AML (anti-money laundering)
AML (anti-money laundering) is the set of laws and checks that make casinos confirm who their customers are and where their money comes from.
Also called AML, anti-money laundering, AML/CFT, source of funds check
Money laundering means making money from crime look legal. Casinos are a known route for it, so licensed casinos must run AML controls. They identify customers (KYC), watch for unusual activity, ask where funds came from, keep records and report suspicious transactions. The international standard comes from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). It says casinos should identify customers who make transactions of 3,000 US dollars or euros or more. National laws and licences can be stricter.
Example. You deposit 5,000 in crypto, place a few small bets and ask to withdraw nearly all of it. Moving money through with little play is a classic warning sign. The casino pauses the withdrawal and asks for ID and proof of where the funds came from, such as an exchange statement.
What people get wrong. Players often see an AML check as a trick to avoid paying. A casino can misuse it that way. But the checks are a legal duty, and a casino that never asks anything is more worrying, not less. Paying in crypto does not avoid them, because blockchain transactions are public and can be traced on most blockchains.
Related terms
- KYC (know your customer)
KYC (know your customer) is the identity check where a casino asks for documents such as a passport and proof of address, often before it pays a withdrawal.
- Curaçao licence
A Curaçao licence is a permit to run online gambling issued by the Curaçao Gaming Authority, the regulator that many crypto casinos operate under.