Portugal has had a licensed online gambling market since 2015. Online casino games, sports betting and poker are legal at operators licensed by the Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ), which run their sites on .pt domains, and unlicensed sites are blocked. This guide explains how the system works, how to check a licence, how self-exclusion through the SRIJ works, how winnings are taxed and where to get help.
Is online gambling legal in Portugal?
Yes, at licensed operators. The legal basis is the legal regime for online gambling and betting approved by Decreto-Lei 66/2015. It allows operators licensed by the SRIJ to offer online casino games such as slots, roulette and blackjack, as well as sports betting and poker. Licensed sites use a .pt address.
Offering online gambling to people in Portugal without a licence is illegal. The SRIJ notifies unlicensed sites and orders internet providers to block them, and advertising unlicensed operators is prohibited.
You must be 18 or over to play. Players who use licensed sites are not breaking any law.
Who regulates online casinos in Portugal?
The Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ) is part of Turismo de Portugal. It issues licences, approves the games and systems operators use, supervises licensed sites, runs the national self-exclusion system and handles complaints and sanctions. Land-based casinos are also supervised by the SRIJ.
Licensed operators pay the special online gambling tax (Imposto Especial de Jogo Online, IEJO) on their revenue. That is why winnings at licensed sites are not taxed again as income for the player.
How do you check whether an online casino is licensed in Portugal?
Licensed operators use a .pt domain and show their operator name and licence details on the site, usually in the footer. The SRIJ publishes the full list of licensed operators and their web addresses on srij.turismodeportugal.pt. Checking that list is the only reliable test, because a logo or a licence number can be copied onto any site.
- Look at the web address: licensed sites use a .pt domain.
- Find the operator name and licence details on the site, usually in the footer.
- Open the list of licensed operators on srij.turismodeportugal.pt.
- Check that the operator is listed and that the exact web address you are using belongs to it.
- If the operator or the web address is not on the list, do not register or deposit.
What are the risks of unlicensed online casinos?
Unlicensed sites that accept players from Portugal are outside the SRIJ's supervision. If a withdrawal is refused, an account is closed or bonus terms are applied unfairly, the regulator cannot take up your complaint, and enforcing Portuguese consumer law against a company based abroad is difficult.
Unlicensed sites are not connected to the SRIJ self-exclusion system and do not apply Portuguese identity checks or limits. Winnings from them also fall outside the regime that keeps licensed winnings free of income tax.
- No SRIJ oversight or complaint route
- Not connected to the SRIJ self-exclusion system
- No Portuguese identity checks or safer gambling limits
- Winnings outside the licensed tax regime
How does self-exclusion through the SRIJ work?
You can self-exclude from online gambling through a form on the SRIJ website. A request made through the SRIJ covers every licensed operator in Portugal. The minimum period is three months, and you can also choose an indefinite period. During the period you choose, the decision cannot be reversed, and a request to end it early only takes effect one month after you make it.
You can also self-exclude at a single operator through its own site, but that applies to that site only. Family members or legal representatives can also ask the SRIJ for an exclusion.
Which payment methods do licensed casinos use?
Licensed operators take payments in euros. Common methods are Multibanco references, MB WAY, Visa and Mastercard cards, bank transfer, PayPal and paysafecard. Withdrawals are paid to an account or method in your own name.
Before you can withdraw, a licensed site must verify your identity. Have your Cartão de Cidadão and your tax number (NIF) ready.
Do you pay tax on online casino winnings in Portugal?
Not at a licensed site. Licensed operators pay the IEJO on their gross gaming revenue, and winnings from online games run under the Portuguese licensing regime are not subject to personal income tax (IRS). You do not need to declare them as income.
Winnings from sites without an SRIJ licence fall outside this regime. If you are unsure about your situation, check with the Autoridade Tributária or a tax adviser.
Where can you get help with gambling in Portugal?
If gambling is affecting your finances, work or family, talk to someone. The Linha Vida on 1414 from the Instituto para os Comportamentos Aditivos e as Dependências (ICAD) offers free, anonymous and confidential support for addictions, including gambling.
The national health service (SNS) offers treatment for gambling problems through specialised addiction teams, and your family doctor can refer you. You can also self-exclude from all licensed sites at once through the SRIJ.
- Linha Vida (ICAD): 1414, free and confidential
- SNS: treatment through specialised addiction teams
- SRIJ: self-exclusion from all licensed sites
- Deposit limits and time limits in your casino account
Myths vs facts
- Myth: Any casino that accepts MB WAY is licensed in Portugal.
- Fact: Payment methods are not proof of a licence. Check the operator and its web address on the SRIJ list.
- Myth: You have to declare your casino winnings in your IRS return.
- Fact: Winnings at SRIJ-licensed sites are not subject to IRS, because the operator pays the IEJO.
- Myth: Bonuses are banned in Portugal.
- Fact: Licensed operators may offer bonuses, as long as the terms are clear and published on their site.
- Myth: Self-exclusion at one casino covers all of them.
- Fact: Only a request through the SRIJ covers every licensed operator. Self-exclusion at a single site applies to that site only.
Before you claim
- Website uses a .pt domain
- Operator and exact website found on the SRIJ list
- Age 18 or over and identity verified with Cartão de Cidadão and NIF
- Deposit and time limits set before you play
- Bonus terms read in full before you accept
- Withdrawals only to an account in your own name
- Linha Vida 1414 saved