The short answer: gambling is legal in Portugal, but only within the limits the state authorises. Land-based casinos may operate only inside gaming zones defined by law and are run by concession holders. Online casinos and sports betting are legal only on websites licensed by Portugal’s gaming regulator, the Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ). As of October 2026, any gambling website that is open to users in Portugal without a Portuguese licence is operating illegally, and taking part in illegal gambling can also carry penalties.
If you hold a Chinese passport, keep two more things in mind. First, Portugal and Macau share a long history, but their laws, regulators and rules are completely separate, so Macau experience does not carry over to Portugal. Second, Article 303 of China’s Criminal Law targets organising gambling, running gambling venues and organising PRC citizens to gamble abroad; being outside China does not mean Chinese law is irrelevant. This page covers regulation only, recommends no operator and is intended for readers aged 18 and over.
At a glance: key numbers for gambling in Portugal
Portuguese gambling falls into three blocks: land-based casinos and bingo halls, online gambling, and the state “social games” (lotteries) run exclusively by Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa. The first two are supervised by SRIJ, which is part of the national tourism authority, Turismo de Portugal, I.P.
At the European Central Bank reference rate of 23 October 2026 (€1 ≈ RMB 7.4660), Q4 2025 online gross gaming revenue was about RMB 2.52 billion.
Gambling laws in Portugal: three separate regimes
The key to Portuguese gambling law is knowing who runs each product and under which law. The table reflects the rules as of October 2026:
| Category | Main law | How it is run | Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land-based casinos | Decree-Law 422/89 (Gaming Law) | Reserved to the state; concessions awarded by public tender | SRIJ, Gaming Commission |
| Online casino and sports betting | Decree-Law 66/2015 (RJO) | Licensing, no cap on numbers, 3-year renewable licences | SRIJ |
| State lotteries (EuroMillions etc.) | Specific legislation | Exclusive to Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa | Outside SRIJ’s remit |
| Macau gaming | Macau SAR local law | Unrelated to Portugal | Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) |
For the full picture of visas, residence and daily life, start with our Portugal country guide.
Land-based casinos: only inside legal gaming zones
Under Decree-Law 422/89, games of chance (jogos de fortuna ou azar) may only be played in casinos located in legally defined gaming zones. Portugal has 10 zones: Azores, Algarve, Espinho, Estoril, Figueira da Foz, Funchal, Porto Santo, Póvoa de Varzim, Troia and Vidago-Pedras Salgadas; Porto Santo currently has no concession holder. In total, 12 casinos and 1 slot-machine hall are operating.
Entry rules: the law bars anyone under 18 from casino gaming rooms, and you must show valid ID; foreign visitors can use a passport. The concession contracts for the Algarve, Espinho and Póvoa de Varzim zones expired at the end of 2025. Decree-Law 139-D/2025 extended them by up to 120 days while new 15-year contracts were tendered; according to ECO, the new concession contracts for Espinho (Solverde group) and Póvoa de Varzim (a joint venture of the French groups Barrière and SAJL) were published in the Diário da República on 14 May 2026, running 15 years with a possible 5-year extension; the Algarve zone also went to Solverde, but its contract terms had not yet been published. For locations, opening hours and dress customs, see our guide to casinos in Portugal.
Online gambling: the RJO licensing regime
Decree-Law 66/2015, published on 29 April 2015, created the legal regime for online gaming and betting (RJO), in force since 29 June 2015. Applicants must be public limited companies established in the EU or EEA, and foreign companies need a branch in Portugal. Licences are issued by the Gaming Commission for 3 years and can be renewed. Under the fees updated on 1 March 2026, issuing or renewing a sports betting or online casino licence costs €14,481.10 (about RMB 108,000).
In Q4 2025, online casino games made up 63.4% of gross revenue and sports betting 36.6%. According to media reports of SRIJ’s quarterly reports, gross revenue was €323.7 million in Q1 2026 and €328.2 million in Q2 2026. The most reliable way to check whether a site is legal is the SRIJ list of licensed operators. For online licences, player accounts and limit rules in detail, see our guide to online casino regulation in Portugal.
Gambling tax in Portugal: do players pay tax on winnings?
Portuguese gambling taxes are mainly levied on operators. The special online gaming tax (IEJO) is 25% of gross revenue for online casino games and 8% of stakes for sports betting. On the player side, the relevant tax is stamp duty (Imposto do Selo):
| Source of winnings | Does the player pay extra tax? | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed websites (online casino, sports betting) | No stamp duty; the operator pays IEJO | RJO; Stamp Duty General Table, item 11 |
| State lotteries (Santa Casa) | 20% on the part above €5,000 (about RMB 37,330), withheld when paid out | Stamp Duty General Table, item 11.4 |
| Land-based bingo, raffles, prize contests | Bingo 25%, others 35% | Stamp Duty General Table, item 11.2 |
Example: on a €1 million lottery win, stamp duty is (1,000,000 − 5,000) × 20% = €199,000, so the winner receives €801,000, about RMB 5.98 million. If you are still a Chinese tax resident, see our tax residency guide on reporting foreign income and ask a professional.
Advertising rules and illegal websites
Gambling advertising is governed by Article 21 of the Advertising Code: it may not target or feature minors, may not appear inside schools or other facilities for minors or within 250 metres in a straight line of them, may not suggest easy winnings or social success, and may not be linked to loans. SRIJ and the Gaming Commission enforce these rules.
According to SRIJ, illegally operating online gambling in Portugal is punishable by up to 5 years in prison; SRIJ’s page on the risks of illegal gambling also lists administrative fines of €2,500 to €25,000 (about RMB 18,665 to 186,650) for illegal online gambling and up to 6 months in prison for illegal land-based gambling (who exactly is liable depends on the underlying legal provisions). By the end of 2025, SRIJ had ordered the blocking of 2,747 illegal websites.
Responsible gambling and self-exclusion
- Choose the scopeOnline: on a single website or on the SRIJ platform; casinos need a separate entry ban
- Choose the periodOnline: at least 3 months, or indefinite; casino ban: up to 5 years
- ApplyFor a casino ban, bring ID and a recent photo to the SRIJ office at any casino, or post/e-mail a certified form
- In forceAn exclusion via the SRIJ platform covers all Portuguese-licensed websites
- Ending earlyEnding an exclusion early must be requested and only takes effect after one month
For psychological support, call Line 1414 run by the Institute for Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (ICAD, formerly SICAD), working days 10:00–18:00, anonymous and free; the line does not handle self-exclusion requests.
What Chinese citizens should know: Chinese criminal law and the Macau difference
Article 303 of China’s Criminal Law covers the crimes of gambling and running a gambling venue. Amendment XI, in force since 1 March 2021, added the offence of “organising PRC citizens to participate in gambling abroad (outside the borders)”, punished as running a gambling venue where the amounts are huge or other circumstances are serious. It targets organising, operating and recruiting rather than ordinary tourists, but touting for others, arranging “VIP rooms” or acting as an agent for online accounts is extremely risky. See our disclaimer.
Also, do not confuse Portugal with Macau. Since the handover, Macau has had its own gaming laws and its own regulator, the DICJ; a Portuguese SRIJ licence has nothing to do with Macau. To compare rules elsewhere in Europe, see gambling laws in Spain and gambling laws in France.
FAQ
Is gambling legal in Portugal?
Yes, but only in concession casinos inside legal gaming zones, on SRIJ-licensed websites and through the state lotteries run by Santa Casa. Everything else is illegal.
What is the gambling age in Portugal?
Casinos, bingo halls and online gambling are all closed to anyone under 18. Casinos require valid ID at the door, and online accounts require identity verification.
Can I use a foreign-licensed website in Portugal?
No. Only websites licensed by Portugal’s SRIJ may serve users in Portugal; licences from other countries are not recognised there, and taking part in illegal gambling can also carry penalties.
Sources
- SRIJ – Enquadramento legal casinos (accessed October 2026)
- SRIJ – Casinos (lista de casinos e concessionárias) (accessed October 2026)
- SRIJ – Enquadramento legal do jogo online (RJO) (accessed October 2026)
- SRIJ – Entidades licenciadas (accessed October 2026)
- SRIJ – Cauções, taxas e impostos (valores em 1 de março de 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- SRIJ – Publicações & estatísticas (Relatório 4º trimestre 2025, jogo online) (accessed October 2026)
- SRIJ – Decreto-Lei n.º 66/2015 (RJO), versão consolidada (accessed October 2026)
- Decreto-Lei n.º 139-D/2025 (prorrogação das concessões Algarve, Espinho, Póvoa de Varzim) (accessed October 2026)
- SRIJ – Proteção legal ao jogador (accessed October 2026)
- SRIJ – Regras da publicidade (accessed October 2026)
- SRIJ – O problema do jogo ilegal (accessed October 2026)
- SRIJ – Autoexclusão e proibição (accessed October 2026)
- SRIJ – Serviços de apoio ao jogador (Linha 1414, ICAD) (accessed October 2026)
- Portal das Finanças – Tabela Geral do Imposto do Selo (accessed October 2026)
- 汕头市人民政府 – 中华人民共和国刑法修正案（十一） (accessed October 2026)
- ECO – Barrière e Solverde: novos contratos de Póvoa e Espinho (media, 14/05/2026) (accessed October 2026)
- Portal da Queixa – Jogo online 1º trimestre 2026 (media, citing SRIJ) (accessed October 2026)
- Portal da Queixa – Jogo online 2º trimestre 2026 (media, citing SRIJ) (accessed October 2026)
- European Central Bank – Euro foreign exchange reference rates (CNY, 23/10/2026) (accessed October 2026)
