1. Purpose and Legal Basis
Gold Horse Casino is required to verify the identity of all customers as a condition of operating in Canada. This obligation arises under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) and is supervised by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). Identity verification is also required under applicable provincial gaming regulations, including standards set by iGaming Ontario for players in that province.
The purpose of this policy is to explain when identity verification applies, what information and documents are required, how the verification process operates, and what obligations apply to both the customer and Gold Horse Casino under this framework.
2. When Identity Verification Is Required
Identity verification is not limited to account registration. Gold Horse Casino is required to verify or re-verify customer identity at the following points.
2.1 Account Opening
Every customer must complete identity verification before accessing account functions. Registration details are checked against available data sources as part of this process.
2.2 Transaction-Based Triggers
Under FINTRAC rules, identity verification is mandatory in connection with the following transaction types:
Transaction Type - Threshold
Large cash transactions - CAD 10,000 or more
Casino disbursements - CAD 10,000 or more
Foreign exchange transactions - CAD 3,000 or more
Extensions of credit - CAD 3,000 or more
Remittance or transmission of funds - CAD 1,000 or more
International electronic funds transfers - Prescribed regulatory threshold
Suspicious transactions - Any amount, no minimum threshold
2.3 Withdrawal Requests
Identity verification may be required before a withdrawal is processed, particularly where verification was not completed at account opening or where account activity has changed since the last check.
2.4 Changes to Account or Payment Method
If a customer adds a new payment method, changes registered personal details, or if account activity triggers a compliance review, additional verification may be requested.
3. Information Collected
Gold Horse Casino collects the following personal information as part of the identity verification process:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Current residential address
- Phone number
- Occupation or main business activity (where required under FINTRAC guidance)
This information is used for identity verification, age confirmation, and compliance with applicable anti-money laundering and gaming regulations.
4. Accepted Verification Methods
Gold Horse Casino uses the following methods to verify customer identity, consistent with FINTRAC-prescribed approaches.
4.1 Automated Credit-File Matching
Where available, the system attempts to match registration details against Canadian credit bureau data. This process runs in the background and does not require the customer to upload documents if a sufficient match is confirmed.
4.2 Document Upload
If automated matching is unsuccessful or returns insufficient data, the customer is required to upload documents manually. The following categories apply.
Proof of Identity
The document must be government-issued, contain the customer’s name and photograph, carry a unique identifying number, and be valid and current. Accepted documents include:
- Canadian passport
- Provincial driver’s licence (front and back)
- Permanent Resident Card
- Canadian Citizenship Certificate with photograph
- Provincial photo identification card
Proof of Address
The document must show the customer’s full name and current residential address and must be dated within the last three months. Accepted documents include:
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government-issued letter or tax document
Proof of Payment
Where required, the customer must provide evidence linking their registered identity to the payment method used. Accepted formats include:
- Screenshot of Interac e-Transfer confirmation showing the customer’s name and account number
- Online banking profile screenshot showing name and account number
- Photograph of a payment card with the middle digits masked, the first six and last four digits visible, and the CVV covered
- Crypto wallet address or transaction screenshot where applicable
4.3 Biometric and OCR Verification
In some cases, Gold Horse Casino may use automated document scanning combined with a biometric liveness check. The customer is asked to submit a real-time selfie, which is compared against the photograph on the submitted ID document using optical character recognition and facial comparison technology. This process typically completes within minutes.
5. Document Requirements
All submitted documents must meet the following conditions:
- Colour images only; black-and-white scans are not accepted
- Images must be clear, unedited, and fully legible
- All four corners of the document must be visible
- The name on the document must match the name registered on the account exactly
- Expired documents are not accepted
Failure to meet these requirements will result in the verification request being returned for resubmission.
6. Age Verification
Gold Horse Casino does not permit access to gambling services by persons below the legal gambling age. The minimum age requirement is:
- 19 years of age in most Canadian provinces and territories
- 18 years of age in Quebec, Alberta, and Manitoba
Age is confirmed through the government-issued photo ID submitted during identity verification. Accounts where age cannot be confirmed will be suspended pending successful verification.
7. Verification Timeframes
Processing times depend on the method used:
- Automated credit-file match: typically completed within minutes of registration
- Automated OCR and biometric check: typically completed within minutes to 30 minutes
- Manual document review: may take up to 72 hours from the time complete and legible documents are received
Gold Horse Casino will notify the customer of the outcome or request additional information if documents are incomplete or unclear.
8. Consequences of Non-Verification
If a customer does not complete identity verification within the required timeframe or fails to provide acceptable documents, Gold Horse Casino may take the following actions:
- Restrict access to account functions
- Suspend withdrawal processing
- Place the account under review
- Close the account where verification cannot be completed
These measures are applied in accordance with regulatory obligations and are not discretionary.
9. Data Handling
Personal information and documents submitted for identity verification are processed and retained in accordance with Gold Horse Casino’s Privacy Policy and applicable Canadian data protection law. Documents are used exclusively for verification and compliance purposes and are not shared with third parties except where required by law or by FINTRAC reporting obligations.
10. Contact
Questions about the identity verification process or the status of a pending verification can be directed to Gold Horse Casino’s support team using the contact details provided in the account portal.