Spain brings in payment ownership checks for gambling

iGaming operators licensed in Spain must now confirm that every card, bank account or e-wallet a customer uses to deposit or withdraw belongs to that same customer. The rule came into force on October 28 under Royal Decree 813/2026.

It applies to new accounts straight away. Existing customers have until April 28, 2027, to pass the check. In the meantime they can keep depositing and playing, but they can’t withdraw winnings until their payment methods are matched to them. If there’s no verified match by the deadline, operators must close the account, inform the DGOJ and return the full balance, including any winnings held back.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business published the decree on October 8. It amends 11 royal decrees covering the financial sector, including the identity checks in Spain’s anti-money laundering rules. According to EFE, the aim is to tackle identity impersonation, which led to 8,675 complaints in 2025, a 12% increase.

Operators will need systems that verify the name behind each payment method. They’ll also need to review existing players, including anyone funding an account with a partner’s or relative’s card. No detailed guidance has been published yet, and industry association Jdigital has asked the authorities for an interpretive guide.

The April deadline comes about a month after Spain’s €700 daily deposit cap across all operators, which is expected in March 2027. The DGOJ had previously proposed a similar requirement only for players flagged as at risk. The decree extends it to all players.