KYC (Know Your Customer) verification is a mandatory verification process used by Australian sweepstakes casinos, as enforced by AUSTRAC. It’s how you verify your identity. And you’ll be required to complete it before you make a redemption at any legitimate sweepstakes casino.
Why sweepstakes platforms ask for it
For sweepstakes casinos, KYC verification is a legal requirement. It’s the way sweepstakes casinos not only verify your identity, but also verify that you are a person who is legally allowed to play at a sweepstakes casino. There are really two main reasons why this is done.
Firstly, sweepstakes casinos have a commitment to responsible play, and need to make sure that you are 18+. Additionally though, they also must implement these protocols for security reasons, as required by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC).
Of course, these security reasons include things like preventing underage gaming. However, they also cover the prevention of more serious financial crimes like fraud, money laundering, and the financial aiding of criminal activities like terrorist organisations. For these reasons, KYC verification is not optional. And any sweepstakes casino that wishes to operate in Australia and service residents of Australia, must strictly enforce KYC verification.
When you’ll be asked to verify
Verification is done in steps at sweepstakes casinos. And while you can choose to do verification early, there are usually two checkpoints at which different types of verification become mandatory — and these checkpoints are at sign-up, as well as at redemption.
At sign-up vs before first redemption
At sign-up, you’ll usually be asked to provide a lot of information, like your mobile number, email address, full name, address, and age. However, you won’t need to verify all that information just yet. And instead, for sign-up, so long as you can verify your mobile and email, you’ll be good to go.
When it comes time for your first redemption though, that’s when you’ll be expected to verify all the information that you gave on sign-up. This means you’ll need to prove who you are, as well as prove that you currently reside in a state or territory where the sweepstakes casino is eligible to provide their services in. Additionally, you may also need to provide proof that you own the account where the redemption is being sent.
Triggers: unusual activity, large redemptions, payment changes
Typically, verification is a one-time process. However, you may be required to reverify your account, or to otherwise provide additional information if the sweepstakes casino deems it necessary. This usually happens if there’s unusual activity, if you change your payment method, or if you want to make a large redemption.
Exactly what constitutes a large redemption will vary from site to site. Though with that being said, I’ve found that extra verification is usually required when attempting a redemption of more than $2,500.
What documents are typically required
Proof of identity
When playing at Aussie sweepstakes casinos, you’ll always need to prove your identity prior to making a redemption. For this, you’ll need to provide some form of non-expired government-issued photo ID. This can be your passport, driver’s license, or an adult proof of age card.
Proof of address
In addition to proving your ID, you’ll also always need to prove your address. When proving your address, you’ll need to send over a copy of a utility bill, or a bank statement — both of which will clearly need to show your name and address. Keep in mind that your proof of address needs to have been issued recently. And so this means it can not be older than three months.
Payment method verification
Depending on how you purchase coins, you may also be required to verify your payment method. Not all players will be required to complete this step. However, if you purchase coins with your debit card, then it’s likely that you’ll need to verify that the debit card is not only yours, but that it is also physically in your possession.
For debit card verifications, you are allowed to block out certain information. As to complete this step, typically you’ll only need to show the first 6 and last 4 numbers of your card, your full name, and your card’s expiry date. This means that all other information can be covered with tape or paper when supplying photos.
Step-by-step: how to complete verification smoothly
KYC verifications don’t need to be difficult. And if you have all your photos ready, the whole process can be completed in as little as five minutes.
1. Enter the verification portal.
2. Upload relevant photos, and when required, take live photos through your mobile device or webcam.
3. Review photos and ensure that all information is readable.
4. Submit your photos and wait for your verification to be approved.
To ensure a smooth verification though, below, we’ll be going over a couple of things you should keep in mind when verifying your account.
Creating an account at sweepstakes casinos in Australia is easy. However, you still need to make sure that all the information that you enter is accurate and consistent with the information that will be shown on your photo ID and proof of residence document.
To ensure that your verification is approved quickly, make sure that all your photos are high quality, and that all the important information is readable.
Live checks are becoming increasingly more common. For this reason, even if you play at sweepstakes casinos primarily through your computer, you should make sure that you have your phone nearby when completing verification to perform any required live checks or selfies.
How long does verification take?
While there was once a time that KYC verifications used to be a time-consuming process, they can now be approved within minutes. However, quick approvals are not a guarantee. And how long it will take for any individual verification to be approved will come down to a couple of different factors.
Automated vs manual review
Most sweepstakes casinos will have an automated system to check and approve KYC verifications. And so long as you send good-quality photos, your documents will usually be approved within a couple of hours. However, if for whatever reason a manual review is required, the process will take longer.
For the most part, manual reviews should take around 1-2 business days. Although with that being said, this can vary — and in the next section, we’ll be going over the most common reasons why you may face additional delays in getting your KYC verification approved.
Weekends/holidays and support backlog
Manual reviews are only done during business hours. This means that if your documents require a manual review outside of business hours, you’ll be placed in a support backlog. Normally, this won’t really change the timeframe. However, if you join an extended backlog — like those that occur over the weekend or during holiday periods, your verification may take longer to review.
Privacy and security best practices
KYC verifications are secure if done correctly. Below, we’ll be giving you our top two tips for keeping your information safe when completing your KYC verification.
Only verify inside your account; avoid email scams
KYC verifications are usually done in secure portals. This means that you’ll need to log into your account to begin and complete the verification process. Email verifications aren’t typically done. And so unless you’ve been flagged for further verification and have been told that you’ll be getting contacted through email, you shouldn’t send over any sensitive information through any method other than a secure portal. When in doubt, it’s always best to contact customer service.
Use secure networks and enable 2FA if offered
To keep your account private and your information secure, you should only access your account through secure and trusted networks. This means you shouldn’t be using public networks. And if at all possible, you’ll want to enable 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) for added security.
Common problems and fixes
Name/address mismatch
If the address you’ve given doesn’t match what’s shown on the document you’ve provided for proof of address, your account will most likely be flagged. That’s why if you’ve entered in your address incorrectly, you’ll want to update it before proceeding with your verification. And if you’ve recently moved, you’ll need to wait until you have a new document that proves your address before proceeding with KYC verification.
Having the wrong name is even more serious. Because unless you’ve recently changed your name and have a recently issued certificate of name change proving that, your account will likely be suspended. That’s why it’s so important to enter in your name correctly when creating your account. If it’s a minor misspelling, you may be able to contact customer service to fix it. However, if it’s an entirely wrong name, you are going to be out of luck.
Expired/unclear documents
While having expired won’t necessarily flag your account, they won’t be accepted either. And so the only thing you’ll be able to do is submit new documents that are currently valid.
For unclear documents, things are a lot easier. As when unclear documents are received, the sweepstakes casino will notify you, and you’ll be given another chance to submit the requested photos.
Multiple accounts and duplicate profiles
Multiple accounts are prohibited at all sweepstakes casinos. The account you start off with is the one you’re going to have to use. And if a sweepstakes casino becomes aware that you have duplicate accounts, all your accounts will be suspended, and any funds will be seized.
FAQs
Why do I need to verify my identity to redeem prizes?
What documents do I need in Australia?
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Can I redeem without verification?
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Why was my verification rejected?
Author: Jon Ridehalgh
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