Is Gambling Legal in Portugal?

The Portuguese market combines clear legislation, strong consumer protection rules, and active regulatory enforcement, creating a structured and transparent environment for licensed operators. Both domestic and international companies may obtain licences from SRIJ, subject to strict technical, financial, and compliance requirements, including EU/EEA establishment criteria.

The country benefits from high internet penetration, strong player engagement, and increasing adoption of online betting platforms. The regulated environment, combined with a large and active player base, has supported continuous market expansion.

Online Gambling in Portugal

Regulatory Authority	Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal (SRIJ)
Key legislation	Decree-Law No. 66/2015 (Regime Jurídico dos Jogos e Apostas Online – RJO)
Allowed activities	Online casino (slots and casino table games such as roulette, blackjack, poker) Bingo Online sports betting (fixed-odds and pool betting) Online horse race betting
Prohibited activities	Among others: Offering online gambling without a licence issued by SRIJ Any online gambling activities that are not specifically authorised under the Portuguese online gambling legal framework
Taxation and fees	Online casino games and online bingo – within 15% to 30% range on GGR (progressive rates depending on revenue levels) Online fixed-odds sports betting – 8% on turnover Online fixed-odds horse racing – 8% on turnover Winnings from licensed operators are not subject to taxation for players.
Licence validity/duration	3 years, renewable
Benefits of the market	Clear and established regulatory framework Portugal legalised online gambling in 2015, creating a structured licensing system supervised by the national regulator SRIJ. This framework provides legal certainty and a transparent operating environment for licensed operators. Growing and stable online gambling market By June 2025, there were approximately 4.87 million registered online gambling player accounts. The expanding player base and strong demand for online casino games and sports betting make Portugal an attractive and steadily growing market.

Land-Based Gambling in Portugal

Key legislation	Decree-Law No. 422/89 (Legal Regime of Games of Fortune and Chance)
Allowed activities	Land-based casinos Sports/horse race betting
Prohibited activities	Among others: Operating gambling activities without a valid licence or concession granted by SRIJ Running casino games outside authorised gambling zones or licensed venues
Taxation and fees	Land-based casino games – 2.5% to 35% (progressive, depending on GGR and location) Land-based bingo – 25% stamp duty (on stakes)

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