Why do demo games need a check too?
Because the rule names them. Social responsibility code 3.2.11 requires licensees to verify a customer's age before the customer can deposit any funds, access any free-to-play versions of gambling games, or gamble with their own money or with a free bet or bonus. The same code makes casinos:
- warn potential customers that nobody under 18 may gamble;
- review their age checks as technology improves;
- train staff in secondary forms of identification;
- let parents or schools use filtering software on their sites.
Licence condition 17 sets the minimum standard for identity verification.
What can a casino ask me for?
The Commission does not prescribe the documents, but its guidance describes the usual steps:
| Check | When it happens | Typical form |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic match | At sign-up, often instant | Credit reference agency and electoral roll data |
| Documents | If the electronic match is not enough | Passport, driving licence, household bill |
| Selfie | If fraud such as identity theft is suspected | A photo of you |
| Financial documents | Anti-money laundering or financial risk checks | Bank statements |
Until verification is complete you cannot place a bet, so operators have every reason to finish it quickly. Financial documents are explained on affordability checks.
Can a casino ask for ID only when I withdraw?
Not if it could have asked earlier. The Commission says a business may not make age and identity checks a condition of withdrawal when it could have done them at an earlier point, and that delaying a withdrawal over insufficient ID may breach licence condition 17. Some requests can legitimately come later, such as anti-money laundering questions, but they should be made promptly. Your wider rights at the cash-out are on withdrawal rights; the check is also how a casino knows whether the £2 or £5 slot stake limit applies to you.
