How does the verification in German online casinos work?

A casino verification is carried out to ensure that the players are registering on the online casino with the correct data. This is standard for all the providers licensed in Germany and it ensures that player blocking is implemented reliably and that users who are minors are excluded from playing with real money. In the following handbook we will explain all the important facts about the verification.

Casino verification – what is that?

When registering in an online casino, players must give their personal details, as for example their name, their birthday, and their address. If these details are not verified each user can think out any data he wants and register as another person. In this way it would be possible even for minors and blocked players to play in the online casino with real money, and a person could receive several welcome bonuses by opening several player accounts. To avoid this situation the online casinos, check the data through a personal identification document or a passport.

The verification is prescribed by the law because every gambling provider is obliged to check the personal details of the players. This helps avoid deception and money laundering. At the latest before the first disbursement, you must identify yourself online and proof that your personal details agree with the registration details.

Step-by-step. A verification in German online casinos

If you want to play for real money with a gambling provider with a German license, you will not get away without doing a casino verification in Germany. We would like to explain to you the step-by-step process of such a verification:

Step 1: Wait for the instructions of the online casino or contact customer service

Normally online casinos automatically ask the players to verify themselves. Depending on the provider this can happen either before the first time you play with real money or even before the first disbursement. The online casino will also tell you what will happen during the verification. Usually, one needs to make a copy or take a photo of the documents and then upload them online or send them to support per email. Meanwhile there are also online casinos which carry out the verification in an even uncomplicated way by video chat.

Step 2: upload necessary documents

Normally an identification document or proof of address is required for a complete verification in the online casino. A personal identification card or a passport can be used as an identification document. Most providers do not accept a driving licence , since it is not an official personal document. A proof of address is an official letter or document which states the current address. This can for example be a bill of an energy provider or even an account statement. The details which are not relevant for the verification, as for example the account balance can be covered up, before the document is sent by email to the casino support or uploaded on the casino website.

Step 3: Wait for the documents to be checked and for the player account to be activated

Now you have to wait till the customer service has compared the personal information and address with the details you entered upon registration. When this is ready the account will be activated. Depending on the online casino this can take a few minutes or even some days.

Is the verification in German online casinos very expensive or difficult?

The casino verification with serious providers is not difficult, but importance is given that everything is correct and complete. This means for example that the identification document provided must not be expired. The proof of address may normally not be more than three months old. Normally the verification does not require a lot of effort since the requested proof is normally in hand. If for example you do not have an electricity bill in hand, you can provide an account statement on which the address is also listed.

When copying or taking a photo of the document it is important that all four corners of the paper are visible. In the case of a personal identification document a copy of both the front and the back side is required. In this way it is difficult for casino fraudsters to falsify the document and then use it to play or pay, thus using a false name. All the relevant details must be clearly visible. There are usually instructions about the verification on the casino websites. If you follow them, you can present the documents in a few minutes and can have access to an activated account very soon. Should a problem come up during the verification process you can contact the customer service and they will normally be able to help you very soon.

Overview of licensed online casinos at GambleJoe

State Gambling Act (GlüStV): Which regulations must be observed during the payment and verification?

For players in online casinos holding a German licence the so-called guidelines “Know Your Customer” must be followed. These state that gambling providers must check the details of the customers owning an account and also save these details. This prevents money from being laundered in dummy accounts or having unauthorised users. The verification in online casinos holding a German licence is in line with having honest players. Just a few weeks ago the first state-owned online casino “die-spielbank.de” was launched.

Since all the personal details are checked during the verification, blocked users are not allowed to circumvent the blocking details and thus play in an online casino for real money. The verification process is done with specialised software, which makes it possible to have a background check without taking unnecessary time. You do not have to worry about giving your personal details to a serious online casino during the verification process: They will not be divulged to third parties and will only be used for the intended purpose of providing safe gaming in an online casino. 

During the popular live verification in German online casinos, biometric processes are used to verify that the user is actually the same as the person shown on the identification photo. The players chat per webcam with an employee, hold their identification document next to their face in front of the camera. This process has the advantage that the player account will be immediately activated and therefore you do not have to wait long.

• A valid official identification document is required for the verification.
• Identification documents and proof of address must be completely visible during the verification.
• The verification on videochat is quite fast.

Why are the players verified?

A reliable casino verification ensures that no anonymous players may play with providers holding a German licence. The identity of the users is confirmed. Therefore, it is not possible to make use of online casinos to launder money, as was the case in the past with less secure providers. The player accounts in the online casino cannot be used to “keep” money acquired in illegal ways (e.g. protection money, online fraud or other offences). The online casinos do not pass on sensitive information about the players to third parties. In case of a reasonable suspicion of a criminal offence the authorities have the possibility of acquiring the information connected to the player accounts. The German Gambling Authority requests a minimum five million Euro from each licensee as security.

It is important that player blocking is strictly adhered to so that a safe gambling environment is ensured. Thus no one can open an account in an online casino under a false name. this would be busted during the verification. Deposits and disbursements can only be done from and to accounts which are registered on the holders of the player accounts. This means that fraudsters cannot simply open casino accounts with false documents and then receive payments from these accounts to their own account.

What happens to the sensitive data of the users which is held by the gambling providers?

Many safety conscious players welcome the strict regulations for safe gambling in Germany but have doubts about uploading ID documents and proof of address during the verification. The online casinos save this information for the time period stipulated by law. During this time, they protect this information well, so that it cannot be accessed by hackers or other criminals. As soon as the information is not needed online anymore, many providers save it offline, so that it is not possible for online criminals to access this information.

Having the information saved has advantages for you as a player. When you have already carried out the verification, it usually does not need to be repeated, unless there is an address or name change. Thus, you can affect payments faster and play in an online casino without any unnecessary hassle.

Casino disbursements in German online casinos

Payments and disbursements in German online casinos must be assigned to the respective player. Therefore, it is for example not possible to use crypto currencies at gambling providers holding a German licence. On the other hand in many German online casinos, you can use E-Wallets, prepaid cards linked to an online account, the bank account or credit cards. Even the popular payment service provider PayPal is back in the German online gambling industry. PayPal had pulled out from the industry some years ago because of the unsettled legal situation. German players can still not make use of PayPal in online casinos holding a licence from Malta or other foreign regulation authorities. However, if the casino has a German licence, PayPal is then available again at many providers.

As we have already explained further above, the verification in online casinos holding a German licence is required before a payment is made. This is independent from the method of payment used. An exception is the payment service provider Trustly. In the so-called “Pay N Play casinos” the latter enables the verification directly through the bank account, so that you do not have to go through extra hassle. However even here the necessary information is saved so that the identification is complete and legal. Unfortunately, till now we do not know of any German online casinos of this kind.

Casino disbursement is used – what do you do?

Casinos holding a German licence are obliged to manage the money of their players responsibly and carry out disbursements responsibly. This however also requires that the user fulfils the necessary requirements for a disbursement. If the verification is not carried out or the documents used do not meet the necessary standards, then the disbursement is refused. Another reason why disbursement can be refused is if there is a suspicion of money laundering. If you are affected by such a problem contact the customer service of the casino. They can tell you what the problem is and what you can do to solve it. In certain circumstances it might be necessary to provide further documents. In the following we are listing some of the most common reasons why the verification fails and then it will lead to the disbursement being refused:

• Identification document is not clearly legible.
• Not all four edges of the paper can be seen on the photo of the document.
• The proof of address is older than three months.
• The identification document is expired.
• An identification document which is not recognised is used (example driving licence).

If one or more of the above is the case, then you should repeat the verification and observe all the necessary requirements. At the end it should not be a problem to receive disbursement.

3 tips & tricks for the verification in a German online casino

You should pay attention to some things so that the casino verification runs smoothly, and you can be disbursed. Although problems with verification are mostly solved afterwards, it would be much better if they are avoided. With the following three tips and tricks you can prevent unnecessary hassle and the verification can be quite fast.

Tip 1: Ensure you have good light conditions

When you take photos of identification documents or carry our verification in a videochat, you should avoid having light reflexions which make the document illegible. This could lead to a verification refusal and you would have to make another attempt at it. Therefore, it is recommended that the verification is done in natural light.

Tip 2: After you move, take the initiative yourself

If you change address, a new verification is usually necessary. Do not wait till there are problems but change the address in the player account immediately and contact support for a new verification. In this way you can ensure that in the future you can make deposits quickly and safely and your account is not blocked becomes of things which are not clear.

Tip 3: use correct documents

Gambling providers have clear procedures as to which documents the user may use and which documents are not permitted for casino verification in Germany. If your personal identification document is expired the upcoming verification is a good incentive to extend it or renew it on time. Do not try to use a replacing document instead, as for example a driving licence, or an employee identity card. This does not function and leads to unnecessary hassle for you and customer service.

Conclusion

The verification in German online casinos may seem to be a burden for many users at first. However, it is entirely necessary for safe gambling and a reliable prevention of money laundering and other criminal activities. If the players observe the guidelines in force beforehand, there is little to no effort involved. After you have verified your account once, normally the process must be repeated only in case of a change in important information, such as a change of address.

You as a player will be protected through the verification: No one else can register with your details or get hold of your player account. Since disbursements can only be made to accounts which are in your name, it is also not possible to withdraw money from your account. The strictly regulated verification process makes it possible for you to play with real money and be better protected in casinos with a German licence. Unfortunately, till now there is no complaints office within the Gambling Authority for all Regions in Germany (GGL) where players could turn to, if for example they have a problem with disbursement.

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