Verification and AML
Why We Verify
Verification protects every player at Ottawa Casino. It proves that a real adult owns each account, that no one under 19 is playing, and that criminal money cannot pass through our cashier.
We serve players only in jurisdictions whose local law permits it, and we run our business in line with Canadian rules on age, money laundering and identity. Our checks are built to satisfy those rules. They work in your favour as well: once verified, your account is far harder for someone else to hijack, and verified players receive withdrawals without needless delays.
Identity and Age Checks
Ahead of a first deposit, we must confirm three things: the address where you live, your full legal name and your birth date. We also check that play is allowed in your current area. Often this is done electronically against reliable databases, and no documents are needed from you.
If our electronic check fails to confirm your details, documents may be requested, such as:
- a government photo document that has not expired, for example a driver's licence, a passport or your provincial photo card
- proof of your home address dated in the past three months, such as a utility bill, bank statement or official letter
- evidence that a card, bank account or e-wallet used on your account belongs to you
- a selfie of you holding your photo document, if we need to confirm it matches your face
Documents must be clear, in colour, uncropped and not expired. You upload them securely from your account, and our team checks each one by hand. We tell you by email when your account is verified or if anything else is needed.
The verified account holder must own the payment method that receives a withdrawal. This keeps your winnings safe from misuse.
Sanctions and PEP Screening
Every player is screened against international sanctions lists when the account is opened, and again as those lists change. We cannot offer accounts to anyone who appears on them.
As part of our screening, we look for PEPs, meaning politically exposed individuals. This covers people who hold, or held until recently, a prominent public post, plus the relatives of such people and anyone closely tied to them. PEP status does not stop you from joining our games, though it leads to enhanced due diligence, and you may be asked to account for the source of your wealth. A senior compliance officer must approve the account before it is fully opened.
Record Keeping and Reporting
We keep verification documents, account details and transaction records for the full period that Canadian law requires. Everything is stored securely, and only staff who need it for compliance work can access it. How We Handle Your Data describes how this information is protected.
Under Canadian law, we must notify the relevant authorities of certain transactions, including large cash-equivalent movements and any activity we suspect is tied to the financing of terrorism or to money laundering. We are not permitted by law to tell a player that we have filed one of these reports, and we apply this rule strictly.
Source of Funds
In some cases we need to confirm the origin of the funds you gamble with. Large deposits, a sudden change in your playing pattern or the outcome of our screening can all lead to this request.
When this happens, we explain what we need and why. Typical evidence includes:
- an employer letter or your latest pay stubs
- bank statements showing your income
- paperwork showing an inheritance, investment or property sale
- tax documents for self-employed players
We only request what is needed to complete the check, and every document is treated in confidence.
When Checks Fail
Accounts cannot stay open without completed verification. While a check is pending, we may pause withdrawals, gameplay and deposits until we receive the required information.
If requested information does not reach us in time, or a document proves to be forged, altered or someone else's, we close the account. Any winnings obtained by fraud or by using a false identity are cancelled. Where the money genuinely belongs to you and the law permits, the remaining balance is returned via a payment method that is in your own name. Money we must hold by law remains with us until we are authorized to release it.
Any attempt to get around verification, such as opening several accounts or using another person's details, is a breach of our Terms of Service.
Ongoing Monitoring
Our checks continue after an account has been opened. We watch deposits, withdrawals and gameplay for patterns that do not match a typical player profile, such as large deposits withdrawn again with hardly any play, repeated switching of payment methods and activity from unexpected locations.
We may refresh your documents when they expire or when your details change, and we repeat sanctions and PEP screening on a regular basis. Our team also uses this monitoring to spot signs of harmful play, which ties in with our Safer Play tools.
Contact
Email [email protected] if you need help uploading documents or want to know why a check is required. Please use the address linked to your account when you write, so we can locate your details faster.
Do not send documents by email unless our team asks for them. The secure upload area in your account is the safest route.