Full Guide to Portugal Online Casinos for International Gamblers

An Overview of Gambling In Portugal

Portugal has a colourful gambling history. Back in the day (and even to this day) parents and grandparents would take little ones along to betting houses as they indulge in sports betting and casino games. Gambling operators were officially legalised in 1989, though, and prior to that, there were no land-based gambling houses in any shape or form.

Rather, the only known land-based establishment before that was Casino Estoril, the largest brick and mortar Portuguese casino that’s been around since 1916.

Before gambling was legalised, it was run in private clubs to attract and retain punters, but it wasn’t officially regulated. When the Game Law was passed in 1989, more and more Portugal casinos began opening up, and players grew fond of putting both their luck and their skills to the test.

Portuguese Mobile Casinos

Mobile gambling has soared in the past few years, following the demands for mobile access and on-the-go gaming fun. Software providers and operators both put a big emphasis on delivering mobile-friendly sites and games complete with responsive features. All the best Portugal casinos give you the chance to play on the go, bank, claim bonuses and earn loyalty rewards, be it through a mobile app or directly in your mobile device’s browser.

Online Sports Betting In Portugal

Portugal is synonymous with football, so it’s no surprise that online sports betting is a big deal. You can bet on thousands of different events, no matter what type of sport you are into or how famous (or not so famous) it might be. The most popular markets, though, besides football, are rink hockey, basketball and futsal.

Apart from that, horse race betting is also a big deal on Portuguese shores. Whether it’s online or at a physical Casa de Apostas (betting house), you can legally place bets on your favourites. Just make sure that the horse race betting is certified by the Portuguese National Authority for Animal Health to ensure all is above board.

It’s important to remember that all online casino bonuses come with terms and conditions. From rollover requirements to minimum deposits and maximum cashouts, along with validity periods and eligible games, there’s a lot to take into account before you claim an offer. Take a look through our in-depth casino reviews to find the best Portugal online casino bonuses that work for your budget.

Popular Payment Methods At Online Portuguese Casinos

The legislation around online gambling in Portugal has made banking easier for everyone, from players to offshore operators. Unlike in many other countries, there’s no ban imposed on local banking institutions when it comes to gambling transactions, and players can freely deposit at both local and offshore online Portugal casinos.

The most popular banking methods amongst Portuguese players include:

• MasterCard
• Maestro
• Visa
• Bank Transfer
• Skrill
• EntroPay
• Paysafecard
• PayPal
• Neteller
• Zimpler
• MB Way
• MultiBanco
• Interac
• Instadebit
• Wirecard
• Cubits
• CoinsPaid

Since the country is part of the European Union, players are also saved the hassle of currency exchange fees and waiting periods. The Euro is widely accepted at all the best Portugal casino sites, making deposits and withdrawals a breeze.

Mother-Tongue Customer Support

While all the top online casinos in Portugal offer transparency and security, there are times when an issue might crop up or you have a question. Customer support is an important element we check when conducting casino reviews. Should you need help, you want to know that there is a native support agent ready and willing to help you, preferably at a convenient time and through a convenient communication channel, like live chat, FAQs, email and contact forms.

Responsible Gambling For Portuguese Players

Although online gambling is a legislated and booming market, the Portuguese government does acknowledge the risks that come with online gambling. That’s why every regulated online casino must have a responsible gambling policy in place along with easy-to-use protection measures.

Under the country’s Online Gambling Legal Regime, operators must prepare a plan and implement measures to guarantee responsible gambling and must freely and easily provide players with this information. The various measures must comply with objectives to adopt prevention measures, raise social awareness and prevent underage gambling. There should also be support available for vulnerable players.

What’s more, the Portuguese Gambling Regulation and Inspection Service’s website offers a self-exclusion tool that is automatically transmitted to all operators. So, if you choose to self-exclude from one of the Portugal online casinos, the exclusion will apply across all operators in the country.

For outside help, gamblers are encouraged to get in touch with Linha Vida by email or phone. This is a body under the Ministry of Health’s Addiction and Addictive Behaviour Intervention Services.

Have Safe Fun At The Best Portugal Casinos Online

Both online gambling and Portugal casinos are perfectly legal. Since 2015, the laws around gambling have been modified to accommodate the rapidly expanding market and the country has set record revenue numbers from gambling tax.

Nonetheless, we urge you to always play at regulated and reputable online casinos. For Portuguese players, that means casinos that are appropriately licensed. The top casinos on this page accept Euros, offer enticing bonuses and serve up a plethora of exciting games, so Portuguese players are always in for a treat when they play online.