- Purpose and Legal Basis
Christchurch Casino is subject to the New Zealand Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (AML/CFT Act). Under this legislation, the company is required to know its customers and to verify the identity of customers conducting certain transactions. In some circumstances, it is also necessary to verify the source of funds or source of wealth associated with a transaction or account.
Identity verification is not optional where it is required under the AML/CFT Act or under internal compliance obligations. Customers who do not provide the required documentation may be unable to complete certain transactions, open specific account types, or access membership services.
- When Identity Verification Is Required
Identity verification may be required in the following circumstances:
- Applying for or upgrading a Players Club membership card
- Conducting transactions of $6,000 or more
- Opening a FrontMoney deposit account or a Secure Electronic Transfer (SET) account
- Participating in poker at the casino
- Any other situation where compliance obligations require confirmation of a customer’s identity, address, or source of funds
The specific documents required depend on the context in which verification is conducted. The sections below set out the requirements for each applicable area.
- Acceptable Identity Documents
3.1 General Identity Verification
For general AML/CFT identity verification purposes, the following documents are accepted:
- A current New Zealand passport
- A current New Zealand driver licence
These are the primary forms of identification accepted for standard verification. Where additional verification of residential address or source of funds is required, supplementary documents must also be provided.
3.2 Residential Address Verification
To verify residential address, customers must provide an independently issued document that meets all of the following conditions:
- Issued within the last 12 months
- Shows the customer’s full name
- Shows the customer’s current residential address
Acceptable document types include utility bills, insurance bills, bank statements, credit card statements, vehicle registration documents, and other government-issued documents showing name and address.
Documents may be presented in paper form, shown on a smartphone screen, or emailed (relevant section only) to [email protected].
3.3 Source of Funds and Source of Wealth
Where required under the AML/CFT Act, Christchurch Casino may request evidence of the source of funds used in a transaction or the source of a customer’s overall wealth. Acceptable supporting documents include bank statements, business records, and receipts. The specific documents required will depend on the nature of the transaction and the customer’s circumstances.
- Poker Identity Requirements
Customers participating in poker at Christchurch Casino must satisfy specific identity, address, and bank account verification requirements. These apply to all poker participants and are separate from general AML/CFT verification.
4.1 Identity
One of the following combinations is required:
Option A: A current passport or a current New Zealand firearms licence (one document only)
Option B: Two forms of identification, at least one of which must include a photograph (for example, a driver licence and a bank card)
Identity documents for poker must be presented in person at the Customer Services desk. Customers are requested not to email images of identity documents for poker verification purposes.
4.2 Residential Address
An independently issued document dated no older than 12 months, showing the customer’s name and residential address, is required. Acceptable documents include utility bills, insurance bills, bank statements, credit card statements, and government-issued documents such as vehicle registration papers.
The document or a screenshot of the relevant section may be shown at the Customer Services desk, uploaded, or emailed to [email protected].
4.3 Bank Account Ownership
Evidence of bank account ownership must be provided in the form of a document issued by a bank that shows the customer’s name and bank account number. This may be presented physically, shown as a screenshot, or emailed (relevant section only) to [email protected].
- Membership Verification Requirements
5.1 Bronze Membership
Applicants for a Bronze membership card must provide one current, non-expired photo ID from the following list:
- NZ driver licence - must be current and not expired
- NZ firearms licence - must be current and not expired
- Any passport - New Zealand or international, must be current
- Kiwi Access Card - must be current and not expired
5.2 Higher Membership Tiers
Customers upgrading to Silver or Gold membership tiers may be required to provide additional verification, including verification of residential address and bank account ownership. The evidential requirements for address and bank account ownership follow the standards described in sections 3.2 and 4.3 of this document. Supporting documents for address or bank account ownership may be emailed to [email protected].
- Online Account Verification
The christchurchcasino.com online brand conducts identity and age verification as part of account setup and ongoing account management. Verification is carried out through automated checks against the registration details provided by the customer at the time of account creation. Where automated checks are insufficient, verification may also be conducted through third-party verification providers, financial institutions, or other agencies, in accordance with legal and regulatory obligations.
Christchurch Casino is legally required to monitor account behaviour and to record and monitor all transactions and relevant data. This monitoring supports compliance with licensing and regulatory obligations and assists in identifying potential signs of problem gambling.
- Self-Exclusion and Identity Verification
Identity verification is also used as part of the self-exclusion process. Customers who are not registered loyalty members and who request self-exclusion must present suitable identification so that the casino can reasonably verify their identity. Longer self-exclusion terms may involve a Host Responsibility meeting and, in some cases, evidence of counselling support.
- Data Handling
Personal information collected during the identity verification process is handled in accordance with the Christchurch Casino Privacy Policy. Information may be shared with third-party verification providers, financial institutions, or regulatory agencies where required by law. For privacy-related enquiries, customers may contact [email protected] or telephone 03 371 2453.
- Contact Information
For identity verification enquiries, Christchurch Casino can be contacted through the following channels:
Customer Services (verification, membership, poker ID):
Email: [email protected]
Privacy and AML/CFT Compliance:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 03 371 2453
General Enquiries:
Phone: +64 3 365 9999
Host Responsibility Support Centre:
Phone: +64 3 371 2421
Email: [email protected]
Physical address:
Christchurch Casino
30 Victoria Street
Christchurch Central City
Christchurch 8013
New Zealand