Once you've filled in the basic sign up information and entered one of the bonus codes, the next step is to undertake the verification process. The requirements of this process can vary depending on factors such as whether you are on the electoral roll. This page explains what you'll need and guides you through this usually simple task.
The exact information requested and how to provide it will vary slightly depending on the bookmaker, but there are some basic guidelines.
When you register your account, the bookmaker may be able to check your details against existing databases such as the Electoral Roll or Credit Reference agencies. If the details match, you may not be asked to provide any more information at that point, though some will later ask for more details when you come to withdraw or hit a certain winnings threshold.
If the information obtained from these places is not enough to verify all your details, you might be asked for more details. Typically, photos or scans can be uploaded via the providers' website or sent by email, but this will be clarified when asking for the ID.
Documents requested to verify your identity typically include:
Some bookmakers might also ask you to provide a selfie alongside your photo ID to verify your identity further.
Usually, verification takes place within hours as bookmakers are keen to make your sign-up process as easy as possible, but to ensure it goes smoothly and without delay, you can follow some simple tips.
On most occasions, verification does not take long. The most common reasons for verification being refused are unclear pictures or incorrect documents being sent. In this instance, the provider will typically come back to you and ask for the missing information or clearer images. Providing this will usually rectify the situation quickly. If you provide the correct legal information to confirm your identity and that you are using your own funds, there is no reason for a betting site to refuse your account. However, suppose you feel a site is treating you unfairly or rejecting your account for no good reason. In that case, you can just give up and try another site, or you can approach the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS).
If you have not been asked for verification and you are not sure of the site's legitimacy, the first thing you can do is check they are registered with UK Gambling Commission. UK registered sites will show their registration number, generally in the site's footer, and you can confirm this on the UK Gambling Commission website.
If you are sure that the site you are using is reputable, then there are a couple of other reasons you might not have been asked to provide documents.
There are slight differences from country to country in the age verification requirements for Bet365.
In most English-speaking countries, including the Canada, UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Bet365 India require you to verify your name, date of birth and address before you make a deposit, the time-scale can be up to 48 hours to complete this when documents are uploaded to the website but will usually be quicker.
With Bet365 Australia, only require verification before a withdrawal. The timescales allowed are 48 hours if uploaded to the site or up to 7 days for documents sent by email.
Source: help.bet365.com/my-account/account-verification
Online bookmakers in the UK are required to ask customers for proof of ID, address and ownership of the payment method used by law as a condition of their gambling license. This might seem odd when anyone can walk into a High Street bookmaker and place a bet, but specific issues with online gambling make this necessary. In a High Street bookmaker, the Cashier can visually assess age, and CCTV cameras combined with a public space mean anonymity is not guaranteed. These checks need to be carried out in an online space to make sure any gambling is safe and legal.
The Gambling Commission regulates online gambling operators in the UK, and since The Gambling Act of 2005 it has been illegal to operate an unlicensed online bookmaker in the UK. This was the first major piece of gambling regulation since off-course betting was made legal in 1960 and represented a significant change in gambling.
Old rules gave operators 72 hours to verify a customer’s identity, during which time they could access the site but not withdraw funds. Since May 2019 these rules have changed, and operators are now required to verify at the minimum a customer’s name, address, and date of birth before they are allowed to access a site, including free to play games or bonuses.
Last Update: 26th January 2022
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