Online Casinos in Portugal

Gambling is one of the well-regulated industries in Portugal. All gambling activities in Portugal are legal, according to the Portuguese Game Law.

Land-based gambling has been legal since 1989, while online gambling became legal in 2015 with the signing of the Regime Jurdico dos Jogos e Apostas Decree-Law No. 66/2015.

Even before online gambling was legalized in Portugal, all Portuguese players could access offshore sites and play the latest casino games. The government didn't go after them, and they didn't get in trouble for taking part in these things.

Since online gambling became legal, the industry has been well regulated, and unlicensed sites have been blocked to some extent. Many sites that aren't licensed are still finding ways to get around the blockade and serve players.

Once operators get a license and are legally allowed to offer their services to Portuguese players, they have to pay a lot of money in taxes. This makes online gambling more complicated. In Portugal, taxes range from 15% to 30%. So, Portugal is one of the top countries when it comes to how much tax it puts on the online and land-based gambling industries.

Because of the high taxes, many reputable gambling sites have left the Portuguese market, making it easier for sites that aren't licensed or that look sketchy to do well. Also, many people are willing to go to sites that aren't licensed in order to play games better.

Portugal's Gambling History

Portugal's history of gambling is not long or full of many details. Gambling operators were officially legalized in the country in 1989. There had previously been no land-based gambling facility of any kind.

Casino Estoril, which has been in operation since 1916, was the only known facility of this type. Casino Estoril is still the largest land-based casino in Portugal.

Before it was legalized, there were no rules about gambling, so it was only available as a side attraction in private clubs. But after the Game Law was passed in 1989, places where people could gamble began to let Portuguese people in.

As time passed, the residents of this country grew fond of playing such games, which fueled the industry's growth.

Portuguese players started using online casinos because they had so many great features. At first, there were no rules about online gambling, so players could go to offshore sites without getting in trouble.

Online gambling became legal in Portugal with the passage of a new Decree-Law in 2015. After obtaining a license, operators were free to offer their services to Portuguese citizens. The government even began blocking IP addresses from unlicensed casino websites.

Gambling in Portugal Today

Gambling is still a popular pastime in Portugal today. However, several points should be made. Since the government made online casinos legal, it has put new, very high taxes on the people who run them.

As of 2021, taxes on online casinos range from 15 to 30%, putting Portugal at the top of the tax rankings in Europe and the world.

Most online casinos that used to work in Portugal no longer do so because of the high taxes. To make matters worse, the government's blockade on unlicensed sites is ineffective because these online casinos always find a way around it, and many Portuguese players end up accessing these sites to play casino games.

In terms of land-based casinos, Portugal has a total of ten of them. There are nine on the mainland and one on Madeira.

Are Casinos Legal in Portugal?

Portugal has legalized casinos. In 1989, the Decree-Law made land-based gambling legal in the nation by allowing operators to set up shop and provide their services to the populace. Prior to 2015, there was no regulation of online gambling, but players frequented these sites because they liked them.

Online casinos were finally made legal in 2015 with the introduction of Decree-Law No. 66/2015, allowing players to sign up and play at any licensed online casinos.

Even though the government created a system to block illegal websites in the nation, time has shown that it is not as effective as originally believed. Many Portuguese players continue to use unlicensed websites because they can get around the security measures put in place by the government.

Portugal has exorbitant gambling taxes on top of everything else. When compared to taxes in other nations, the taxes paid by online businesses, which can range from 15 to 30 percent of revenue, are astronomically high.

Because of the taxes, a lot of reputable businesses have stopped serving Portuguese people. Additionally, despite the fact that players are not supposed to access unlicensed sites, those who do so are not subject to punishment by the government.

The organization in charge of enforcing gambling laws in Portugal is called the Serviço de Regulaço e Inspeço de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal.

This governing body also gives licenses to people who run casinos, both in person and online. The following legal gambling activities are eligible for licenses under Portuguese law:

• Bingo

• Baccarat, blackjack, slot machines, poker in tournament mode, and different variations of poker like Hold'em, Omaha, Caribbean, etc. are all examples of games of chance.

• Horse-racing betting

• Fixed-odds sports betting

Portugal has a total of 10 on-site casinos, as was previously mentioned. One casino is allowed to operate in each of the country's designated gambling zones, which are divided up. One casino is on Madeira, and the other nine are on the mainland.

The amount of taxes varies greatly. Bingo parlors, games of chance, and mutual bets on horse races, for example, all have to pay a 25% tax on their earnings. Online gambling, on the other hand, is taxed differently.

Last but not least, the tax rate on fixed sports bets and fixed horse racing bets is 8% if the operators derive their income from sources other than gambling, and it is 35% if sports betting is their only source of income. The players are not at all required to pay taxes on their winnings. In Portugal, ages 18 and up are permitted to gamble.

Favorite Games Among Portuguese Players

The majority of Portuguese casino patrons prefer to play poker. The poker players from this nation enjoy a variety of poker variations. The top three images are Hold'em, Caribbean, and Omaha poker. Poker is so well-liked because it requires a lot of skill and allows players to test their abilities against opponents from different nations.

The next popular activity is sports betting, especially when it comes to football. Since Cristiano Ronaldo, who is from Portugal, is arguably the best football player of all time, you can't blame the people for this. So, the people are big fans of both football and Ronaldo, and they also bet a lot.

Online slots are second only to slots. Playing these games is incredibly easy. Players only need to set the amount of their desired wager and then spin the wheel. Standard/fixed and progressive slots are the two types of slots available, depending on the jackpot.

While jackpots on progressive slots grow as players keep playing, those on standard slots stay the same. Jackpot prizes for progressive slots frequently exceed several million dollars.

Other well-known games

Additional bitcoin games are noteworthy. The popularity of these games has increased at the same time that the price of Bitcoin has increased. These games offer players an enjoyable gaming experience and have amazing graphics.

When Portuguese players go to online casinos, they are always happy to see reputable game providers on the site they choose.

Quality games and an amazing gaming experience are synonymous with developers like NetEnt, Quickspin, Play'n GO, and many more. Also, because these game developers use the latest technology, all of their games can be played by Portuguese players on both desktop computers and mobile devices without changing the way the games are played overall.

Portugal's most well-liked Casino Bonuses

The welcome bonus is the preferred casino bonus in Portugal. Every day, a large number of Portuguese players sign up for accounts at online casinos, and after making their first deposit, they are awarded this bonus.

While the benefits differ from casino to casino, most often players receive a match deposit bonus and free spins that can be used on particular slots. Given that slots are one of the most played games in this area, free spins are always appreciated.

Free bets are another well-liked bonus in sports betting. These bonuses function in a manner similar to free spins. It allows players to wager on specific games without having to make a deposit. Free of charge. The best part is that they can win real money prizes that they can cash out after fulfilling the online casino's wagering requirements.

Cashback bonuses on bet losses are popular in Portugal as well, where sports betting is fairly common. This bonus is provided on a weekly basis by many operators. Additionally, live dealer games occasionally accept cashback bonuses. These cashback bonuses are helpful because poker, a popular casino game among Portuguese players, is frequently offered as a live dealer game.

According to their VIP status, players frequently receive different cashback rates. Numerous online casinos offer VIP and loyalty programs as a way of saying "thank you" to patrons for their ongoing support. Players must use real money to play in order to advance to higher levels. The exchange rate will increase as their level rises.

Portugal's Methods of Payment

E-wallets like Skrill and Neteller are the most popular ways to pay at casinos in Portugal. The player can instantly deposit money and withdraw it using these methods. Additionally, opening an account with an e-wallet is quick, easy, and free. It is important to note that e-wallets might charge for deposits and/or withdrawals. Different bonuses may also have different terms and conditions.

Cards with a credit or debit balance are ranked second. They are widely used by Portuguese players and accepted at almost all online casinos.

Credit and debit cards offer the players comparatively quick transactions and are very secure. While withdrawals take about 3 business days to process, deposits happen instantly. When using a card as a payment method, there are no fees.

Cryptocurrencies: Even Bitcoin has recently gained popularity as a form of payment. After all, Bitcoin offers instant deposits and withdrawals, is extremely secure, and has no additional fees for users. In addition, when they make deposits using the cryptocurrency, they also have access to exclusive Bitcoin games.

Bank transfers, mobile pay, and prepaid cards are additional payment options that are occasionally used and deserving of mention. Although less well-known than the methods above, there are still many Portuguese players who favor these over e-wallets, credit/debit cards, and Bitcoin (or any other cryptocurrency).