Do I need to go through identity verification again if I switch to a different registered Ontario online casino?

Say you've been playing at one Ontario-registered site for a year and decide to open an account somewhere else — maybe a different operator has the poker room or live dealer tables you prefer. Here's the honest answer: yes, you'll go through identity verification again, and that's by design.

Each operator runs its own KYC process

Ontario's regulated market is structured around individual operator registrations, not a shared player database. The AGCO's Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming require that relevant player information — name, date of birth, address, login credentials, contact details, and information required under federal anti-money laundering rules — be collected and validated before any player account is created. That obligation sits with each operator independently.

Players may have only one player account per gaming site — not one account across the whole market. And even operators closely associated through branding may be different legal entities; each requires separate registration. So when you move to a new site, that site's compliance team has no access to the KYC file your previous operator built. They have to build their own.

Once you've selected a regulated site, you'll need to sign up for a player account. The process may be a little different for every operator, but at minimum you'll be asked to provide basic personal information that goes through a verification process to confirm your identity — and that information must be verified before your account can be created.

What you'll typically need to provide

The standards set the floor; individual operators may ask for more. At minimum, expect to supply government-issued photo ID (a driver's licence or passport is standard), proof of address, and your date of birth. Some operators complete this instantly through automated checks; others may request document uploads that take a short time to review. The speed varies — check the specific operator's site for their stated turnaround.

One practical note: if you're 19+ and playing on any legitimate Ontario-registered site, you can verify it's the real thing by looking for both the iGaming Ontario logo and the BetGuard logo displayed on the site — iGaming Ontario has confirmed that regulated operators display both. BetGuard is also Ontario's centralized self-exclusion service, which lets you opt out of all licensed operators at once through a single registration if you ever need that option. ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) is available around the clock for anyone who wants support.

The one thing that does carry over

Your self-exclusion status does follow you across operators. The Centralized Self-Exclusion Program, administered by iGaming Ontario, allows Ontario players to voluntarily self-exclude from all regulated igaming sites in Ontario through a single registration process. Upon receiving confirmation that a player on their site is a centrally self-excluded person, operators must immediately take steps to log that person out of their account. So while your KYC doesn't transfer, a self-exclusion does — which is exactly how it should work.

The short version: plan for a fresh ID check every time you open an account at a new Ontario-registered operator. It's a regulatory requirement, not a quirk of any particular site. To confirm an operator is legitimately registered, use the official iGaming Ontario registry at igamingontario.ca.