Online gambling in Portugal
Background
Prior to 2015, online gambling in Portugal was largely unregulated, with many international operators offering their services without oversight.
In response to the growing popularity of online gambling and the need for regulation, the Portuguese government introduced Decree-Law No. 66/2015 in April 2015 (the Gambling Law). This law established a legal framework for the regulation of online gambling, aiming to create a safe and fair gambling environment while also generating tax revenue for the state.
A pivotal moment in Portugal’s road to a regulated market came with the Santa Casa case. Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (SCML), a charitable organisation holding a monopoly on lottery and land-based betting challenged foreign operators providing online gambling services in Portugal in local courts.
In 2008 a Portuguese court ruled that foreign operator Bwin (Gibraltar licensed) was unable to sponsor Liga Portugesa de Futebol Profissional and Bwin was fined accordingly. Bwin challenged this decision and it was referred to the The European Court of Justice (ECJ) for consideration.
On 8 September 2009 the ECJ ruled in favour of the SCML, saying that protection of a state run monopoly through restrictive laws is legal where such protection is in the public interest. This decision, widely referred to as the Santa Casa case, has been significant in the development of law and policy related to online gambling market in Europe.
But while the ECJ ruled in favour of SCML it also underscored the necessity for member states to regulate online gambling in line with EU principles.
Current Regulations
The Gambling Law established the framework for regulating all forms of online gambling in Portugal, including sports betting, casino games and poker. The regulatory body responsible for overseeing the market is the Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ). Key aspects of the current regulations include:
- Licensing: Operators must obtain a license from the SRIJ to offer online gambling services legally. Separate licenses are issued for sports betting and for games of chance. Games of chance include a range of online casino games like slots, blackjack, baccarat and roulette variations, but exclude live dealer games. Both domestic and international operators can apply for licenses, provided they meet the requirements set by the SRIJ.
- Taxation: Online gambling operators are subject to a taxation system based on their gross gaming revenue (GGR). The tax rates vary depending on the type of gambling activity, with sports betting taxed at a higher rate than casino games and poker.
- Player Protection: The regulations include measures to protect players, such as mandatory self-exclusion options, limits on deposits and bets, and requirements for operators to promote responsible gambling.
- Advertising: Advertising of online gambling services is regulated to prevent targeting minors and vulnerable individuals. Advertisements must include warnings about the risks of gambling and promote responsible gambling messages.
Major Operators
Since the introduction of the Gambling Law in 2015, several major operators have obtained licenses to offer online gambling services in Portugal. These include both domestic and international companies, all offering their service to Portuguese players from a ‘.pt’ domain:
- 888.pt: Licensed by SRIJ to offer games of chance including casino games and poker tournaments
- Betclic.pt: One of the first licensed operators in Portugal (holds License No. 001 - Sports Betting), offering a wide range of sports betting options and casino games.
- Betway.pt: Licensed by SRIJ to offer both online sports betting and casino games
- Bwin.pt: Licensed by SRIJ to offer both online sports betting and casino games
- Placard.pt: Operated by Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, Placard.pt is a prominent sports betting platform in the Portuguese market.
Best live casino for Portuguese players
Portuguese players can play a range of RNG online casino games at the above operators.
