Spain's authorized online gambling operators are now subject to new anti-money laundering regulations that mandate verification of player identities against their payment methods. This rule, outlined in Royal Decree 813/2026, took effect on Wednesday and amends existing regulations in Spain's financial sector. Specifically, it requires that the individual behind a gambling account must match the name on all payment methods—including cards, bank accounts, and digital wallets—used for transactions.
Published on October 8 by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business, the decree introduces these requirements to strengthen identity verification protocols in the ongoing fight against financial crimes. A verified gaming account no longer suffices; operators must now ensure that each method of payment is directly associated with the account holder.
To implement these changes, operators and players have a six-month period to adapt. As reported by news agency EFE, this verification process must be completed immediately for new accounts, while existing players are granted until April 28, 2027, to comply. During this transition, current players can continue to deposit funds and play games, but they are prohibited from withdrawing any winnings until their payment methods have been validated. If an account does not achieve verification by the deadline, operators must close it, inform the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), and return any remaining balances, including suspended winnings.
The decree aims to combat rising identity impersonation cases, which increased by 12% in 2025, totaling 8,675 complaints.
For operators, the initial challenge lies in developing efficient technical solutions that accurately confirm the ownership of all payment methods used by players. Each operator will have to contact their existing customer base to ensure compliance by the April deadline. Players using someone else's payment method, such as a partner’s or family member’s card, must transition to methods registered in their own names to cash out.
This verification requirement could lead to customer dissatisfaction as players may experience delays in withdrawal access, potentially generating a surge in complaints and support requests during a stressful moment for many.
Without clear guidelines, operators face the added complication of navigating these changes. Jdigital, an online gambling association, has urged regulators to issue an interpretive guide to clarify the new rules and provide legal certainty regarding compliance.
Adding to the pressure, the April deadline comes shortly after Spain plans to implement national deposit limits in March 2027. These limits will restrict total gambling expenditures across all platforms to €700 per day.
Furthermore, the decree extends previously proposed regulations—which required at-risk players to use payment methods in their own name—to all players, reflecting a broader scope of compliance for the gambling industry.
