1. Purpose and Legal Basis
Napoleons Casino Cleethorpes operates under the regulatory framework established by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). As a licensed gambling business in Great Britain, the company is required to verify the identity and age of every customer before that customer is permitted to gamble. This obligation is set out in the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP), specifically Condition 17.1.1 (Customer Identity Verification).
The purpose of identity verification is to confirm that a customer is who they claim to be, that they meet the minimum legal age requirement of 18 years, and that their account details are accurate and current. Verification also supports obligations under Anti-Money Laundering (AML) legislation and broader responsible gambling requirements, including the ability to check whether a customer has registered with a self-exclusion scheme.
No customer may place a bet, access gambling services, or deposit funds with Napoleons Casino Cleethorpes until identity verification has been completed to the required standard.
2. Minimum Information Required
Under LCCP Condition 17.1.1, the following information must be obtained and verified, at a minimum, for every customer:
- Full legal name
- Residential address
- Date of birth
This information must be verified before gambling is permitted. Reasonable steps are taken to ensure that the information held remains accurate over time. Customers are required to notify the company of any changes to their personal details. Where there is reason to believe that information on record is no longer accurate, updated documentation may be requested.
3. Verification Methods
3.1 Electronic Checks
Where possible, Napoleons Casino Cleethorpes uses automated electronic checks to verify customer identity. These checks may involve matching the information provided at registration against records held by third-party data sources, including electoral roll data and credit reference agency records. Where electronic verification is successful, customers may not be required to submit documents at the point of registration.
3.2 Document-Based Verification
If electronic checks are insufficient to confirm identity, or if risk thresholds require a higher level of assurance, customers will be asked to submit documentation. Acceptable documents include:
- Valid passport
- UK driving licence (full or provisional)
- National identity card
- Recent utility bill (issued within the last three months)
- Recent bank statement (issued within the last three months)
- Other government-issued photographic identification
Documents submitted must be legible, unaltered, and clearly show the required information. Both front and reverse images of certain documents may be requested.
3.3 Biometric and Liveness Verification
In certain circumstances, customers may be required to complete a biometric check. This typically involves submitting a selfie or short video that is matched against the photograph on a submitted identity document using facial recognition technology. Liveness checks are used to confirm that the submission is made by a real person in real time and not through the use of a static image or manipulated material.
3.4 Additional Checks
Depending on the level of risk associated with an account, customer information may also be screened against sanctions lists, Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) databases, and fraud prevention registers. These checks form part of the platform’s AML compliance obligations and are conducted in accordance with applicable UK law.
4. Timing of Verification
Verification must be completed before a customer is permitted to gamble. Napoleons Casino Cleethorpes does not permit gambling to commence prior to the completion of required identity checks.
In line with Gambling Commission requirements, customers are informed, before making a deposit, of the documentation that may be required, the circumstances in which it will be requested, and how it should be provided. This information is set out in this policy and in the account registration process.
5. Verification and Withdrawals
A customer’s request to withdraw funds will not be used as a reason to require additional identity information that could reasonably have been requested at an earlier stage. Where identity verification has been completed prior to a withdrawal request, no further documentation will be required solely on the basis of the withdrawal.
Where a step-up check is required at the point of withdrawal due to new legal obligations or risk triggers that could not have been identified earlier, the specific requirement will be communicated clearly and without undue delay.
6. Consequences of Failed or Incomplete Verification
If a customer is unable to complete identity verification, access to gambling services will not be granted or will be suspended until verification is completed.
Where a customer has been unable to verify their identity and funds remain in their account balance from deposits, those funds will not be removed. Reasonable attempts will be made to confirm the customer’s identity and to return any deposit balance to the payment method used.
If a customer remains unverified for a continuous period of 12 months, and after thorough attempts to confirm identity and return the deposit balance have been exhausted, Napoleons Casino Cleethorpes may apply a reasonable periodic maintenance fee to the account. Any such fee will be clearly described in the applicable terms and conditions, and customers will be notified at least 30 days in advance before any fee is applied.
7. Data Handling
All personal information and documentation submitted for identity verification purposes is processed in accordance with the Privacy Policy and applicable UK data protection legislation. Documents and personal data collected during the verification process are used solely for the purposes of identity confirmation, age verification, AML compliance, and responsible gambling obligations. Verification data is not used for marketing purposes.
8. Customer Obligations
Customers are required to:
- Provide accurate and complete information at the time of registration
- Submit requested documentation promptly when asked
- Notify Napoleons Casino Cleethorpes of any changes to personal details
- Cooperate with any additional verification requests made in accordance with regulatory obligations
Providing false, misleading, or fraudulent information during the verification process constitutes a breach of the applicable terms and conditions and may result in account closure and reporting to relevant authorities.
9. Contact
Questions regarding the identity verification process or the status of verification should be directed to the customer support team using the contact details provided in the account area or on the official website.