Spain orders casinos to verify who owns each payment method
Spain is making payment method ownership checks mandatory for 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 confirm that the card or e-wallet used for deposits and withdrawals belongs to the registered account holder, and keep a record of the first check. The rule covers transactions made through websites, apps and other interactive channels, and amends the regulations under Law 10/2010 on preventing money laundering and terrorist financing.
- Decree 813/2026 was published on 10 October and applies from 28 October 2026.
- Existing customers have six months to verify their payment method.
- Until then they can deposit and play but cannot withdraw winnings.
- Unverified accounts are closed and balances returned.
Six-month transition
During the transition, existing customers can keep depositing and playing, but withdrawals stay blocked until verification is complete. If it never happens, the operator ends the contract and returns the balance, including withheld winnings, in line with anti-money laundering rules.
Operators also have six months to update their payment and customer identification controls. Remote identification must meet the standards of Sepblac, Spain's financial intelligence unit, and the DNI identity card is accepted in both physical and digital form.
Our advice
Only ever pay with a method in your own name – it is the simplest way to avoid stuck withdrawals anywhere. Compare fast withdrawal casinos, Tether casinos and no-KYC casinos to see how verification differs.
Source: SBC News, 14 October 2026. This article is based on publicly reported news; our editors summarised and rewrote it for TelegramCasinos readers.