The new rules were introduced through Royal Decree 813/2026 and will take effect on October 28, 2026, as part of Spain’s efforts to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing, with operators required to verify payment ownership for both deposits and withdrawals and keep records of their checks.
Existing customers will have six months to complete the verification process. During this period, they can continue depositing money and gambling as usual, but they won’t be able to withdraw their winnings until their payment details have been verified.
Operators will also have to update their systems to meet the new requirements. Once the six-month period ends, accounts that still have unverified payment methods must be closed, and operators will need to notify Spain’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ). Any remaining balances, including winnings that couldn’t be withdrawn during the transition period, must be returned according to anti-money laundering rules.
The decree also introduces stricter requirements for remote identity checks and requires businesses to keep written policies covering international financial sanctions. Some of the new identity verification rules will follow a separate timeline, with some changes taking effect 18 months after publication.
