Spain Approves Cross-Operator Gambling Deposit Limits

Spain has introduced a new Royal Decree that will apply deposit limits across all licensed online gambling operators, creating a unified system designed to strengthen player protection.

The measure was approved by the Council of Ministers on June 23 following a proposal from Pablo Bustinduy, Spain’s Minister of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030.

Under the new framework, deposits made by a player across multiple gambling platforms will be counted together under a single overall limit. Previously, operators applied limits individually, allowing customers with accounts at several sites to deposit amounts that exceeded the intended safeguards.

Responsibility for overseeing the system will fall to the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), which will monitor compliance through a real-time supervision tool.

New Deposit Limits Introduced

The regulation establishes default deposit caps of:

• €700 per day

• €1,750 per week

• €3,300 over a four-week period

These limits will apply collectively across all licensed operators rather than separately at each platform.

Players will still be able to request changes to their limits, although any modification process must include information highlighting the potential risks associated with gambling.

The DGOJ will coordinate the monitoring system, ensuring deposits are tracked across operators without requiring unnecessary sharing of commercial data between companies.

Authorities noted that the measure is particularly relevant for the segment of Spanish online gamblers who maintain accounts with multiple operators.

Industry Raises Concerns

The decision follows similar regulatory approaches elsewhere in Europe. Germany, for example, already applies a cross-operator deposit cap, although its monthly limit is significantly lower.

However, the Spanish reform has prompted criticism from industry representatives. Jdigital, the country’s online gambling association, pointed to regulatory data indicating that most online players use only a single operator.

The association argued that the new rules could disproportionately affect a smaller segment of the market while potentially creating competitive challenges for smaller operators.

Jdigital also highlighted the technical complexity of building and maintaining a centralized system capable of monitoring deposits in real time across all licensed platforms. The group stated that both operators and regulators will face implementation challenges and called for flexibility during the rollout phase.

Concerns Over Market Impact

The industry body also referenced developments in other regulated markets where stricter controls have coincided with increased activity on unlicensed gambling sites.

According to Jdigital, any new restrictions should be carefully assessed to ensure they remain effective while preserving a competitive regulated market.

Despite its concerns, the association said it remains willing to work with regulators and public authorities on measures aimed at improving consumer protection while maintaining a balanced regulatory environment.