Spain introduces new anti-money-laundering rules for online gambling

Spain has introduced new anti-money-laundering measures for online gambling. The changes amend the rules supporting the law on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. A key provision requires operators to verify that the holder of a payment method is the owner of the gambling account.

Operators must keep records of the checks carried out on customers' initial transactions. The obligation applies to activity through electronic, computer and mobile application channels and other interactive channels.

Existing customers will be given a six-month transition period to allow operators to verify payment ownership. After that deadline, operators will be required to close accounts for which payment ownership has not been verified. Any remaining balances, including winnings withheld during the transition period, must be returned in line with anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing rules.

Operators will also have six months to update their technical systems and procedures to comply with the new rules, including changes to payment verification, customer identification and account management processes.

The decree introduces stricter standards for remote identity verification. Secure identification processes must meet the minimum requirements set out in the general authorisations issued by Sepblac, Spain's financial intelligence authority. The rules also recognise the Spanish national identity document (DNI) in both paper and digital format.

Companies must also adopt written policies addressing international financial sanctions and related countermeasures as part of their wider anti-money-laundering compliance systems. The new decree takes effect on 28 October 2026.