Spain Enforces Payment Ownership Verification for Online Gambling
Spain.- 30 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com The Spanish Government, through the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, has introduced a new requirement for online betting and casino operators: verifying that the registered gambling account holder is also the owner of the payment methods used.
The measure took effect on 28 October 2026, under Royal Decree 813/2026, and aims to strengthen safeguards against fraud, identity theft and money laundering.
The regulations establish immediate requirements for new customers and a six-month transition period for existing accounts.
New Obligations for Gambling Operators
State-licensed online gambling businesses must verify ownership of the financial instruments used by their customers.
The requirement applies to payment methods used for both deposits and withdrawals.
The instruments subject to verification include:
- Bank cards.
- Bank accounts used for transfers.
- Electronic wallets.
- Other payment methods accepted by gambling platforms.
The objective is to prevent gambling accounts from being operated using financial instruments belonging to third parties.
Identity Theft Complaints Rise by 12%
The reform follows an increase in reported cases involving the fraudulent use of personal information.
According to Spain’s Protocol for Action on Impersonated Taxpayers (PACS), 8,675 incidents were recorded during 2025, representing a 12% year-on-year increase.
The monitoring framework involves cooperation between consumer authorities, the Spanish Tax Agency and national law enforcement bodies.
The information collected helps identify cases in which another person’s identity is used to conduct gambling transactions.
Beyond direct financial losses, these practices can also create tax consequences for the individuals affected.
DGOJ Warns About Money Laundering Risks
The Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ) has identified risks associated with the use of gambling accounts to facilitate irregular financial transactions.
Authorities warn that some criminal organisations use stolen identities and payment methods with limited real-time traceability to move funds.
Such practices can make it difficult to establish who is ultimately responsible for a transaction.
The new regulations therefore introduce additional checks alongside existing customer identification procedures.
Verifying a customer’s identity will no longer be sufficient unless ownership of the relevant payment instrument is also established.
Immediate Requirements for New Accounts
Since 28 October, new customers have been required to comply with the verification procedures established by the legislation.
Operators must incorporate these controls into account registration and payment management processes.
The objective is to identify potential irregularities before transactions are conducted using financial instruments belonging to third parties.
For gambling businesses, this requires adaptations to the technology used for customer identification and transaction monitoring.
Six-Month Transition for Existing Customers
The regulations establish a transitional period for customers registered before the new requirements took effect.
The deadline is 28 April 2027.
During these six months, operators must verify that payment methods associated with existing gambling accounts belong to the registered account holders.
Customers may continue making deposits and participating in gambling activities while completing the verification process.
However, the legislation introduces specific restrictions on withdrawals.
Withdrawals Blocked Until Verification Is Complete
One of the most significant provisions prevents customers from withdrawing funds until ownership of the receiving payment method has been verified.
The restriction applies to users who have not successfully completed the required checks.
Consequently, during the transition period:
- Existing customers may continue making deposits.
- Accounts may remain active while verification is completed.
- Withdrawals will remain blocked until the relevant ownership checks are satisfied.
The objective is to prevent funds from being transferred to accounts or financial instruments whose ownership has not been established.
Non-Compliant Accounts Must Be Closed
Once the transitional period expires, operators must take action regarding customers who have not verified ownership of their payment methods.
In such cases, gambling businesses will be required to:
- Terminate the gambling agreement.
- Close the relevant account.
- Notify the DGOJ.
- Arrange the return of outstanding balances and winnings.
Account closure does not automatically mean that customers lose their funds.
Repayments must comply with the applicable anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing requirements.
Additional Technology and Compliance Requirements
The reform requires licensed operators to review their internal compliance procedures.
Key responsibilities include updating customer identification systems, verifying payment methods and introducing appropriate withdrawal controls.
Operators must also establish procedures for recording verification checks and handling accounts that do not satisfy the requirements.
The transition presents additional technological and administrative challenges for Spain’s regulated online gambling market.
Industry Impact and Next Steps
The new regulations strengthen financial transaction controls across Spain’s licensed online betting and casino sector.
For operators, the reform requires additional verification procedures and system adaptations before the transitional deadline.
For customers, it establishes the obligation to use payment methods whose ownership can be verified.
With 8,675 identity theft incidents recorded in 2025, Spain is strengthening the traceability of online gambling transactions and has established 28 April 2027 as the deadline for bringing existing customer accounts into compliance.
Edited by: @fonta
