Online betting and casino gambling are legal and fully regulated in Portugal. They operate under Decree-Law no. 66/2015 (which established the legal framework for online gambling and betting, in force since 28 June 2015) and are licensed and policed by the SRIJ — Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos, which is integrated within Turismo de Portugal. Portuguese residents can legally play at SRIJ-licensed sites; player winnings are not taxed; and while cryptocurrency is not a formally approved payment rail, a couple of licensed operators are reported to accept it via euro conversion. If you gamble, stick to SRIJ-licensed brands for legal protection.

Yes. Portugal moved to a licensed, multi-operator online market with Decree-Law 66/2015. The SRIJ issues and supervises licences for two product families: online games of chance (casino, slots, poker) and online sports/horse betting. A regulatory update that took effect on 1 January 2026 expanded the licence pool (reported as a move from 20 to 40 operators) and tightened responsible-gambling and self-exclusion requirements. Playing at a non-SRIJ (offshore) site is not itself criminalised for the individual, but you give up the consumer protections, dispute channels and self-exclusion guarantees that come with a licensed operator.

The regulator and licensing regime

The SRIJ is integrated within Turismo de Portugal and acts with powers of public authority. Licences are valid for three years and renewable for equal three-year periods. Each licensed operator must post substantial guarantees: €500,000 as collateral for legal and player-liability obligations, plus €100,000 as collateral for the special online gambling tax (IEJO). Applicants must show good repute, technical and financial capacity, pass system certification and testing, and provide responsible-gaming policies.

Licensed vs offshore operators

Licensed (SRIJ) sites display a licence and appear on the official SRIJ register. As of 2026 the market includes well-known local and international brands, with Betano, Betclic and Solverde among the market leaders. Offshore sites — including many crypto casinos — are not on the register; they may still accept Portuguese players, but you have no SRIJ recourse if a payout is withheld, and the SRIJ actively requests ISP blocking of unlicensed sites.

OperatorProductSRIJ-licensed
BetanoBetting + casinoYes
Placard.pt (Santa Casa)BettingYes
BetclicBetting + casinoYes
Casino SolverdeCasinoYes
Casino PortugalCasinoYes
Nossa Aposta / Bwin / LeBullBetting/casinoYes

Payment methods locals actually use

Portuguese players lean heavily on domestic rails. MB WAY (4 million+ active users, run by SIBS) and Multibanco are the dominant options — MB WAY deposits are usually instant. Cards, bank transfers (SEPA) and e-wallets are also common. Note Multibanco is deposit-oriented; withdrawals typically return to card or bank and take 1–3 business days.

Crypto is legal to buy and hold in Portugal, and major exchanges operate there. For gambling specifically, virtual assets are not formally permitted under SRIJ rules — but Casino Portugal and Solverde are reported to accept crypto deposits by auto-converting to euros at the point of deposit, with play settled in euros. Fully crypto-native casinos are offshore and unlicensed; using them means no SRIJ protection.

Tax on player winnings

Good news for players: online winnings from licensed operators are not taxed. The tax burden sits on operators through the IEJO — 25% of gross gaming revenue on games of chance, 8% of turnover on fixed-odds sports betting, and 35% of commissions on exchanges and mutual horse betting.

Safer gambling and help

SRIJ-licensed operators must offer deposit/bet limits, time-outs and self-exclusion. In April 2026 the SRIJ launched a redesigned centralised self-exclusion portal that produces a market-wide exclusion across all licensed operators at once; operators must query it in real time. For support, call Linha Vida 1414 (SICAD/ICAD) — a free and confidential line for addictive behaviours including gambling.

18+ only. Gambling can be addictive — play responsibly. If it stops being fun, use SRIJ self-exclusion or call Linha Vida 1414.

Sources