Join us as we review the highlights of the SRIJ report on gambling in Portugal for the first half of 2023. The report compares the results of Q2 2022 up to Q2 2023 and shows an interesting growth in casino players and wagers on games of chance.
In reviewing the most recent market report by Portuguese gambling authority SRIJ, we were pleased to see that games of chance continue growing in popularity. This trend is evident in the number of players who exclusively enjoy casino games and the amount of money the vertical generates for the country.
Here are the highlights of the ‘Online Gambling Activity in Portugal’ report:
Games of Chance Dominant the Market
Given the historical footprint of sports betting in Portugal, it is interesting to see how instant slots and other online games of chance have come to dominate the market.
In the table below, the light blue segment shows players who only bet on slots, video poker, blackjack and other RNG casino games. In the last four quarters, this number has increased from 245,300 players in Q2 2022 to 282,100 in Q2 2023, an incredible growth of 15.1%.
While it might appear that sports betting is waning in H1 2023, Portugal is a betting market with a massive focus on soccer. The European Premier League kicks off in August and runs till May, contributing to regional seasonality.
It is important to track that the growth of online casino gambling has continued to grow despite an uptake in sports betting, proving that the local gambling habits in Portugal are evolving.
Online Casino Wagers Exceed Player Uptake
While it is interesting to see how games of chance have become the most popular gaming vertical in the region, what surprised us was the exponential growth in the value of the bets placed by these new players.
During the review period – Q2 2022 to Q2 2023 – the value of casino bets increased from €2.26 million to €3.24 million per quarter. This increase of €974 million is an astounding increase of 43%, nearly triple the growth in the number of players playing casino games exclusively.
Shutting Down Unlicensed Gambling Sites
A key priority of the SRIJ is ensuring that illegal gambling sites do not operate in Portugal. The SRIJ report includes a look at their actions to shut down these operations, remove advertising from being aired in Portugal, and the number of criminal proceedings they have actioned against non-compliant sites.
The number of actions taken against unlicensed operators in H1 2023:
Total action taken since SRIJ launched in 2015:
The regulator is keenly aware of the risks that such unlicensed operators pose to residents of Portugal and regularly presents public awareness campaigns aimed at informing citizens of the associated security, payment, trust, safer gambling, and other dangers of black market gambling offers.
Players might Have to Face the Music
Most EU and Scandinavian gambling jurisdictions allow their residents to play at unlicensed casinos without any concerns about facing sanctions. The SRIJ has taken a counter-cultural position, advising Portuguese gamblers that should they choose to pursue legal action against individuals frequenting illegal casinos, they could face fines of up to €25,000!
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