UKGC Requires ID Verification To Play Demo Games

UKGC, or better-known United Kingdom Gambling Commission, is one of the most famous gambling authorities in the world. It protects UK players and covers all available casinos in the country. The only issue here is that UKGC has too many rules and requirements. One of them is that players must complete ID verification even to play demo games, and at some point, it’s become a problem. 

The demo game’s primary purpose is to allow players to test the game or a casino. Definitely, you don’t want to spend too much time just to try something; you just want to sample and then already decide sign-up or not. The best option, in this case, is games or online casino brands which don’t require ID verification and don’t have any KYC procedure during the registration. Below we will clarify the basics and reveal all the facts you need to know about this topic. 

What Are Demo Games?

Demo games are available at many casinos but also on the websites of software developers. These are entirely free games. You will get coins or virtual money if you prefer to play the game. Coins are used to make the game feel more realistic.

In demo games, you cannot win real money. This is not their primary purpose. Players have been playing these games to learn how to play a game, see the features, explore the mini-games, symbols, and so much more. Demo games look the same as real money games. They have the same symbols, animations, interface, and all the rest. The goal is to provide a preview to players who, if they like the demo game, will play the game for real money. 

The New UKGC ID Verification Requirement

ID verification has been with us for a long period of time. As was mentioned, it protects online gamers, and it is mandatory in all UK casinos. This process involves you sending photos of passports, ID documents, and usually bills. The goal is to match the data you have used while creating the account with actual data. The two must match. Only after the two pieces of data match will players be able to proceed with gambling and playing demo games. 

You can do all of this at the site where you want to play. There is a separate section where you will need to upload the documents. Then you have to wait until customer support approves the data, and the account will be verified. 

ID verification was needed for real money gambling, but it wasn’t for demo games. This all changed in the recent past. Now you will have to verify the account in order to play demo games. The goal of this verification is to make gambling safer. By using this method, only people aged 18 and above will be able to play the games. This makes gambling safer and makes it impossible for underage people to play games. Now, this applies to free or demo games, so it applies to all casino games in general. 

Another reason we can see here is the fact that only verified people can be exposed to gambling, so the overall risk of gambling addiction is decreased. Keep in mind that this requirement is still new but appealing to certain players. 

The Impact on Players and Casinos

The new regulation we are discussing here may sound appealing, and it certainly is to some players. But there are some issues. The first one is obvious. Account verification is not instant. Players will have to wait a couple of days before it is approved. This means that you will have to wait a couple of days before you can play free demo games. This doesn’t have any sense. You cannot spend money on demo games, and you cannot win real money. 

Many casinos will have to adapt to this new requirement. They will have to add a new step before you can play games. Most players will not like this. Some casinos may be unavailable for some time until this new requirement is implemented. 

Alternatives to Demo Games

There are some alternatives that are useful in this case scenario. The first one is the fact you can still play demo games without ID verification at online casinos. These sites are still licensed and safe, so you don’t have to worry about playing. 

You can also find some games available in fun mode or you can watch YouTube channels. All of these are available options you have at your disposal right now, and you can enjoy them without sharing your ID documents. 

Conclusion

As a bottom line, we can say that ID verification is a worthy and vital procedure in some cases. You will have to be patient until all of this is properly implemented and tested. In addition, you can and should use available alternatives and options. Make sure to try the ones you like most and the ones you will want to enjoy at this stage. For most of you, this will be the fun mode or demo games at no-verification casinos, where you don’t need to verify the account in order to play.