Sports betting has been present for many years but with the advancement of informational technologies, there have been many additions and various perks. Naturally, many Portuguese bettors have shifted from land-based sites to online betting sites.
For years, sports betting and gambling have provided huge revenue to the state. The situation with COVID-19 has provided even more cash flow. Now, the popularity of online betting in Portugal is skyrocketing.
This text will deal with various topics regarding online sports betting sites in Portugal and online betting in general.
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A few years ago, there was no regulation for an online betting market in Portugal. Now, the truth is that the scenario could not be more different. With legislation published in the Diário da República, more and more international bookmakers are managing to obtain a valid gaming license in Portugal, issued by the Portuguese Entity SRIJ.
So that you never have problems or doubts in this whole process, we are now going to list a series of steps that will help you to understand before creating an account, if you may be carrying out legal online sports betting in Portugal.
A bookmaker is legal in Portugal through its valid registration with the SRIJ Entity. Through the official website of this Entity, you will have immediate access to an updated list of all operators of online casino games and online betting operators legally in Portugal. In fact, you will even have free access to the documents and dates of these same licenses.
If an operator is present in this updated list of the SRIJ, you can be absolutely sure that the bookmaker will respect all the rules and rights of its Portuguese bettors. In addition, in case of dispute or other problems, you will also have the guarantee that SRIJ will defend you against the licensed bookmaker in Portugal. Therefore, you will have an unbeatable level of transparency and security in these licensed sports betting sites in Portugal.
In fact, since there is a regulation of the online betting market in Portugal, bettors will also have to respect a series of rules. For example, you cannot be under 18 and register an account on that betting site. Furthermore, you cannot create more than one account for the same operator.
In addition, not even people from the same house will be able to access the same bonus. Do not forget that all legal bookmakers in Portugal will have to require you to prove your identity through valid documents that are no longer expired.
If a sports betting site in Portugal does not present these systems, this will mean that it is not complying with the rules and regulations of the online betting regulation in Portugal. This is because, by law, you will have the option to opt-out of a betting site, if you wish to do so. In addition, you will also have to have immediate access to contacts that can guarantee quick help, in case of need or dependency, for example.
All these rules legal bookmakers in Portugal will always have to respect. Especially because, as you should always keep in mind, these operators should be seen as a form of entertainment and never as a potential source of income or others. By taking this extra care, you will be sure that your rights will be respected, at the same time that you will be able to defend yourself in case of any problem or conflict.
Decree-Law No. 66/2015 is very clear, in its Article 49, on the illicit exploitation of online gambling and betting, and is valid both for those who offer the service to those who use it.
The law states:
In 2020, it was still possible to bet on most unlicensed sites, as they kept access open to Portuguese players. Of the big platforms, only bet365 has always blocked bettors from Portugal.
Today, more and more major brands block access to platforms in Portuguese territory. Giants like 1xBet and Betfair don’t even allow you to see their sites anymore.
There are always a lot of rumors about bookmakers that have applied for licenses in the SRIJ or that they should do so soon. SRIJ is slowly giving licenses to other online sports betting sites in Portugal.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Portugal?
Online sports betting is legal and well-regulated in Portugal. There are only several betting sites that have a license but more will come soon. Some players in Portugal are seeking options elsewhere (at foreign betting sites) but with extra caution.
Online betting is, nowadays, a topic that still leaves many doubts to potential bettors in Portugal, who often tend to use services that do not fully satisfy them and, eventually, change bookmakers, in search of another one more to their liking.
With more and more options in Portugal, it is necessary to establish research standards regarding the platforms we use to place our bets. So, below we will list some steps that we consider essential for choosing the best legal betting sites in Portugal.
This is an essential step as everyone is looking for viable and safe options to place their bets. To check whether a legal online betting site is safe, the user will be able to verify if the offer of the house is also reliable. That is, some of the parameters to assess the legitimacy of a betting site is to check if it offers several payment methods that are trusted by each user, if it offers good user support if it is easy to collect potential winnings, among other things.
The more complete the offer, with terms and conditions, good user support, and above all, transparency, the greater the security of the bet. And, in this sense, one of the ways to ascertain the legitimacy of the betting site in Portugal will be through its users.
A legal online sports betting site in Portugal will have no difficulty in receiving a good number of reviews from its users, whether positive or negative. This is an advantage for the potential gambler since by means of the analysis, you can assess whether the feedback from users is favorable. This will also be a way to find out how old the platform is since a higher number of internet reviews may indicate that the respective site has been working in the area for a longer time and has a larger user base, which, consequently, will help to expose possible problems.
Choosing legal online betting sites in Portugal, in addition to security, also involves choosing the best offer. This will, in fact, be one of the ways to attract gamblers, and the various platforms continue to compete for the initial bonus they offer for the first cash deposit.
Although the user’s priority should be security, we can’t help but advise the best offers, and this could be a way to encourage the bettor right from the start.
And speaking in practical terms, when it comes to betting, although the boost we receive from the initial bonus is important, it will be much more important than our choice falls on a house that offers competitive odds and is able to meet them. After all, this is the “engine” that rewards the right choices and will generate the much-desired profit.
In this sense, it is worth checking if the online betting site in Portugal we are choosing can match the odds it offers, with no limits to the bet you want to make. A greater limitation will render the bet useless, as the bettor will never be able to take advantage of their correct choices to the extent desired, consequently limiting their winnings.
These two features have already been mentioned above to assess the security of the website, but it is important to reinforce these two points. A good online betting site in Portugal should offer the user legitimate and varied winnings withdrawal options, as well as personalized user support.
Thus, the bettor must choose a bookmaker that allows withdrawals not only through convenient ways but also in safe and reliable ways.
On the other hand, the platform with the most support and technical support will also be easier to work with, as any problem can be reported and resolved quickly. Thus, support by phone or email is a good indicator of the site, as well as a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), which allows us to answer questions on the spot without having to contact a technician.
To make sports predictions in Portugal, you must have an account on the gambling platform. It is important to know that even small errors in the registration form can create a lot of difficulties when raising funds. The application process at most companies is more or less the same.
Before placing sports bets, you need to choose a sports betting site in Portugal, register and fund your account. The first two questions are solved in a simple way: you can search for the best bookmakers in the betting app and prepare in advance to fill in the form.
The registration steps are as follows:
The new player enters the requested personal and contact information: full name, phone number, or email address. Some sports betting sites in Portugal offer the possibility to register through a profile on one of the popular social networks. Then you need to confirm the email by clicking on the link sent by the company or entering the code received by SMS to activate the account. Furthermore, at the registration stage, a new user selects the currency of the account and indicates the country of residence. To log in to the site, the player can use their account number, email, or phone. You also need to create a strong password to log into your personal account.
Portuguese bookmakers, like all other platforms, only accept bettors over 18 years of age. Proof of identity is required before requesting a withdrawal. The bettor must provide correct personal data if he does not want to have problems with the withdrawal of winnings.
After the authorization on the site, you can select a payment system and add money to the account. The section with available banking options can be found in the menu. Please note that the bookmaker may require additional checks on the first deposit or withdrawal of funds. Therefore, it is worth preparing in advance a copy of your passport and bank card. The PIN code and other secret data cannot be disclosed.
Many sports betting sites in Portugal have a welcome offer upon registration. The most popular bonus is the first deposit bonus – when the customer receives 100% of the amount transferred to the account. There are maximum bonus amount limits and there is also a minimum deposit required to activate the offer. Before withdrawing the winnings obtained with the help of the bonus, you must fulfill the rollover requirements provided by the company.
After making the deposit and claiming the bonus, you can proceed to the sports betting section. Select pre-match or live predictions. Choose a sports discipline and competition then click on your preferred game. In the list of markets, select the result and click on the probability. On the bet slip, enter the amount you wish to bet. Click on “Ok” or “Place a bet” and wait for the result.
Live bets are predictions that Portuguese users place over the course of the selected event. Every player has his favorite sport. Some know about football or hockey well, others prefer to bet on tennis or basketball. Many experienced players choose only one sport. To place a live bet, do the following:
The Portuguese betting market is currently full of sports to discover. It doesn’t matter if you are new to this world of betting or not, the fact is that it is possible to find your favorite universe by investing in sports.
Although the beloved football occupies the starting position in almost every country in the world, including Portugal, there are other categories as interesting as this one. Here are the most popular sports to bet on in Portugal at the moment.
Extremely famous and well-known, basketball has been one of the most interesting sports to bet on in Portugal. Listed here as the third most profitable, it is characterized by its tradition and coverage of events, especially involving NBA games (from the United States). And, more recently, the European League.
It is possible to place your guess about several different leagues and championships. Not to mention the diversified markets ready to be explored. The immensity of opportunities and competitive odds is what makes it so attractive to Portuguese bettors.
Amazingly, tennis is an extremely profitable sport when it comes to sports betting and that’s why it’s popular among Portuguese bettors. Compared to the previous sport, football, it is not as famous. But it is very competitive and full of potential.
Tennis involves a range of international championships that can be approached in the betting world, especially the Grand Slam. You can invest in renowned tennis players, on the handicap market, over/under, or 1×2 (on the winner).
Still, there are approaches that can be applied to female and male confrontations, maximizing opportunities. Even more so because of the immense coverage on some international betting sites. Undoubtedly, it is worth exploring.
Football is one of the greatest passions in the world, especially in Portugal. Eusebio, Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal has had many world-class players throughout its history. Also, teams like Benfica, Porto, and Sporting are constantly competing in European competitions every year. So it’s only natural that the Portuguese will love to bet on football.
In betting, the profit potential found in this sport is immense. Although this is largely due to its global diffusion and popularity, the truth is that it generates a huge movement around the world. There are championships, regional games, leagues, and many other organizations that players can bet on. Alongside this whole scenario, football is full of markets and events that can be extremely attractive for betting. You can bet, for example:
Thanks to such factors, football becomes profitable due to the wealth of opportunities, be it markets, events, international investments and much more. If you are familiar with the sport, don't waste time and go explore it.
Still new to many, electronic sports (or eSports) have already won the world of sports betting. They can be extremely advantageous as there are many games, international events, and alternative approaches to betting. Even if you still don't know much about betting on LoL, Dota 2, or Counter-Strike, it's worth a look. Many young bettors from Portugal are already making serious profits on eSports.
Given that football is the sport that generates the highest volume of bets when we talk about the most popular types of online bets in Portugal, we have to orient our analysis towards football match markets. Although we don’t have concrete data regarding the volume of bets by market, the most popular types of odds tend to be the simplest and simultaneously those that are offered by all sports betting sites in Portugal.
It is the simplest market: home team win (1), draw (x) or away team win (2). All bettors are familiar with it and it is almost certain that your first bet was made on this type of market. Thus, it is clear that this is a market that generates a large volume of bets as it is one of the most popular online bets, both pre-live and live, with its integrated options for both single and multiple bets, or combined.
In a football game where there are three possible outcomes (1, X, 2) and in the case of the double chance, as the name of the market indicates, the bettor can choose an option that combines two of these three scenarios:
Let’s take the example of the game between Farense and Estrela da Amadora. If we bet “1X”, the bet will win if the match ends with a victory for Farense or a draw. If you opt for the “X2” option, the bet will be won if the match ends in a draw or a triumph for Estrela da Amadora. In the case of “12”, the bettor will win the bet as long as the challenge does not end in a tie. This is one of the most popular online betting options.
In terms of popularity in online betting, over/under bets come immediately after results bets. Sports betting sites in Portugal have markets for over/under “x” goals with non-integer numbers starting at 0.5 goals. Generally speaking, the 2.5 goal line is the most used and that is why this option will be an example.
When choosing to bet on the “over 2.5 goals” bet, for the bet to be won, that same game will have to have three or more goals. In the opposite scenario, if the bettor invests in the “under 2.5 goals” option, the match can only have a maximum of two goals.
Note: This type of bet is applicable to all sports and is, therefore, one of the most popular types of bets in Portugal.
In addition to the so-called “lines” of goals, the bettor can also point to the possibility of a match ending or not with goals scored by both teams. In addition, sports betting sites in Portugal offer the possibility of guessing the approximate number of goals or the direct outcome of the match.
A match lasts for 90 minutes, however, an equally common option is to choose to bet on the outcome of the match after the first 45 minutes. That is, in the result at halftime, regardless of the final outcome. There are also Portuguese bettors who combine the halftime result with the final outcome, which makes a bet quite complex but also profitable.
The markets mentioned above are very accessible to any type of bettor, hence their popularity, but listing only the options presented above is very limited in terms of the options for betting on football that is provided by online sports betting sites in Portugal.
In the case of goals, as an example, it is possible to bet on the total goals of one team and the other, aim for a goal-line or interval, bet on the part with the most goals, in the time interval in which a goal can happen, or even whether the total number of goals will be odd or even.
It is possible to interconnect markets and the houses also allow you to combine results. The number of corners or cards (also on an “over and under” basis) are options usually favored by more experienced Portuguese bettors. However, these are usually not among the preferences of the “biggest” players.
In order to calculate the probability in Portuguese betting sites, just divide 1 by the odd value and multiply the result by 100. The value of the odds is fixed by specialists from bookmakers, based on statistical data, information about the teams, among others, and may vary depending on the volume of bets being made. If there are a lot of people betting on the victory of team A, the value of that odd tends to decrease a little.
Example: A football game has three possible outcomes: win, draw or lose.
1.25 is the value of the odd, which corresponds to an 80% probability of team A winning the game: 1/1.25*100=80%
3.2 is the value of the odd, which corresponds to a probability of 31.25% of the game ending in a tie: 1/3.2*100=31.25%
5.8 is the value of the odd, which corresponds to a probability of 17.24% that team B will win the game: 1/5.8*100 =17.24%
The greater the probability of winning, the lower the value assigned to the odd.
Imagine you bet €10 and your bet wins:
One of the reasons is the taxation model, which penalizes the value of odds in Portugal compared to other European countries, which makes it more difficult for national bettors to earn money consistently.
In order not to penalize their profits, many bookmakers also chose to have minimum odds, as a rule, of 1.2, conditioning the gains of players, who are deprived of betting on events with a high probability of occurrence. In practice, this means that all bets must be at the minimum required. A way to force players to take more risks in their bets and potentially make more wrong bets.
The main obstacles to making money consistently in sports betting are, however, others. First of all, the unpredictable character of the games themselves. If it is true that Benfica, Porto, or Sporting win the majority of games, it is often enough that they do not do so on a small number of occasions for the overall balance of their bets to be negative. The more likely an event is, the lower will the odds be offered by the sports betting site in Portugal. Likewise, if the odds are very high, the probability of winning is small. On the other hand, online sports betting can be a very addictive activity, which strongly affects the probability of being successful.
Welcome bonuses can certainly be considered a strong marketing strategy in the world of sports betting, where the best sports betting sites in Portugal seek to win new customers, although they also take care of those who already have an account with other types of bonuses or promotions.
These betting bonuses offer Portuguese players the opportunity to not have to bet their own money, taking the risk away in the first place. Through these offers, the operator initially assumes the risk.
Betting bonuses are a pretense to try to attract players and they can have different types. With these promotions, users have the option to bet without having to deposit, receive an extra amount after the first deposit, or bet for free. Therefore, we have separated all the bonuses that you can find on sports betting sites in Portugal.
If there is one bonus that is especially attractive to all players who are just starting out in the world of sports betting, or to those who want to change their operator, then we are talking about the no deposit bonus – also known as the registration bonus.
These types of bonuses simply consist of receiving an amount set by the bookmaker to start playing for the first time. For the simple fact of registering (and authenticating the account, in some cases), you will receive money to start your journey in the world of gambling, have a little fun and, with any luck, win a few euros.
The reality is that this sign-up bonus is one of the most appreciated gifts, although a number of terms and conditions must be met. This is known as a rollover and is relatively simple: you have to wager your bonus a number of times to clear it, that is, to be able to withdraw your bonus winnings. In addition, it is possible that the bookmaker in Portugal also places a maximum amount of winnings. Therefore, before you can withdraw winnings from your welcome bonus obtained with registration, you must complete the rollover by betting a specific number of times.
In addition, many other terms and conditions are often well known in the gambling world. For example, bonuses are personal and are not usually delivered to the same IP address, postal address, email, among other details. It is important to read about it directly on the website of each bookmaker in Portugal.
Due to the “ease” with which you can win real money on this type of welcome bonus, it is normal that not all sports betting sites in Portugal dare to offer such a promotion. They are without a doubt the most attractive welcome bonuses and give the player the opportunity to make contact without feeling that he is still risking money.
These are the most common welcome bonuses at bookmakers in Portugal and around the world. As the name implies, they consist of the fact that in exchange for a minimum initial deposit amount and after registering as a new user, the site delivers a percentage in the form of a gift. It is important to note that both the percentage and the bonus amount are decided solely and exclusively by the online bookmaker.
An example is bookmakers that offer a 100% bonus of up to 500 euros. Obviously, the percentage or value can vary according to the house and reach the 4 digits of euros. As with other types of welcome bonuses, a series of terms and conditions must be followed in order to convert them into real money. The most common is that a rollover is completed to release the winnings from this bonus.
One of the welcome bonuses that can be common with sports betting sites in Portugal is that they offer a free bet in case your first bet is a losing one, or they may simply offer a bonus bet, which you should choose wisely. Typically, the conditions of these bets are that you put a minimum amount of money on the line or that the odds are at least 1.50 in decimal format. While it’s true that this type of bonus is more common in other countries, you shouldn’t be surprised if you find one of them in Portugal.
Unlike Welcome bonuses which are for new players only, sports betting sites in Portugal will offer various promotions to their existing and loyal bettors. Not all of them will do this though, and not all promotions are always great. Therefore it would be recommended to go for sports betting sites that offer constant and good promotions to their players.
These include:
It may seem that payment methods at Portuguese bookmakers are all the same. However, that is not completely true. Some houses accept alternative payments while others only accept classics. The only payment method that is guaranteed to be present in all sports betting sites in Portugal is the VISA credit card payment. It is followed directly by the Mastercard credit card. Debit cards from these same brands are also widely accepted.
Portuguese local methods are almost as popular. Bank transfers and/or ATM transfers are available in 90% of Portuguese homes. It is even worth mentioning here that the MB Way, which allows transfers via smartphone, has multiplied in all of them. E-wallets are also growing across the country. So it’s not surprising that they’re popping up and giving punters more freedom. It is interesting to mention that some payment methods give exclusive bonuses depending on the chosen house. For example, Skrill is often a house favorite when it comes to payment methods and gives an additional bonus of €5.
These are the most popular banking methods in Portugal:
✅ Multibanco – The sports betting sites with ATMs in Portugal continue to be very popular and this is a very popular deposit method due to the habit of the Portuguese.
It boils down to making a normal payment (such as for water or electricity), going to an ATM, and entering the entity, reference, and amount for the deposit. The fact of not having to pay fees also means that the ATM remains popular.
✅ MBWay – For those who don’t know, MBWay is an application for mobile devices that associates your mobile number with your ATM cards. This is a Portuguese application and as such, bookmakers with MBWay tend to appear and grow more and more, meeting the preferences of bettors.
Everything is processed digitally, without the need to go to an ATM or use physical cards. However, through MBWay it is not yet possible to make withdrawals, being only a payment method for deposits. To make a deposit, simply enter your mobile number and enter the application to accept payment.
✅ Bank Transfer – The use of bookmakers with bank transfers also continues to be at the top of the preferences of bettors in Portugal. This payment method is widely used as it allows players to both deposit and withdraw funds. It is quite simple to process, just go to an ATM and make a bank transfer to the IBAN on the betting site. In the case of withdrawals, the betting site will also make a bank transfer to your IBAN.
✅ Credit Cards: Visa and Mastercard – Almost all (if not all) punters have a credit card, making this payment method almost mandatory on betting sites. Bookmakers with credit cards are, without a doubt, the most sought after and popular, although the method is traditional.
To make a deposit, simply enter your card details and make the payment, just like any other online purchase. If you use it as a payment method, you simply have to enter the amount you want and withdraw (if you used the same card for the deposit) or enter your card details.
✅ Neteller E-Wallet – Bookmakers with Neteller are increasingly popular due to the constant growth of e-wallets in the world in general, and online casino sites in Portugal also choose to provide this payment method. On betting sites, to deposit simply enter your account ID and security.
If you use it as a payment method, you can transfer it to your Net+ prepaid Mastercard, or to your account as a bank transfer.
✅ Skrill E-Wallet – Along with Neteller, Skrill bookmakers have been gaining ground in payment methods due to the demand for e-wallets. The whole process is quite simple – to use as a deposit method, simply confirm in your Skrill account that you want to make a certain payment.
In the case of using it as a withdrawal method, all you have to do is enter your Skrill account email and confirm your identity, as a form of security.
✅ PayPal E-Wallet – PayPal is one of the largest and most used online payment companies in Portugal. You can use it as a deposit method and a withdrawal method, which makes PayPal very popular.
✅ Cryptocurrencies: New Payment Methods – Currently, digital currencies are now part of our reality as a payment method in the world. To keep up with this evolution, more cryptocurrency bookmakers are gradually emerging to meet these new types of bettors.
Cryptocurrencies are not issued by any government and work the same in all countries. To use it as a deposit method, simply select the digital currency you want, enter your e-wallet, and paste the link provided to you. In the case of a withdrawal method, simply select the cryptocurrency you want again, select the amount and enter your personal account link.
✅ Other Payment Methods – Clearly, there are other payment methods in Portugal, however not as popular as the ones mentioned above. Some of the payment methods that also exist are:
What Is the Best Payment Option for Portuguese Players?
Bank transfers and credit cards are always popular in Portugal due to ease of use and no fees included. However, some players prefer faster processing times and better security and hence opt for e-wallets (especially if gambling at foreign betting sites).
Gambling in Portugal is legal and regulated. Visit the official SRIJ website and familiarize yourself with the law.
There are no mandatory deposit limits but players can and should make their own limits, in regards to Safe Gambling.
Players from Portugal don’t have any taxes to pay. The gambling houses are required to pay the high tax instead.
Withdrawal periods will depend on the casino site and banking options. It can vary from immediate to several days.
Each player will have different needs, therefore the best betting site is the one that best suits your needs. Go for a safe betting environment with lots of offers.
Portuguese betting sites will offer a limited number of sports to bet on. These are always the most popular ones, such as football, basketball, tennis, etc. But foreign betting sites can offer much more.
Portugal is known for its incredible football and futsal glory, as well as world-class players. Naturally, football will be the sport most bet on.
Like in most of Europe, Portugal uses decimal betting odds. For example – in a match between Benfica and Porto, odds for Benfica to win can be 2.0, match to end in a draw – 3.0, and Porto to win 2.20. The total winning is – total odds multiplied by investment (100e x 2.20 (Porto to win) = 220e).
Although they are scarce, free bets are present at some sports betting sites in Portugal.
To claim the sign-up bonus, it is necessary to register and create a gambling account. From there, you can claim it either immediately, after entering a special code, or after depositing some money first.
Players in Portugal who suffer from gambling addiction can send an email to [email protected] asking for help, or call 1414. This is a national helpline in Portugal and all help is confidential.
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