Spain’s new gambling payment rules come into force
Spain has introduced stricter payment verification requirements for licensed online gambling operators following a 12% increase in reported identity theft cases during 2025.
The new rules came into force on October 28, requiring operators to verify that the registered account holder matches the owner of payment methods used for deposits and withdrawals.
Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs confirmed the changes in a statement on Wednesday, revealing that 8,675 identity theft complaints were recorded last year.
The ministry said investigations identified the use of bank cards and electronic wallets where ownership was difficult to verify, with some cases potentially linked to organised crime and money laundering.
Introduced under Royal Decree 813/2026, the requirements apply immediately to newly registered gambling accounts.
Existing customers have six months to complete verification. During this period, they can continue depositing and gambling but cannot withdraw winnings until their payment methods have been verified.
Operators must close accounts that remain non-compliant after the transition period and return outstanding balances, subject to anti-money laundering obligations.
World Gambling List previously reported on the introduction of Spain’s new online gambling payment verification requirements, including the six-month transition period for existing customers.
