Portugal Jurisdiction profile

Gambling was first legalized in Portugal in 1916, focusing on land-based services via casinos. It was not until 2015 that the country decided to open its industry to online casino gaming. The lottery was the first to go online, launched in 2000, but it would take over a decade before players could access casino games via the internet. Before the legislation was in place, online casino players could access offshore sites with ease. Once the new market was established, it was only legal for licensed sites that paid taxes on services to offer gaming to individuals located in Portugal. The Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ) is in charge of the industry, ready to ensure that licensed providers offer services according to local laws. The regulator oversees the industry and has the right to shut down illegal operators by ordering internet service providers to block access to such sites. The regulator has the power to refer a site for criminal investigation. The SRIJ may notify illegal operators to stop offering services before action is taken. The regulator can also jump straight to blocking the website to stop players from accessing it. Regulators issue gambling licenses to providers that are approved in Portugal. Operators must contact the regulator and fill out an application for consideration. Applications are available for fixed-odds sports betting and bingo. For casino games, those of chance are allowed. This includes titles like baccarat, punto banco, blackjack, tournament poker, slot games, and roulette. There are ten gambling areas in Portugal where games of chance are allowed. Operators must only provide such services in the following areas: Azores Algarve Espinho Estoril Figueira da Foz Funchal Porto Santo Povoa de Varzim Troia Vidago-Pedras Salgadas Online gaming services by licensed entities are not allowed to take place outside of these regulated areas. Any site providing access to other areas would be considered in violation of the country’s laws. The regulator would be able to take action on any entity that breaks local legislation. Additional gaming like the lottery, keno, scratch cards, and harness racing betting is provided only by Santa Casa da Misericordia de Lisboa. This operator has a monopoly on these services in Portugal. Portugal does not have a single gaming tax rate for its operations. Instead, a gambling tax is based on the game type. The highest tax rate is seen within bingo halls, online gambling, and horse racing. The amount is 25%. Online fixed odds sports betting and fixed odds horse racing are 8%, while lottery games are 4.5%. Players’ gambling winnings are not subject to taxation. A personal income tax is not required for any type of gambling, including online services. The legal age for gambling in Portugal is 18. Players must be able to show proof of age before gaining access to services. Overall, the regulator in Portugal works diligently to offer a secure and safe gaming environment. Bad actors are pushed out to the best of their ability, and licensed services ensure that players can play with providers that are vetted and ready to follow local laws.