Online Casinos in Portugal

Are Online Casinos Legal in Portugal?

All countries have their regulations when it comes to online gambling. Be that as it may, the gambling legislation in Portugal is a tad relaxed compared to other countries in Europe.

Portugal permits most forms of gambling, including web-based casinos. This is thanks to the Decree-Law 66/2015 that the Portuguese government passed.

The law defined all conditions required for an operator to provide online gambling services in Portugal. Moreover, all online gambling licences have a three-year validity and can be revoked in case of a breach of code.

Local web-based casinos are tailored toward Portuguese players. Besides, the law requires gambling sites to obtain licensing from the SRIJ (Serviço de Regulação Inspeção de Jogos). This allows the Portuguese to enjoy Vegas-style gaming.

To obtain a licence from the SRIJ, every operator must be headquartered within the borders. This is because the country needs casino operators to have tax status and obligations.

Currently, Portugal has a little over 11 operators fully licensed to offer online casino services. Still, the country has little to no control over offshore casinos offering services online. This is because the Court of Justice of the European Union forces the country to allow for offshore sites.

The following are some of the games of chance that you can play over the internet in Portugal.

• Slots
• Baccarat
• Poker variations
• Roulette variations
• Sports betting
• Texas Hold’em
• Horse race betting
• Bingo
• Blackjack
• French Banque

Our research shows that Portuguese players prefer wagering at offshore sites. This is because of the many restrictions placed by local web-based gambling sites.

Most popular slots in Portugal

The online gaming space in Portugal is full of enjoyable games for you to play. However, some are a lot more popular than others.

We embarked on a quest to find the most commonly played slot games in the country. Find out more about them in the reviews below.

Wild Toro

This slot game features a dastardly matador battling with a massive bull. Wild Toro is a slot title powered by ELK Studios, another popular game studio worldwide.

The game is played on 5 reels and 4 rows with 178 ways to win. You can create winning combinations by landing more than 3 similar symbols. Moreover, the matching symbols must appear on adjoining reels from the leftmost reel.

Wild Toro has a Return to Player rate of 96.4%, which is slightly above average. Also, it has medium-range volatility which means that you will land smaller wins more frequently.

The game lets you play for as little as EUR 0.20. With the help of extra symbols, the maximum win potential is set at x2250.

Wild Toro is a mobile-friendly slot game. This way, you can play easily on the go.

Aside from that, it comes with its demo version. As such, you will be able to try it out for free before investing your money.

Aloha! Cluster Pays

This slot game takes you to the islands of Hawaii with beautiful sandy beaches. With such a pleasant visual presentation, you can already tell that the game is quite fun to play.

The game is powered by NetEnt, popularly known for thousands of casino games. It is played on 6 reels and 5 rows with 9 paylines

The Aloha! Cluster Pays slot game is playable for as little as EUR 0.01 per spin. Moreover, it features other useful features that help increase your chances of winning.

Besides its excellent design, the game is mobile-friendly. This allows you to play on the go a lot easier.

The slot title has a Return to Player rate of 96.42, which is a little above average. Also, it has low to medium volatility which means that you will land smaller wins more often.

With everything considered, the casino offers a maximum win potential of x300000 your stake.

Video poker

This is the most popular online game in Portugal currently. With video poker, you get more intense gameplay than most casino products. You are always able to make critical decisions as a gaming round progresses. That way, Portuguese players have the chance of employing strategies that can lead to wins.

What’s good about video poker is that your actions will determine if you lose or win. Also, you can play it on the go unlike the classic version of poker.

Roulette

Among table games, Roulette is the most played game in Portugal. Roulette comes in three versions; the European, American, and French roulettes. Notably, the American version is different since it utilises a wagering board and double zeros on the wheel.

With that said, newbies and experienced players alike can still enjoy lovely gameplay no matter the version you chose. Moreover, they usually come with exciting bonus incentives for maximum outcomes.

Most Popular Portuguese Casino Payment Methods

When wagering online with real money, it is crucial that you consider the most convenient payment solution in Portugal. Every casino has a list of accepted payment gateways.

However, not all options can be used for swift casino payments. Having said that, the following are some of the most commonly used payment gateways in the country.

Skrill

Formerly Moneybookers, Skrill is a convenient electronic wallet service used for various online transactions. It allows for both deposits and withdrawals at online casinos in Portugal.

Skrill is a widely accepted payment gateway all over the world. The best part about Skrill is that it supports various currencies, including EUR. As such, Portuguese players don’t have to incur extra charges in conversion fees.

Gambling Regulator in Portugal

Every country has its own rules and regulations when it comes to gambling within its borders. As a result, most countries have gambling regulators to enforce the set laws. Portugal is no different in this regard.

Currently, Portugal has one body in charge of inspecting, regulating and controlling gambling activities. This is the Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ). In English, this name loosely translates to Gambling Regulation and Inspection Service.

The Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos is part of the Ministry of Tourism in Portugal. Therefore, it controls various forms of gambling. These include bingo halls, sports betting, and games of chance.

The SIRJ deals with all types of land-based gambling. This is as enshrined in both Decree-Law 422/89 and Decree-Law 31/2011. As such, the regulator is responsible for brick & mortar casinos.

When it comes to online betting and iGaming, the gambling regulator is still SIRJ. As per Decree-Law No. 66/2015, the SIRJ controls, inspects and regulates sports betting, horse race betting, and games of chance offered online.

The SIRJ also deals with

• The collection and liquidation of the IEJ and which are special gaming tax for both physical and online casinos.
• Providing oversight over gambling adverts
• The initiation and investigation of proceedings with regard to breaches of code.
• The collaboration with law enforcement agencies to prevent and punish illicit gambling activities within the country.

Additionally, the SIRJ is tasked with the issuance of gambling licences to casinos in the country. However, every operator’s headquarters must be within the borders to qualify for a SIRJ licence. This gives the operator a tax status in Portugal, which helps prove its integrity.

A SIRJ licence is quite easy to obtain. Nevertheless, operators still need to update it every three years to stay in business.

As a member of the European Union, Portugal has little to no control over foreign gambling sites. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) forces the country to allow such casinos to operate legally within the borders. However, the casinos must be from within the European Economic Area (EEA).

This means that Portuguese players can still play at casinos regulated by foreign bodies. Some good examples of gambling regulators you will find include the Malta Gaming Authority, the SJC, and the UK Gambling Commission.

The aforementioned European gambling regulators are highly respected in online gambling. They are known to be a tad more strict when issuing gambling licences. As such, you can be sure that casinos with these badges are some of the most reputable and safe ones in Portugal.

Age limits for legal gambling

Both online and land-based forms of gambling are legal in the country. Be that as it may, not everyone can engage in gambling until they attain a certain age.

For foreigners, the government of Portugal has set the minimum age for legal gambling at 18 years. This applied to both online and land-based casinos.

For locals, the minimum legal age for gambling is set at 21. Having said that, some gambling establishments and websites won’t admit anyone under 25 years

Whatever the age accepted at a casino, the operator is still required by law not to employ anyone below the set age.

Maximum bet amount in Portugal

The government of Portugal has no control over the maximum bet amount that you can place. This remains the sole decision of the casino in question depending on the games offered.

• Land-based casino products that include bingo and poker are subject to IEJ (a special gaming tax). Moreover, this form of tax varies in accordance with the casino’s geographical location.
• The gross gambling tax usually ranges between 4.5% and 40%. Most notably, the government does not claim another local tax for the specified period
• For online gambling sites, the government subjects them to IEJO (special online gambling). The IEJO varies based on the casino game in question.
• For games of chance, the operator pays 25% in Gross Gambling Revenue. On the other hand, for fixed-odds horse racing and sports betting the operator pays 8%.
• State-run casino games are subject to a 4.5% tax on the bet amount and 20% on prizes exceeding EUR 5000. However, there’s an exception with regard to mutual horse race betting that is subject to between 15% and 30% tax on Gross Gambling Revenue.

Aside from all that, you do not owe the government on your winnings at online casinos. It does not matter if it’s at a domestic or foreign gambling site.

History of Gambling in Portugal

Portugal is one of the European countries with a long history of gambling. The country has had legal land-based gambling from the start of the 20th century. In fact, the first-ever land-based casino in the country was Casino Estoril established in 1916.

At that time, Casino Estoril was the largest physical gambling establishment in Europe. The casino had quite a successful run all over the continent.

Based on research, Casino Estoril provided the foundation for the establishment of other land-based casinos in Europe. To this day, Casino Estoril is still the biggest in Portugal.

The second land-based casino in Portugal was Casino da Póvoa de Varzim established in 1934. The joint gained its inspiration from Garnier to give it a modernist outlook.

In 1977, the IGESPAR (the authority of national treasures) added Casino da Póvoa de Varzim to the national monuments list in Portugal. To this day, Póvoa de Varzim is the biggest gaming city in the country.

Furthermore, Portugal legalised land-based gambling in December of 1939. Decades later in 2011/12, legislators in the country proposed the licensing and regulation of online gambling. However, the Decree-Law failed to pass.

Afterwards, the government consented to a law, a decision that divided Portugal into 11 regions with one land-based casino each.

In 2015, the government legalised online gambling sites through Decree-Law No. 66/2015, which was amended twice in 2017. Before that happened, only SCML (Santa Casa da

Misericórdia de Lisboa) was permitted to offer online gambling services. Up till now, SCML is still in charge of all lotteries in the country.

Since 2015, Portugal has recorded a rise in the number of mobile casino gaming. The number is expected to keep increasing as time goes by.

Problem Gambling Help in Portugal

Whether playing online or offline, gambling is always fun until it is not. It often has serious ramifications if not done in a proper way. For instance, gambling can lead to addiction which in turn can potentially make you go bankrupt in the long run.

Every gambling enthusiast will tell you about the thrill that comes with continuous playing. They always believe that even if they lose a bet, they can still win the next one. For this reason, they can keep playing to the last coin just to get that one big win.

The government of Portugal acknowledges the risks and concerns with regard to gambling. This is because all adults have access to these games of chance. For this reason, the government introduced the responsible gambling policy.

The responsible gambling policy applies protection to gamblers and operators alike. Moreover, the protection measures are as enshrined in the Online Gambling Legal Regime.

As per the measures, casino operators must put in place solid plans for responsible gambling. Also, they have to implement measures that provide players with information that promotes responsible gambling.

The measures adopted by casino operators must be in compliance with the government’s aim to create social awareness. This means that they have to put in place a support mechanism for gambling addicts.

As a Portuguese player, there are several ways to help yourself with regard to problem gambling. For instance, the self-exclusion program that the Gambling Regulation and Inspection

Services provides on its website. Notably, all Portuguese players can easily access this useful tool. Your self-exclusion request is instantly sent to all legal casino operators in the country.

Another way to deal with problem gambling is by contacting Linha Vida via email or phone. This body has a useful program that offers psychological counselling to gambling addicts.

Moreover, it is part of the SICAD (Addiction and Addictive Behaviour Intervention Service) under the Ministry of Health.

Final verdict

Portugal has such a promising future as far as gambling is concerned. Based on our research, we can attest to the fact that the country is full of good casinos. You can be sure of a fun gambling experience whether you choose to play at an online or land-based casino in Portugal.

The country has a long history of gambling as it is. As a result, casinos in operation understand what it takes to make your gameplay a lot more fun.

Currently, the country has 11 land-based gambling establishments spread out in various regions. This way, you can be sure that there is a legal brick & mortar casino near you if you prefer in-person wagering.

With regard to online gambling, Portugal is among the countries with the highest number of mobile players. This means that a majority of online casinos will offer mobile-friendly products for on-the-go wagering.

Portugal, like all other countries, has its local and universal payment solutions accepted at most online casinos. Besides, more and more convenient payment gateways are introduced regularly. For this reason, you always have a wide range of payment solutions to pick from when transacting with casinos.

All in all, online gambling is usually addictive. This is especially if you’re used to winning then you start experiencing losses. As human nature will have it, you may find yourself playing more in order to recover your losses.

Problem gambling does not happen at once. As a result, you may not notice it until it’s too late. You are therefore advised to always play responsibly and at trusted casinos in Portugal.

In the case of addiction, there are many ways to find hell. Oftentimes, self-exclusion is a very useful tool. You can also seek other alternatives such as contacting Linha Vida.