As of 2025, the attention of policymakers in several European countries, with particular regard to Portugal, continues to focus on the potential revenue-generating opportunities of the online gambling market. Portugal aims to find a balance whereby it generates revenue whilst upholding integrity, security, and protections for consumers, all of which fall under the auspices of the SRIJ.

Those wishing to offer online casino gaming and/or sports betting must apply for a license and are thereafter subject to several requirements, including technical and financial, which require ongoing supervision. Other European countries, including Portugal, adopt varied models of licensing and taxation.

Portugal’s Regulatory Framework For Online Casinos

In Portugal, gambling is regulated at the national level, including online casino games, online poker, online bingo, and online fixed-odds sports betting, which is governed by the RJO. The operators with licenses under the RJO must meet certain requirements. All operators must have a legal presence in Portugal as a branch or be a member of the EU/EEA, and must obtain certification for their technical systems.

Operators are also required to adhere to the segregation of player funds, as well as be compliant with anti-money laundering, know your customer, and responsible gaming requirements.

Chambers and Partners note that the regulator has permanent oversight of the operators by examining their data from their daily reporting, and confirming the integrity of their systems by checking the stake and payout amounts in the systems. Several technical requirements must be achieved to comply with responsible gaming requirements and for ongoing regulatory supervision.

Licences are granted on a vertical basis, one for casino-type games and one for sports betting. The original issuer is also able to extend the validity for an additional three years, as long as the compliance conditions are fulfilled. As per Chambers and Partners, regulations seek to accomplish transparency, equity, and consumer protection.

Licensing Costs And Security Guarantees In Portugal

For an online license in Portugal, applicants are required to post statutory financial guarantees along with required fees. These financial guarantees protect players' funds and also provide for the prompt payment of players' winnings, as well as compliance with tax obligations.

As per Chambers and Partners, the structure of guarantees as well as the structure of fees provides for both fixed licensing or certification fees, and a guarantee to be paid.

Each vertical also requires a separate licence, so for operators providing both casino-style games and sports betting, costs are multiplied. Together with a technical certification, these compliance conditions, system audits, and guarantee deposits represent a significant ongoing and upfront commitment. These elevated entry conditions assist in fostering a controlled market environment, in addition to preventing low-capacity operators from entering with inadequate safeguards.

Taxation Structure For Operators And Players In Portugal

Portugal has a distinct online gambling tax, the IEJO case, for regulated operators. The tax rate is twenty-five per cent of gambling revenue generated for games of chance, including slot machines and roulette, blackjack, poker, and other games. For tax on fixed-odds sports and horse gambling, the value of the tax is 8% calculated for turnover (stakes), as per the information of Chambers and Partners

There are no returns on personal income taxes for online gambling casino licenses in Portugal. This individual model of tax regulation is simplified and predictable in its liability as per the ICLG. tax is on Bingo, and pari-mutuel betting on horses, poker and bingo tournaments. In IEJO, these taxes are in compliance, licensing, and guarantee obligations. These taxes are also imposed on other players and operators.

The Performance Of The Portuguese Operators In The Market

The data from the SRIJ indicate that the online gambling sector value for Q2 2025, for Portugal, is 287 million €, where the revenue is 9.6% greater as compared to Q2 2024 of 9.6%. The casino games with 62% of the games were 177.8 million euros, and 38% in sports betting, which were 109.2 million euros. This IEJO tax was 81.2 million euros in the quarter, and is also for online gambling.

17 licensed operators managing 30 active licenses across different verticals were reported by the end of Q2 2025 for the Portugal online legalized gambling verticals.

These stats indicate that online gambling in Portugal continues to attract partnerships. However, the number of active players experienced a slight drop consistent with previous quarters, indicating that growth has probably stabilized.

Source: https://bonusbezdepozytu.org/