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Affordability Check vs Source of Funds

What each means, how they relate, and when to use which.

These serve different goals. An affordability check is a responsible-gambling measure: can the player afford to gamble this much without harm. Source of funds is an anti-money-laundering measure: where did this money come from. One protects the player from harm; the other protects the system from illicit money.

Affordability Checkadvanced
Player protection

A check an operator runs to judge whether a player can afford their gambling losses without falling into financial harm.

Use it when Use affordability check for whether a player can safely afford to gamble.

Full definition of Affordability Check →
Source of Fundscore
Compliance

Source of Funds is the evidence a licensed operator requires to confirm where the specific money a player is depositing and gambling with actually came from.

Use it when Use source of funds for whether the money is legitimately sourced.

Full definition of Source of Funds →

The key distinction

  • Affordability is a player-protection check; source of funds is an AML check.
  • Affordability asks whether spending is sustainable; SoF asks whether money is legitimate.
  • They can use similar documents but answer different regulatory questions.

Common questions

What's the difference between Affordability Check and Source of Funds?

These serve different goals. An affordability check is a responsible-gambling measure: can the player afford to gamble this much without harm. Source of funds is an anti-money-laundering measure: where did this money come from. One protects the player from harm; the other protects the system from illicit money.

What is Affordability Check?

A check an operator runs to judge whether a player can afford their gambling losses without falling into financial harm.

What is Source of Funds?

Source of Funds is the evidence a licensed operator requires to confirm where the specific money a player is depositing and gambling with actually came from.

Understanding, not advice. This explains how two terms differ so you can read the industry clearly. Nothing here treats gambling as a way to make money; the maths favours the house. 18+.