Spain Introduces Payment Ownership Checks for Online Gambling

Existing online gambling customers in Spain must verify ownership of their payment methods before withdrawing winnings under rules effective October 28. Players have until April 28, 2027, to complete the checks or face account closure.

---

Good to know

• Licensed operators must confirm that gaming accounts and payment methods belong to the same person.
• Existing customers can continue playing and depositing through established payment methods during the transition, but cannot withdraw winnings before verification.
• Operators must close accounts that remain unverified after the deadline and report them to the DGOJ.

---

Account closure does not mean automatic forfeiture of funds. Operators must return the remaining balance, including withheld winnings, subject to applicable anti-money laundering and terrorist financing obligations. The decree also gives operators six months to adapt their technical systems.

Operators Seek Clarity as Payment Checks Broaden

Industry association Jdigital has requested an interpretive guide to clarify implementation and provide legal certainty.

The practical task extends beyond checking identity documents. Operators need to establish ownership of the cards, bank accounts and e-wallets customers use to transfer money into and out of gambling accounts.

An existing identity check alone therefore no longer satisfies the requirement. A customer using a card belonging solely to a partner or relative will need a payment method in their own name.

Reviewing existing accounts could also increase support requests, particularly when customers discover the restriction while trying to collect winnings. Operators must manage that process alongside checks for new customers.

Spain Targets Gambling Identity Impersonation

The payment requirement forms part of Royal Decree 813/2026, which the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business published on October 8. It amends 11 financial-sector royal decrees, including anti-money laundering identity verification rules.

The measure requires state-licensed online gambling operators to match the gaming account holder with the holder of the payment method used for deposits and withdrawals. New accounts face the requirement immediately, while existing customers receive the transition period.

According to EFE, complaints involving gambling identity impersonation increased 12% in 2025 to 8,675.

The broader requirement also goes beyond a measure the DGOJ had proposed for customers identified as at risk. Under that draft risk-detection framework, flagged players would need to use payment methods in their own name. Payment ownership checks now apply across the customer base.

Another Compliance Deadline Approaches in 2027

The April verification deadline follows the expected March 2027 introduction of national deposit limits.

That separate system would apply a €700 daily deposit ceiling across operators, rather than treating each gambling account independently. Operators therefore face two different tasks close together: checking who owns payment methods and preparing for centralized deposit controls.

The post Spain Introduces Payment Ownership Checks for Online Gambling appeared first on iGaming.org.