KYC (Know Your Customer) Role in Age Verification
To protect minors and comply with the law, online gambling operators in Australia are required to conduct strict KYC (Applicable Customer Identification Procedures, ACIP) before opening an account and first bet.
1. Mandatory ACIP before services
From September 29, 2024, ACIP must be completed before creating an online gambling account or providing any gambling service, including registration and first deposit.
This requirement is enshrined in the AML/CTF Act and applies to all interactive games under Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
2. Stages of KYC age verification
1. Collection of personal data
Full name and date of birth are entered by the player at the registration stage.
2. Document verification
Passport, driver's license or birth certificate undergo OCR analysis and verification with Document Verification Service (DVS).
3. Bank Validation (ACIP-API)
Reconciling data to bank records through AUSTRAC-accredited APIs reduces the risks of circumventing age limits.
4. Biometrics (if necessary)
Comparison of a player's selfie with a photo in a document or NFC reading of a passport for additional reliability.
3. KYC target in gambling
Exclude admission of persons <18 years: the operator is responsible for erroneous verification - fines up to 1.1 million AUD per day and suspension of the license.
Identify players from the self-exclusion register (BetStop): KYC check connects to the national registry of prohibited users.
Compliance with AML/CTF requirements: KYC data is also used to counter money laundering and terrorist financing.
4. Re-verification and monitoring
Triggers for re-KYC: large deposits, changing personal data, suspicious transactions and VPN bypass attempts.
Continuous monitoring: automatic alerts trigger repeated age and identity checks for anomalies.
5. Results of effective KYC
Zero tolerance <18 years and no penalties from ACMA and AUSTRAC.
Building trust among players, banks and regulators in the platform.
Comprehensive security: KYC data serves as the basis for implementing limits, self-exclusion and risk analysis.
Result
KYC procedures (ACIP) are not just a formality, but a fundamental online casino tool for legitimate, safe and socially responsible gambling. They ensure that only adult and honestly identified users are allowed to bid, protecting the business from multimillion-dollar sanctions.