Sports Betting Portugal

Best Betting Sites for Portugal Players Rated by Industry Experts 

The practice of reviewing and rating online sports betting sites has been around for at least a couple of decades now. It involves looking at all aspects of a betting site: from the number of sports on offer, to the generosity of the odds available, the quality and variety of the bonuses and how the site performs for such things as their betting app (if they have one), Customer Service or the speed with which withdrawals are processed. 

As you know all too well, there are hundreds of betting review sites out there doing just that.    

But we here at AskGamblers do a lot more than just mimic what everyone else is doing. For starters, the people who review the betting sites are true industry experts who can see beyond the obvious and will take into account factors that others may not consider. 

Just as importantly, we understand that customers from different countries have very different needs and preferences. That means we’re here to identify the best betting sites in Portugal, not the best betting sites in general.

It’s all well and good one of the world’s best-known sportsbooks having a brilliant product. But if that site isn’t operating legally in Portugal or is but doesn’t satisfy the needs of Portuguese customers, it’s not a site we’d recommend. That’s where the expert side of things comes into play. 

How We Rate Portugal Betting Sites 

We’ve just mentioned a few factors we consider when reviewing and rating a betting site.

In order to provide reviews that are uniform and offer like-for-like comparisons, we divide all of our reviews into eight different sections, each one analysing a different feature of a sportsbook.  These are the eight we consider most important when it comes to finding, in this case, the best betting sites in Portugal.

Sportsbook’s licence: In most cases betting companies can operate under different gambling licences, such as those of the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority or Curacao. In some cases, they can operate under more than one. We rate some betting licenses more highly than others and our scores for that metric therefore reflect that. Portugal’s case is a different one. To be legally compliant in Portugal, a betting site must operate under a Portuguese gambling license, which is issued by the Comissão de Jogos. So as regards Portugal, it's very simple: either the betting site has a Portuguese licence, or it doesn’t. 

• Reputation: At AskGamblers, players are encouraged to share their own reviews of Sportsbooks they’ve played at. Additionally, our Customer Complaints process gives us a good idea of whether customers are having frequent grievances with a particular site, or not. Combining the two, we can decide what a betting site’s reputation is like in the long run. After all, players should know better than anyone how good and trustworthy the different Sportsbooks are. 
• Security: Here we consider how safe your money and data are and what software (and certificates to prove they have it) the betting company possesses to protect itself against hackers. We also look at their track record when it comes to paying out on big wins and how quickly they process those payouts. 
• Betting bonuses and promotions: We reward betting sites that offer high-quality bonuses, both in terms of the welcome offer and all other bonuses beyond that. By high quality we mean that they provide real value, are easy to use, are bonuses that customers actually want and, perhaps most important of all, don’t come with unreasonable wagering requirements. If the bonuses and other promotions, such as free-to-enter competitions with good prizes, are frequent and varied, so much the better.   
• Number of sports/markets: In general terms, it’s a case of the more the better as regards the number of different sports offered and competitions within those sports. But it’s also important that the sports that are particularly popular in that geographical market, Portugal in this case, are all offered. 
• Payment options: Another case of the more, the better. But similar to the above, it’s also vital that the payment options offered by the betting site are ones that customers from that country like to use. And better still, are payment methods that the customers are already in possession of.   
• Betting odds: The odds offered across all the different markets need to be at least in line with what competitors are offering. If they’re consistently higher, so much the better. 
• Customer support: You’ll inevitably need to solve an issue or query something with Customer Support at some stage. So, it’s important that their agents are available as often as possible and via different ways, such as phone, e-mail, Live Chat or social media. Crucially, the agents need to be polite and helpful and above, all efficient and knowledgeable enough to help you as quickly and easily as possible.

How to Choose a Top Portugal Betting Site Based on Your Betting Preferences  

Betting customers have very different needs when it comes to their betting preferences. That applies both to the sports they want to bet on, the competitions within those sports and the types of betting markets within those competitions. 

For example, in Portugal football is the most popular sport to bet on by a country mile. Whereas a customer in the UK may be satisfied with the site offering betting on all matches across the top division (Liga Portugal Betclic), in Portugal customers will want to bet on other divisions, as well. 

Another popular sport to bet on in Portugal is roller hockey. Whereas customers in the UK won’t have any interest in it at all, Portuguese customers will want to see markets offered on roller hockey games. 

The same is true of the types of betting markets. Whereas the recent obsession with football Bet Builders is yet to reach Portugal (so Portuguese customers won’t miss them when they’re not offered), Portuguese customers love betting on markets that involve one or other team scoring, or both. So, they’ll want plenty of those. 

And if all this is true of Portuguese customers in general in terms of betting preferences, it will also be true of you as an individual. So, make sure you open an account at a betting site in Portugal that offers all the types of betting you actually want to play.   

How Is Sports Betting Regulated in Portugal? 

Portugal is something of a unique case in that many of the best-known betting sites worldwide have opted not to operate legally in Portugal; we’ll explain why in due course. 

The legal framework for online gambling, including sports betting, was established in 2015.

Sports betting in Portugal is regulated by the Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ), which translates to the Regulatory and Inspection Service of Games.

The SRIJ is responsible for issuing licences to operators, ensuring compliance with regulations, and overseeing the industry.

Operators must obtain a specific licence to offer online sports betting services. The licensing process involves meeting various requirements, including financial stability, player protection measures, and adherence to responsible gambling practices.

The somewhat unique problem in Portugal is that the government and the SRIJ decided to impose extremely heavy taxes on betting companies that want to operate legally under a valid betting license. The argument for heavy taxation is that it contributes to funding social programs, athletic endeavours and problem gambling prevention organisations and charities. 

But many of the biggest international companies that used to operate in Portugal pre-2015 without a betting licence, such as Betfair and Bet365, decided that it was nearly impossible to carry on turning over profits in light of those levels of taxation and removed themselves from the Portuguese betting market. 

A few international betting companies continue to operate in Portugal without a licence, offering higher odds and better bonuses than those that operate legally. 

Whereas this, strictly speaking, isn’t legal, there are no repercussions for Portuguese customers who wish to bet with them. However, the flip side is that they have very little or no protection should something go wrong. 

At the time of writing, only 16 betting companies, a mix of international and local ones, operate legally in Portugal under a valid betting license. 

Portuguese customers do not have to pay any tax on winnings secured at online betting companies in Portugal.  

How Often Do We Add New Portugal Betting Sites? 

Some markets, like the UK and Canada, have new betting sites popping up almost on a weekly basis as they enter these potentially profitable markets in search of a slice of the pie. 

Portugal, as we’ve just seen, is quite a different beast.

The taxation issue has put lots of betting companies off, which is why there are currently only 16 operating legally at present. There are a few others flying under the radar, but then again, here at AskGamblers, we don’t endorse any betting sites that don’t hold a valid licence. That’s because customers could end up suffering as a result of a lack of protection and the absence of a higher body to which unhappy customers can bring up their grievances.  

So, it’s somewhat unlikely we’ll be adding too many new betting sites in Portugal anytime soon to our list of recommended ones. But as ever, we always have our ears to the ground as to any new ones that may appear and will review them accordingly.

Most Popular Payment Options for Sports Betting in Portugal

As we know, different markets have different preferences when it comes to payment options that allow you to get your money in and out of your account. These are the most popular ones at the best betting sites in Portugal.  

• Multibanco: Multibanco is a popular payment method in Portugal, allowing users to make secure online payments directly from their bank accounts. It's widely used for various transactions, including gambling deposits, but the downside is that it can’t be used for withdrawals.
• Credit and debit cards: Major debit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted at online gambling sites, providing a familiar, relatively quick and straightforward payment method. Unlike in the UK,customers are allowed to use credit cards at betting companies in Portugal. 
• e-Wallets: Though not as popular as in other countries, electronic wallets or e-wallets like PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill are sometimes used for their speed and security at Portuguese gambling sites. They allow users to store funds and make transactions without directly sharing financial information with the gambling site.
• Bank transfers: Direct bank transfers are another option. Many players prefer this method for larger transactions, though they may take considerably longer to process compared to other methods.
• Paysafecard: Paysafecard is a prepaid voucher system that allows users to make secure and anonymous deposits. It's a popular choice for those who prefer not to use their banking details online.
• MB WAY: MB WAY is a mobile payment solution that allows users to link their bank cards to a mobile app, facilitating easy and secure transactions, including gambling deposits. Even though other countries have similar versions of this model, the MB Way brand is exclusive to Portugal. 

Most Popular Sports Betting Competitions and Sports in Portugal 

To say football dominates the Portuguese sporting and betting landscape is putting it mildly. As an estimate, betting on football might make up around 60% or more of the total turnover of some betting sites in Portugal. That said, it’s not the only sport Portuguese customers want to bet on. Here are the top ones.  

Football

Even though the Portuguese Superliga Betclic (Betclic is one of the 16 licensed operators in Portugal) is small fry compared to other European leagues, it’s extremely popular among Portuguese customers, as you’d expect. This is particularly the case when it comes to matches involving Benfica, who are by far the best-supported team in the country. As with any other country, the English Premier League is also very popular, as is the Spanish La Liga and, to a slightly lesser extent, the Italian Serie A.

Due to cultural and historical connections, Brazilian football is another favourite, while the relative success of the Portuguese national team has meant that there’s also lots of interest in the biggest international competitions, like the Euros and the World Cup.  

Tennis

Probably the second most popular sport for Portuguese customers to bet on and one that has risen in interest over the last few years thanks to the exploits of Joao Sousa, the country’s most successful player ever. As is the case anywhere else, there’s an increase in betting on tennis when the Grand Slams come around. 

Roller Hockey

Unlike ice hockey, it’s played on a hard court rather than ice, and players wear roller skates rather than ice skates; the game uses a small hard ball rather than a puck. Part of the reason for its popularity is that Portugal is the second most successful country at the World Cup with 16 wins, behind only Spain with 17. So, both that competition and the European Championships attract plenty of interest, as do the top domestic leagues in Portugal, Spain and Italy.

Basketball

This is a slightly strange one as Portugal doesn’t have a rich history when it comes to basketball and has only ever had one Portuguese player feature in the NBA: Neemias Queta, who is currently under contract at the Bolton Celtics. But Portuguese customers love betting on the NBA nonetheless and to a lesser extent, European leagues and their own domestic league: the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol, also sponsored by Betclic.

Future of Online Sports Betting Sites in Portugal 

Online betting in Portugal has come a long way since 2015, mostly because there were no proper regulations in place before then. 

As far as the value of the market in terms of online revenue goes, it was worth four times more in Quarter 1 of 2023 (€196.4m) than in Quarter 1 back in 2019 (€47.4m). There’s no reason to think the growth will slow down anytime soon.

The last few years have also seen improvements in other areas. 

In a bid to attract new customers and more business from existing customers, some of the top betting sites in Portugal have started to offer far higher odds than in the past; some betting markets have a house edge as low as 3%, which is as good as what some of the best betting sites in the UK are offering. 

The quality and variety of bonuses and on-site content, such as FAQs and other helpful information, have also come on leaps and bounds, as has an emphasis on responsible gambling, both on the side of the operators themselves and the SRIJ. 

Lastly, both local and international betting companies have boosted the economy not just in terms of taxation but also employment opportunities, with well-paid jobs in a rapidly growing industry seen as an extremely attractive prospect for local employees.