Nearly half of casino players want to be verified before 1st deposit

Casino players are becoming more aware of some of the common practices at online casino platforms, including the need to verify one’s identity and often, source of funds. These AML and KYC checks have become pretty much a standard in the industry, with players changing their attitudes towards how they interact with casinos as a result.

A recent Casino Guru forum poll got 1009 responses from community members. The poll asked: "When do you prefer to be verified in a new casino?" and 45% of all respondents said that they would rather be verified prior to their first deposit.

This way, they can avoid confusion later on, or even get a good feel if the casino they are playing at is actually upholding industry standards. The poll also outlined several other options, which got a share of the vote as well. For example, 18% voted for "Upon my 1st withdrawal request," while another 23% said that it didn’t matter to them when an actual verification was demanded.

Another 14% said that they stick to anonymous casinos only and are therefore not really subject to verifications. The verification process is important, as it can sometimes lead to a dispute between a player and a casino.

Based on Casino Guru’s experience, a faulty or failed verification process is also the main reason why people submit disputes through the Casino Guru Complaint Resolution Center. Based on the data Casino Guru has collected, many of the disputes and complaints submitted to the Complaint Resolution Center could be avoided if players were verified before they deposited or withdrew money.

However, not all casinos offer verification prior to the first deposit. Some jurisdictions impose stricter rules on that, but it’s not universal. Verifications are an important part of the service an online casino offers. Apart from ensuring that a brand is compliant with AML and KYC best practices, such verifications have a direct impact on player health and safety.

When casinos can identify problem gamblers, or when problem gamblers self-exclude, the casinos can ensure that the exclusion stays in place as opposed to players who continue registering accounts as is the case with anonymous casinos.

Although the temptation to play at anonymous casinos has grown, there is a clear cohort of players who are now more interested in playing at casinos that complete the verification process prior to placing a first deposit. The evidence would suggest that "affordability checks" may actually now be coming not because a regulatory body has said so, but because player preferences are changing.

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