Cantabria has officially notified Brussels of its draft Order allowing the use of debit bank cards in land-based gambling venues, introducing a daily €300 spending cap while explicitly banning credit and dual-use cards. The central issue behind the reform is that the Cantabrian government is attempting to modernize payment systems in casinos, bingo halls, gaming arcades and betting shops without opening the door to debt-driven gambling, balancing financial traceability, operational security and excessive gambling prevention.
The regulation, officially titled Draft Order regulating the use of debit bank cards in gambling establishments in Cantabria, was promoted by the Ministry of Presidency, Justice, Security and Administrative Simplification, through the Directorate General for Security and Citizen Protection, led in 2026 by Ana Mónica Escobedo Llata, and the Gaming and Entertainment Service. The project is based on Cantabria Gambling Law 4/2022 of 24 June, Article 24.25 of the Cantabria Statute of Autonomy, and the regional legal framework established under Law 5/2018.
The reform does not allow direct card payments into gaming machines. Instead, transactions will operate through integrated ticket-management, coin exchange and prize-payment systems using a TPV-TITO or similar model. Players will load funds using a named debit card, receive a ticket and use it only inside the same venue where it was generated.
Each ticket may accumulate a maximum of €300, with the same €300 daily limit applied between 00:00 and 23:59. Bank records must clearly identify the gambling venue and specify that the transaction relates to gambling ticket acquisition. Purchases will require PIN validation or equivalent banking authentication, alongside a receipt for the consumer.
The devices may only be installed inside venues operating mandatory admission controls designed to block minors and self-excluded players. They will not require prior homologation, but operators must notify the regional gaming authority and submit manufacturer compliance declarations before activation.
The proposal also reveals growing tension between Spain’s land-based gaming sector and online gambling. Industry associations pushed for broader payment methods including wallets, apps and Bizum, arguing that retail operators are losing competitiveness against online gambling, SELAE and ONCE, which already accept more flexible payment systems. Cantabria rejected that approach and maintained a debit-only framework, arguing that preventing indebtedness and compulsive gambling remains a public policy priority.
