About Portugal Online Casinos
The history of Portuguese casinos is rich and very interesting. The oldest casino of all, Figueira, was the first to operate in the Iberian Peninsula and helped to put the city of Figueira da Foz on the map, as a tourist reference, in the mid-20th century. The Estoril casino, on the other hand, is one of the biggest houses in Europe, located in a historic region sought after by the European aristocracy to live and spend holidays, and inspired Ian Fleming to create the famous James Bond character. Let’s see how things are going in the online casino sector in Portugal. Check our list of the best online casinos in Portugal and find more about regulations and popular games among Portuguese players.
Online casinos featured in our guide are authorised to operate in Portugal. Players and potential customers can be sure that a site of their choice is certified and licensed by the country’s regulatory body, has an excellent data security level, a variety of payment options for players from Portugal and an equal choice of games. We seek to provide all the answers you are looking for and all the relevant information on the current panorama of online casinos in Portugal. The entire page is made by independent analysts, with proven experience in online gaming, who provide you with a detailed analysis of sites available in this country. Enjoy and good luck.
How to Choose Portugal Online Casino
Choosing an optimal gaming platform becomes quite a difficult task given the exponential iGaming industry’s growth in the country. Accordingly, the market saw emergence of several online casinos, which is why we came up with this article to introduce you to the best playing sites in Portugal. Here, you can see which slots games are the most popular, are bonuses are any good among many other features. We hope it will be useful.
Check the License
Online gambling is legal in Portugal since the 28th of June 2015, by publication of Decree-Law No. 66/2015. The first licenses were granted on May 25, 2016. Now you can play online with the guarantee that the game is regulated, supervised, and controlled by the Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ). Since the country pays much attention to responsible gambling, new casinos can open only after meeting a set of conditions. First, the operator must have a regulated contributory status in the country or in the EU along with a regularized tax status. The applicant must have an impeccable record of integrity, economic, financial, and technical capacity. Finally, a new operator should come with a project of planned technical systems working and designed to meet the industry-best standards.
Terms and conditions for an online casino license in Portugal are under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and its special section - Services of Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos. The legal framework was introduced in 2015 through the Online Gambling and Betting Legal Regime (OLR) that emphasizes protection of minors and vulnerable groups, AML, prevention of criminal behaviour, and integrity of sports betting and online gambling activities.
After an operator meets all requirements, a 3-year license is issued with a chance for an extension. Currently, more than 10 operators are approved for offering online gaming services to Portuguese players.
Look for Top Casino Games
Some of the best-known vendors with an excellent reputation for the quality of the games they manufacture include PlayTech, NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Microgaming, among others. Players will enjoy games with characters based on some of their favorite Hollywood movies or other pop culture references. On the other hand, the regulator prohibits the transmission of online roulette and online blackjack games, which explains why digital casino players do not find “flesh and bone” dealers in these games as happens in other countries.
Banking options at Online Casinos Portugal
The most popular banking service in Portugal is Multibanco. Surely, players can use PayPal, Visa, or another payment method, but the aforementioned beats them all with the network of 12000+ terminals, MB PHONE, and MB NET solutions.
The system is compatible with all e-wallet and card operators and comes with a possibility of generating virtual credits cards for your online casino deposits. Moreover, customers can choose between one-time and cards for multiple uses. The greatest advantage is anonymity since the cashier will never know your credentials. This also prevents hacking and makes online payments safer.
Best Portugal Casino Sign Up Offers
The absence of some expenses inherent to the operation of a physical casino gives online casinos in Portugal the chance to present their players with excellent offers and promotions. Users benefit from this factor when they sign up at these casinos, through the attribution of sign-up and welcome bonuses. They may also regularly provide other types of appealing offers to keep the player satisfied and motivated.
Conclusion
Portugal has one of the most promising betting markets in Europe and currently has legislation that regulates a variety of activities based on online and land-based casinos. All forms of betting are legal in Portugal – including online casino games, slot games, lottery, sports betting and much more. The new framework is strongly aimed at protecting players at all times, while minimizing gambling-related crimes caused by rogue casinos and illicit operators.
