Source of funds checks on casino apps
Source of funds checks on casino apps are anti-money laundering reviews in which a UK-licensed casino asks where the money you deposit comes from, such as wages, savings or an inheritance, and asks for evidence. They are a legal requirement, not an accusation. This guide explains what triggers them, which documents work for each kind of income, and how to send them from your phone.
By the Best Casino Apps UK team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- UK casinos must follow the Money Laundering Regulations, which can require them to confirm where a customer’s money comes from.
- Checks are usually triggered by deposit levels or patterns, and operators don’t publish exact thresholds.
- Match the document to the source: payslips for wages, statements for savings, legal paperwork for an inheritance or house sale.
- Deposits, play or withdrawals may be paused until the check is complete, so respond promptly.
- Only open requests inside the app itself; never send documents through a link in an unexpected text.
- Legal basis
- Money Laundering Regulations 2017
- Regulator
- Gambling Commission
- Typical evidence
- Payslips, bank or savings statements
- Published triggers
- None; set by each operator
- Possible effect
- Deposits or withdrawals paused
- Records kept
- Usually five years after the account ends
What a source of funds check on a casino app is
Source of funds means the origin of the money you are gambling with: the salary, savings, pension, sale or gift that put it in your bank account. Casinos are covered by the UK’s Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017, so they must understand their customers and be able to show that money passing through an account is legitimate. That process is part of AML compliance and builds on the identity checks done at registration.
A source of funds check is different from source of wealth, which looks at how you built up your overall assets. Casinos mostly ask about funds, though at very high levels of play they may ask about both. It is also separate from an affordability review, which asks whether spending is sustainable; our guide to affordability checks on casino apps covers that.
| Check | Question it answers | Main rule behind it |
|---|---|---|
| Identity (KYC) | Are you who you say you are, and 18+? | Licence conditions |
| Source of funds | Where does this money come from? | Money Laundering Regulations |
| Affordability | Can you afford this level of spending? | Social responsibility code |
What triggers a source of funds check
The Gambling Commission expects operators to take a risk-based approach, so each casino sets its own triggers and doesn’t publish them; publishing exact figures would make them easier to avoid. In practice, checks often follow:
- Cumulative deposits reaching a level the operator has set for enhanced checks.
- A sudden jump in deposit size or frequency compared with your usual pattern.
- Deposits that look out of line with what the operator knows about you.
- Large or frequent deposits from several payment methods in a short time.
- A large withdrawal, particularly after a short account history; see what happens after a large win.
- Periodic reviews of long-standing accounts with higher spend.
None of these means the operator suspects you of anything. The check is how it demonstrates to the Commission that it knows its customers.
Which documents prove your source of funds
The best evidence is the document that most directly shows the money arriving. Match it to the source:
| Source of money | Typical evidence | What it must show |
|---|---|---|
| Employment income | Recent payslips and the bank statement showing the salary credit | Your name, employer, amounts and dates |
| Self-employment | Tax return or HMRC tax calculation, business bank statements | Your name and the tax year |
| Savings | Savings account statement covering the relevant period | Balance and transfers to your current account |
| Pension | Pension statement or payment letter | Regular amounts or any lump sum |
| Inheritance | Solicitor’s or executor’s letter, plus the statement showing receipt | Your name and the amount received |
| Property sale | Completion statement from the conveyancer | Sale proceeds and date |
| Gift | A letter from the giver and the statement showing the transfer | Who gave it, how much and when |
| Gambling winnings elsewhere | Account statement from the other operator and the bank receipt | Withdrawal amounts and dates |
Bank statements alone may not be enough if they show a large credit without explaining it. Pair them with the document that explains the credit. Statements should generally be recent and complete for the period requested; ask support whether you can obscure unrelated transactions. For more on how gambling payments appear, see casino app payments on bank statements.
How to respond to a source of funds request on your phone
- Open the casino app yourself and check the request appears in your account, inbox or verification section. Ignore links in unexpected texts or emails.
- Read which source the casino is asking about and for which period. If it isn’t clear, ask in live chat before gathering documents.
- Collect the evidence as PDFs where possible: banking apps, payroll portals and HMRC’s app or online account can usually export statements or tax documents.
- Save files where the app can find them: the Files app on iPhone, or Downloads on Android.
- In the casino app, go to Account > Verification (or Documents) and choose the source of funds category if there is one.
- Upload each document, adding a short note if the app allows, for example ‘£4,000 credit on 3 August is my annual bonus, see payslip’.
- Keep copies and the date you submitted. If the app shows no confirmation, ask support to confirm receipt.
What happens to your account while the check runs
Operators can restrict an account until a check is complete. Depending on the casino and the reason for the review, that might mean deposits are blocked, play is paused or a withdrawal is held at the pending stage. Our help page on a casino app withdrawal pending covers the other reasons a payout can wait.
| Status | What you can usually do | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Request open, account active | Play and withdraw normally | Upload before any deadline |
| Deposits restricted | Play with existing balance, withdraw | Upload to restore deposits |
| Withdrawal held | Wait for review | Upload and confirm with support |
| Account suspended | Contact support only | Ask exactly what is needed |
Reviews are often completed within a few working days of receiving clear documents, but operators rarely publish a timescale, and complex sources such as an inheritance can take longer. Polite follow-ups through live chat are reasonable after the time you were quoted.
Payment rules that go hand in hand with fund checks
Some casino terms exist for the same anti-money laundering reasons, and breaking them can trigger a review on its own.
- Own-name payments only. Cards, e-wallets and bank accounts must be in your name. Using a partner’s card, even with permission, usually breaks the terms; see sharing a casino app account.
- Closed loop. Withdrawals generally go back to the method you deposited with, where possible, as described in our entry on closed-loop payments.
- No credit cards. Credit cards can’t be used to gamble in Great Britain, including through e-wallets funded by a credit card.
- One account per person. Opening several accounts with one operator usually breaks the terms and complicates checks.
If you can’t or won’t provide evidence
If you don’t have the documents, explain the situation to support; there may be an alternative, such as a letter from an accountant or a different statement. If you choose not to provide anything, the operator may keep the account restricted or close it. Its terms explain how remaining balances are handled in that case.
Casinos can’t always give full reasons for decisions linked to anti-money laundering, because the law restricts what they may disclose. If you think a decision is unfair, use the operator’s complaints process; our guide on how to complain about a casino app explains the stages and the role of independent dispute resolution.
Spotting fake source of funds requests
Because genuine requests involve sensitive documents, criminals imitate them. Warning signs include a text or email with a link to an unfamiliar web address, pressure to respond within hours, requests for your online banking login or one-time passcodes, or a demand for a fee to release a withdrawal. A licensed casino will never ask for your banking password or a passcode sent by your bank.
- Don’t tap the link. Open the casino app from your home screen instead.
- Check whether the same request appears in your account.
- If it doesn’t, contact the casino through the app’s live chat and forward the message if asked.
- If you shared details, call your bank on the number on your card straight away.
Other signs that something isn’t genuine are listed under casino app red flags.
What happens to the documents you send
Documents become part of the casino’s customer due diligence records. Under anti-money laundering law, these are generally kept for five years after the business relationship ends, even if you close the account, and they must be stored securely and used only for legitimate purposes. You can ask what is held through a subject access request. Casino apps and your personal data explains your rights and how to exercise them.
Keeping fund checks in perspective
Source of funds reviews tend to reach people who deposit larger amounts. If a request made you realise you are spending more than you planned, consider lowering your deposit limit in the app, which takes effect immediately. Gambling is entertainment that costs money, and it is never a way to make up a shortfall. The National Gambling Helpline is free on 0808 8020 133, and our safer gambling hub lists other support.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
Why is a casino app asking for my source of funds?
Because UK anti-money laundering law requires licensed casinos to understand their customers and confirm that money passing through an account is legitimate. A request usually follows your deposits reaching a level the operator has set for enhanced checks, a change in your usual pattern, or a large withdrawal. It isn’t an accusation, and many regular customers are asked at some point. Respond through the app itself, never through a link in a message. Our glossary entry on source of funds gives a short definition and related terms.
What documents count as proof of source of funds?
The document that most directly shows where the money came from. For wages, that is recent payslips plus the bank statement showing the salary arriving. For savings, a savings statement showing the balance and transfers. For an inheritance, a solicitor’s or executor’s letter alongside the statement showing receipt, and for a house sale, the conveyancer’s completion statement. Each should show your name, amounts and dates. Ask support if you are unsure. Our help page on a casino app asking for documents covers common upload problems.
At what amount do casinos ask for source of funds?
There is no published figure. The Gambling Commission requires a risk-based approach, so each operator sets its own internal triggers, which may combine total deposits, speed of deposits and what it already knows about you. Publishing thresholds would make them easier to get around, so operators keep them private. Some customers are asked after a single large deposit, others after steady play over months. The checks run on your account, so they are identical in the app and on the website. Our guide to affordability checks covers the separate published £150 threshold.
Can a casino hold my withdrawal for a source of funds check?
Yes. A licensed casino can pause a withdrawal while it completes anti-money laundering checks, and its terms usually say so. The money remains in your account during the review. Uploading clear, complete documents quickly is the best way to shorten the wait. If the hold continues beyond the timescale you were given, ask live chat for an update and what else is needed. Our page on a casino app withdrawal pending explains the other reasons a payout can be held and the typical stages.
Is a source of funds check the same as an affordability check?
No. A source of funds check asks where your money comes from, to prevent money laundering. An affordability check asks whether your level of gambling is sustainable, to protect you from harm. The two can happen together, and one set of bank statements may answer both questions, but the rules behind them differ: the Money Laundering Regulations for one, and the Gambling Commission’s social responsibility code for the other. Our guide to affordability checks on casino apps explains the published thresholds for those checks.
Can I use a joint account or a partner’s money?
Payment methods generally need to be in your name, and depositing with someone else’s card or e-wallet usually breaks a casino’s terms even with their permission. A joint bank account in your name is often accepted, but operators may ask questions if the funds clearly belong to someone else. If you have received money as a gift, say so and provide evidence of the transfer. If you are unsure, ask support before depositing. Our page on whether you can share a casino app account explains the related rules.
How long does a source of funds check take?
Operators rarely publish a timescale. Straightforward reviews based on payslips and bank statements are often completed within a few working days of receiving clear documents, while complex cases such as inheritances, property sales or self-employment income can take longer. The clock effectively starts when the casino has everything it needs, so check the request carefully and send complete, legible PDFs. Keep the date of your upload and ask support for an update if you hear nothing. Our verification guide has tips for uploads that are accepted first time.
How do I know a source of funds request is genuine?
Genuine requests appear inside your casino account, so open the app directly from your home screen and look in the verification section or inbox. Be wary of texts or emails with links to unfamiliar addresses, demands for a fee to release money, very short deadlines, or requests for your online banking password or one-time passcodes, which no casino needs. If in doubt, ask the casino through its live chat. Our guide to casino app red flags lists other warning signs worth knowing.