Europe’s oldest country, Spain’s neighbours, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s birthplace… Portugal is a wonderful country with a rich sporting history and a growing interest in betting. Read on for important information on the nation's betting laws, the best Portuguese betting sites, popular payment methods, and more!
Best Betting Sites We Recommend for Betting in Portugal
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100% up to €50 18+ Sign up to Unibet now. Select your trusted payment method and make a deposit. Claim 100% of your first deposit up to €50. Minimum first deposit of €10 required. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. #ad |
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💯€20 free on registration + 100% bonus on first deposit up to €50 18+ Register with the code APOSTAS and receive €10 for free without deposit. Get an additional bonus of 50% up to €50 on your 1st deposit. Place your bet! Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. #ad |
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100% up to €200 18+ Register with Megapari and receive a 100% bonus to the maximum amount of 200 EUR on the first deposit! Register on the Megapari website. Fill in all the personal information fields in My Account. Make a deposit of at least 1 EUR. The bonus is automatically credited to a customer's account after a deposit has been made (the bonus amount cannot exceed 200 EUR). Before making a deposit into their account, customers must agree to receive a sports betting bonus either on the ‘Account Settings’ page in the My Account section, or directly on the ‘Deposit’ page. This bonus is automatically credited to customers’ accounts once the first deposit has been made, provided that the account details have been completed in full and a phone number has been activated. Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain 3 or more events. At least 3 of the events included in an accumulator must have odds of 1.40 or higher. The start dates of all of these events should not be later than the validity period of this offer. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. #ad |
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100% up to €100 18+ Register with PariPesa and receive a 100% bonus to the maximum amount of 100 EUR on the first deposit! Register on the PariPesa website. Fill in all the personal information fields in My Account. Make a deposit of up to 100 EUR. The bonus is automatically credited to a customer's account after a deposit has been made (the bonus amount cannot exceed 100 EUR). A customer is entitled to only one bonus. The minimum required deposit to activate the bonus is 1 EUR. Before making a deposit into their account, customers must agree to receive a sports betting bonus either on the ‘Account Settings’ page in the My Account section, or directly on the ‘Deposit’ page. This bonus is automatically credited to customers’ accounts once the first deposit has been made, provided that the account details have been completed in full and a phone number has been activated. Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain 3 or more events. At least 3 of the events included in an accumulator must have odds of 1.40 or higher. The start dates of all of these events should not be later than the validity period of this offer. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. #ad |
- 1 💯Best Betting Sites We Recommend for Betting in Portugal
- 2 Is Online Betting Legal in Portugal?
- 3 Online Betting in Portugal
- 4 Betting in Portugal – Good to Know
- 5 Choosing a Good Betting Site in Portugal
- 6 Best Payment Methods for Players in Portugal
- 7 Live Betting in Portugal
- 8 How to Bet Online in Portugal
- 9 Is Sports Betting in Portugal Popular?
- 10 Best Portuguese Welcome Offers
- 11 Other Country Betting Guides – Click Each Flag to Learn More
- 12 ThePuntersPage Final Say
- 13 Best Portuguese Betting Sites FAQs
Is Online Betting Legal in Portugal?
Prior to 2015, the laws surrounding online gambling in Portugal were strict, with no international bookmakers legally allowed to operate in the country. Instead, there was a state monopoly in place run by Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa. However, the market was blown wide open after the implementation of the Decree-Law 66 in 2015.﷽ This officially regulated the online betting scene and opened the market to international bookies, provided they obtained a local licence from the Portuguese authorities.
Despite this, only a handful of bookies have applied for a licence. Tax rates in Portugal are astronomically high, with online “fixed odds” sports betting companies subject to as much as 35% tax🧸 on their turnover. This has obviously deterred most operators from entering the market, and the ones that do usually offer low odds to compensate.
As a result, reports have claimed that ܫ prefer to sign up with unlicensed foreign operators and benefit from better prices without fear of prosecution.
Online Betting in Portugal
Portugal has a long and rocky history with betting. Popularised by gambling houses in the Middle Ages, King Alfonso IV banned gambling in 1350 – a policy that lasted until around 1927. Nevertheless, lotteries were introduced in the 17th century and made permanent in 1946.
Gambling remained prohibited by the government until 1927 – when it recognised that gambling was happening anyway and should therefore be regulated. The gambling industry then became a state-owned monopoly until 2015🌃 when online gambling was legalised and bookmakers could start operating in Portugal.
Betting enjoys great popularity among the Portuguese, which is no surprise given the country's rich sporting history and equally great pedigree. Gross gambling revenues from sports betting amounted to €89 million in the third quarter of 2022🍷, and it's estimated that they'll continue to rise until 2023.
Betting in Portugal – Good to Know
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The legal age to bet in Portugal is 18 years old for tourists, and 21 years old for Portuguese citizens.
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Individuals are not taxed on their sports winnings.
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International betting providers are required to operate in Portugal using a “pt” domain.
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The Euro (€) is the default currency used by bookmakers operating in Portugal.
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Operators must renew their local licence every three years or drop out of the market.
Choosing a Good Betting Site in Portugal
When choosing a betting site in Portugal, and when betting online abroad in general, safety should be your top priority. Signing up with a licensed operator will offer you protection in the scenario that something goes wrong. You can refer to the list on the website to ensure a bookie is licensed. It’s also good to look out for the SRIJ logo at the bottom of a betting website’s page.
Since many punters choose to go for unlicensed foreign bookies anyway, we'll advise that you take the necessary precautions should you decide to go down this path. We also suggest that you check out some VPN betting options as an alternative.
Reading through expert reviews is a smart way to get a feel for an operator’s integrity, and thankfully, at ThePuntersPage, we also provide reviews on a long list of online bookies.
On another note, we always suggest you utilise a bookie’s welcome bonus. Of course, due to the hefty tax rates, you’re unlikely to find the generous offers you’d find in the UK, but deals like 888casino’s €8 no deposit bonus are still worth picking up.
Best Payment Methods for Players in Portugal
Like many other European countries – and of course, the UK – Portuguese betting sites offer a variety of options for deposits and withdrawals. The most popular method is credit and debit cards via Visa and Mastercard.
Alternatively, many electronic wallets are also used, including NETELLER, Skrill, and of course, PayPal payment – all viable options for new punters.
Maltibanco
is the largest interbank network in Portugal, offering a quick and easy way for Portuguese players to deposit and withdraw. Players can transfer money and make direct payments through ATMs, which can be found throughout the country in banks, supermarkets, and airports, or they can simply pay through their online account.
To create an online account, visit Multibanco's website and register using your banking details. A virtual debit card will subsequently be issued and branded according to your bank. Mastercard, American Express, and Visa 𒊎are the three you can choose from. You then need to enter the details of your Multibanco virtual debit card into the cashier section of your chosen betting site.
The great thing about Multibanco is the ease of managing your account. You can always log in to your mbNET account to add funds, make payments, or withdraw cash🤪. On top of this, since the card is virtual, you’re never in danger of losing it.
Live Betting in Portugal
Online betting has given us a unique opportunity that wasn't possible with brick-and-mortar operators: the in-play betting market. As in every other major betting nation, live betting is very popular in Portugal.
Every reputable betting site offers some form of in-play betting, with live odds that change as an event unfolds. Many bookmakers also offer updated statistics and match updates during an event to keep bettors informed – even when they aren't watching the game or tournament in question.
Livestreaming
꧑ Many of the bookies who offer livestreaming services in the UK will offer it in Portugal as well. We suggest checking out the bookie in question beforehand to make sure streaming is available for the event you want to bet on, as well as for your favourite sports.
How to Bet Online in Portugal
Betting online in Portugal is easy! All you need to do to get started is pick a licensed bookie and register an accountꦏ. We’ve already done the hard part and put together an above list of what we consider to be the best Portuguese betting sites.
𓆉 Registration is similar to the UK with plenty of safety features to keep your data secure. Make sure to check out any welcome offers provided by the site to ensure that you claim them upon registration.
You may also be tempted to stick to using your account abroad. In this case, we suggest using a VPNไ to ensure that you can bet from anywhere. Remember, not all sites work with a VPN – so make sure to check beforehand to avoid disappointment.
Is Sports Betting in Portugal Popular?
Portugal is a sports-hungry nation, with punters turning to the best football betting sites to wager on the most popular sport, that being football🐼. When one of the best players in footballing history is born and raised in your country, it goes without saying that this will generate a huge a following.
Cristiano Ronaldo is adored in Portugal, having led his country to their first Euros triumph in 2016. He's far from being the first Portuguese player to be listed amongst the greats, however. Eusébio, Luis Figo, Simão Sabrosa, and Pepe𒁃 all had illustrious careers at various points over the last 60 years or so.
Benfica and Porto also have three Champions League titles between them, with Porto famously winning it against all odds under José Mourinho’s tutelage.
With Portugal boasting such a successful history in football, it comes as no surprise that betting on this sport is extremely popular. Portuguese punters are avid supporters of the English Premier League, the Italian Serie A, the German Bundesliga, as well as the local Primeira Liga.
Portugal's passion doesn't end at football, however! Their futsal, rink hockey, basketball, and handball🌳 teams are all highly successful, and are popular options for punters in the country as well.
To bet in Portugal, you’ll need to start off by creating an account. Visit your new bookie🦩’s website and register. You’ll be asked to enter personal details, including your name, surname, email, date of birth, NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal), and IBAN number. You'll also have to enter a security question, which will be used if you need to recover your account at a later stage.
At some point, a bookie will ask you to verify your identity and bank details. This might be as soon as you register the account, but others tend to ask for this after you’ve requested your first withdrawal. Once you’ve submitted the documentation, bookies usually take between 24-48 hours to get back to you. If you have any problems along the way, be sure to get in touch with their customer support, either via live chat or email.
Best Portuguese Welcome Offers
Megapari, PariPesa, and FansBet all have a similar first deposit promotion, offering a 100% matched deposit of up to €100 (£88.96) or the equivalent in any other currency.
While the above welcome bonus is a truly generous one, these promotions in general should be a major factor when choosing which operator to register with. In addition, it's important to read the terms and conditions attached to pick which offer best suits you.
Other Country Betting Guides – Click Each Flag to Learn More
ThePuntersPage Final Say
⛦ To sum everything up, online betting has become an increasingly popular activity in Portugal; however, the country has implemented some of the harshest taxes on gaming operators that we’ve seen, and as a result, the pool of licensed bookies is small. As a result, punters tend to opt for unlicensed bookies for better odds, but we have to warn you that this does come with an element of risk.
🍸 Regardless of tax rates, we still expect more bookies to join the market and increase the value for punters to redeem. Nevertheless, it is crucial that Portuguese bettors exercise caution and take appropriate measures online to avoid any negative consequences.
Best Portuguese Betting Sites FAQs
Online betting is legal in Portugal, as long as bookies have applied for and received a local licence꧙. Right now, few bookies have obtained one. Unibet and Megapari are two excellent, licensed betting sites In Portugal.
Players are not taxed for their winnings in Portugal.
Multibanco, a local bank transfer payment option, is very popular in Portugal that allows players to pay quickly and safely. Other popular methods include credit and debit cards like VISA and Mastercard, as well as e-wallets like PayPal, NETELLER and Skrill.
If the bookie is licensed in Portugal and is unwilling to solve your issue, taking it up with SRIJ is your best route.