Portugal’s online gambling industry can be considered as a transition from cautious regulations to a rapidly expanding igaming market, with the intention of continuing to grow while protecting society and its players. The entity responsible for licensing, regulation and compliance in Portugal is the Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ), the public authority that supervises and regulates both land-based and online operators.
Operating under the online gambling regime introduced in 2015 by Decree-Law No. 66/2015 of 29 April, SRIJ imposes demanding technical and financial requirements on platforms that offer online casinos and sports betting to Portuguese players. However, this regulatory framework is often criticised as rigid and slow to modernise, having remained largely intact since its publication, though with periodic instructions and clarifications from the regulator.
One of the main reasons Portugal is frequently held up as a responsible jurisdiction is its strict intention on player protection. The national self-exclusion system, which allows players to block themselves from all licensed sites, represents a political choice to treat gambling as a public health concern, not merely a leisure industry. Moreover, its strict regime is evident, including fines of up to €1m (£860,000) when a serious regulatory, economic or criminal breach is involved.
Interestingly, contrary to what might have been expected, this regulatory regime has not had a negative impact in recent years. In Q2 2025, online revenue reached approximately €287m, up 9.6% year-on-year, and by Q3 it climbed to roughly €297.1m, with online casinos generating approximately 66% of the total. These numbers describe a central pillar of digital entertainment, pumping tax income into the state and reshaping consumer habits at scale.
Around two-thirds of sports bets are on football, with a betting volume rising in the mid-teens annually. Culturally, this trend is understandable as football is a major part of Portugal culture, where passion, identity and rivalry converge, and where riskier betting patterns emerge.
Concerning SRIJ action and how it anticipates and combats the constraints encountered in this industry, many indicators of responsibility are heading in the right direction as SRIJ actively blocks dozens of illegal sites every quarter. More than 1,500 unlicensed operators have been shut down since 2015. Self-exclusion registrations are also rising, indicating that tools exist and are being used by players.
Enforcement actions keep unlicensed operators on the defensive. But looking further, those same numbers can feel like warnings for today’s society. By the end of Q2 2025, approximately 326,400 accounts had registered for self-exclusion, which represents a 27% year-on-year increase. By Q3 2025, this figure had risen to 342,000.
Future plans
Politically, the system is under active renegotiation with the intention to address such issues. In September 2025, the Portuguese Assembly of the Republic advanced proposals to the committee, presenting proposals for tightening the regime with stricter advertising restrictions aimed at younger audiences, prohibitions on athlete and influencer endorsements and stronger domain blocking measures. Political parties, including Livre and PAN, advocated going further, proposing bans on sponsorships and more ambitious awareness campaigns.
Although operators complain about over-regulation, delayed product features and bureaucratic friction, the evidence so far suggests that a strong, up-to-date regulatory framework is needed and should accompany the industry’s progress and future trends. The challenge for the coming years is to decide what kind of online gambling the country is willing to live with.
A 2015 law, however solid its foundations, cannot remain frozen while technology, player behaviour and industry tactics sprint ahead. Updating the framework toward a future reality, it is the minimum price of legitimacy and guarantee for further success and growth in Portugal.
Luís began his legal career in 2016 and specialises in gambling, advertising, commercial law, technology, and intellectual property. Before joining Lektou as partner in 2024, Luís served as head of legal at Clever Advertising, one of the gambling sector’s leading affiliates.
Marta joined Lektou in 2025 as a trainee. She holds a law degree from the Catholic University of Portugal – Porto and a LLM in Comparative and International Dispute Resolution from Queen Mary University of London.
The post Futureproofing strategies should be built on Portugal’s solid foundations first appeared on EGR Intel.
Luís Portela de Carvalho and Marta Botica Santos from law firm Lektou outline why the country’s regulations need to keep pace with technology to maintain a competitive market
The post Futureproofing strategies should be built on Portugal’s solid foundations first appeared on EGR Intel.