As of Wednesday, Spain's licensed online gambling operators face new anti-money laundering regulations mandating them to ensure that the individual who holds a gaming account is the same person associated with the payment method used for transactions.
This mandate arises from Royal Decree 813/2026, which was published on October 8 and put forth by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Business. The decree revises 11 financial-sector regulations within Spain's anti-money laundering framework, notably altering the identity verification procedures.
Operators can no longer rely solely on a verified gaming account; they must now confirm that each payment method—be it a bank account, credit card, or payment platform—belongs to the account holder.
The decree allows both operators and players a six-month adjustment period, during which new accounts must comply immediately. Existing customers have until April 28, 2027, to satisfy these requirements.
During this transition, while current players can continue to make deposits and engage in gameplay, they will be unable to withdraw their winnings until their payment methods have been verified. If an account does not match the required identity by the deadline, operators must close the account, notify the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), and refund all remaining balances, including any withheld winnings.
This measure aims to combat identity fraud, which reportedly rose by 12% in 2025 to 8,675 complaints.
For operators, the immediate concern is ensuring that their systems are capable of accurately confirming the identity linked to every card and payment method used by players for both deposits and withdrawals.
Furthermore, they must also process their existing customer base before the April deadline. Players using payment methods under someone else's name will need to obtain a card registered in their name prior to making any withdrawals, a situation that may lead to player dissatisfaction and increased customer support inquiries, especially at a time when players typically seek quick access to their funds.
Operators are also requesting clearer guidelines, as they currently operate with minimal direction. Jdigital, the online gambling association, has urged authorities to release an interpretive guide to provide greater clarity and legal assurance regarding these regulations.
Adding to this pressure is the looming April deadline, which coincides with the expected launch of Spain's national deposit limits designed to cap daily spending across all operators at €700 beginning in March 2027.
Notably, the decree also expands requirements previously proposed by the DGOJ exclusively for at-risk players, now mandating that all players must use payment methods registered in their own name.
Jdigital has been contacted for additional comments regarding these changes.
