Bet On Ceuta president seeks implementation support for Spain’s payment checks

Brahim Mohamed Aslimani, president of the association Bet On Ceuta and chief executive of Paf Group Spain, criticised the short adaptation period for Spain's Real Decreto 813/2026, which took effect on 28 October and introduces new requirements to verify the ownership of payment methods in online gambling. In a LinkedIn post, Aslimani said the 20 days between publication and entry into force left operators with a narrow margin, and he noted that the period fell during an election campaign.

Aslimani said the sector shares the objectives of preventing money laundering, terrorist financing and fraud, but argued that the practical application of the measures should have had more institutional support. He said operators had to review their systems, coordinate with providers, change internal procedures and prepare communication with users under demanding regulatory conditions.

The regulation requires operators to check that the holder of the gaming account matches the owner of the payment method used for deposits and withdrawals. A six-month transitional regime applies to certain already-registered players and to companies' technical adaptations. During that period, previously registered users may keep depositing with the payment methods they had set up and continue playing, but they cannot withdraw winnings until the required check is complete.

Aslimani called for more technical support, clear criteria without vague interpretations and agile communication from the authorities. He said regulatory requirements should come with practical help for compliance, particularly where they affect technology procedures, relations with payment service providers and identity verification mechanisms. He restated operators' commitment to compliance and said institutional support should match it.