Spain tightens payment checks at online casinos
Spain is making payment-ownership checks mandatory in online gambling. Royal Decree 813/2026 was published in the BOE on 10 October 2026 and takes effect on 28 October.
What changes
Operators must verify that the payment method a player uses for deposits and withdrawals belongs to the registered account holder, and keep records of that first check. The rule covers online transactions via websites, apps and other interactive channels, and amends regulations under Law 10/2010 on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing.
- Decree 813/2026 was published on 10 October and applies from 28 October 2026.
- Existing customers get six months to verify payment methods.
- Until verified, players can deposit and play but cannot withdraw winnings.
- Unverified accounts are closed after six months and balances returned.
Transition period
Existing customers have six months to complete verification. During that time they can keep depositing and playing, but withdrawals of winnings are blocked until the check is done. If it isn't completed, the operator must terminate the contract and return the balance, including withheld winnings, subject to AML rules.
Operators also have six months to update payment checks and customer identification. Remote identification must meet requirements set by Sepblac, Spain's financial intelligence unit, and the national ID (DNI) is accepted in physical and digital form. Regulator DGOJ is also building a common algorithm to detect risky play and opened a new public consultation on 13 October.
What it means for players
Across regulated markets, withdrawals increasingly go back only to the method you deposited with, and only after verification. Use a card or e-wallet in your own name. Read more in our Jeton casinos guide.
Source: SBC News, 14 October 2026. Written by the Jeton Casinos editorial team based on the source report.