Online gambling in Portugal is constantly growing and is expected to remain a growing market in the future. Millions are already gambling online.
With more and more platforms of this kind, it is essential to have good regulation, so that consumers can play safely and legally at legal online casinos in Portugal. In addition, with so many options, it is becoming harder to pick one casino to gamble at.
Hopefully, this text will answer all the questions a Portuguese gambler may have about online gambling in Portugal.
1 |  | 100% Match Bonus of up to £100 now! |
| Read 888Casino Review | |
2 |  | 100% Up To €120 + 120 Free Spins |
| Read 20Bet Review | |
3 |  | Up to 230% Match Bonus! |
| Read Slots Empire Review | |
4 |  | Get a 225% welcome bonus now! |
| Read Red Dog Casino Review | |
5 |  | Up to 260% Match Bonus! |
| Read El Royale Casino Review | |
6 |  | 100% Match Bonus up to $200! + 100 Spins |
| Read Karamba Review |
Quick Jump
Is Online Casino Legal in Portugal?
Gambling in Portugal is legal and regulated therefore players can safely venture into the world of online gambling and enjoy hours of fun!
The Online Gaming Law was enacted in 2015 through Decree-Law No. 66/2015. Before this law, the market was little supervised, where consumers were a little at the mercy of sites, and betting had no limitations.
With the legalization of the industry, several national and multinational companies created legal and trustworthy websites. The online casino market has skyrocketed and digital game operators are now required to have a legal license to exploit this activity. The regulation of online gaming platforms is controlled by the Gaming Regulation and Inspection Society (SRIJ). The process is relatively simple, but it requires building solid business models, which stimulate the national economy and state accounts, which collect millions in taxes.
Players were the ones who benefited the most from the enactment of the law, as they were able to play in a reliable and safe way. With the Law of Online Gambling, the casino sector soared, which allowed a better choice and easy access to any type of game.
With the law in place, online games are one of the fastest-growing industries in Portugal. With the ease of access on any mobile device, players are increasingly attracted to these platforms to try their luck.
Consequently, with the increase in the online casino market, the prize pools have been growing, with more attractive values and considerably larger jackpots. The Portuguese bet more and more, whether in gambling or sports betting.
This increase was essentially due to the security that exists with Decree-Law No. 66/2015, which made it possible to bet on a properly licensed website without any concerns, both in terms of transactions and data protection.
The Online Gambling Law also made it possible to ensure that there are no gambling registrations for minors since an identification document is required when registering on any website, something unheard of in Portugal before 2015.
Any entrepreneur can establish an online gaming company, as long as they respect the legal parameters. Before 2015, there was still the possibility of limiting the concession of gambling to exclusively national entities, but it was rejected by the European Commission in the interests of the economic rights of the European citizen.
However, there are some limitations to who can play online, in addition to Portuguese minors. Ministers and members of the Government, police and security, sovereign bodies, sports practitioners and anyone who has privileged access to online gaming sites cannot register on these platforms, running the risk of being legally penalized.
As we have seen, the enactment of the online gambling law in 2015 revolutionized this industry, creating an exponential increase in the supply of gambling sites and online casinos. Mainly for gamblers, this law has brought additional security to this type of bet, improving not only the offer but also the variety of choices, increased premiums, and data protection.
It is imperative that you feel safe when playing. You should not put your money on a platform that has doubts about its reliability. Always look for licensed and regulated online casinos operating in Portugal. The responsible entity is the Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ), so you should look out for this seal.
More than a seal, the opinion of other players is worth gold. Read reviews on forums and blogs about the quality or otherwise of online casinos. While it’s often tricky to distinguish a genuine comment from a tilted comment, it’s always a good way to get an overview.
Bonuses are often a bittersweet factor. This is because the highest offer is not always the best. Still, look for the bonus that appeals to you the most: deposit bonuses, free spins, or no deposit bonuses.
To be a good offer, also see the wagering requirements (rollover) and the time you have to fulfill them. The lower the rollover and the longer the time to fulfill the requirements, the better for you.
Promotions should be regular, from permanent to temporary, and always varied, to boost the platform: from cashback, deposit bonuses, free spins, tournaments, and much more.
Quality software providers create quality games – simple as that. Here the most relevant are the visual graphics, the sound, the extra features of the machines and the pay lines (in the case of slot machines), the diversity of themes presented, and, of course, the gameplay on mobile devices. Some of the biggest names when it comes to online casino software are iSoftBet, NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Microgaming, Evolution Gaming, and Play’N GO.
As you can see, choosing the best online casino sites in Portugal is not such an easy task. There are several factors to consider and it is the combination of all of them that makes a platform stand out or not. This does not have to be taken literally for all players, as each of us has our preferences and tastes in everything in life, and games of chance are no exception.
However, if you are in doubt between two, three, or even between all, you can and should look at these seven tips and put the online casinos in the balance, individually. The ones that have the most positive characteristics will surely be your best choices. Make conscious, thoughtful choices that can provide you with enriching experiences.
As said, gambling is legal in Portugal and therefore there will be many legal and authorized gambling services available. When looking at the list of casino sites in Portugal, pick out several that you find interesting. From there, it is easy – check if the casino is legal and certified, and see if it offers what you need in terms of games, bonuses, and banking options. If both conditions are met, you are ready for the next step.
Once you’ve found your casino of choice, it is time to create your account. Registering on the portal of any casino site in Portugal is no more difficult than casually browsing the web. Many offer the opportunity to make this process even easier – to log in using an account from a social network.
Important! You need to register only if you plan to play for money, but if it’s just for fun, then feel free to skip this step as some casino sites in Portugal will offer demo playing without any registration.
If you do not have an account on the social network, you will need to provide standard registration data in the form, namely:
Recommendation! In order to withdraw the won funds, it is better to give truthful data. Otherwise, you simply won’t be able to get what Lady Luck gave you, especially from scrupulous offices that completely block such an account.
Almost every casino in Portugal offers bonuses for registration, do not forget to check this box. Some online casinos are offering such bonuses immediately upon registration, so claim them right away before you start gambling. Note: read the terms and conditions of claiming such bonuses again.
While you are a beginner, do not rush to bet real money, try your hand at different demo versions of games. Moreover, no one forces you to make bets at least once, all slot machines can be played indefinitely in free mode. This makes it easy to choose a machine to your liking.
For those who first looked at the casino, there are sections like “Popular” or “Top Game”. All others are divided into categories. Each casino site in Portugal determines how to structure the games. It can be a thematic focus or machines with the highest winnings, etc.
Having gained confidence that everything is not so difficult, you can start playing for money.
You definitely came across stories of players who were deceived and lost lots of money. Yes, there is such a thing. But similar situations happen with users who are chasing sweet promises without thinking twice and reading small prints.
Online casino ratings are created for a reason. Legal and authorized casino sites in Portugal will give you money that you won fair and square. Less reliable sites can obviously offer a much simpler winning algorithm in a free game. As a result, when playing for money – huge losses.
Another factor that hinders inexperienced players is excitement and pressure. The fact that you are betting with real money weighs heavily and makes it hard to focus. And already the first win inspires mega confidence and euphoria, which again gives rise to less focus. You need to play with a bright head and with minimal emotions, then winning is more likely.
There are many games such as slot machines, poker, blackjack, and roulette, among many others. All of them took advantage of digitalization to create variants of each game or to be able to use live streams to play live casino games with a dealer and a gaming table, trying to emulate traditional casino games in Portugal.
Online casino bonuses are a great way to attract new players and additionally keep existing ones playing. With the immense variety of entities operating in Portugal, it is natural that some want to stand out by offering increasingly attractive bonuses. Obviously, for players, these bonuses are always very appealing and provide better spending management, as they allow you to maximize your winnings without any additional investment.
A bonus offered to new players when they first sign up for an account with a casino. It can come in the form of a deposit match or free spins.
A bonus that awards a certain number of free spins on a specific slot game or a selection of games.
A bonus that refunds a percentage of a player's losses over a certain period of time.
A bonus offered to new players without the need to make a deposit. It can come in the form of free spins or bonus money.
What Is the Best Payment Option for Portuguese Players?
Bank and credit card transfers offer easy transfers with usually no fees; e-wallets are fast and safe but include fees, cryptocurrencies are the best but rare. It is up to the bettor to choose whether they want speed, safety, or no commission.
Undoubtedly, technology is allowing you to expand the different payment methods in online casinos to the maximum, to have the best imaginative experience in your gaming sessions. However, get to know the most used online payment methods among Portuguese players:
Gambling in Portugal is legal and well-regulated.
Portugal is one of the safest countries in Europe when it comes to online gambling.
Much like online gambling, sports betting is very safe.
Players in Portugal can choose their monthly deposit limits, but they are not limited by the casino sites or the state.
As a player, you don’t have to pay tax. On the other hand, the gambling houses have to pay 44% tax.
Withdrawal periods will depend on the casino site and banking options. It can vary from immediate to several days.
There are no competitions, therefore, we can’t say for sure which casino site is the best in Portugal. On the other hand, it is important that the casino is licensed, legal offers great gambling and banking options that best suit the player’s needs.
All types of casino games are available to Portuguese players. These include slots, card games, roulette, scratch cards, bingo, sports betting, and much more.
Like in most countries in the world, slots are the most popular casino games in Portugal.
Some casino sites in Portugal will offer free spin bonuses, although these are quite rare.
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.
🔎 Looking for betting sites? Here are the best betting sites in Portugal.
