Spain Introduces Stricter Checks on Online Gambling Payments
The measures form part of updates to the regulations supporting the country’s framework for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing.
The changes were introduced through Royal Decree 813/2026, published in Spain’s official state gazette last Saturday. A key requirement is that operators must confirm that the payment method used on a gambling account belongs to the same person who owns the account. The rule applies to both deposits and withdrawals made through online gambling platforms.
Under the new provisions, operators will need to verify the ownership of payment methods when transactions are first made and keep records of those checks, according to SBC News. The requirements cover gambling activity carried out through digital channels, including websites, mobile apps, and other interactive online services.
Six-month transition period
Players and operators will have six months to adjust to the new requirements. During that period, existing customers can continue using their current payment methods to deposit funds and access gambling services while operators complete the verification process.
However, there is one important restriction. Customers whose payment ownership has not yet been confirmed will not be able to withdraw winnings.
The transitional rules state that affected players “may not withdraw the winnings they have obtained” until the required checks have been completed.
Once the six-month window closes, operators will be required to shut the accounts of customers whose payment methods remain unverified. They must also report account activations and closures to the Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ).
Any remaining balances, including winnings that were held back during the transition period, must be returned when an account is closed, subject to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing requirements.
The transition period also applies to operators, giving them time to update their systems and procedures. That will include changes to payment verification, customer identification controls, and account management processes needed to comply with the new rules.
Changes will go live on October 28
The new rules will formally take effect on 28 October 2026, although some requirements will have their own implementation timelines. Alongside the payment verification measures, the decree introduces stricter standards for remote customer identification.
Operators carrying out digital identity checks will need to follow security requirements set by Sepblac, Spain’s financial intelligence authority. The changes also formally recognise both physical and digital versions of Spain’s National Identity Document (DNI) as part of identification procedures.
The decree further requires businesses to maintain written policies covering international financial sanctions and countermeasures.
For operators, the changes arrive at a time when several other regulatory projects are already underway. These include the DGOJ’s proposed system for identifying risky gambling behaviour, which is designed to spot potential harm earlier using player data.
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