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, | Updated: September 30, 2024
The Portuguese are known for their love of gambling. The country has a long history of gambling and betting on horse races, lotteries, and other games. And with the introduction of online casinos in Portugal in 2015, the Portuguese have found a new way to gamble. Online gambling was legally introduced in the country thanks to Regime Jurídico dos Jogos e Apostas, which was passed as a bill on April 29, 2015.
While the industry was monopolized by the Portuguese National Lottery for quite some time, the liberalization of this sector opened up the market to other operators. Prior to the legalization of the online gambling sector, offshore operators were technically allowed to accept players from Portugal as they were facing no legal consequences. After the iGaming sector was legalized, playing at unlicensed online casinos was deemed illegal, and local Internet service providers (ISPs) started blocking access to unregulated websites.
Best Casinos in Portugal
There are many reasons why Portuguese people like to gamble. Some enjoy it as a form of entertainment while others see it as an investment opportunity or even a way to make money quickly. Regardless, there are plenty of online casinos in Portugal that cater to all types of gamblers and offer safe gambling environments with bountiful promotions. Below, we have listed a few great brands that cater to Portuguese players.
18+ and of legal age to gamble. First deposit only. $20 Min deposit. Max bonus 1 BTC or currency equivalent. First deposit free spins are added as a set of 50 per day for 2 days, amounting to 100 free spins in total. The first 50 free spins are added immediately after a successful activation of the bonus. The next 50 free spins are added in 24 hours. Winnings obtained with the help of free spins have a x40 wagering requirement. All deposit bonuses must be wagered at least 40 times before the player can withdraw the winnings received through them. General Bonus Terms & Conditions must be observed.
New customers only. Opt-in required. 100% Match Bonus up to €250 on 1st deposit of €20+. Additional bonuses of up to €250 on 2nd deposit of €20+ and up to €500 on 3rd deposit of €20+. 50x bonus wagering applies as do weighting requirements. Credit Card, Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. Irregular gameplay may invalidate your bonus.
New reg only. Opt in & deposit either £10, £25 or £50 within 7 days & further 7 days to wager your deposit 35x to unlock reward (up to £50 for each of your first 2 deposits). Wagering/game contributions vary. 25 x 10p wager-free spins added to Big Bass Splash with each qualifying deposit, 3 day expiry. Other Promotional Play Restrictions Apply. T&Cs apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.
New customers only. Opt in is required. 1st deposit only. Bonus expires 7 days from issue. Min €20 deposit. Max Bonus €100. 35x Wagering. Max redeemable €2,000. Player, country, currency, game restrictions and terms apply.
Opt in required. Available 1x per customer. First deposit only. Minimum £10 deposit. Maximum £300 bonus. 40x wagering. Bonus expires 7 days from issue. New customers to casino page only. Player, currency, country, game restrictions & terms apply.
18+. Minimum deposit £10. Only real money wagering with minimum 1.80 odds qualifies for the promotion. Bonus bet stake is not included in any winnings and winnings are paid in cash. Bonus bets are valid for 7 days and cannot be split. Additional T&C apply.
18+ New Customers only. Min deposit $20. Max bonus $5000. EXCLUSIVE: Up to 25% Rakeback on each bet! Instant, Weekly, and Monthly Rakeback. No wagering requirements. No upper limits on the Rakeback amount. The Rakeback percentage depends on the Rakeback reward level.
This bonus comes with a 35X wagering requirement (Slots and Keno Only), based on the amount of your deposit plus bonus, and no limits on how much you are allowed to withdraw. Bonus amount is non-cashable and will be removed from the amount of your withdrawal request. You must play all spins before switching games. Free spins have 5x additional wagering requirements and no added restrictions on withdrawal. Unless noted, standard rules apply.
This bonus comes with a 30X wagering requirement (60X for table games and video poker), based on the amount of your deposit plus bonus, and no limits on how much you are allowed to withdraw. Bonus amount is non-cashable and will be removed from the amount of your withdrawal request. You must play all spins before switching games. Free spins have 5x additional wagering requirements and no added restrictions on withdrawal. Unless noted, standard rules apply.
This bonus comes with a 30X wagering requirement (60X for table games and video poker), based on the amount of your deposit plus bonus, and no limits on how much you are allowed to withdraw. Bonus amount is non-cashable and will be removed from the amount of your withdrawal request. You must play all spins before switching games. Free spins have 5x additional wagering requirements and no added restrictions on withdrawal. Unless noted, standard rules apply.
300% Signup Bonus comes with 30X Playthrough (60X Table Games and Video Poker) and 10 times Maximum Cash-Out. Deposit $30 or more. Bonus is Non Cashable.
18+. New customers only. 30x Deposit + Bonus wagering requirement. 10 days expiration time. €5 max bet. Deposits made with Skrill and Neteller do not qualify for this promotion.
18+. New customers only. 40x Bonus wagering requirement. 14 days expiration time. LOKI100 bonus code. The Free Spins can be played only on Prince of the Sky Slot.
18+. New customers only. 30x Deposit + Bonus wagering requirement. 10 days expiration time. €5 max bet. Deposits made with Skrill and Neteller do not qualify for this promotion.
New players must deposit at least $25 for the first time. They need to use promo codes NEWONE, NEWTWO and NEWTHREE in their respective order to enjoy First, Second and Third Deposit Bonuses.
150% match bonus and 150 free spins on players’ first deposit and 50% match bonus of up to 1 BTC on their second, third, and fourth deposits. 60x wagering for 1st deposit bonus and 50x for the rest. 30 Days expiration time.
18+ New customers only. 110% up to 1BTC 1st deposit bonus. 55% up to 1BTC 2nd deposit bonus. 50% up to 2BTC 3rd deposit bonus. 40x D+B wagering required. Each bonus is valid for 30 days.
Players must deposit at least £/€/$10 and they will receive a 100% Match Bonus instantly in their accounts. Before a withdrawal, players must meet the bonus wagering requirements of 40x bonus amount within 90 days.
18+ New customers only. Min deposit €25. 30x Wagering. Bonuses are cashable after the completion of the wagering. Maximum bets with bonuses are restricted to €7.50. Bonus terms and conditions apply.
18+. New players only. One offer per player. Min Dep €10. Max bonus bet €5. 1st Dep offer is 100% up to €100 + 25 Bonus spins on Gonzo’s Quest & Starburst. Spins expire after 10 days, funds after 30 days. Bonus funds separate to Cash. Wager Req of 35x Deposit + Bonus apply. Terms Apply. BeGambleAware.org.
18+ New customers only. Min deposit €10. 35x wagering applies to the bonus amount and 40x of winnings from the Free Spins.
Best Casino Bonuses in Portugal
Often Portuguese players prefer to join a virtual casino as they might be able to redeem various types of promotions. Gaming operators licensed in Portugal can offer players generous Welcome Bonuses or promotions for returning casino members who regularly bet with the same casino brand. Since the Portuguese regulator has not imposed any serious limits on casino bonuses, virtual players from Portugal will have the chance to redeem different popular variations of casino bonuses.
Match Bonuses
No Deposit Bonuses
Free Spins
Match Bonuses
Probably the most common type of bonus that Portuguese players will be allowed to redeem as they make wagers online is the match bonus. This type of incentive is often offered as a Welcome Bonus, which is available only to newly registered players. That said, match bonuses are also often given to returning players who are simply enjoying their time at a certain online casino. Match bonuses require a certain minimum deposit, which is then matched with a certain percentage awarded as a bonus.
Whenever players wish to withdraw their bonus funds, they must wager their amount a certain number of times. These wagering requirements are usually displayed in the terms and conditions of the respective promotion. Players must be careful before redeeming such offers as some match bonuses may have their wagering requirements attached to both the qualifying deposit and the bonus amount.
No Deposit Bonuses
Some virtual casinos may also offer newly registered Portuguese players No Deposit bonuses, which, as the name suggests, do not require depositing any money to enjoy a bonus to play with. This type of offer allows players to use the bonus on certain casino games, with winnings from the No Deposit Bonus often being credited to players’ bonus balances. That requires meeting certain wagering requirements to be able to convert the bonus amount into withdrawable funds.
Free Spins
Portuguese players might also be able to enjoy free spins when playing at some online casinos. This type of incentive can be offered in a combination with a match bonus or it can be a regular deal of the casino that simply promotes certain slots. Free spins may be activated by making a qualifying deposit or they can be given in the form of a No Deposit incentive. Free spins have a specific value and there is no option to increase the bet size per free spin.
Winnings that are accumulated from free spins are usually credited as bonus funds. To be able to withdraw your free spins profits, you must wager the bonus amount a certain number of times. Once the wagering is complete, you will be allowed to cash out either all of your winnings or there might be a cap on the withdrawable amount.
Even though gambling has been a part of Portugal’s history for many years, the online form of the industry was legalized not so long ago. Virtual casinos and sportsbooks were legalized in Portugal in 2015 when the main piece of legislation governing the sector was introduced. The gambling industry in Portugal, both land-based and online, is regulated by the Legal Regime for The Operation of Games of Chance in Casinos.
The only form of online gambling that was legalized in the country prior to the changes in 2015 was the online lottery. Before the liberalization of the iGaming market, online gambling was monopolized by the Portuguese National Lottery. Despite all other forms of virtual gambling being unregulated before 2015, players from Portugal had no issues registering with offshore brands and wagering real money online.
Portugal Taking Extra Measures to Ensure Properly Regulated Online Gambling
Major Brands Leave Portuguese iGaming Market due to High Tax Rates
Online Casino Licensing and Growth of Industry
Portugal Taking Extra Measures to Ensure Properly Regulated Online Gambling
As there were no legal consequences for offshore brands as well as Portuguese players, unregulated online casino gambling was nothing unusual in the European country. That changed when the Legal Regime for The Operation of Games of Chance in Casinos was passed as a law in 2015, legalizing online casino and sports betting in Portugal. Following the changes in the main piece of legislation, the only form of online gambling that is now available in Portugal is on licensed casino and sportsbook websites. To further ensure legal online gambling, the Portuguese government has also instructed local ISPs to block access to unlicensed gaming websites.
Just in the third quarter of 2022, the Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ) ordered ISPs to block 63 websites that were operating illegally in Portugal, with another 60 operators being forced to cease their operations. The regulatory body also took legal actions against an illegal operator and further imposed stricter player protection measures by banning 130 online videos, which were advertising illegal gambling platforms.
Major Brands Leave Portuguese iGaming Market due to High Tax Rates
Even though Portugal has legalized online casino gambling, making bets at unlicensed casino brands illegal, there are still no legal consequences for Portuguese players who happen to be placing wagers on unregulated virtual casino websites. Despite the liberalization of the gambling sector, Portugal is often criticized for the high taxes imposed on licensed gambling operators in the country. That said, the high tax rates are nothing unusual for an EU country as gambling taxes tend to be very high across a number of European countries.
Even though Portugal has taken the required steps to legalize online gambling and make the whole sector properly regulated, many major gambling brands have left the Portuguese market. The extremely high gambling tax rates forced big names like William Hill, Party Poker, and PKR to quit their operations in Portugal.
Online Casino Licensing and Growth of Industry
The brands, which still would like to offer online casino services to Portuguese players, will need to apply for a license issued by the SRIJ. The regulatory body issues a license for online casino games of chance, which includes several types of casino products. The license applies to the distribution of games like baccarat, punto banco, French banque, blackjack, slot machines, poker in tournament mode, poker variations Omaha, Hold’em, Synthetic, and Caribbean, American and French roulette.
The record numbers achieved in the third quarter of 2022 show the exponential growth of the online gambling industry in Portugal. Online casinos have been great contributors to the increase in gambling revenue, recording €89.8 revenue, which surpassed the €81.8 million registered in the second quarter, as well as marking a 38.5% year-over-year growth.
No. While the law states that only operators who have obtained the proper license from the SRIJ can legally offer online casino games in Portugal, there are no legal consequences for Portuguese players who place bets at offshore unlicensed virtual casinos. That said, local ISPs constantly add more unregulated brands to their list of blocked domains.
No. Thankfully, online casinos, which have been licensed to operate in Portugal are allowed to offer players different types of incentives. This means players can redeem Welcome Bonuses, reload bonuses, free spins, No Deposit offers, and many other great casino incentives.
No. There are currently no bans on specific payment methods used by players for funding online gambling. Typically, there are also no methods that are specifically exempted from casino promotions, allowing players to use different deposit options when they wish to redeem a casino bonus
Yes. All forms of online gambling have been legalized in Portugal, allowing players from the country to bet on casino games, sporting events, poker, bingo, and even lottery games. All online gambling products have been legalized with the implementation of the legislation in 2015. The only exception is the online lottery, which was legalized back in 2000.
No. Only operators licensed to offer online gambling services, or other forms of gambling for that matter, are required to pay a gambling tax. While gambling is VAT exempted in the country, Portugal has one of the highest gambling tax rates in the EU. That said, players are not required to pay any taxes on their gambling-related wins.
| Updated: September 30, 2024
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