Online casino accounts must match payment cards in Spain

Licensed online gambling operators in Spain must verify that the owner of a gaming account is the same person as the owner of the payment method used to deposit and withdraw funds, under new anti-money laundering rules that took effect on Wednesday. The regulation is based on Royal Decree 813/2026, published on 8 October.

A verified account is no longer enough on its own. Every card, bank account and payment intermediary must be shown to belong to the player. Checks start immediately for new accounts, while existing players have until 28 April 2027. During the transition period, existing players can deposit and play, but they cannot withdraw their winnings until the checks are complete. If the match cannot be verified, the account will be closed, reported to the DGOJ, and the balance, including any winnings held, will be refunded.

According to the EFE news agency, the aim is to prevent identity fraud. Complaints of this kind rose 12 percent in 2025 to 8,675. For operators, the most urgent task is technical infrastructure. Players who use a card belonging to their spouse or a relative will have to switch to a payment method in their own name in order to withdraw money.

The process may cause friction. Blocking withdrawals until checks are complete could increase complaints and support requests. The online gaming association Jdigital has asked authorities for an interpretive guide to provide clarity. National daily deposit limits of 700 euros are also planned to begin in March 2027, which adds to the pressure on operators.

The decree extends to all players a rule the DGOJ had proposed in its draft for high-risk players only. Customers flagged in the risk assessment test were previously required to use payment methods in their own name. That requirement now applies to everyone.