaming operators to adhere to strict KYC and AML regulations. Compliance helps iGaming companies avoid legal issues, fines, and potential license revocation.

Fraud prevention and risk mitigation: Implementing KYC procedures helps verify the identities of players, reducing the risk of fraudulent activities, including identity theft and account takeover. These measures help operators assess and manage the risk associated with their player base, which is crucial for business sustainability.

Player protection: KYC ensures that only legitimate players can access iGaming services, protecting vulnerable individuals, such as minors and those with gambling addiction issues.

Preventing money laundering: AML measures are essential in identifying and reporting suspicious financial transactions, making it more challenging for criminals to use iGaming platforms for money laundering activities.

Reputation: Adherence to KYC and AML regulations enhances an iGaming operator’s reputation by demonstrating a commitment to responsible gaming and transparency.

KYC/AML Requirements for Gambling

There are various KYC & AML requirements for gambling/iGaming companies around the world, depending on the operator’s country and the locale of the players who are allowed to join the casino or betting site. 

However, in general terms, they include showing the iGaming operator proof of identity, proof of age, as well as proof of address.

Most countries incorporate guidance for casinos and other gambling firms within their umbrella AML bills, which tend to follow the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime programs against money laundering. 

The relevant UNDOC mandate is called Anti-Money-Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), implementing “capacity building activities” that cover “both traditional and new means of money laundering techniques and illicit financial flows” – including online gambling. 

Some of the legal mandates from major countries around the world are:

AML mandates around the world

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Challenges & Risks for AML and KYC in Gambling

There are several challenges iGaming operators face in relation to their AML and KYC obligations, and these originate both in legislation and new criminal schemes. 

In terms of legislation, authorities have been ramping up their demands in recent years, with technological as well as geopolitical developments leading to a heightened need for stricter laws – in the opinion of legislators and regulators.

On the other hand, fraudsters and criminals of varying degrees of experience continue to come up with new methods and ways to circumvent legacy anti-fraud and anti-layering measures, which they either conduct themselves or instruct money mules to do. Sometimes, this involves smurfing, for example – the practice of breaking large sums to be laundered into smaller ones in order to go unnoticed.

But from there, the potential risks extend to almost every area of activity for iGaming brands:

  • hefty fines impacting revenue
  • closure/removal of license if found non-compliant
  • player friction if asked for too much documentation
  • new user churn 
  • bad publicity 
  • stalled growth 
  • etc.

Therefore, the key challenge for gambling brands is finding how to fully comply with all applicable legislation with minimal disruption to the customer journey, including sign-up and deposits. 

KYC in igaming gambling

AML/KYC Software & Tool Features to Look Out For

KYC, CDD, AML software, tools and platforms for iGaming brands need to be able to provide strict, provable adherence to any and all applicable mandates, and to do that without insulting legitimate players. 

Key AML and anti-fraud software features include:

  • full compliance with legal obligations
  • PEP and sanctions list screening
  • real-time account monitoring for red flags
  • strong document verification capabilities
  • transaction and deposit method monitoring
  • machine learning to learn from historical fraud events
  • data enrichment for digital footprints to gauge user legitimacy
  • device fingerprinting
  • blacklists, shared or not shared
  • consumer affordability checks
  • pre-KYC checks as a first line of defense 

Operators will additionally want the various AML fraud detection tools deployed to be as discreet as possible, both in terms of interruptions to the player’s enjoyment of the gaming services, as well as in communications with the player. This is because many choose not to reveal their passion for online gaming to everyone they know. As a result, privacy is more important to iGaming fans than online shoppers, for example. 

Overall, the concept of friction is key: The more frictionless the solution, the less churn there is – and thus the more profitable the bookmaker, casino or poker room will be. 

Some steps need to be taken always, as defined by legislators. However, for the rest, it is still important to find the best possible way to combine protection for the iGaming company and maximum player satisfaction, as we will see below.

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How SEON Complements AML & KYC for Gambling Platforms

SEON’s comprehensive anti-fraud solution offers tailored protection for the iGaming sector, enhancing security for operators and their users. Our solution is designed to meet the unique needs of each client, delivering customizable benefits for optimal outcomes.

– AML screening: SEON’s advanced AML API enables both manual and automatic screenings, checking PEP, RCA, criminal watchlists and sanctions lists for rigorous compliance and risk management.

– Pre-KYC checks: Leveraging device fingerprinting, IP analysis, and digital footprinting capabilities, SEON identifies potential fraudsters at the registration phase without asking your customers for any additional information and sacrificing frictionless user experience. This also significantly reduces the number of fraudulent users getting into your system, streamlining the KYC process, and saving you both time and money.

– Real-time transaction monitoring: Flag transactions exceeding legal thresholds and identify suspicious player behavior, ensuring immediate action against irregular activities.

– Customizable rules for iGaming: SEON provides a set of predefined rules tailored for iGaming, ready to implement from day one. You can also add bespoke rules based on your specific business insights and observed user behavior patterns to fully tailor fraud prevention measures to your own needs.

– Machine learning: SEON’s AI-driven machine learning continuously suggests new rules based on historical data and user feedback. This self-improving system ensures that your fraud prevention measures become more accurate and effective over time.

By integrating SEON’s capabilities, iGaming operators not only protect against account takeovers and identity fraud but also bolster their compliance efforts. SEON empowers businesses to provide a safer, more secure online environment, ultimately enhancing trust and satisfaction among users.

Moreover, money laundering attempts can be caught through real-time fraud monitoring, using red flags at other touchpoints of an online casino player’s interactions with the platform. 

These can be defined using the preset rules crafted specifically for iGaming by SEON, as a way to get started or as a set-and-forget solution. SEON’s engine can also generate ruleset suggestions specific to each platform using machine learning, or the operator can start from scratch, deciding and defining each rule manually. Of course, you can combine these strategies too, if you wish.

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Author avatar
Tamas Kadar

Tamás Kádár is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of SEON. His mission to create a fraud-free world began after he founded the CEE’s first crypto exchange in 2017 and found it under constant attack. The solution he built now reduces fraud for 5,000+ companies worldwide, including global leaders such as KLM, Avis, and Patreon. In his spare time, he’s devouring data visualizations and injuring himself while doing basic DIY around his London pad.


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