Spain Issues Royal Decree To Impose Cross-Operator Deposit Limits

Spain has approved new rules introducing deposit limits across the legal online gambling market, preventing players from funding multiple accounts to increase their allowance.

The measure was introduced through a royal decree and approved on 23 June. Under the new framework, players will face a maximum deposit limit of €700 per day, €1,750 per week and €3,300 over a four-week period. Previously, deposit limits for individual operators were set at €600 daily, €1,500 weekly and €3,000 monthly.

Spain’s Directorate-General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ) will oversee the new system through a centralised deposit control platform tracking deposits across all licensed operators. The regulator is now responsible for developing the technology to execute this vision.

Government Says Reform Will Strengthen Player Protection

The policy was proposed by Minister of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030 Pablo Bustinduy as part of the government’s social protection agenda.

According to the DGOJ, the reform aims to better protect players who maintain accounts with multiple gambling operators. The regulator estimates that 31 per cent of active online gamblers place bets across more than one licensed platform.

The approach is not entirely new within Europe. Germany operates a cross-provider deposit limit, although its monthly cap of €1,000 is lower than Spain’s new four-week limit.

Industry Questions Evidence And Practical Implementation

These new rules have drawn criticism from Spanish online gambling trade association JDigital. The organisation argued that the regulator is introducing restrictions that affect licensed operators without taking measures to strengthen the competitiveness of the regulated market.

JDigital also questioned whether the DGOJ can build a centralised computer system capable of monitoring deposits in real time across every licensed operator in Spain. The association challenged the evidence supporting these reforms, highlighting discrepancies in the figures.

According to JDigital, the regulator has previously indicated that around 80 per cent of Spanish online gamblers use only one operator. The DGOJ, however, says 31 per cent of active players gamble across multiple operators.

JDigital argues that if only a minority of players are affected, the measure may not satisfy the principle of proportionality. The regulator disagrees, stating that the 31% figure “underscores the need to incorporate new preventative and protective tools.”

Black Market Concerns Continue To Shape Industry Debate

The latest reform follows previous gambling restrictions by royal decrees. Its 2020 decree was one of the most significant, restricting gambling ads between 1am to 5am. Several of those measures were later annulled by Spain’s Supreme Court in 2024 after industry appeals.

JDigital believes similar legal challenges could emerge against the latest decree. The association also warned that tighter restrictions on licensed operators could encourage some consumers to migrate to unlicensed gambling websites.

Citing research prepared by EY, JDigital said 23.4% of surveyed users would consider using illegal operators, while 9.3% reported already doing so.

Spain has introduced deposit limits on cross-operator transactions by royal decree. The aim is to prevent players from increasing their available funds by depositing across multiple accounts. This move has drawn criticism from JDigital, as the organisation questions the country’s evidence base and contingency plans.