Spain has introduced stricter payment verification requirements for online gambling operators, obliging companies holding state-level licences to ensure that the person registered on a gambling account is also the legal holder of the payment method used for deposits and withdrawals.
The measure entered into force on 28 October 2026 under Royal Decree 813/2026, which amends the country’s anti-money laundering framework. It is intended to strengthen player protection, reduce identity fraud and prevent the use of payment instruments belonging to third parties.
The requirement applies to payment methods used for both deposits and withdrawals, making ownership verification an essential part of the customer identification process.
New Accounts Must Meet the Requirement Immediately
Players registering new accounts from 28 October are subject to the requirement from the outset. Operators must verify that the payment method used belongs to the same individual who holds the gambling account.
The measure covers online gambling companies operating under licences issued at national level in Spain.
For existing customers, however, the authorities have established a six-month transition period. Players already registered before the new rules took effect have until 28 April 2027 to make the necessary changes and ensure that their payment methods meet the ownership requirement.
During this period, existing customers may continue depositing funds through their previously established payment methods and participating in games. However, they cannot withdraw winnings until the required ownership match has been verified.
Operators have been granted the same six-month period to adapt their technical systems and payment processes.
Unverified Accounts Could Face Contract Termination
The consequences become more significant once the transition period expires.
If an existing player has not demonstrated that the gambling account holder and payment method holder are the same person by the end of the six-month period, the operator must terminate the contractual relationship unilaterally and notify Spain’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ).
In such cases, operators must return the remaining account balances, including winnings that were withheld during the transition period.
These obligations remain subject to applicable anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing requirements.
The regulation therefore places responsibility on operators not only to introduce ownership checks but also to establish procedures for handling accounts that remain non-compliant after the deadline.
Identity Fraud Complaints Increased by 12%
The Spanish government has linked the new measure to a rise in identity-related fraud within the online gambling sector.
According to figures collected through the PACS protocol, a mechanism established by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in coordination with law enforcement agencies and the Tax Agency, Spain recorded 8,675 identity impersonation complaints related to online gambling in 2025.
This represented a 12% increase compared with the previous year.
Authorities also identified the use of third-party payment methods, particularly bank cards and electronic wallets, as a recurring feature of these cases. Such methods can make it more difficult to establish the real identity of the person funding a gambling account.
The government has also highlighted potential links between identity impersonation and organised activities associated with money laundering.
Payments and KYC Processes Face Operational Changes
For gambling operators, the new requirement means that payment ownership verification must become an integral part of customer identification and account management.
Companies will need to review their payment infrastructure, ensure that payment methods can be linked to verified account holders and establish procedures for customers whose existing payment instruments do not meet the new conditions.
The transition period also creates an important operational challenge: existing players can continue depositing and gambling before the deadline, but their ability to withdraw winnings depends on completing verification.
Spain’s reform adds another compliance requirement to an already closely regulated online gambling market. With the deadline for existing accounts set for 28 April 2027, operators have a limited window to update their systems, communicate the changes to customers and resolve outstanding payment ownership issues.