Why Bookmakers Ask for Your ID
Every licensed betting site is legally required to verify customer identity — a process called KYC (Know Your Customer). It exists to prevent money laundering, fraud and underage gambling. When a bookmaker asks for a passport or proof of address, that's not a scam: it's their licence obligations working.
What KYC Typically Requires
Based on our testing across dozens of operators, standard KYC involves:
- Identity document — passport, national ID or driving licence
- Proof of address — utility bill or bank statement from the last 3 months
- Payment verification — photo of the card (with middle digits covered) or a screenshot of your e-wallet
- Selfie or video check — increasingly common for larger withdrawals
Our AML Standards for Recommending Operators
PagBets.org only reviews operators that hold a recognised gambling licence and implement AML controls. Before recommending a site we check that it:
- Holds a valid licence from a recognised regulator (UKGC, MGA, Curacao or equivalent)
- Runs identity verification before first withdrawal
- Reports suspicious transactions and screens against sanctions lists
- Offers source-of-funds checks for larger accounts
How to Pass KYC Smoothly
Complete KYC before your first withdrawal, not after. Use clear, unedited documents where your name matches the account exactly. Blurry photos and name mismatches cause most rejections. In our tests, pre-verified accounts withdraw without delays at every site we rank.
Disclaimer
PagBets.org is a review platform, not a gambling operator, and does not itself perform KYC on visitors. The requirements described above are typical industry practice; individual operators' procedures may differ.