Sports betting is popular all over Europe and many countries have an established culture for bookmaking. However, some states have only recently embraced the idea of free-market gambling. One of those is Portugal, which only legalized gambling in the last few years. While it took tremendous effort for the country to achieve this, it is not at all clear what the future of gambling in Portugal is.
Portuguese betting regulations only came into existence in the last 3 to 4 years and the private market is still new. That being said, perhaps not all punters are familiar with the legal situation in the country. For your convenience, we will take a look at the history of sports betting in Portugal and what the current laws are regarding our favorite pastime.
Legalities of Online Sports Betting in Portugal
Historical Betting Overview
Portugal has had a contentious history with gambling and until recent years, the whole sports betting scene was closed off. It was only recently that the government gave up its monopoly on sports betting activities. Since 1961, bookmaking was a monopoly enterprise ran by the government. The profit from it was used to fund various social programs and the like. However, in the 2000s, as online sports betting was increasing in popularity, many international operators began to covet the Portuguese market. So much so that Bwin even contested the monopoly in the European Court of Justice back in 2009. Bwin lost, but it was clear that demand was rising and companies were looking to move in.
Only in 2013, in the wake of the global financial crisis, the Portuguese government made steps to open the sports betting scene and other forms of gambling to private companies. In 2015, the regulatory institution was established to oversee the sports betting scene of Portugal and to make legislation clear and concise.
What You Need To Know About Sports Betting in Portugal
In spite of the fact that betting on sports is freshly decriminalized in Portugal, the gambling industry of the country now sees continued growth. The gambling market is said to be promising, and rightfully so, as figures show that the revenue of gambling in Portugal was around $7,11 billion back in 2010, and back in 2018, it amounted to around $9,720 billion.
In fact, Portugal is among the countries that have brought their legislation up to this day and age as back in 2015, legislatures passed the Decree-Law No. 66/2015, 29 April, which addresses online gambling in particular. Another thing punters should be aware of is that casino games fall under the purview of the Portuguese Gambling Regulatory Authority (which is known under the abbreviation SRIJ), along with fixed-odds betting, and lotteries. That being said, betting on fantasy sports is not regulated in the country, while pari-mutuel betting is regulated by SCML.
In order for gambling operators to provide their services over the Internet, they need to go through an administrative procedure and get a license from the Portuguese Gambling Regulatory Authority. This also applies to operators that are based overseas, and betting platforms that do not hold a seal of approval from the SRIJ will be blocked. The SRIJ can grant four types of licenses that are determined by the gambling product the operator offers, and normally, they are valid for three years.
The SRIJ is looking to guarantee that the operators that provide their services in Portugal offer security mechanisms when it comes to payments, registration of accounts, identification of gambling enthusiasts, and the way information is stored and processed. The principles that are laid down in the gambling-related legislation of the country are introduced to guarantee the protection of gambling enthusiasts and provide strict control over unregulated gambling activities.
In spite of the fact that Portugal’s tax regime was amended back in 2020, the prize money won by gambling enthusiasts is non-taxable. As in most other European countries, the minimum age for gambling in Portugal is also 18.
Odds Format in Portugal
There are three major odds types used in the online bookmaker scene – American, Fractional and Decimal. Each gives you a different way to read the odds, though they all convey the same information. By default, most sportsbooks available to a Portuguese customer base will utilize the Decimal format. It is presented like this:
Bet Option: 1.75
What this means is that a $100 bet will return the base value of the wager and $75 in profit, for a net total of $175. The decimal odds are preferred by punters from all over the globe for their simplicity. Of course, if you prefer either the American or Fractional format, you will have the opportunity to change it. This does not affect the bets themselves, rather how they are presented. It all boils down to personal preference and the bookmakers are ready to accommodate for it.
Portugal Betting Laws and Legislation
The betting scene in Portugal is under the supervision of a government institution called Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos of Turismo de Portugal. This government body oversees most forms of betting in the country, including casino gaming, sports betting, bingo, poker, etc. In order to provide any of these services to a Portuguese public, operators are required to acquire a license. All gambling licenses will last for 3 years, at which point they have to be renewed.
To get one in the first place, a company has to prove that it is fair and reliable when it comes to sports betting or other types of gambling. There is a process to verify this includes a slew of audits and tests, which have to be passed. Moreover, the SRIJ also imposes strict taxation on the operators, with bookmakers being asked to pay between 8% and 16%, depending on specific factors. This is quite high considering the policies of other regulatory institutions in Europe. Additionally, operators have to put a performance bond of €500,000, as well as, €100,000 extra which will guarantee the payment of taxes. All in all, some of these measures are considered draconian by betting companies and not many are pleased with them.
The laws regarding the minimum age required to gamble in Portugal are also somewhat interesting. Tourists are permitted to place bets at 18 years of age, however, citizens of the country have to 21 years old or older.
Portugal Betting Restrictions
Strictly speaking, there are restrictions on what online betting platforms are allowed to offer their services to the Portuguese public. In theory, only licensed and approved sportsbooks are permitted to operate. However, due to the high tax rate, many have chosen not to go that route. Instead, certain websites have continued to accept Portuguese customers, even without a valid license. The government has tried to crack down on these platforms with ISP bans, however, this has proven ineffectual. At present, unregulated sportsbooks are not stopped from offering their services in Portugal, while Portuguese punters are not punished for placing bets at them.
Something else that one has to consider is that there is no tax on winnings generated from sports betting. It is speculated that this is due to the inefficiency of the Portuguese government when it comes to unlicensed sportsbooks, which are hard to track.
Online Betting Regulatory Body in Portugal
The regulatory institution responsible for the oversight of online gambling in Portugal is the Gambling Regulation and Inspection Service, or Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos of Turismo de Portugal in Portuguese. This government body has established itself as the authority on all forms of online gambling, including casino gaming, fixed-odds sports betting, poker, bingo and others.
It is the role of this institution to monitor the online gambling scene and to introduce new regulations whenever necessary. Since online betting became fully regulated in 2016, the SRIJ has come out with multiple revisions on existing laws regarding the various forms of gambling allowed in the country.
Popular Betting Markets in Portugal
Football is not only the most practiced sport in Portugal but also the sport, which attracts the greatest viewership and betting action. The popularity of football is unlikely to start waning any time soon, considering that Portugal is the place of birth of a number of footballers that have acquired worldwide recognition, the likes of Ricardo Carvalho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Pepe, and Andre Gomes, among others.
While all major football teams pit their wits against each other in the Primeira Liga, the rest of the teams vie in the LigaPro. The football competition of the country is made up of several other leagues, including the Portuguese Super Cup and the Portuguese League Cup. As you might already know, the Portuguese national team lists among the highest-ranking teams not only in Europe, but on a global scale. Currently, according to the FIFA ranking, the national team of the country ranks seventh, and they have ranked third a number of times in the past few years.
Cycling is another sport the Portuguese are intrigued by, and the Volta a Portugal is the annual multi-stage racing competition, which attracts huge crowds. The state has great traditions also when athletics are concerned, and it is the country of origin of a number of renowned athletes including Manuela Machado, Carlos Lopes, Vanessa Fernandes, Nelson Evora, and Rosa Mota.
Although it might come as a surprise for some people, basketball is yet another sport, which is a drawing power for fans and punters alike. It is interesting to point out that Portugal is one of the co-founders of FIBA, which is the world governing body of this sport.
Portugal’s national futsal team has got worldwide recognition after it triumphed during the UEFA Futsal Euro back in 2018. Martial sports have also grown in prominence in Portugal, which is only natural, considering that they have brought the country lots of medals, including such from the Olympics 2020 and 2016. As for the other sports the Portugues give particular attention to, motorsports, rugby, tennis, table tennis, and water sports are all worth mentioning.
Popular Betting Markets in Portugal | |
---|---|
Sport | League |
Football | Primeira Liga, Liga Portugal 2, Portuguese League Cup, and Portuguese Super Cup |
Basketaball | Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol and Proliga |
Handball | Andebol 1 |
American football | Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Americano |
Volleyball | Portuguese Volleyball First Division |
Futsal | Portuguese Futsal First Division |
Portugal Online Betting Bonuses
Those who register at online bookmaker websites will often get the benefit of promotions and bonuses. Undoubtedly, these will add some form of value to your sports betting experience. Bonuses come in several different types and you will see many of them if you stick around for long enough.
The match bonuses are the most common variety and have the largest potential reward. Match bonuses are quite simple, you get a bonus based on your deposit up to a point. This type of promotion features a turnover requirement, which needs to be fulfilled before a withdrawal is permitted.
Another excellent bonus comes in the form of free bets. Not only will you stand to win money, but you will do it at no risk to your bankroll. A free bet is placed with bonus funds granted by the sportsbook at a set amount. If you get it wrong, your bankroll will remain intact. However, winning will entitle you to the profits, with the original bet value being removed.
You should also take into account the odds boost programs, offered by the betting sites. These are commonly applied to parlay wagers, where each additional leg will increase the overall winnings potential. Moreover, these can also be offered on specific events or matches, depending on the sportsbook’s preference.
Mobile Betting in Portugal
The betting scene evolves over time as all things do. First, it moved from dedicated bookmaker shops to our desktop computers. In recent years, the trend has moved from desktop to mobile devices. Smartphones and tablets are becoming much more functional and convenient, allowing punters to enjoy their favorite activity from just about anywhere.
Mobile sportsbooks have become quite advanced in recent years, giving us the opportunity to reap the rewards of the technological developments from the past 10 years. Nowadays, you simply load the website of any modern bookmaker website and start placing bets. Everything is polished from top to bottom, ensuring that one has an excellent experience with their respective platforms. You will quickly discover that you are not denied any aspect of the desktop sportsbook. Of course, this includes all available betting markets, the full selection of supported payment methods, promotions, customer support, and so on. Sportsbooks make sure that every customer is taken care of, regardless of their platform of choice. In practice, there is no difference between the mobile and desktop versions of most betting websites and you will be able to thoroughly use whichever serves you best.
Popular Betting Banking Methods in Portugal
Of course, engaging in online sports betting is not as straightforward as walking into a bookmaker shop cash in hand. You will need to set up a reliable and suitable online banking method, which will allow you to easily move funds between your personal bankroll and your sportsbook balance. As it happens, there are plenty of these services supported by the online betting scene and below, we will do a brief overview of the most popular used by Portuguese punters.
Credit cards are always in fashion and online betting sites agree to the use of this payment method. You will hardly find an online sportsbook that does not accept some form of credit card. Specifically, most platforms support Visa and MasterCard, the two most popular credit card brands out there. Either one will allow you to make instant deposits, whereas withdrawals are also quite quick.
If credit cards are not to your liking, you can always try out one of the various eWallets accepted by the online betting scene. These services give you the benefit of maintaining an independent balance from your bookmaker and bank accounts. Money transfers are quick, easy, and most importantly, cheap. Among the more worthwhile eWallets in the industry, we count Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, EntroPay, PayPal, and others.
Naturally, there are other banking options that you may try out. Prepaid cards are a good alternative to credit cards and eWallets, though some utility is lost. When in doubt, you can always rely on Neosurf and Paysafecard to see your deposit through.
Popular Banking Methods in Portugal | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payment Method | Fees | Deposit Limits | Deposit Times | Withdrawal Limits | Withdrawal Times |
Visa | Depends on the betting site | Min €10- Max €100,000 | Instant | Min €10- Max €10,000 | Up to five days |
Mastercard | Depends on the betting site | Min €10- Max €100,000 | Instant | Min €10- Max €10,000 | Up to five days |
PayPal | Depends on the betting site | Min €10- Max €5,000 | Instant | Min €10- Max €40,000 | A couple of minutes |
Multibanco | Depends on the betting site | Min €10- Max €1,000 | Instant | Min €10- Max €400 | Up to three days |
ecoPayz | Depends on the betting site | Min €10- Max €15,000 | Instant | Min €10- Max €15,000 | A couple of minutes |
Skrill | Depends on the betting site | Min €10 – Max €10,000 | Instant | Min €10- Max €15,000 | A couple of minutes |
Neteller | Depends on the betting site | Min €10- Max €10,000 | Instant | Min €10- Max €15,000 | A couple of minutes |
Paysafecard | Depends on the betting site | Min €10- Max €100 | Instant | N/A | N/A |
MBWay | Depends on the betting site | Min €10- Max €1,500 | Instant | Min €10- Max €2,500 | Up to three days |
Fast Bank Transfer | Depends on the betting site | Min €10- Max €50,000 | Instant | Min €50- Max €100,000 | Up to five days |
Bank transfer | Depends on the betting site | Min €10- Max €50,000 | Instant | Min €50- Max €100,000 | Up to seven days |
What To Watch for When Picking a Portugal Betting Site
There are a couple of things punters should consider before they hit the registration button of the preferred sportsbook if they want to be sure that their betting session will be worry-free. First and foremost, avid sports bettors are advised to examine the licensing details of the operator to ensure that the gambling portal has got the approval of the SRIJ.
Once they have done this, gambling enthusiasts should check if the operator will keep them covered depending on the sports they are keen on. To tell the decent bookies apart from the rest of the sportsbooks, punters only need to check the sports the operator offers lines for, the available be types, and of course, the competitiveness of the prices.
Naturally, punters attach great importance to the special features they can make use of while betting on sports, and the bet-building one is among the most talked-about such options. The improved flexibility this feature offers is what intrigues punters as thanks to it, they can combine bets and hopefully, collect more handsome payouts than they can get when placing the bets separately.
The cash-out feature is also widely available across most Portugal-friendly sports betting sites, and punters insist on its availability because it allows them to exit their bets partially or completely before the event has ended. Live streaming and live betting are two more features that make the decent Portugal-friendly betting sites stand out from the crowd. As for the live streams, punters should bear in mind that sometimes, accessing them is possible only after they have logged into their accounts and, on some occasions, after they have placed a bet on one of the events.
Since each sports betting platform is different, gambling enthusiasts should also take their time to examine the deposit and withdrawal methods they can make use of. The processing times and whether fees are charged are also among the things to examine closely. Additionally, punters should check if payments can be processed in EUR.
While looking for a Portugal-oriented sports betting site, gambling enthusiasts should focus more attention also on the bonus incentives that are designed with newcomers in mind, as well as the extra perks existing users of the sportsbook will get to benefit from.
Mobile play gains more and more ground, and punters who assign priority to it should check if the sportsbook has introduced downloadable apps for iOS and Android-powered devices or betting on the go is possible straight from their device browser.
The last port of call for sports bettors should be the Help section of the sportsbook, and what they should check is what contact venues are offered and whether assistance is offered around the clock.