Casinos forcing KYC after big wins, legal or scammy?

[Distinctin]

I’ve noticed some scam accusation posts against certain casinos, and there seems to be a trend here.

Some casinos advertise themselves as KYC-free, but the moment you win big, that’s when they suddenly put all the requirements on you. And it’s not just basic KYC, they ask for heavy documents like passports, and some even request bank account details.

So I’m wondering, is this really a legal safeguard, or are they just using it as their own policy to forfeit players’ winnings?
This is actually a serious concern. Most of us might not have reached that level yet, but what if one day we do hit it big and end up facing the same situation?

[IIrik11]

definitely scammy and shitty behaviour if u ask me

even kyc casinos close ur accounts when u start winning constantly

[happybitcoinph]

Some casinos advertise themselves as KYC-free, but the moment you win big, that’s when they suddenly put all the requirements on you. And it’s not just basic KYC, they ask for heavy documents like passports, and some even request bank account details.

The community can at least provide more elaborate answers if you can tell us what casinos you are referring to that "advertise" themselves as KYC-free but ask for documents once their user has won a big amount and tries to withdraw.

On another related reason, maybe there are footnotes under the term "KYC-free", especially when winning a big amount.

But anyway, is KYC still a concern for gamblers nowadays, where every industry is implementing KYC even for crypto-related services?

[SmartGold01]

This is the reason why you must be selective in choosing casino to gamble with, most times these newly launched casinos are worth to be prevented regardless of what offers they tends to people it's another way to lure people into using their gambling site to gamble. I can't just used any casino to gamble apart from few selected and trustworthy casino that I knew after winning I wouldn't find it that difficult or hard to make withdrawal from the gambling site. Again, as a gambler we should also have it at the back of our minds that this casinos could ask for kyc at any given time and if they are kyc casino it would be ideal to pass kyc first before starting making deposits to gambling site to avoid stories that touches.

[joeperry]

definitely scammy and shitty behaviour if u ask me

even kyc casinos close ur accounts when u start winning constantly

I've read a lot of casinos especially here that once you start winning it's either they will delay your withdrawals by forcing you to have KYC and after that they will reject it and probably just close your account without any notice and won't tell the reason as per their "Terms of Service" which sometimes I find ridiculous but we can't do anything about it since we agree to it once we signed. Honestly forcing KYC is common and since they will be releasing big amount of money they need to verify if the player is playing legally or in the jurisdiction where their gambling site can legally operate.

So in short, KYC is not scammy and purely legal since it's their compliance with AML policy but using this to delay the payment, or whatever reason like breaching the terms of the site, is a really scammy one.

[stadus]

This is usually the doing of shady casinos, so if you want to minimize the risk, go with highly reputable ones. There are casinos here in the forum that are very popular, maybe the most popular and they clearly announce that accounts need to undergo KYC first before playing.

That at least gives you some security that your winnings won’t be held hostage later on just to force you into KYC. I think it’s better to go with casinos like that. Not sure though if all others follow the same practice.

https://casinosblockchain.io/stake-kyc/

Stake has adopted a stricter KYC process in 2025, making Level 2 verification mandatory from the get-go, at least, if you want to get bonuses and rewards.

Near the end of last year, some of our regular readers received an interesting email from Stake Casino about completing Level 2 verification.

In the email, Stake explained that you needed to submit level 2 verification before January 1st, 2025, to get more bonuses and rewards.

[qwertyup23]

Some casinos advertise themselves as KYC-free, but the moment you win big, that’s when they suddenly put all the requirements on you. And it’s not just basic KYC, they ask for heavy documents like passports, and some even request bank account details.

So I’m wondering, is this really a legal safeguard, or are they just using it as their own policy to forfeit players’ winnings?

Most of the time, online casinos validly claim that they are "KYC free" initially but require kyc documents subsequently if you go beyond the threshold of their bets. In order to know absolutely if a gambling casino is indeed 100% KYC free, then you may refer to their ToS and read their guidelines, rules, and other regulations posted.

Is this unethical and deceiving behavior on their part? - ABSOLUTELY

This is actually a serious concern. Most of us might not have reached that level yet, but what if one day we do hit it big and end up facing the same situation?

Then I guess I have no other choice but to submit my documents and hope for the withdrawal of my money. In the event that they refuse to honor my withdrawals despite submitting all the required documents, then I have no other choice but to seek help from their CS. If this fails, then reporting them to forums and other platforms can get their attention.

[Dr.Bitcoin_Strange]

Every licensed and regulated casino has the right to request for players KYC information any time they please. So, do not be deceived that a casino is KYC free when that casino is regulated. Some might have it on their terms and conditions stating that they have the right to request for the KYC when ever they want, it could be after you have made a deposit, after you have won a huge amount or after you have even gambled for a specific period of time. Some unregulated decentralized crypto casino will not ask for KYC unless it is licensed and regulated but if not licensed, I think they should ask for KYC.

[michellee]

It is why before you decide, you should search for more information about the casino. You will prevent that from happening to you because you know. But if that happens to you, that is your call whether you want to do KYC or let that money go to the casino, keep the money. I feel that is bad for gamblers because they don't know about those requirements and they should ask a representative or send an email related to that question. Maybe that happens in shady casinos where we can not get more information so we can skip the casino and search for others.

[Amphenomenon]

They often have a card to use in their TOS, maybe stating they have right to change their TOS at anytime or some might state when they can request KYC from customer, which some may even say at anytime but if the customer do not go through it carefully, they won't see this and miss out thinking the casino is fully non-kyc.

Someone looking for a non-kyc casino or platform should be ready to do more findings like reading customers review and the likes than usual in order not to be tied down by some annoying TOS.

[giammangiato]

First, they tell you you can play anonymously, but as soon as you manage to win more than 1,000, you magically can't withdraw it normally and must show identification. Furthermore, the payment method also changes; they decide how to send it to you.
So, you're forced to accept to receive your money, with the risk of receiving nothing at all and also risking your privacy, which is something to avoid like the plague.

[arwin100]

I’ve noticed some scam accusation posts against certain casinos, and there seems to be a trend here.

Some casinos advertise themselves as KYC-free, but the moment you win big, that’s when they suddenly put all the requirements on you. And it’s not just basic KYC, they ask for heavy documents like passports, and some even request bank account details.

So I’m wondering, is this really a legal safeguard, or are they just using it as their own policy to forfeit players’ winnings?
This is actually a serious concern. Most of us might not have reached that level yet, but what if one day we do hit it big and end up facing the same situation?

It could be an excuse to delay the winners and to see if the scammy casino would find a valid grounds to not credit the winnings of their winner. Lots of scam casino did this from the past and even if we already provide those documents they ask still they didn't release the funds and turn down those valid request done by their gamblers.

But there are for compliance and verification. We can notice it after we submit our documents and they release the funds after we are cleared with those documents they required.

That's why picking reputable casino is the best thing to do, so that we can avoid this kind of troubles.

[leonair]

I’ve noticed some scam accusation posts against certain casinos, and there seems to be a trend here.

Some casinos advertise themselves as KYC-free, but the moment you win big, that’s when they suddenly put all the requirements on you. And it’s not just basic KYC, they ask for heavy documents like passports, and some even request bank account details.

So I’m wondering, is this really a legal safeguard, or are they just using it as their own policy to forfeit players’ winnings?
This is actually a serious concern. Most of us might not have reached that level yet, but what if one day we do hit it big and end up facing the same situation?

A casino site mentions everything in their ToS. If they have mentioned something like that in their ToS then of course they can do it so for that you have to read the TOS of that site carefully before gambling. KYC is now being gradually made mandatory by all casino platforms. To protect money laundering because many people try to mix their illegal money by putting it in the casino. So casino sites can have such a requirement that KYC will be mandatory for withdrawals above a certain amount of money. So it is very important to read the TOS to be clear about everything

[Questat]

First, they tell you you can play anonymously, but as soon as you manage to win more than 1,000, you magically can't withdraw it normally and must show identification. Furthermore, the payment method also changes; they decide how to send it to you.
So, you're forced to accept to receive your money, with the risk of receiving nothing at all and also risking your privacy, which is something to avoid like the plague.

In that case, I think we should already be aware that KYC can be implemented anytime. Some casinos advertise that they don’t require KYC, but if we check and see they’re licensed, we shouldn’t fully trust that claim. They can always use their Terms of Service in their favor.

If we don’t have the required documents ready, it might end up being one of the biggest regrets of our gambling life, winning big but losing it all because we weren’t prepared for KYC.

[Leahized]

I’ve noticed some scam accusation posts against certain casinos, and there seems to be a trend here.

Some casinos advertise themselves as KYC-free, but the moment you win big, that’s when they suddenly put all the requirements on you. And it’s not just basic KYC, they ask for heavy documents like passports, and some even request bank account details.

According to your details, it is an excuse to cheat. Since they have to pay a lot of money to a player. That is why they feel a bit contraction to take it in the mind.  It is then that various problems are pressured on him, even compulsory to complete the KYC. However, the casinos are licensed by the government. They could say all the verification or KYC at any time, it is very normal. However, at present, most batting sites and casinos cheat. Because everyone operates online illegally. And it does not take any action from the government and they can easily disappear. That's why we have to be careful all the time. So that no illegal casino is cheated. And I will always try to keep my identity secret.

[mirakal]

It may not be a good thing to happen, but if we've been aware this is going to be asked upon registration, that will be legal. Many casinos, not just scammy ones, ask for KYC after winning big. But as long as we've been confident that they can be trusted, it is not a problem. But if we feel something fishy and a scamming attempt, to leave is the best decision. Therefore, we consider looking for the trusted sites even if they give no bonuses rather than those who have an attractive offer but compromise our personal information.

[Felicity_Tide]

So I’m wondering, is this really a legal safeguard, or are they just using it as their own policy to forfeit players’ winnings?

I don't know much about non-KYC casinos practicing this act, but I can definitely tell that some KYC betting companies do this a lot despite the customer's KYC from day one. I actually followed up with a case of recent, where the whole issue got heated, leading to so many users calling out the betting companies and the celebrities that promotes them as well. From a legal point of view, a non-KYC casino shouldn't ask for KYC especially when it was never stated anywhere including in their T&Cs. But, that's where the thing becomes tricky. They always find ways to add these things in the T&Cs, and we all know that most people don't even go through these things. It is a common thing for KYC casinos though.

So, I feel if a non-KYC casino ask for KYC when it wasn't stated in any of their policies, then it should be considered a shady activity.

[Mr. Magkaisa]

It is! I think crypto casino should not have any KYC on their system.
what is the essence of having crypto when you will be ask for a KYC? Crypto is an anonymous currency online wch hide the identity of its holder with the crypto wallet.
then the casino will ask for the "know your customer" for the biig withdrawalss? thats not safe!

[crwth]

Maybe they want to protect their business and ensure that they won't get into AML stuff, which could somehow be their way into being regulated and legal. I believe this depends on your wins because they have a threshold for how much you can win or withdraw.

[coin-investor]

Some casinos advertise themselves as KYC-free, but the moment you win big, that’s when they suddenly put all the requirements on you. And it’s not just basic KYC, they ask for heavy documents like passports, and some even request bank account details.

Don't believe their advertisement? Check their TOS and make a screenshot if they really offer no KYC. A reputable casino should be truthful about what they advertise and what's on their TOS. Casinos will eventually ask for KYC because they need to verify that you are abiding by their rules. You're not violating any of their terms.

So I’m wondering, is this really a legal safeguard, or are they just using it as their own policy to forfeit players’ winnings?
This is actually a serious concern. Most of us might not have reached that level yet, but what if one day we do hit it big and end up facing the same situation?

If you're a diligent gambler, you should see this coming, and you are aware that asking gamblers to do KYC is imminent; no casino can last implementing a no-KYC feature, as they open their platforms for abuse and exploitation. This no-KYC promotion is just an advertising hype and deception.