Know Your Customer, usually shortened to KYC, is the set of procedures an operator uses to establish and confirm who its customers are. It is a cornerstone of regulated gambling, helping prevent fraud, underage play and financial crime.
At its simplest, KYC involves collecting identifying information such as name, date of birth, address and contact details, then verifying that information against reliable sources or documents. Operators may also assess the risk a customer presents and apply enhanced checks to higher-risk cases.
KYC is not a single event. Operators commonly perform initial checks when an account is opened and revisit them over time, for instance when activity changes, when withdrawals are requested, or when risk indicators appear. This ongoing element is often called ongoing monitoring or customer due diligence.
For example, a new customer might be asked to confirm their identity by submitting a government-issued identity document and a proof of address before being allowed to withdraw winnings. If an automated check cannot confirm the details, the account may be restricted until verification succeeds.
A frequent misconception is that KYC and anti-money-laundering are the same thing. KYC is better understood as a component of a wider AML and compliance framework: knowing the customer is one input that supports monitoring, risk assessment and reporting obligations.
The exact information required, the acceptable evidence, and the points at which checks must occur differ between jurisdictions and regulators. Operators therefore design KYC programmes around the specific rules applying to each market in which they are licensed.