What Do Sportsbooks Need to Verify Accounts?

Account Verification is a necessary step in completing any online sportsbook account registration.   Sportsbooks will have slightly different methods in their user interface to certify your account. The core action remains the same: verifying your financial identity with your information. Verifying your account is among the last things you’ll do in the set-up and activation process of your online sports betting account. However, there are different levels of verification that you’ll advance through before embracing the final verification through financial information.

Age Verification

This is the first level of account verification. This verification level is simple and obvious: you must be of legal age to perform or engage in specific actions or activities. Alcohol, gambling, driving, and voting are all governed by a minimum age for access. The minimum legal age changes based on the jurisdiction and activity involved. If you are a legal-aged adult, congratulations! You’ve moved onto the next level: geolocation verification.

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What Is Geolocation in Sports Betting?

Oxford languages define Geolocation as “the process or technique of identifying the geolocation of a person or device utilizing digital information.” Online sports betting is not legal in every country, province, or state. Regardless of your internet-connected device, online sportsbooks need to know that you are accessing their platform from a state where online sports betting has been legalized. Most online sportsbooks will require you to use a location validator (GeoGuard) to verify your geological location during the registration process. Online sportsbooks use third-party specialists to confirm your physical location serves one purpose: to verify you are in a location where online sports betting is legal. It is a criminal offence to defraud the sportsbook and could result in prosecution. And you can commit fraud by faking your physical location. People use virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent geographical restrictions on content across the internet and for security purposes. Media covering sporting events in countries with internet security issues use VPNs to access everything from video chats to workflow apps securely. At one point, online content streaming services began employing location validators to block VPN users from simulating being in another country to access their library.

Can you use a VPN for Online Sports Betting? 

There are two answers to this question.  The first answer is no. You can’t use a VPN for online sports betting. That is a crime, and that is illegal. You should wait for your region to legalize online sports betting or place bets in person at a physical sports book. The second answer: of course, you can, but don’t get caught! Apps like Geocomply allow users to simulate their physical location in a state with legal online sports betting. If you use location simulation software, you will always risk losing access to online sports betting as location validation technology improves and is implemented. So, now that you’ve passed the age verification level, provided identification information, and verified your location in a state with legal online sports betting, you can move on to the last level of account verification: financial information.

Financial Information Verification

As a part of the registration process, you will provide the online sports books with requisite personal information. You will take photos and upload your documentation with your mobile device to meet the online sportsbook identification requirements. Different online sportsbooks have different acceptable forms of identification and will provide you with various options.  However, it is highly advisable to use your government-issued identification card with your address as a primary piece of id. The verification process is smoother when the information on your online sportsbook, personal identification, and financial information all match. This will make the final verification level straightforward and quick: financial information verification.  The final level is financial information verification for withdrawals. You will need a verified account to request a withdrawal from any online sports book. The easiest way to pass this level is to deposit from the same account to which you will request a withdrawal. To ensure this process is smooth and error-free, it is highly recommended to use a financial transfer method registered to the same address as your identification.  The easiest way to pass this last identity verification test? Use PayPal as your primary financial transfer method. You will need an individual PayPal account. Verifying your PayPal account before starting your online sports betting adventures will make account verification a little smoother.

Account Verification FAQs

Q: How long will it take to verify my account fully? A: If you have the required identification information( likely on your mobile device), the verification process can be completed in as little as ten minutes. Q: How can I make the account verification process as easy as possible? A: There is a super easy and efficient way to make account verification smooth and hassle-free. Simply put, endure that the address on your identification and financial transfer method are identical and use your individual verified PayPal account as your primary funds’ transfer method. Most online sportsbooks allow and promote users to use PayPal for managing their online sports betting funds. Q: Can I access online sports betting even though I live in a region where it is prohibited? A: Yes and no. If online sports betting is illegal in your region, you are not able to access online sports betting. Online sports betting sites use geolocation technology to confirm that you are located in a region where online sports betting is illegal. However, with the right geolocation simulation apps (GeoComply), users can access online sports betting, running the risk of getting caught and prosecuted for fraud.