1. Legal Basis for Identity Verification
Hippodrome Casino operates under a licence issued by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and is subject to the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). Under Licence Condition 17.1.1, the company is required to obtain and verify information that establishes the identity of every customer before that customer is permitted to gamble.
As a business operating in the regulated sector, the company is also subject to the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. These regulations require customer due diligence (CDD) and, where applicable, enhanced due diligence (EDD). Identity verification is a core element of these obligations.
2. When Verification Is Required
Identity verification must be completed before any of the following activities can take place:
- Depositing funds into an account
- Placing any bet or wager
- Accessing any gambling activity on the platform
At the point of registration, and before any deposit is made, customers are informed what documents or information may be required, under what circumstances they will be requested, and in what form they should be provided.
Verification may also be required at a later stage if there is reason to believe that the information held has become inaccurate or incomplete. Reasonable steps are taken to ensure that identity information remains current throughout the customer relationship.
3. Information Required for Verification
At a minimum, the following information must be obtained and verified for every customer:
- Full legal name
- Residential address
- Date of birth
The verification process must give reasonable assurance that the customer exists as a real individual and that the name, address, and date of birth all relate to the same person. Where electronic verification is used, a standard is applied that requires at least two independent data matches across these fields.
4. Acceptable Documents
4.1 Proof of Identity
Documents submitted as proof of identity must:
- Include a photograph
- Display the customer’s date of birth
- Be valid at the time of submission
- Be legible
- Show no signs of tampering or reproduction
Acceptable documents include:
- Valid passport
- Valid UK driving licence (full or provisional)
- National identity card issued by an EEA member state (where applicable)
4.2 Proof of Address
Documents submitted as proof of address must be recent, typically issued within the last three months. Acceptable documents include:
- Utility bill (gas, electricity, water, or landline telephone)
- Bank or building society statement
- Council tax bill
- Correspondence from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
4.3 Document Groups
Where a primary identity document (such as a passport) cannot be provided, a combination of documents from secondary categories may be requested. In such cases, at least one document from a secondary identity group and two further supporting documents will be required, together confirming full name, current address, and date of birth.
5. Electronic Verification
In addition to document-based checks, electronic identity verification methods may be used. These may include:
- Checking customer details against third-party data sources
- Requiring that the first deposit is made from a bank account held in the customer’s own name
- Using confirmation methods such as a security code sent to a verified address or telephone number
Electronic verification does not replace the requirement to provide documents if identity cannot be confirmed through automated means.
6. Age Verification
The minimum legal age to gamble in the United Kingdom is 18 years. The company is required by law to verify that every customer meets this requirement before permitting any gambling activity. Age verification is conducted as part of the standard identity verification process. If it is not possible to confirm that a customer is aged 18 or over, access to gambling will not be granted.
7. Self-Exclusion Checks
As part of the identity verification process, checks are carried out to determine whether a customer has previously registered a self-exclusion. If a match is identified, the customer will not be permitted to access gambling services, regardless of whether other aspects of verification have been completed successfully. This check is carried out to protect individuals who have chosen to exclude themselves from gambling.
8. Verification and Withdrawals
A withdrawal request is not used as a reason to impose identity document requirements that could reasonably have been requested at an earlier stage. Core identity checks are completed before gambling commences.
If a withdrawal request is made and identity verification has already been completed to the required standard, no new document requirements will be introduced as a condition of processing that withdrawal, unless there is a specific and justified regulatory reason to do so.
9. Consequences of Failed or Incomplete Verification
If identity verification cannot be completed, or if the documents provided are insufficient, inaccurate, or cannot be authenticated, the account will not be activated for gambling purposes. In such cases:
- Deposits will not be accepted
- Gambling access will not be granted
- Any funds already held in an unverified account will be returned to the source from which they were received, subject to applicable procedures
The customer will be notified of the outcome of the verification process and, where possible, informed of any additional information that may be required.
10. Data Handling
Information and documents collected for identity verification purposes are processed in accordance with the Hippodrome Casino Privacy Policy and applicable data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Identity data is used solely for:
- Verifying customer identity
- Meeting regulatory obligations
- Maintaining accurate records as required by the UKGC and the Money Laundering Regulations 2017
Identity documents are not used for marketing purposes.
11. Ongoing Monitoring and Updates
Obligations relating to customer identity do not end at the point of initial verification. Reasonable steps are taken to ensure that the identity information held remains accurate over time.
If personal details change, including name or address, the account holder is required to notify the company and provide updated documentation. Updated verification documents may also be requested as part of ongoing customer due diligence obligations.
12. Contact and Queries
For questions about the identity verification process, the documents required, or the status of a verification, customers should contact the customer support team through the channels listed on the Contact page. Verification-related queries are handled as promptly as possible, with clear guidance provided on any outstanding requirements.