Online casinos in Portugal

Portugal is one of Europe's most liberal and technologically advanced gambling jurisdictions. Here, gambling is regulated at the state level, including online casinos, betting and poker. Thanks to transparent laws and strict controls, Portugal has become the center of sustainable and safe gambling in Southern Europe.

History and legal framework

The modern regulation of gambling in Portugal is based on Law No. 66/2015 ("Regime Jurídico dos Jogos e Apostas Online"), adopted in April 2015.

Until that time, online gambling was in a gray zone: offline casinos operated legally, and the digital market did not have clear rules.

With the adoption of the law, the state officially legalized online gambling and established clear control mechanisms.

Regulation is engaged in:

Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ) —
Gambling Regulation and Inspection Service, a division of the Portuguese Ministry of Tourism.

SRIJ is responsible for:

issuing licenses for online and offline gambling;
certification of operators and software;
control over payments, player protection and taxes;
RNG software audit
fighting offshore sites and illegal platforms.

Licensing and taxation

Portugal licenses operators for both online casinos and betting.

To obtain permission, you must:

Register a legal entity in the EU
provide evidence of financial sustainability;
store game servers within the EU;
Pass RNG audit and platform certification
comply with responsible gaming and data protection standards.

The license term is 3 years (with the possibility of extension).

Taxation:

15% -30% of gross revenue (GGR) - for online casinos and poker (progressive rate);
8% -16% of the turnover of bets (turnover tax) - for sports bets;
corporate tax (IRC) - 21%;
annual license fees.

Despite high taxes, the market remains profitable due to a stable economy and strong domestic demand.

Online gambling in Portugal

Online gambling is completely legal and actively developing.

The first licenses were issued in 2016, and by 2025 the number exceeded 20.

Licensed Operators:

Betclic. pt, PokerStars. pt, 888casino. pt, Bwin. pt, Solverde. pt, Luckia. pt, Betano. pt, ESC Online, Betway. pt.

These brands are required to display the SRIJ logo on their sites, which confirms their legality and safety for users.

The Portuguese market is characterized by high engagement: more than 60% of adult Internet users have participated in online gambling at least once.

Land-based casinos

Offline gambling in Portugal has a rich history and is closely related to tourism.

All land casinos operate under the SRIJ license and are located in tourist regions.

Largest establishments:

Casino Lisboa is the largest casino in the country, a modern entertainment center in the capital;
Casino Estoril is the historic casino that inspired Ian Fleming's novel "Casino Royale";
Casino da Póvoa, Casino Vilamoura, Casino Figueira da Foz, Casino Troia are regional leaders with live rooms and slot areas.

Roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker and slot machines are allowed at the casino.

Popular games and destinations

The Portuguese are actively involved in gambling, both online and offline.

Payment methods

The local currency is the euro (EUR).

Portuguese players use a wide range of payment instruments:

Visa/MasterCard bank cards;
Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, MuchBetter e-wallets;
Paysafecard prepaid cards;
MB Way and Multibanco are popular local payment solutions;
Apple Pay и Google Pay.

Cryptocurrencies are not allowed on licensed sites, but are actively used on international offshore platforms.

Economic importance

Gambling contributes significantly to the country's GDP.

According to the SRIJ, in 2023:

the total gambling market exceeded €850 million,
online gambling accounted for 65% of the industry's total revenue,
tax revenues amounted to about €180 million.

Revenues from licensed operators are used to finance health care, sports, culture and tourism.

Responsible play and player protection

Portugal is actively implementing measures to control gambling and protect users.

Key initiatives:

age limit 18 +;
self-exclusion through the national Registo de Autoexclusão system;
deposit and loss limits;
game time control notifications;
partnership with Instituto de Apoio ao Jogador (IAJ) and Linha Vida Jogos.

Operators are required to provide players with access to self-monitoring and advisory functions.

Challenges and challenges

Despite its success, the industry faces a number of challenges:

high tax rates, especially for small operators;
strict requirements for software certification;
competition with offshore platforms that offer crypto payments and more flexible limits;
the need to adapt legislation to Web3 technologies.

SRIJ is considering reducing tax pressure and implementing new regulatory standards by 2026.

Development prospects

Portugal is confidently moving towards the status of the leader of the iGaming industry in Southern Europe.

The main trends of the coming years:

Licensing simplification for international companies
development of crypto-payment gateways under the control of SRIJ;
integration of AI technologies to monitor rates and prevent dependence;
promoting Portugal as a European iGaming hub with a focus on security and transparency.

Balanced regulation, strict standards and sustainable growth make Portugal one of the most respected jurisdictions in Europe, where gambling has become not only entertainment, but also an important element of the modern digital economy.