Keeping players safe when gambling online is critical. As hackers have adapted to new safety measures and scams have become more sophisticated, the need for identity verification is more apparent than ever before. 

Thankfully advanced identity verification is successfully preventing fraud, supporting anti-money laundering measures, and protecting player accounts, and we’ll explore how in this article.  

What is KYC? 

KYC (know your customer) is a process used by many banks, financial services, and businesses, including online casinos, to verify the age and identity of a customer, authenticate documents, and assess potential risks (in the case of gambling, this includes problem gambling and affordability issues). 

KYC regulations are becoming increasingly important as criminals alter their strategies to tackle more stringent security measures. However, they do create a lengthier registration process and many people express privacy concerns over sharing their personal documents online, which is why many gamblers seek out no-KYC casinos, despite the safety and security KYC provides. 

How Does KYC Improve Online Casino Safety? 

KYC has a number of safety advantages: 

Reduces the Risk of Fraudulent Behaviour 

KYC checks can flag those providing false information, using stolen identities, or engaging in any other fraudulent transactions and activities. This adds an extra layer of protection which increases the safety and security of a platform.

Prevents Money Laundering 

Online casinos are at a very high risk of money laundering, so knowing who is moving money around and why is essential. These detailed identification processes make it much more difficult for criminals to launder money though online casino sites. 

Lowers the Rate of Problem Gambling 

Gambling can be highly addictive. Gaming online, while convenient, does give people access to gambling 24/7, which can easily fuel an addiction. KYC can help operators filter out problem gambling, by monitoring player activity and spending to identify those at risk. Flagging these behaviours quickly allows people to evaluate their habits and seek help early on, lowering the risk of developing a dangerous gambling addiction. 

Safety is Crucial When Gambling Online 

The best new online casinos are the ones that take player safety and financial security seriously. By implementing proper safety measures and identifying individuals accurately, online casinos can protect themselves and their players, prevent fraud, and create a more positive gambling experience. 

While registering for online gaming using a KYC casino can take longer and feel more disruptive, it’s crucial that you stick to sites that follow these regulations to help keep you safe online. 

A CALL for permission for works clearing part of the 2026 Eisteddfod site ahead of this year’s festival in Pembrokeshire has been given the go-ahead county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Cardiff-based Angharad Davies sought permission for the removal of multiple small sections of hedge on a temporary basis for the forthcoming Eisteddfod at Glanrhyd Road, Llantood/Llantwd.

A supporting statement said: “Preparation works have been undertaken to reduce hedge growth in several locations where openings are required for festival access, with all arisings shredded and retained within the hedgerow to support natural regeneration.

“Any openings created will be carefully excavated, with the soil set aside and preserved for reinstatement upon completion, ensuring that all materials are returned as found. Where herringbone stonework is uncovered, we will reinstate it to match the original as closely as possible, typically engaging a specialist local stone mason experienced in traditional methods.

“Following the event, reinstatement works will be completed prior to leaving site, and we will return in November to plant a mix of seven hedgerow species and we will consult with yourselves to ensure the selected species are appropriate and in line with your recommendations, maintaining the character and biodiversity of the site.

“Where possible, we have incorporated original gates into a number of the proposed openings to retain the character and integrity of the site, ensuring consistency with existing features.

“In selecting locations for access points, we have prioritised sections of hedgerow with minimal growth to reduce the extent of intervention required and to minimise impact of the surrounding vegetation. This approach supports efficient installation while maintaining the natural appearance and structure of the hedgerows.”

The application was unconditionally approved by county planners.

The 2026 festival, running from August 1-8 at Llantwd holds particular historical significance, marking the 850th anniversary of the first recorded Eisteddfod, held in 1176 at Castell Aberteifi.

With this year’s Maes located close to the original site, the event is expected to be a landmark occasion for the region and for Wales as a whole.

The National Eisteddfod is the largest cultural festival in Europe and one of the most prominent events in the Welsh cultural calendar, attracting approximately 175,000 visitors annually.

The festival celebrates Welsh language, literature, music, and the arts, with a diverse programme of competitions, performances, exhibitions, and community activities.

The Eisteddfod proclamation took place in Narberth last May, with hundreds attending.

At the time, Narberth County Councillor Mark Tierney posted: “One of the biggest parades through Narberth in a long time and we provided the warmest of welcomes to visitors from near and far for the Eisteddfod proclamation procession.”

Broadcaster warns its current funding model is becoming unsustainable as viewers move away from live television and BBC iPlayer

THE NUMBER of television licences in force across the UK has fallen by almost 540,000 in just one year, according to the BBC’s latest annual report.

A total of 23.3 million licences were active at the end of the 2025/26 financial year, compared with 23.8 million 12 months earlier.

The reduction of 539,000 was considerably larger than the fall recorded during the previous year and reflects the growing number of households which say they no longer watch programmes requiring a television licence.

Households need a licence to watch or record television programmes as they are being broadcast on any channel, or to use BBC iPlayer. Those who only use other streaming services to watch programmes on demand do not generally require one.

The number of households declaring that they did not need a licence rose by 62,000 during the year, reaching approximately 3.7 million.

Licence numbers have now fallen by more than 2.5 million since the beginning of the decade, when around 25.9 million were in force.

BBC chief financial officer Berangere Michel said the majority of the decline appeared to be caused by people no longer consuming content covered by the licence.

She warned that the trend was unlikely to reverse and was instead expected to accelerate, strengthening the BBC’s argument that the way it is funded must be reformed.

The corporation’s annual report said its financial outlook had worsened during the second half of 2025, with licence sales falling more quickly than previously forecast.

Inflation, rising production costs and difficult trading conditions across the wider media industry have also increased the gap between the BBC’s income and its expenditure.

Although licence fee income stood at around £3.87 billion in 2025/26, the value of that income has fallen sharply when inflation is taken into account.

In today’s prices, the corporation received approximately £1.34 billion less than the equivalent amount raised in 2016/17, representing a real-terms reduction of around 26 per cent.

The BBC reported an operating loss of £121 million for 2025/26 despite an increase in the price of the television licence during the year.

Director-general Matt Brittin described the situation as a “moment of real jeopardy” for both the BBC and public service broadcasting in the UK.

He said the corporation continued to play an important role in public life, the economy and Britain’s cultural influence, but acknowledged that it would have to change substantially to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving media market.

The report shows that 94 per cent of adults use at least one BBC service each month, but fewer than 80 per cent of households now contribute through the licence fee.

BBC chairman Samir Shah said the difference between the number of people using BBC services and those paying for them demonstrated that the existing system could no longer support the corporation’s public service responsibilities.

The BBC is preparing for negotiations over its next Royal Charter, with the current arrangements due to expire at the end of 2027.

Options being discussed include retaining a reformed licence fee, extending payments to some households using commercial streaming services, or developing a different funding system. The Government has not yet made a final decision.

The future of the licence fee also has implications for broadcasting in Wales. S4C receives its public funding through the television licence, with £97.6 million allocated to the Welsh-language broadcaster during 2025/26.

The BBC has already announced plans to reduce spending across its news, nations and content divisions.

The first phase is expected to save around £160 million, contributing towards a wider target of £500 million by 2028/29. The programme is expected to result in between 1,800 and 2,000 job losses over three years.

BBC executives maintain that substantial reform will be needed alongside those savings if the organisation is to continue providing television, radio, news, online and regional services on their current scale.