Best online casinos in Portugal 2024

History of Casino Gambling in Portugal

The history of gambling in Portugal started as far back as 1783 when the National Lottery 1783 was launched. At the time, after paying winners, the rest of the profit from lottery draws was delivered to charity organizations. However, about 150 years later, in 1916, Casino Estoril, the oldest gambling place in Portugal, was established, which ushered in a new era of gambling for Portuguese players. The Casinos continued to operate under no specific gambling laws and regulations in Portugal until 1989.

In 2000, the lottery became the first legal online gambling program. However, a single organization, the Santa Casa da Misericórdia, held the autonomous monopoly on lottery until Bingo Halls began legal operations in Portugal in 2011.

Before 2015, the legality of online casinos was in a grey area. Portuguese players could only gamble at offshore websites as Portugal failed to issue licenses for remote casinos. According to the record, there were two failed attempts to legalize local gambling games in 2010 and 2012. It was not until June 2015 that the Games and Online Gambling (RJO) law came in. The Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal (SRIJ) is the sole regulator of all online gambling activities in Portugal, and it finally made casino games legal.

But why online gambling? During the COVID pandemic, specifically from March 2020 to May 2021, physical gambling venues were shut down for eight months at two separate intervals, and this non-operational period allowed online casinos to grow in popularity and numbers.

How are online casinos regulated in Portugal?

The SRIJ is the sole regulator for online gambling in Portugal. The body chooses games and events that can be gambled online. Currently, in Portugal, both pre-match and in-play sports betting are legal. This means that the SRIJ keeps a strict watch to prevent the chance of manipulation or unprofessional behaviour.

Top 5 best online casinos in Portugal

Portugal's online casinos are becoming increasingly popular due to the thrills they provide and the alluring incentives and promotions open to players. You can check out this list of the best Portuguese online casinos.

#1 888Starz

888Starz is offering new players a 100% matching deposit bonus of up to 122 EUR. There is a 50x wagering requirement on the bonuses.

#2 Megapari

Megapari has had a significant influence on Portugal's online gaming market. The bonus's 35x wagering requirement must be met within seven days of registering.

#3 1xBet

1xbet welcomes new players with 150 free spins to utilize on a selection of slot games and a 100% bonus of up to 1950 EUR spread over the first four deposits. A minimum of 35 wagers must be made with the bonus.

#4 20Bet

Portugal players can get up to 220 EUR + 120 bonus spins at 20Bet, an online casino that significantly impacts the gambling industry in Portugal.

#5 VulkanBet

New players can get a 100% bonus of up to 1,000 EUR at the VulkanBet casino. The bonus needs to be wagered at 35 times or more in seven days after it is activated.

The best casinos in Portugal: Comparison

We have compiled a list of casinos based on significant elements that build user experience in Portugal.

Main provisions of Gambling Rregulations in Portugal

In Portugal, the Decree–Law No. 66/2015, dated April 29, for gambling online (RJO) was approved by the Government. This law made it possible for gambling organizations to operate in Portugal. The decree clearly stated that the prohibition of gambling can cause potential harm to individuals or families.

You can read the full quote here:

Gambling is an inevitable reality that any amount of denial cannot change. In order to create the ideal environment for these kinds of activities, everyone involved needs to be protected. The legislation that was formed recognized the futility of suppression but sought to specify the circumstances under which gambling might take place, and this environment may grow. There was also an evident paradigm change that guided the state's operations, which included giving up on criminal repression and using taxes as a tool to modify behaviour.

The Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal (SRIJ) is the online gambling regulator for Portugal, and they employ a careful approach to ensure that casinos comply with regulations.

The Decree-Law No. 66/2015 also states that only an online casino can offer Baccarat, Blackjack, slot, poker, and roulette games. Fantasy sports betting is not allowed as there are no gambling regulations.

In Portugal, the legal gambling age is 18 years for foreigners and 21 for residents. However, some casinos will not accept anyone below 25 years of age.

There are specific legal differences between online and land-based casinos.

• For an online casino, gambling licenses last for three years with an option for extension. However, land-based casino licenses last for 10-20 years.
• Land-based casinos must remit a 16% tax, while online casinos can pay from 15%-30% tax.
• Land-based casinos are only allowed to operate in specific zones. There are ten zones currently in Portugal.

Gambling taxes in Portugal

Financial transparency is essential in the gambling world. Aside from helping casino companies keep a proper record of funds, it also assists the regulatory bodies in adapting to the ever-changing dynamics of online gaming.

Portugal is well known for its high tax in the gambling industry. For land-based casinos, a special gambling tax varies based on the casino's geographical location. Bingo halls are, however, subject to remitting a 25% tax.

Additionally, for online casinos that offer horse races, slots, poker, and other casino games, a 15%-30% tax is imposed on the organization's gross gaming revenue. For fixed-odds sports betting and fixed-odds horse racing, they have levied an incremental 8%-16% tax based on the volume of bets. Betting exchanges, on the other hand, must remit a 35% tax on their gross turnover.

The most popular casino games in Portugal

1. Slots.

Slots have been said to be very addictive games, and they are also popular in Portugal. Slots are simple to play and do not require any previous experience; as such, even new players can play well. Some popular places are Gonzo’s Quest, Wild Toro, and Mermaid Millions.

2. Poker

While poker is similar to slots, it features a more intense gameplay, and players can make decisions that might affect the game's outcome. Portuguese players have taken a liking to this game as it allows them to use strategies that can lead to winning. Some poker games are Pick Them Poker, Tens or Better, and many others.

3. Blackjack

Blackjack is a favourite of many casino players in Portugal. In addition to the basic blackjack strategies synonymous with playing in land-based casinos, the online blackjack adds many other features unavailable in land-based casinos, making playing online blackjack more exciting.

4. Roulette

The roulette game is a classic in any land-based or online casino. Unlike any other casino game, roulette has numerous options to play at. Roulette was considered to be the most challenging game to play in a land-based casino in the past.

5. Craps

Craps is a not-so-common game since most new casinos in Portugal do not offer it. However, just like every other game of dice, Craps induces a level of excitement in players as they wait and hope that the dice turn in their favour. There are different bet options while playing Craps, and these options give good returns. Playing games in live casinos in Portugal also gives players the thrill of a land-based casino.

The most famous casino players in Portugal

Portuguese players have had access to several live tournament stops in the past few decades. Even with the high tax laws, there are still notable names in the casino industry in Portugal. As such, avid players also have time to perfect their skills. Just recently, Portugal won her first Vegas WSOP and got a bracelet.

We will highlight one of the famous casino players in Portugal.

Joao Vieira

Joao is the 2nd in Portugal's all-time money list. He is an ex-professional basketball player who has been consistent in the live arena since 2013. Joao has won nine WCOOP titles on Poker Stars.

Joao bagged his most significant win of $1,384,413 in the 2022 53rd Annual World Series of Poker. He has a total live earning of $8,060,890 and 3 WSOP bracelets, 2 of which are Live WSOP bracelets that he won in 2019 and 2022, respectively. He won the third bracelet in the following year's GGPoker $25,000 Super High Rollers Championship.

Future of online casinos in Portugal

Although the COVID-19 pandemic affected several industries in all countries over the world, the gambling industry in Portugal also got a significant boost. There was more than enough time to play casino games because most individuals were at home doing almost nothing.

Although there aren't as many casinos in Portugal due to the country's high gambling taxes, there are still a sizable number of offshore casinos where players indulge in a variety of casino activities. A tax decrease would usher in more casino companies and, in turn, boost the Country's revenue due to more companies paying taxes.

Additionally, according to a Statista report, online gambling in Portugal is expected to generate revenues in excess of $800,000,000 by the end of the year. Mobile casinos in Portugal are also rising, signalling even more widespread adoption.