- Purpose and Scope
This policy sets out the identity verification requirements applicable to all persons who hold or seek to open an account with Casino Nova Scotia Sydney. Identity verification, also referred to as Know Your Customer (KYC), is a mandatory compliance procedure under Canadian federal and provincial law. It is not optional and cannot be waived by the account holder.
The obligations described in this policy derive from the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) and its associated regulations, as administered and enforced by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). Provincial gaming regulations applicable to the jurisdiction in which the account holder is located impose additional requirements, including age verification and geolocation confirmation.
This policy applies to all account holders regardless of transaction volume, unless a specific exemption is provided under applicable law.
2. Legal Basis
2.1 Federal Requirements
Under FINTRAC guidance for casinos, Casino Nova Scotia Sydney is required to verify the identity of any person or entity in the following circumstances:
- Receipt of CAD 10,000 or more in cash in a single transaction
- Receipt of virtual currency equivalent to CAD 10,000 or more in a single transaction
- Extension of credit of CAD 3,000 or more to a person or entity
- Opening of an account, before any funds are disbursed
- Each person authorized to give instructions on an account, before funds are disbursed
- Opening of a corporate or entity account, before the first non-initial transaction is carried out
A casino is not required to verify identity for transactions of CAD 3,000 or more in funds if those funds are received from a financial entity, a public body, or a person acting on behalf of such a client, as defined under the PCMLTFA.
2.2 Provincial Requirements
Provincial gaming regulations require that all account holders confirm their legal age and, where applicable, their physical location within the licensed jurisdiction before accessing real-money services or initiating withdrawals. The minimum legal gambling age in Canada is set by province and is generally 18 or 19 years of age. Account holders must satisfy the age requirement applicable to their province of residence.
3. Verification Stages
3.1 Registration
At the time of account registration, the following personal information is collected:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Residential address
- Email address
- Phone number
This information must be accurate and consistent with the identity documents subsequently submitted. Discrepancies between registration data and submitted documents may result in a hold on account activity until the matter is resolved.
3.2 Document Submission
Account holders are required to submit the following documents as part of the identity verification process:
Government-issued photo identification - one of the following:
- Valid passport
- Driver’s licence issued by a Canadian province or territory
- Provincial or territorial identity card
Proof of address - one of the following, dated within the preceding three months:
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Official tax document
Documents must be submitted as clear, full-colour scans or photographs. Partial, blurred, expired, or altered documents will not be accepted and will require resubmission.
3.3 Payment Method Verification
In certain circumstances, Casino Nova Scotia Sydney may require verification of the payment method associated with the account. This may include a redacted image of a bank card or a bank statement confirming account ownership. Sensitive financial data, including full card numbers, must be partially obscured in accordance with data protection standards.
3.4 Biometric and Liveness Verification
Casino Nova Scotia Sydney may require a selfie, a photograph of the account holder holding their identity document, or a short liveness video as part of the verification process. This step is used to confirm that the person submitting the documents is the same individual named in those documents. Refusal to complete this step will result in suspension of the verification process.
3.5 Screening
All submitted information is subject to screening against applicable sanctions lists and Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) databases as required under Canadian anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) obligations. Accounts flagged during screening will be subject to enhanced due diligence before activation or continued access is permitted.
4. Timing of Verification
Verification may be initiated at registration or at a later stage, depending on account activity and applicable thresholds. Casino Nova Scotia Sydney will not process any withdrawal request until full identity verification has been completed and approved. Accounts that have not completed verification may have restrictions applied to deposits, withdrawals, or both.
Where verification is triggered by a specific transaction threshold or risk indicator, the account holder will be notified and required to complete the process within the timeframe specified in the notification.
5. Account Holder Obligations
The account holder is responsible for:
- Providing accurate and truthful information at registration and throughout the verification process
- Submitting documents that are valid, current, and belong to the account holder
- Ensuring that all submitted materials are legible and complete
- Responding to verification requests within the timeframe specified by Casino Nova Scotia Sydney
- Notifying Casino Nova Scotia Sydney of any changes to personal information that affect the accuracy of the account record
Failure to meet these obligations may result in account suspension, restriction of withdrawals, or permanent closure of the account.
6. Data Handling
Personal data and identity documents collected during the verification process are processed in accordance with applicable Canadian privacy legislation. Data is retained for the period required by law and is not shared with third parties except where required by regulatory or legal obligation. Account holders may submit inquiries regarding their personal data through the official support channels of Casino Nova Scotia Sydney.
7. Responsible Gaming and Self-Exclusion
Identity verification procedures are also used to enforce responsible gaming obligations. Casino Nova Scotia Sydney uses verified identity data to identify and restrict access for persons who have registered under a self-exclusion program. Account holders who are subject to a self-exclusion order are prohibited from holding an active account. Attempts to circumvent self-exclusion through the use of alternative identities or documents constitute a breach of this policy and of applicable law.
8. Contact and Escalation
Account holders with questions regarding the status of their verification, the documents required, or the handling of their personal data should contact Casino Nova Scotia Sydney through the official support channels listed on the platform. Verification status inquiries submitted through unofficial channels cannot be processed.