Portugal, Gambling & Everything Else
Portugal is one of the oldest nations in Europe. It is also one of the safest and peaceful countries in the world which makes it one of the best places to retire. However, before it came to this, Portugal has experienced a fascist dictatorship which lasted for more than 40 years.
Thankfully on the 25th of April 1974, the Carnation Revolution which was a peaceful military coup overthrew the dictatorship. It was the end of oppression and torture. It is a day of freedom or as they say, Liberdade. Although one of the most peaceful countries, Portugal has its maximum prison sentence set in 25 years and has decriminalized all forms of drugs. Still, in 2021 they ranked 4th in the Global Peace Index (GPI).
Portugal Gambling & Casinos
The betting culture in Portugal has been going on for a long time. It is a part of their daily lives, including lottery and gambling. Portuguese children are taken to betting houses or Casas da Apostas and cafes to watch their grandparents and parents place bets during the espresso breaks. At times, kids pick the numbers and stars as lucky charms for their parents to play Euromilhoes.
In 1783, the National lottery was launched. All of its profits were donated to charity. After 150 years, the oldest casino in Portugal, Casino Estoril was opened. It was loved by the Portuguese people. In 1989, the Portuguese government launched a gambling law which regulated the offline gambling sector. Currently there are 12 land-based casinos operating in the country until today.
Aside from casinos and lottery, sports betting and horse race betting is also popular in the country. Since they are one of the front runners football, sports betting is one of the most common types of betting. Aside from that there are also basketball, futsal, and rink hockey which you can bet on. You can bet on your favorite sports through tabacarias or the cigarette shops while you can place bets for horse racing in betting houses or Casa de Apostas, gasoline stations, and cigarette shops as well.
Online Gambling Laws in Portugal
Online gambling used to be illegal in Portugal. However, in 2015 Portugal passed a legislation to legalize online gambling in the country. The law enabled operators to apply for a Portuguese gambling license. Licenses are released by the Portuguese Gambling Regulatory Authority (SRIJ). A lot of online casino operators took the opportunity and got the license.
The Portuguese government required the licenses to ensure that gamblers are safe and taken care of. Another requirement needs to offer the platform in Portuguese language, accept euro, and most importantly, to have a branch in Portugal if they weren’t incorporated in the country. Another is to have anti-money laundering procedures along with a sufficient security deposits. Protection for minors and other vulnerable people as well as guaranteeing the integrity of the manipulation of its results.
Payment Methods in Portugal
Portugal has legalized online casinos recently, along with the legislation is a requirement of the anti-money laundering process to ensure the safety of the players. Since the Portuguese government wants their citizens, especially the gamblers protected whenever they are gambling, choosing the safest methods for payment is a must. Below we have listed some of the safest and most common payment methods available in Portugal.
- Multibanco
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Maestro
- MB Way
- American Express
- PayPal
How to Bet Online in Portugal
Gambling online is safe and easy. It is safe due to the multiple assurances the Portuguese government has required the operators to have before they are given the license to offer online games. Therefore, Portuguese players should choose the online casinos who have license in the country to ensure their safety while enjoying and playing. After choosing which licensed online casino you will be playing at, you can start registering.
After, you can claim the welcome bonus if there are. Then, choose which game you think will give you the best chance of winning. After choosing your game, you can now choose which payment method you will be using and then put in your first deposit. Some online casinos give bonuses for first deposits. Then you can put in your bet and start playing. Always remember to set a limit on how much you’re spending to minimize the chance of losing too much money.
Although Online gambling in Portugal has only been legalized recently, its revenue has already reached up to over 69 million Euros in 2020 for only three months. This is a new record made in Portugal’s history of gambling even though they have one of the highest tax rates which are up to 44%.
Online Games in Portugal
Portuguese people know which games they wanna play. The most popular online casino game are video slots, video poker, roulette, craps, and blackjack. Playing lottery online is also among the popular games played by a lot of Portuguese gamblers. As they have been exposed to gambling since their early age, they already know which games they prefer.
Also, despite online gambling being recently legalized, they have brought in quite a big amount of revenue and has been increasing from time to time. An evidence of how Portuguese gamblers are indeed passionate about it.
FAQs for Portuguese Players
What online gambling types are legal in Portugal?
Fixed-odd sports betting, Horse race betting (mutual and fixed odds), games of chance, and lottery are legal in Portugal.
How can I know if a website is legal?
Check the list of licensed online casino in the website of Portugal’s Gambling Regulation and Inspection and see if the casino is listed there.