Spain’s regulated gambling sector is preparing for another wave of regulatory changes, with industry experts warning that new cross-operator deposit limits could reshape player behavior while also debating whether prediction markets could legally operate under existing licensing rules.
Those issues were the focus of a recent Gaming in Spain webinar, where legal and market specialists examined upcoming reforms affecting the country’s online gambling industry. Participants included Xavi Munoz Bellvehí, Managing Partner at ECIJA Barcelona, Camille Gonzálvez, TMT & iGaming Lawyer at ECIJA, and Josh Hodgson, Chief Operating Officer at H2 Gambling Capital.
Among the key topics discussed were planned amendments to Spain’s Remote Gambling Act, including stricter player identification requirements aimed at reducing tax evasion, the creation of an official register for approved B2B software suppliers to strengthen protections against illegal gambling, and additional advertising restrictions.
A significant late addition to the discussion was Spain’s new cross-operator deposit limit system, introduced through Royal Decree 520/2026. The framework will allow deposit limits to be monitored across all licensed operators instead of on a site-by-site basis, preventing players from bypassing personal limits by opening accounts with multiple operators. A six-month testing period is scheduled to begin on 25 September 2026, ahead of full implementation on 25 March 2027.
Under the new system, combined deposit limits will initially be set at €700 per day, €1,750 per week and €3,300 over a four-week period. Players will still be able to request higher or lower limits, or remove them entirely, subject to responsible gambling procedures and regulatory safeguards. The Directorate-General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ) will oversee the centralized monitoring platform.
H2 Gambling Capital cautioned that the cross-operator limits could reduce player spending by around €300 million, while also putting further pressure on channelisation rates if consumers increasingly migrate to unlicensed operators. The consultancy has previously warned that Spain’s offshore gambling market has expanded rapidly despite continued growth in the regulated sector.
The webinar also examined the growing popularity of prediction markets, including platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi. Despite the cautious stance taken by Spanish regulators, the legal experts argued there may be scope for licensed operators to offer prediction-style betting under the country’s existing regulatory framework, although the competitive impact on traditional sportsbooks may be less significant than headline transaction volumes suggest.
Industry observers expect the coming months to be pivotal as Spain balances stronger consumer protection measures with maintaining the competitiveness of its regulated online gambling market.