A lot of online gamblers want to know how to avoid KYC while sports betting. KYC stands for “Know Your Customer” and a lot of sports betting websites have to comply with the regulations of KYC through a verification process.
This means that each member of the sports betting site has to verify their identity using a process. The member will need to complete a registration form that requires a lot of personal details. They will then have to send the sports betting site a copy of a valid passport, ID card, or driver’s license to confirm their identity.
In addition to this, members of sports betting websites that have a verification process often have to provide copies of recent bank statements or utility bills that have their address printed on them. All of this can be very time-consuming and frustrating for the online gambler who just wants to start placing bets on sporting events.
Why do sports betting sites insist on KYC?
Usually, a sports betting site has to adhere to KYC regulations as part of its operating license. The KYC process was introduced several years ago to prevent money laundering and underage gambling taking place with online gambling websites.
Those sports betting websites that have a KYC verification process will tell their members that it is necessary to protect them. This is not exactly true. The sports betting site is using the verification process to protect itself more than anything.
Why do gamblers want to avoid KYC while sports betting?
Most gamblers are not against preventing underage gambling. What they do have a problem with is the bureaucratic verification processes that a lot of sports books deploy. They do not want to waste a lot of time filling in forms with endless questions about their personal life. Placing bets is what they want to do.
Also, the gamblers don’t want to have to dig out ID documents, make copies of them and then send these to the sportsbook. The same applies to copying bank statements and utility bills to prove where they live.
People are aware that cyber crimes are on the rise. It seems like every week there is a story about a company that has had their customer database breached. Hackers know that sportsbooks have databases with large numbers of members and that it is likely that sensitive personal information is included in the records.
Hacking the customer database of a sportsbook can be very profitable. This information can change hands for thousands on the black market. If your details are in a database that has been breached then you could be a victim of identity theft and other crimes.
Are there sportsbooks that don’t have a KYC verification process?
Yes, there are sportsbooks that will not ask you to verify your identity when you register with them. These sportsbooks do not have to comply with KYC rules as part of their operating license. Therefore, they can ask for minimum information at the registration stage and will not ask you to send any documents to prove who you are.
In the last few years, there has been an increase in the number of anonymous betting sites. They know that online gamblers find the verification process frustrating and just want to place bets on their favorite sporting events.
When you register with a sportsbook without verification you will usually just have to provide a username, a password, and check a box to say that you are of legal age in your country to gamble. You might be asked to provide your date of birth to confirm this.
You will not be requested to provide sensitive personal information such as financial details. The only information stored in the sportsbook database will be your email address, username, password, and date of birth. This information is not valuable to cybercriminals, so if the database is breached you will be safe.
Are sportsbooks with no verification safe?
This is a fair question and the honest answer is that they are not all safe. There are sportsbooks that just want to steal your money and lure you in with the promise of not having to complete a verification process.
But there are also very reputable sportsbooks without verification that are honest and trustworthy. All of these sites will have a valid operating license from a jurisdiction that doesn’t have KYC regulations associated with it.
You need to check that any no verification sports betting website you are considering has a valid license. Never register and make a deposit with an unlicensed sportsbook. We are not saying that they are all dishonest but a lot of them will be.
Recommended checks before registering with a sportsbook without verification
If the sportsbook without a verification process does not have a license, then move on immediately. After checking that the sportsbook is licensed, the next check is to assess its reputation. There are a few ways that you can do this.
Use your favorite search engine to find sports betting forums and then perform a search of the sportsbook that you are considering within the forum itself. Online forums tend to be very honest and if you see several posts announcing how bad a sportsbook is then it will be best to look for another one.
Another thing that you can do is check for user reviews. Don’t trust testimonials on the website of the sportsbook. Look for the sportsbook on independent review websites such as Trustpilot.com. Bear in mind that some people will leave negative reviews about gambling sites as a matter of course.
If they have lost a lot of money with a sportsbook then some gamblers will blame the website itself rather than their poor choices of bets. Look for reviews that cite problems with customer support and the withdrawal of winnings. You don’t want to see a pattern emerging here.
Do sportsbooks with no verification provide a good overall experience?
Yes, with the most reputable sportsbooks with no verification, you should find that they offer a wide range of sports to bet on. They should also have several betting markets available for specific sports as you would find with a site that follows a KYC process.
A lot of people like to bet on live sports these days so check to see if the sportsbook without verification you are considering has a live betting option. Also, check to see what payment methods are accepted by the sportsbook to see if these meet your requirements.
There are a growing number of sportsbooks that are now accepting cryptocurrencies for deposits and withdrawals. This means that you can use popular currencies such as Litecoin, Ethereum, and Bitcoin. It is easy to exchange fiat currency for crypto and you can bet anonymously with cryptocurrencies too.
