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Best bookmakers in Portugal
Portugal licensed online betting in 2015 under the SRIJ, the gaming inspection service of the tourism authority, with a tax on operators that was among the highest in Europe and has since been eased. Two brands built the market, Betclic and Betano, and bet365 joined them; the local Placard, run by the state lottery, holds the rest. Winnings are tax-free. Here are the three that scored best in our tests with a Portuguese account.
How betting works in Portugal
Licensed sites run on .pt domains, verify identity with the citizen card or a document at registration, connect to the national self-exclusion list and report every bet to the regulator. The operator tax, originally on turnover and now on gross revenue, was long the reason few brands applied; the list has grown to a couple of dozen. Unlicensed sites are blocked and their payments refused; the international platforms are unavailable to most Portuguese without workarounds we do not recommend.
Betclic, first to launch and long the leader, and Betano, which arrived with football sponsorship and a faster product, hold most of the market between them; bet365 and Bwin brought the European groups; Placard, the state lottery’s sportsbook, sells in every lottery outlet. Prices on the Primeira Liga sit between five and seven percent margin.
Payments are MB Way, the mobile payment most Portuguese use, Multibanco references, cards, PayPal and Paysafecard. MB Way withdrawals arrived within a day in our tests.
The three best betting sites in Portugal
Ranked by our test score. All three hold an SRIJ licence and run .pt sites.
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LicenceSRIJ
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LicenceUKGC, MGA
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The three, in short
Betclic
The first site licensed in Portugal and still the largest, with a fast app, deep Primeira Liga and Champions League markets, a strong live product and MB Way withdrawals within a day in our test.
Betano
The Greek-owned group that took a large share of the Portuguese market within a few years through football sponsorship and a quick, promotion-heavy product; MB Way withdrawals within a day in our test.
bet365
bet365 holds an SRIJ licence and runs bet365.pt with the global live menu and streaming; card withdrawals took two days in our test.
Other tested operators licensed in Portugal
bet365 and Bwin among our twenty-two hold Portuguese licences; the rest are blocked.
OfferFree bets for new customers
LicenceMGA, UKGC
VisaPayPalSkrillPaysafecard
Payment methods that work in Portugal
MB Way is the everyday method and the fastest withdrawal; Multibanco references for those who prefer the ATM.
MB WayMultibancoVisaMastercardPayPalPaysafecardBank transfer
Frequently asked questions
Is online betting legal in Portugal?
Yes, on SRIJ-licensed .pt sites; unlicensed sites are blocked.
Are winnings taxed?
No, for the player; operators pay a tax on gross revenue.
Which document is needed?
The citizen card or a passport with a Portuguese tax number, verified at registration.
Which international brands are licensed?
bet365 and Bwin among our twenty-two; Betclic and Betano lead the market.
Rankings on this page come from our tests with a real account opened in the country. Some links are affiliate links; sponsored boxes are labelled and never affect the order.