Portugal Online Gambling Revenue Climbs to Record 651.9 Million Euros in First Half of 2026

^{Portugal's regulated online gambling market generated record gross revenue of 651.9 million euros in the first half of 2026, according to regulator SRIJ. (Photo: Luis Ascenso / Wikimedia Commons)}

Portugal's regulated online gambling market generated record gross revenue of 651.9 million euros in the first half of 2026, a 14% increase on the same period a year earlier, according to figures from gambling regulator SRIJ.

The regulator's second-quarter report shows online gambling produced 328.2 million euros in gross revenue between April and June, up 14.4% year on year and 1.4% on the previous quarter. Compared with the same quarter of 2025, gross revenue rose by 41.2 million euros.

Games of chance, the category that includes online casinos and slots, accounted for 61.9% of gross revenue in the quarter, with sports betting making up the remaining 38.1%. The split underlines the growing weight of casino-style products in Portugal's regulated market.

Casino Games Lead the Market

As of 30 June, 17 operators were authorised to offer online gambling in Portugal, holding 30 licences between them. Those comprised 17 licences for games of chance, 12 for fixed-odds sports betting and one further licence, reflecting a market that has steadily expanded since Portugal introduced its online regime in 2015. The country regulates online gambling through SRIJ, the gaming inspection arm of tourism authority Turismo de Portugal.

The regulated model contrasts with the varied approaches seen elsewhere in Europe, where operators must navigate gambling advertising rules across Europe and differing tax regimes from one jurisdiction to the next. Portugal's tax on gross revenue has long been a point of debate among licensed operators.

Tax Take and Player Numbers Rise

Portugal's special online gambling tax, known as the IEJO, brought in 92.1 million euros in the second quarter, an increase of 13.4% year on year. The rising tax take mirrors the growth in gross revenue as more play moves through licensed channels, and adds to the contribution the sector makes to the Portuguese state.

SRIJ said the number of registered players reached 4.9 million by the end of June, up 1.0%, with 248,400 new registrations during the quarter. Around 1.2 million of those accounts recorded gambling activity in the period, while the regulator continued its work against unlicensed operators.

Enforcement and Player Protection

SRIJ also stepped up its enforcement against unlicensed operators during the quarter, issuing 95 notifications for closure and flagging 113 sites for blocking, while referring six cases to the public prosecutor. The regulator channels players toward licensed sites as part of its efforts to protect the regulated market.

The regulator recorded 413,700 self-excluded players by the end of June, including 60,900 who registered during the quarter, figures it publishes as part of its quarterly market data. Around 1.2 million accounts recorded gambling activity in the period, out of a total registered base that has continued to expand.

The results extend a run of growth for one of continental Europe's more established regulated markets, and follow licensing developments elsewhere in the region, including recent renewals in the Netherlands. The full quarterly statistics are published by SRIJ.