Where can we bet securely and which are the leading bookmakers in Portugal?

To find a reliable betting site in Portugal could be difficult. In order to help you with the choice, we provide a table with the leading online bookmakers on which you can trust about your betting needs. Check out which are they below:

Introduction

Betting online has been legal in Portugal for only a relatively short period, but the market continues to grow. Punters can experience a range of different betting options from many different bookmakers. The pastime has a long history in the country and continues to be something that is well regulated and safe so that users can enjoy their time without having to worry.

Top online betting websites in Portugal

There are a number of betting websites that are licensed to operate in Portugal, meaning that punters have a wide variety to choose from, something that can seem initially daunting to new players. Here are some of the best sites available:

Visit Betway

Visit 22bet

Visit Betano

Competition between Operators

There is somewhat of a monopoly when it comes to legal, land-based betting. Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Lisboa is the only land-based organization that can offer sports betting and lottery services.

Although when it comes to betting online, Portuguese companies cannot operate betting monopolies at the expense of overseas companies. Like many other countries in the European Union (the EU), Portugal has been forced to bow to demand and open their online betting market to international competitors. Companies are eligible for a Portuguese license if they belong to another EU country and fulfil the other requirements. As a result of this, the Portuguese online market has opened up, and there is no monopoly on online gambling. Punters can pick and choose a site that is right for them, and the market competition ensures better odds and the latest in gambling technology.

Available Payment Methods

Because online gambling is legal, there are a number of safe payment options that bettors can take advantage of, and they do not need to worry about payments being blocked. The most common forms of depositing and withdrawing money include using Visa or Mastercard debit cards/credit cards, or bank transfers. These are generally free methods to deposit or withdraw money. Customers can also use a variety of e-wallets, the most popular and most-commonly accessible are Neteller and Skrill, although individual betting sites may offer different options as well. MB Way is also becoming increasingly popular and offered on more and more sites. This is a method of mobile banking and allows punters to make payments via their mobile device.

Although there are a vast number of choices, each betting site is going to be slightly different. Punters should always check the site they are using to see what options are available, if they are instantaneous, and if they are free or if there are fees associated with that particular method.

Portugal uses the euro (EUR) as their form of currency. This is beneficial to Portuguese punters because EUR is accepted on almost all betting sites. All they need to do is deposit their money and bet; they do not have to go through the hassle of converting their currency, which can often be expensive.

Mobile Betting in Portugal

Portugal is a country where the vast majority of the country has access to smart devices such as tablets and mobile phones, and as a result, mobile betting is becoming increasingly popular. Almost all betting sites registered in Portugal offer a corresponding betting app that is free to download on either Apple or Android devices. These apps are designed to offer all of the services of the main desktop site, just easier to use on a touch device and a smaller screen.

Some sites also offer bonuses simply for downloading and using the mobile app. If users know that they are likely to use the betting app, it may be worth looking around for a company that offers these bonuses, and they can benefit from something they were going to do anyway.

Leading Sports for Betting in Portugal

Sports betting enjoys relative popularity among Portuguese bettors, and here are the most popular sports to bet on:

• Football
  Football is the most popular sport in the world, and Portugal is definitely part of the craze. The Portuguese love to play the sport, as well as bet on it, both at a local level and internationally. A number of different sites allow Portuguese punters to bet on football games from national championships, as well as international tournaments that might not include Portugal, and of course the largest Football World Cup games.
• Basketball
  Basketball is another sport that enjoys relative popularity in this country, both on the court and in the bookmakers. Although the national basketball league (Liga Portuguesa de Basquetbol) does not enjoy the same popularity as the American NBA, it is still available on most international sites to bet on, with a range of markets to suit all bettors.
• Tennis
  Tennis is incredibly popular within the country, and there are a number of players who have represented the country internationally and done extremely well. While there is some local coverage of the sport, online betting on tennis is usually done on larger international championships, such as Wimbledon and the French Open. Unlike many other sports, both female and male tennis matches enjoy equal popularity among punters.
• Futsal
  Futsal is very similar to football, except it is usually played indoors and with a smaller team. Portugal excels at this sport, and bettors love to gamble on their favourite team. Portugal has its own national league that punters bet on, but there are also games and championships from overseas that punters can bet on as well if they are interested.
• Handball
  Portugal frequently qualifies for the international handball championship, and the country’s team always enjoys relative success at this professional level. The game is a favourite for many bettors due to the high-stakes games and constantly-changing odds, making the outcomes very unpredictable.
• Volleyball
  Volleyball is another sport that enjoys relative popularity and success in Portugal. The national team competes in the European Volleyball Championship, which is widely covered on all European international betting sites, but they also participate in the Olympics, which of course is covered extensively on all betting sites.

The Profile of a Portuguese Bettor

Very little is publicly known about Portuguese bettors, despite the fact that gambling is legal, and therefore there should be no issues gathering data. Online gambling is becoming increasingly more popular compared to offline betting, and mobile gambling is uptaken faster than betting on a desktop site. The government heavily monitors gambling to prevent any unhealthy habits developing, and players have the opportunity to self-exclude themselves from gambling venues if they think they have a problem, and the venues prevent them from playing for five years.

FAQ

Our Verdict

Portugal is an example of a country that heavily monitors gambling activity for signs of problems within users, but the majority of the population are not restricted when it comes to enjoying their pastime. All forms of gambling are available online and offline, and punters can play knowing that they are also protected by law in the event that something does go wrong. The laws are also changing according to the changing nature of the betting scene, meaning that there are no outdated laws that leave punters questioning the legality of certain types of betting – everything is clear.

The government imposes incredibly high taxes on vendors, and many choose to exit the Portuguese market to avoid these high fees. While this can somewhat limit the choices that Portuguese players have, there are still enough companies paying the fees in order to be licensed, and punters can enjoy a decent number of options.