Portugal and Its Online Gambling Regulations

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Published: August 16, 2020
Updated: April 3, 2026

Over the years, online gambling has become one of the most popular sources of entertainment. You now have the widest variety of choices to play up-to-date.

With all this popularity, a fire has been lit under most country governing bodies. Most countries have decided to open their markets, though others have been determined to block out any online gambling activities.

For the Portuguese, the gambling laws and regulations might be confusing due to many changes made over the years.

Online gambling regulations in Portugal — Online gambling regulations, laws and taxes in Portugal

When you reach the end of this article, you will have more clarity on whether it's legal to gamble online in Portugal, as well as tips on where to find the best casinos when playing there.

History and laws on gambling in Portugal

Unlike many other countries, Portugal had quite a slow start with gambling. In fact, the first casino there was only founded in 1904, which is also when gambling first became a thing in the country.

It’s interesting to note that gambling has only been banned in Portugal for short periods of time. Overall, it has always been considered legal within the country.

Did you know? One of the world’s oldest and most beautiful brick-and-mortar casinos, Casino Estoril, is in Portugal. The casino is a major attraction that lures players from all over the world. One lucky 70-year-old lady even managed to hit a $1 million jackpot there back in 2001.

However, when it comes to online gambling, things have been quite rocky. The biggest issue was that the market wasn't regulated by the government.

It was only between 2010 and 2012 that the country finally tried to gain control by requiring all online casino operators to acquire a Portuguese licence before being able to enter the market.

Unfortunately, this movement from the governing bodies was rejected. The problem was that the state had a monopoly over the gambling activities in the country.

So, the government did very little to control unregulated operators, which resulted in players having unrestricted access to all international online casinos in the world.

It was only in 2015 that the gambling market saw a drastic change with the implementation of a new Decree-Law (No. 66/2015). Before the laws were changed, foreign operators had free access to Portuguese players without the fear of being banned or taxed.

The new legislation stated that all online gambling operators are now required to obtain a licence as well as pay taxes to the Portuguese state.
Online operators interested in accessing the Portuguese market are required to obtain their licence from the Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal (SRIJ).
There was much concern and conflict surrounding the high tax rates, which ranged between 15 and 30%.

The regulated market seemed to be doing pretty well as the country made millions in profit in 2017. However, the SRIJ announced that they would be looking for ways to improve conditions, as over two-thirds of the country’s online gamblers still chose to play at sites with international licenses that didn’t have SRIJ approval.

Earlier in 2018, the country signed a shared online poker liquidity agreement with France and Italy. The governing bodies are also busy reviewing the current legislation and looking to make changes that will decrease “illegal” gambling activities and move players towards SRIJ-approved sites.

Are gambling winnings taxed in Portugal?

All forms of gambling apart from lotteries are tax-free.

Any winnings you make are yours to keep. You are not required to declare them or pay any taxes on them.
The only taxable gambling winnings are from the lotteries.
However, those taxes are withheld at the source, which means any winnings you receive are also free from any additional tax deductions.

The only ones suffering under the heavy taxes in the country are the online casino operators. In fact, the high tax rates of 25% have resulted in various operators choosing to leave the country.

It has been suggested that the country ease up on taxes, but according to the latest news from government officials, this is not part of the current talks on legislation changes.

Is online gambling legal in Portugal?

Most forms of online gambling are legal in Portugal, but there are very few government-approved sites available due to the taxes on operator revenue.

In recent years, though, the SRIJ has been more active in overseeing and regulating the market. The approach is different and the changes follow.

They all started in January 2026, when the authority approved new slot features such as bonus buys and bet boosts (part of the popular games in Portugal), mechanics that are already familiar in other EU markets.

In April, the government launched the first centralised self-exclusion system. Now, players can suspend or revoke access to all locally licensed sites via a single portal. Third parties, such as family members, can also initiate the process.

Portugal is obviously looking to make the market more friendly towards operators, but at the same time, stay safe enough for players.

Responsible gambling continues to be at the forefront of all efforts, and the mandatory tools for each licensed operator are obviously created and imposed with a player-first thought.

Casinos have to take protective measures to shield children and vulnerable groups of people, be socially responsible in their educational initiatives, provide access to sufficient tools, such as play limits, to help players stay in control, and be responsive to their complaints and feedback.

The good news is that hundreds of foreign online casinos have opened their virtual doors to players from the country.

That number is rising by the minute, but while you wait for the market to grow with more locally-licensed options, you are free to play at any offshore site you choose. Just don't forget to pick safe and vetted online casinos, so that you stay protected.

Players cannot be punished for playing at foreign sites.
Operators can’t be prosecuted either.
Therefore, you have a free range to choose from all online casinos accepting Portuguese players.

Don’t forget to take a look at our list of the top five online casinos. These sites have been vetted and reviewed and have been proven to be a great and secure choice while offering wide gaming variety, superb bonuses and customer service.