Spain makes casinos confirm who owns each card and wallet
Spain is introducing mandatory checks on who owns the payment methods used for online gambling. Royal Decree 813/2026 appeared in the BOE on 10 October 2026 and applies from 28 October.
The new requirement
Operators must verify that any card or e-wallet used to deposit or withdraw belongs to the registered account holder and must keep a record of that first verification. The rule covers websites, apps and other interactive channels and updates the regulations under Law 10/2010 on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing.
- Decree 813/2026: published 10 October, in force 28 October 2026.
- Existing players have six months to verify.
- Until verified, they can deposit and play but not withdraw.
- Unverified accounts are closed and balances refunded.
The six-month window
Current customers have six months to complete the check. In that time they can keep depositing and playing, but withdrawals are frozen until verification is done. If it never is, the operator terminates the contract and refunds the balance, including withheld winnings, under anti-money laundering rules.
Operators also have six months to update payment and identification controls. Remote ID checks must meet the standards of Sepblac, Spain's financial intelligence unit, and both physical and digital DNI cards are accepted.
Our take
Using a payment method in your own name is the easiest way to avoid frozen withdrawals. Compare options in our guides to Interac casinos, instant withdrawal casinos and payment methods.
Source: SBC News, 14 October 2026. This article is based on publicly reported news; our editors summarised and rewrote it for Canadian readers.