Source of funds checks at bookmakers: what to send and why

Why high turnover triggers checks

Gambling providers are obliged entities under EU anti-money-laundering law (Directive (EU) 2015/849, implemented in Slovakia by Act 297/2008, in Malta by the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and its regulations, and in Austria through the federal states' betting laws). They have to know their customers and understand where the money comes from. Two triggers matter most:

• A fixed threshold. The directive requires customer due diligence for gambling transactions (stakes, winnings or both) of €2,000 or more, whether in one transaction or in several that appear linked. Many bookmakers verify every customer anyway, at registration or at the first withdrawal.
• Risk-based checks. Above that, operators must apply enhanced checks when the risk is higher. Typical triggers are high deposits relative to the declared income or job, a fast rise in deposits, large or frequent withdrawals, many payment methods, and high turnover. Each operator sets its own internal thresholds; there is no fixed amount that applies everywhere.

Two terms appear in these emails. Source of funds means where the specific money you deposited came from (salary, savings, a sale). Source of wealth means how you built your overall assets. The first is asked for much more often. From July 2027 the new EU Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 replaces the directive with directly applicable rules; the logic stays the same.

A source of funds request is not an accusation. It is a standard check, and most are closed once the documents arrive. The basic identity check that comes before it is part of normal verification.

Which documents bookmakers ask for

The request usually lists acceptable documents. Commonly accepted:

Bank statements are the core of almost every request, because they connect the source with the deposits. Statements should come from the bank (PDF download or the online-banking export), show your name, the account number and the period, and must not be edited. Screenshots of an app are often rejected.

Explaining sure-bet turnover

Sure betting looks unusual in a risk system: little money goes in, but a lot of money is staked, because the same balance is used again and again. Bookmakers see only their side, where sure-bet results swing between wins and losses. A short, factual explanation with numbers helps.

Your answer can then say: "My turnover comes from re-staking the same €2,000. All deposits came from my salary account (statements attached); withdrawals go back to the same account." Turnover alone is not money laundering; unexplained deposits are what the check is about. A tidy record of your bets and transactions makes this easy. ArbVantage's bet tracker logs your bets and exports them as a CSV, which you can use to put the summary together. You don't have to mention which strategy you use; the check is about the money, not about how you bet.

Deadlines and account restrictions

• Deadline. Requests usually set a deadline, often 7 to 30 days. If you need longer (for example to get a statement from the bank), ask for an extension in writing before it runs out.
• Restrictions in the meantime. Withdrawals and often deposits and bets are paused until the check is complete. Don't place new sure bets at a bookmaker that is checking you: if one leg can't be placed or its winnings are paused, you carry the risk of the other leg alone.
• If you refuse or can't provide the evidence. If an operator can't complete the required checks, AML law requires it not to continue the business relationship. In practice the account is closed. How and when the balance is returned depends on the terms and the case; where there is a reasonable suspicion, the operator must report it to the financial intelligence unit and may not tell you.
• A repeated request. Checks can happen again later, for example after higher deposits. Keep the documents ready.

If the bookmaker still doesn't pay out after you have provided everything, the steps in bookmaker won't pay out apply.

Your data

Bookmakers may process these documents because the law requires it (GDPR Article 6(1)(c)), and they have to keep AML records for five years after the business relationship ends. That doesn't mean you have to send more than necessary:

• Send documents only through the bookmaker's verification upload or the official email address in its terms, never via links from unsolicited messages.
• Ask whether unrelated transactions on a bank statement may be blacked out, as long as your name, the account number, the period and the relevant entries stay readable. Many operators accept that; some don't.
• You can ask which data is stored and for how long (GDPR Article 15).

One more practical point: if your stakes are so large that source of funds checks become stressful, it is worth stepping back. Only bet with money you can do without, and see bankroll for how to size it.

The steps in short

1. Read the request closely: which documents, which period and which deadline.
2. Gather bank statements from the bank plus evidence of the source, such as payslips, a tax assessment or a sales contract.
3. Write a short summary of deposits, turnover, net result and withdrawals, and explain that the turnover comes from re-staking the same money.
4. Upload everything through the official verification channel and note the date.
5. Place no new sure bets at that bookmaker until the check is closed, and follow up in writing if there is no answer.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to send bank statements?

If the bookmaker asks for them as part of an anti-money-laundering check, it is usually the only way to keep using the account and to withdraw. Ask whether unrelated transactions may be blacked out, and send them only through the official verification channel.

What happens if I refuse?

If the bookmaker can't complete the checks it is required to make, it may not continue the business relationship, so the account is normally closed. How and when the balance is returned depends on the terms and the case.

Is there an amount from which checks apply?

EU law requires customer due diligence for gambling transactions of €2,000 or more, single or linked. Source of funds checks are risk-based: each bookmaker sets its own internal triggers, such as deposits that look high for your income or a sharp rise in activity.

Is high turnover suspicious in itself?

Not by itself. High turnover from re-staking the same balance is normal for sure betting. What the check wants to understand is where the deposited money came from, so clear bank statements and a short summary usually settle it.

Sources

• Directive (EU) 2015/849 (AMLD), Articles 11, 14, 18 and 40
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 (AMLR)
• Slov-Lex: Slovak AML Act (Act 297/2008) (in Slovak)
• Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU), Malta
• Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR), Articles 6 and 15

As of October 2026, checked against the linked sources. Not legal, tax or betting advice.

Betting involves risk, even with sure bets: prices move, bets get voided and accounts get limited. Only use money you can do without. Our responsible gambling page lists free help.

Not betting advice. 18+. Betting involves risk. See our disclaimer.