Starting this Wednesday, Spain's licensed online gambling operators must ensure that the account holder matches the name on the payment method used for deposits and withdrawals. This new requirement is part of Royal Decree 813/2026, published on October 8 by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Business. This decree updates eleven financial-sector royal decrees, including modifications to the identity verification procedures in Spain's anti-money laundering regulations.
Under these new rules, having a verified gaming account is no longer sufficient. Operators must now prove that each card, bank account, or payment gateway used belongs to the player.
Both new and existing accounts will be affected by this change. Operators and players have a six-month window to comply. The verification obligation takes effect immediately for new accounts, while existing players have until April 28, 2027. During this transition period, players can continue to deposit and play but won’t be able to withdraw any winnings until their payment methods are verified. If a match is not confirmed by the deadline, operators are required to close the account, inform the DGOJ, and return the full balance, including any withheld winnings.
EFE reports that this measure aims to combat identity impersonation, which saw an increase of 12% in complaints in 2025, totaling 8,675 cases.
For operators, the pressing challenge is technical implementation. They need a reliable method to verify the identities linked to every payment method a player uses for transactions. Existing customer accounts must also be cleared by the April deadline, compelling players who have used a partner's or relative's card to transition to one under their own name before they can cash out.
This requirement may lead to complications, as restricting withdrawals during the verification process could result in an uptick in customer complaints and support requests at a time when players are eager to access their funds.
Operators are also navigating these changes without comprehensive guidance. Jdigital, the online gambling association, has urged authorities to issue an interpretive guide to clarify the new rules and provide legal certainty, according to Sector del Juego.
The deadline is significant as it occurs just a month after Spain's planned implementation of national deposit limits—set to cap spending across all operators at €700 per day in March 2027.
Moreover, this new decree extends a requirement that previously applied only to at-risk players. Under an earlier draft for risk assessment, flagged customers needed to use payment methods in their own name; this rule is now applicable to all players.
Jdigital has been contacted for further comment on these developments.
