Nearly every “the casino won’t pay me” complaint I investigate comes down to one thing: KYC handled wrong or handled late. Get verification right and your withdrawals clear in minutes. Get it wrong and you’ll wait. Here’s how to do it properly at offshore casinos.
I’m Otto Bergstrom, 18 years testing casinos. 18+ only. Play responsibly.
What KYC Is
KYC (“Know Your Customer”) is the identity check casinos run to comply with anti-money-laundering rules. It’s standard and legitimate — even offshore sites do it. Typically you’ll be asked for:
- A government photo ID (passport or driver’s license)
- Proof of address (a utility bill or bank statement, usually within 3 months)
- Proof of payment method — for crypto, often just your wallet address
The Golden Rule: Verify Early
Do not wait until you win to verify. Upload your documents right after you sign up, while you have nothing riding on it. Verification usually completes within 24 hours. Doing it early means that when you do win, your withdrawal isn’t sitting in a queue waiting on paperwork — it just processes. This one habit prevents the overwhelming majority of payout delays.
Sites like Wild Casino run a quick automated KYC portal; others review manually and take longer. Either way, early is better.
The “Weaponized Slow KYC” Red Flag
Reputable casinos verify you once and pay. Dodgy ones use KYC as a stalling tactic: you win, and suddenly they demand more documents, hoping you’ll get frustrated and gamble the winnings back. How to protect yourself:
- Contact live support and ask for the complete list of documents needed and the upload link.
- Submit everything at once — ID, proof of address, proof of payment method.
- Get support to confirm in writing that verification is complete and no documents are outstanding before you deposit large amounts.
If a casino keeps inventing new document requests after you’ve submitted a complete set, that’s a serious red flag. Stick to tested, reputable brands — see best real money online casinos.
Withdrawal Red Flags to Watch
- “Blockchain congestion” excuses. Once a casino approves a crypto withdrawal, ask for the TXID and check it on a public explorer like mempool.space or blockstream.info. If the network is clear and no TXID appears within 30 minutes, be suspicious.
- Reversal offers. If support pushes you to cancel a pending withdrawal and “keep playing,” decline. Reputable sites don’t pressure you out of a payout.
- Bonus breaches. A withdrawal can be legitimately held if you exceeded a max bet or game restriction on a bonus — check that first before assuming bad faith. See wagering requirements explained.
If a Payout Is Delayed
Stay calm and document everything — screenshots of your balance, withdrawal history and chat transcripts. Confirm with support that KYC is complete and no bonus term was breached. If the casino still won’t pay, file a formal complaint on Trustpilot or a mediation forum like LCB.org, where the major offshore brands keep representatives who escalate disputes.
FAQ
When should I complete KYC at an offshore casino?
Right after you sign up, before you win anything. Verification usually clears within 24 hours, and completing it early prevents the most common cause of held withdrawals.
What documents do offshore casinos require?
Typically a government photo ID, proof of address (a utility bill or bank statement within 3 months), and proof of your payment method. For crypto, the payment proof is often just your wallet address.
Why is my withdrawal being held?
The usual causes are incomplete KYC or a bonus-term breach (exceeding a max bet or playing a restricted game). Verify early and check the bonus terms. If neither applies and the casino still stalls, it may be a red flag — document everything and escalate on LCB.org.
How do I know if a casino is stalling my payout?
Reputable casinos verify once and pay. If a site keeps requesting new documents after you’ve submitted a complete set, or blames “blockchain congestion” without providing a TXID you can verify on-chain, treat it as a warning sign.
Last updated: July 2026. Written by Otto Bergstrom for Balkasino. Play responsibly — 18+.