Portugal online gambling license (SRIJ)
A compact, growing EU market regulated by the SRIJ since 2015: separate three-year licenses for sports betting, horse-race betting, games of chance and bingo. Entry needs an EU/EEA company with a Portuguese branch, a certified system, a .pt website and data kept in Portugal, with an 8% turnover tax on betting and 25% GGR tax on casino.
- Best for
- EU operators targeting a regulated southern European market with a lower casino tax
- Who can be licensed
- B2C operators
- Markets it serves
- EU regulated markets
Portugal licenses online gambling through the SRIJ (Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos) under Decree-Law 66/2015, the online gambling regime (RJO). There are separate licenses for fixed-odds sports betting, horse-race betting, games of chance (casino, slots and poker) and bingo, each granted for three years and extendable for further three-year periods. Applicants are EU/EEA public limited companies, with a Portuguese branch if foreign, running one .pt website and keeping gambling data in Portugal. The special online gambling tax (IEJO) is 8% of stakes on sports betting and 25% of gross gaming revenue on casino games. Lotteries stay with Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa.
- Status
- Licensing open
- Regulator
- SRIJ
- Legal basis
- Decree-Law 66/2015
- Status checked
- October 16, 2026
License types in Portugal
Each category is a separate license covering only the games certified and authorized for it. Licensing is open at any time, with no tender, and lotteries remain with Santa Casa.
Sports betting
Fixed-odds betting on events on the approved list; betting exchanges are taxed on commission.
Games of chance
Online casino, slots, live and table games and poker; each game type is certified and authorized separately.
Horse-race betting
Mutual and fixed-odds betting on horse races under its own license.
Bingo
Online bingo as a separate license category.
Who can hold an SRIJ license
| Requirement | Under Decree-Law 66/2015 |
|---|---|
| Entity | A public limited company (sociedade anónima) or equivalent, seated in the EU or EEA, with gambling and betting in its corporate object |
| Portuguese branch | A company incorporated outside Portugal operates through a Portuguese branch |
| Good standing | Tax and social-security affairs in order; no insolvency and no final convictions for fraud, money laundering or illegal gambling |
| Financial capacity | A financial-autonomy ratio (equity to assets) of at least 35%, certified by the statutory auditor; no gambling-specific minimum capital |
| Shares | At least 60% of share capital in registered shares; changes notified within 30 days and control changes approved in advance |
| Guarantees | Two deposits or first-demand bank guarantees, covering legal obligations and the gambling tax, lodged before the license is issued |
Technical and player-protection rules
.pt website
Each operator runs one .pt website, and players connecting from Portugal are redirected to it.
Certification
The gambling system and each game type are certified by an SRIJ-recognized entity, then tested and approved by the SRIJ; the RNG must be certified.
Data in Portugal
Registration and reporting infrastructure sits in Portugal, gambling data is kept there for ten years, and transaction files go to the SRIJ hourly.
Player identity
Players are verified at registration through the Citizen Card, Digital Mobile Key or SRIJ checks; minimum age 18, one account per site.
Self-exclusion
Exclusions run from three months to indefinite; since April 2026 one SRIJ request covers every licensed operator.
Payments
Euro electronic payments only, through a dedicated EU bank account; no credit to players and no crypto.
How the application runs
There is no statutory deadline for a first application. The SRIJ gives ten days to fix omissions, and certification of the system and games is usually the longest step.
- 1Categories and entityChoose the license categories, set up the EU/EEA public limited company and the Portuguese branch, and check good standing and the 35% ratio.
- 2ApplicationFile the SRIJ form in Portuguese with the structuring plan for the technical system, ownership and financial documents.
- 3CertificationCertify the system, RNG and each game type with an SRIJ-recognized entity, followed by SRIJ approval and testing.
- 4Guarantees and grantLodge the two guarantees before issue; the Comissão de Jogos grants the three-year license.
- 5Go-live.pt website, player registration and self-exclusion, AML program and monthly IEJO filing; extension filed 90 days before the term ends.
Ongoing obligations
- Monthly IEJO at 8% of stakes (betting) or 25% of gross gaming revenue (casino)
- One .pt website with redirection of Portuguese traffic
- Hourly transaction files to the SRIJ and ten-year data retention in Portugal
- Identity verification, player stake limits and central self-exclusion checks
- Certification of every new game type before launch
- Guarantee levels reviewed against player balances and tax
- AML duties under Law 83/2017, including reporting suspicious transactions
How online gambling is taxed
Sports betting
Special online gambling tax (IEJO) of 8% of stakes on fixed-odds sports and horse betting, flat since 1 April 2020.
Games of chance
25% of gross gaming revenue on casino, slots, poker and mutual horse betting; betting-exchange commissions are taxed at 35%.
Filing
Assessed by the SRIJ and paid monthly by the 15th of the following month; the IEJO replaces corporate income tax on the same revenue.
Players
Winnings from SRIJ-licensed operators are not taxed in the player’s hands.
Marketing, bonuses and enforcement
Advertising Code
Gambling ads are allowed on all channels but may not target or use minors, suggest easy gain or social success, or appear within 250 m of schools.
Bonuses
Welcome bonuses, free bets, free spins and loyalty schemes are allowed with no legal wagering cap; bonus credits count toward player stake limits.
Enforcement
The SRIJ orders internet providers to block illegal sites within 48 hours and refers illegal operators for prosecution; fines for very serious breaches reach €1 million.
Reform
In June 2026 the government announced a bill to update the online regime and fight illegal gambling; several parliamentary bills on advertising and self-exclusion are in committee.
Weighing Portugal against other EU markets? Our European gambling license comparison covers all 27 member states: which products each licenses, the regulators, B2B rules and Finland's 2027 opening.
Compare EU marketsFrequently asked questions
Who regulates online gambling in Portugal?
The SRIJ (Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos), part of Turismo de Portugal, under Decree-Law 66/2015. The Comissão de Jogos grants and revokes licenses, and the first online licenses were issued in 2016.
What licenses are available in Portugal?
Separate licenses for fixed-odds sports betting, horse-race betting, games of chance (casino, slots and poker) and bingo. Each covers only the games certified for it.
How long is a Portuguese license valid?
Three years from issue, extendable for further three-year periods on an application filed at least 90 days before the term ends.
Can a foreign company get an SRIJ license?
Yes, if it is a public limited company or equivalent seated in the EU or EEA, operating in Portugal through a Portuguese branch. Groups from outside the EU/EEA use an EU/EEA entity.
Is there a minimum capital requirement?
The RJO sets no gambling-specific minimum, but the applicant needs a financial-autonomy ratio of at least 35% and must lodge two guarantees before the license is issued.
How is online gambling taxed in Portugal?
Through the special online gambling tax (IEJO): 8% of stakes on sports and fixed-odds horse betting, and 25% of gross gaming revenue on casino games, paid monthly.
Do B2B suppliers need a license in Portugal?
There is no separate supplier license. Games and platforms are certified by an SRIJ-recognized entity and approved within the operator’s license.
Does the website need a .pt domain?
Yes. Each licensed operator runs one .pt website, and players connecting from Portugal must be redirected to it.
How does self-exclusion work in Portugal?
Players can exclude themselves for at least three months or indefinitely. Since April 2026 one request on the SRIJ portal covers every licensed operator.
Can a Malta-licensed operator serve Portuguese players?
No. Only SRIJ licensees may offer online gambling in Portugal. The SRIJ has illegal sites blocked by internet providers, and illegal online gambling is a crime.
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