Under new anti-money laundering rules that took effect on Wednesday, Spain’s licensed online gambling operators must now verify that the holder of a gaming account is the same person as the holder of the payment method used to deposit and withdraw funds.
The requirement is part of Royal Decree 813/2026, which was published on 8 October. Issued by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business, the decree amends 11 financial-sector royal decrees, including the identity verification rules in Spain’s anti-money laundering regulation.
A verified gaming account is no longer enough. Each card, bank account or payment gateway must be shown to belong to the player.
New and existing accounts
The decree gives operators and players six months to adapt. According to news agency EFE, the check applies immediately to new accounts, while existing customers have until 28 April 2027.
During the transition, existing players can keep depositing and playing but cannot withdraw winnings until the check is complete. If no match is verified by the deadline, operators must close the account, notify the DGOJ and return the full balance, including withheld winnings.
EFE reports the measure targets identity impersonation, with complaints rising 12% in 2025 to 8,675.
What it means for operators
For operators, the most immediate task is technical. Platforms will need a reliable way to confirm the name behind every card, bank account and e-wallet a player uses, both for deposits and withdrawals.
Existing customer bases will also have to be worked through before April. Anyone who has been gambling with a partner’s or relative’s card will need to switch to one in their own name before they can cash out.
That process is likely to cause friction. Blocking withdrawals until checks are complete risks more complaints and support tickets, at the very moment players most want access to their money.
Operators are also working without detailed guidance. Online gambling association Jdigital has asked the authorities to publish an interpretive guide to provide clarity and legal certainty, Sector del Juego reports.
The timing adds pressure. The April deadline falls a month after Spain’s national deposit limits – which cap spending across all operators at €700 a day – are expected to launch in March 2027.
The decree also extends a principle the DGOJ had proposed only for at-risk players. Under its draft risk-detection test, flagged customers must use payment methods in their own name. That requirement now applies to every player.
iGB has reached out to Jdigital for comment.