| Updated: September 26, 2025Sports betting is a popular form of entertainment in Portugal, and it is unsurprising given that some of the world’s greatest soccer players were born here. The most popular sports in Portugal include soccer, cycling, athletics, golf, water sports, and motorsports. Figures presented by Statista show that Portuguese consumers spent more than €305 million on online sports betting in 2022.
In 1916, the country enacted what it called the Legal Regime for the Operation of Games of Chance in Casinos, thereby legalizing land-based gambling. Initially, both online gambling and sports betting were illegal in Portugal. Over time, however, the Portuguese government shifted its stance and created a sports betting monopoly operated by the state-backed Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (Santa Casa). Fortunately, the country decided to dismantle the monopoly and open the sports betting market to international operators in 2015.
Best Sports Betting Sites in Portugal
In 2015, Portugal liberalized its sports betting market, but many operators withdrew because of the high taxes and strict licensing requirements. As of March 2022, the government had awarded 11 licenses for fixed-odds sports betting and 14 for games of chance to foreign operators. In the list below, you will find the best betting sites aimed at the Portuguese market.
Best Sports Betting Bonuses in Portugal
Many bettors pick a particular sportsbook because of the bonuses on offer. To attract newcomers and keep existing players engaged, operators provide a variety of enticing promotions. Our dedicated team at Bonusinsider reviewed the bonuses at some of the most reputable online sportsbooks that accept bettors from Portugal and found that the most common offers include match deposit bonuses, free bets, risk-free bets, and odds boosts.
Match Deposit Bonus Free Bets Risk-Free Bets Odds BoostMatch Deposit Bonus
Sports fans in Portugal can take advantage of a match deposit bonus by making a qualifying deposit. The sportsbook matches your first payment by a set percentage up to a predefined limit. These bonuses are typically subject to wagering requirements that must be met within a specified timeframe. You must also observe the minimum odds requirements when wagering bonus funds. Remember that certain sporting events may be excluded from the promotion.
Free Bets
Licensed betting sites often reward new customers with free bets. This promotion allows you to place a wager on a sporting event without risking your own money. If the bet loses, your bankroll remains unaffected, but if it wins, you keep the profit. Keep in mind that free bets cannot be withdrawn. Additionally, they can generally be used only on events that meet the operator’s minimum-odds requirements.
Risk-Free Bets
Many online sportsbooks that accept bettors from Portugal offer risk-free bets as a welcome bonus. With this promotion, you must place a real-money wager, and if it loses, the sportsbook will refund the stake in the form of free bets. Risk-free bets are generally subject to a maximum refund limit.
Odds Boost
Certain Portuguese-friendly online sportsbooks enhance the odds on selected markets, allowing bettors to earn a higher payout for the same level of risk. To take advantage of an odds boost, simply place a qualifying wager. We recommend that Portuguese bettors review the promotions page regularly, as many sportsbooks offer boosted odds on different markets every day.
Betting Regulation in Portugal
Portugal’s online sports betting market has expanded rapidly in recent years, generating €64.7 million in revenue during the second quarter of 2022. Today, Portuguese bettors can legally wager on a wide variety of sports online, but that was not always the case. The industry underwent a long and challenging journey before it was finally regulated and liberalized.
Initially, the charity organization Santa Casa de Misericordia de Lisboa (SCML) held exclusive rights to offer sports betting to Portuguese punters. Revenue from betting was used to support the elderly and children in the Lisbon area. At that time, only pooled betting was permitted. In the early 2000s, however, Internet gambling gained popularity at a rapid pace. Consequently, the Portuguese government enacted Legislative Decree 282/2003, which granted the SCML exclusive rights to provide online sports betting services within Portugal.
Even so, international sportsbooks continued to accept Portuguese players, and the law did not prosecute locals for wagering at unlicensed sites. In 2009, the well-known sportsbook Bwin challenged Portugal’s betting monopoly, but the European Court of Justice ruled in the country’s favor. Although Portugal maintained its monopoly for years, it could not block all unlicensed operators. Limited betting options under the SCML prompted an increasing number of Portuguese sports fans to seek out offshore sites.
Portugal Liberalizes Its Online Sports Betting Market Tough Licensing Conditions Portugal Tightens Live Betting and Advertising RulesPortugal Liberalizes Its Online Sports Betting Market
In 2013, the Portuguese government announced plans to open the sports betting market to foreign operators. Just two years later, the country enacted Decree-Law 66/2015, which took effect on April 29, liberalizing the Portuguese online sports betting sector. Prior to this reform, only the SCML could offer online and offline sports betting in Portugal.
Under the new law, foreign operators must obtain a license from the Portuguese gambling authority, the Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ). However, many reputable firms have avoided the Portuguese market because of the strict licensing terms and heavy tax burden.
Tough Licensing Conditions
To secure approval from the SRIJ, operators must pay a homologation fee of €18,000, plus €2,000 for each type of game they intend to offer on their websites. Licenses are valid for three years, and operators must pay a renewal fee of €12,000 per license.
Furthermore, only betting companies with registered offices in an EU or EEA country are eligible for a Portuguese license. Operators face an 8% tax on handle for fixed-odds sports betting and horse racing, while pari-mutuel horse racing is taxed at 25% of GGR. On the positive side, gambling winnings are currently not taxed in Portugal.
Operators that accept bets from Portuguese players without a license may face penalties of up to five years in prison or 500 daily units. Although many unlicensed betting sites have been blocked by Portuguese ISPs, some continue to target local bettors.
Portugal Tightens Live Betting and Advertising Rules
In 2022, the Portuguese gambling regulator introduced a rule for in-game betting that prohibits betting sites from advertising live odds on any media platform, including social media and stadium displays. The SRIJ has stated that violators will be fined or otherwise sanctioned.
Earlier, in October 2021, the country imposed stricter rules on gambling advertising. Commercials for gambling products may air on television and radio only between 10:30 pm and 7:00 am. Additionally, ads cannot be broadcast within 30 minutes before or after a children’s program. Through these measures, the Portuguese government aims to strengthen responsible gambling awareness.