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Portugal regulated its online betting market in 2015; however, only a dozen bookmakers operate legally in the country with a local gambling license. Moreover, some of the biggest sportsbooks, such as Betfair and Bwin, decided to exit the market due to the high gambling tax imposed on the licenses.
Technically, there aren’t many legal bookmakers in Portugal, outside of a few local brands and international sportsbooks, who decided to keep a license. Still, punters can access any sportsbook, including 22Bet, 20Bet, Leon Bet, Estrela Bet, Betandyou, Bet 7, PremierBet, Bet Solar, Pin-Up Bet, and more.
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125% up to $1250
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4.4
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100% up to u₿50000
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4.2
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Rakeboost bonus
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50% up to $1000
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4.2
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100% up to $500
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4.2
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First Deposit Bonus 125% up to $1000
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100% up to $600
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4.2
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50% up to $1000
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4.1
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3+1 in Free Bets
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3.6
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100% up to €30000
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100% up to €500
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4.5
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200% up to 20000 USDT
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4.8
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Up to $30 in Free Bets
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4.2
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100% up to ₿1
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Most bookmakers have a .PT website; however, they’re not operating legally as a local authority does not license them. Other options, such as SkyBet and Betfair (betting exchange), exited the market entirely and are not legal nor accessible to local punters.
It might make it seem like there aren’t many sportsbooks in the country. However, this is not the case. Many established and new sports betting sites in Portugal will offer their services to local punters. Even though they’re not licensed, Portuguese punters can still sign up for an account, log in, and bet without any fear of legal prosecution, as there is no legislative piece that acts as a deterrent and that would make using non-licensed bookmakers illegal.
BetOnline is one of the biggest betting brands in the world and a huge name in the betting world. It offers excellent betting odds and has generous market coverage, rivaling all accessible Portuguese sportsbooks.
XBet is a BetOnline clone, offering the same competitive betting odds, generous market coverage, and a wide selection of online casino games. It’s a safe sportsbook and one of the top sports gambling sites.
BC.Game is a crypto casino and sportsbook established in 2018. Despite being one of the youngest names in the betting world, BC.Game has made a name for itself as one of the top choices for crypto gambling, but it’s also one of the most popular Portuguese betting sites.
Even though BC.Game focuses mainly on crypto gambling. It also has a solid offer of betting markets and bonuses, which sports bettors can use.
Jackbit is similar to BC.Game as it’s a crypto casino and sportsbook with the main focus on offering online casino games. Yet, while Jackbit does a fine job with its crypto casino offer, it is also an excellent choice for online sports betting.
The bookie covers all major sports and leagues and many more niche and minor competitions, ensuring a solid sports betting experience. Moreover, with its bonuses, Jackbit is one of the best free betting sites in Portugal, especially for those who prefer betting with crypto.
Vave is a popular sportsbook, online casino, and one of the more popular options among Portuguese bettors. It offers competitive betting odds and a wide selection of markets, ensuring an enjoyable experience.
While its main selling point is the online casino offer, Vave has proven itself a solid choice for anyone looking for a safe betting site with generous betting promotions, bonuses, and all the features you’d like to see in a reliable sportsbook.
Portugal is home to numerous betting sites. While the selection of bookies is large enough for anyone to find a betting platform that suits them, there are a few criteria we have to follow to recognize the top betting sites in Portugal.
Criteria | Explanation |
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❕ Security | Above all, checking whether the sportsbook is legal and safe before signing up with an account is important. It primarily means checking whether it has a valid betting license and doesn’t necessarily have to be a local Portuguese license. |
❕ Reputation | A licensed bookmaker can be safe, but it doesn’t mean it’s a good choice if it has a bad reputation. Sportsbooks can have a poor reputation due to slow payouts, poor bonuses, or strict promotion requirements, which should all be considered. |
❕ Features | The bookie comes with many tools and features, from changing the odds format to tools that help with responsible gambling, mobile apps, live streaming, and more. And most of the best online sports betting sites in Portugal will check that mark. |
❕ Betting odds | One of the most important criteria for finding the best sportsbooks is the betting odds. All bettors should consider signing up with sportsbooks with the best offer, but preferably with more than one sportsbook for the option to place sure bets, i.e., matched betting or to start arbitrage betting. |
❕ Good market coverage | As important as quality odds, solid market coverage ensures that bettors can place bets on a wide range of sports. But more importantly, the bookmaker has enough betting markets to allow for more than spread betting. |
Bonuses, free bets, and other betting promotions are, as of 2024, considered mandatory for any sportsbook. Although primarily offered to attract new bettors, bonuses also offer much value to punters, who can find them on nearly all sportsbooks, including local brands such as Real Deal Bet in Portugal.
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4.6
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4.2
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125% up to $1250
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New customers only! Get 125% bonus up to $1250 on your First Deposit! Full T&Cs apply | |
4.4
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100% up to u₿50000
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New customers only! Get 100% bonus up to u₿50000 on your First Deposit! Full T&Cs apply | |
4.2
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Rakeboost bonus
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Rakeback is a withdrawable bonus that is accrued for each bet and depends on your current Rank. Please bet responsibly, begambleaware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. | |
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4.2
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50% up to $1000
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Earn a 50% Welcome Bonus up to $1,000 on your first-ever deposit at Jazz Sports. Use Promo Code JAZZ50 and your extra 50% will be added to your sports betting balance. Full T&Cs apply | |
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4.2
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100% up to $500
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Join today and make a deposit to receive an incredible 200% Welcome Bonus. Play responsibly. Full T&Cs apply. | |
4.2
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First Deposit Bonus 125% up to $1000
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4.0
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100% up to $600
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New customers only! Please bet responsibly, begambleaware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. | |
4.2
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50% up to $1000
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Score a 50% Welcome Bonus on your first-ever deposit at SportsBetting. Simply use Promo Code SB1000 and your extra 50% will be added onto your sports betting bankroll instantly, all the way up to $1,000. Full T&Cs apply | |
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3+1 in Free Bets
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Place 3 consecutive bets and get the 4th bet as a free bet! Full T&Cs apply | |
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While betting bonuses and promotions are easy to find, it’s important to differentiate between the main types, which are somewhat similar but also vastly varied – largely when comparing their terms and conditions.
Deposit bonuses are some of the most common promotions and include a wide range of offers – all tied directly with the punter’s deposit with a sportsbook. The most common deposit bonus is a matched deposit bonus, where the sportsbook matches (doubles) the bettor’s deposit and awards free wagering cash.
All Portuguese bookies will have some form of deposit bonuses available, including reload and welcome proposals, two of the most common.
The welcome offers are promotions sportsbooks offer to new bettors, primarily to attract new customers. The welcome bonus can come in many shapes and sizes depending on the sportsbook.
These promotions will always come with some requirements, mainly as a rollover requirement. So read the terms and conditions of the bet sites from Portugal before claiming the bonus.
Free bets are some of the most straightforward promotions found on sportsbooks. As the name suggests, these bonuses award free money to wager with and can be offered as a part of other promotions.
Some bookies provide free bets as a part of the welcome bonus, but more commonly, they are given to existing users at random intervals. The size of the free bet will vary and is often tied directly to the bettor’s average bet with the sportsbook.
Those who regularly wager with €20 per wager can expect a €20 free bet bonus, which rarely comes with big restrictions. Free bets can be used on any market, although in most cases, Portuguese bookies will set the minimum odds at which the free bet can be used.
Cashback bonuses are a type of loyalty reward where the sportsbook credits the bettor a percentage of their losses on bets. The percentage will vary depending on the offer, but it’s often set at between 0.5% to 30%.
VIP offers are one of the least common yet most useful promotions on sports betting sites and work on a loyalty system where the most loyal and active bettors gain the most.
The more you bet with a sportsbook with a VIP system, the higher tier you reach and the better rewards you can receive. The rewards can vary from free bets, cashback, reload bonuses, faster withdrawals, or higher limits. The quality of VIP offers will vary from one sportsbook to another, but they’re generally accepted as the best sports betting bonuses in Portugal.
Sports are a big part of Portugal, especially basketball, cycling, cricket, football, and futsal. And unsurprisingly, the most popular sports also make up the biggest betting handle in the country.
However, while some sports are far more popular than others among Spanish bettors, the local bookies cover even some less-popular sports. It ensures that regardless of the punters’ preference, they can bet on any sport they desire.
That is, as long as we sign up with bookmakers with solid market coverage, mainly international sportsbooks such as GG.Bet, BetTilt, TitanBet, 21bet, Coral bet, Elephant Bet. Yet even those who sign up with cricket betting sites in Portugal will have access to other markets.
Since so many bookmakers operate in Portugal, it can be challenging to decide on which to use. And while it’s always better to sign up with multiple sportsbooks, it’s also important to know how to recognize the best ones.
Here are some key criteria to check when picking the right betting site.
All Portuguese bookies offer a plethora of payment options, ensuring that punters don’t struggle to find the method they prefer. Like elsewhere, E-wallets are very popular as they allow for anonymous money transfers and are typically available on all online bookmakers.
Crypto payments are close behind as a payment solution that is gaining traction in the online betting world. On the other hand, prepaid cards are slowly going out of fashion.
Yet, while there are many payment solutions punters can use to fund their betting accounts, the most common deposit method among Portuguese bettors is Maltibanco.
All of the best betting sites in Portugal will have Maltibanco as one of the available payment options. That is because Maltibanco is the most popular payment solution among Portuguese bettors.
It’s an interbank payment system that allows instant bank transfer deposits on all local sportsbooks without any additional fee. However, while Maltibanco is very popular for making deposits, it can’t be used for withdrawals.
Even in Portugal, mobile betting is very popular, mainly due to its convenience. And since it is very popular, it’s not shocking that there are many betting apps that work in Portugal.
100% up to u₿50000
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100% up to $600
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4.8
Up to $30 in Free Bets
T&Cs Apply
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Most bookmakers will have only mobile websites that can offer a mobile betting experience, assuming they’re well-optimized. Still, bettors should prefer using sportsbooks with dedicated apps, which have more features, are more convenient, and work better. It is one of the big reasons Bet365 is one of the best sportsbooks in the country.
In Portugal, bet markets include pre-match and live betting options. While there are fewer live markets, the offer is still good enough to provide an enjoyable live betting experience.
Live betting is an alternative way to bet on sport, allowing punters to put their knowledge to the test by making split-second decisions when placing in-play bets. It explains why live betting is so popular and why many sportsbooks offer it.
Still, for the best live betting experience, it’s wise to use bookmakers that offer live markets and live streaming, such as Bet365 and 22bet.
Three main types of odds formats – decimal, fractional, and American – are typically associated with different parts of the world. The American odds format (+100) is mostly used in Canada and the USA, fractional (1/1) in the UK and Ireland, whereas the decimal format (2.00) is widely used across Europe.
Since Portugal is a European country, bettors primarily use the decimal odds format. However, even those who prefer another format have the option to change how the odds show since, in Portugal, betting sites all have a setting that allows changing the format.
With so many bookmakers operating in Portugal, it’s very easy to find a platform and start betting, and there are just a few steps aspiring punters have to take to enter the world of online gambling.
It’s important to note that some bookmakers won’t ask you to complete the Know Your Customer verification when you sign up for an account. However, KYC is needed to request withdrawals, so completing it as soon as possible is wise, especially since it can take several days.
In 2015, Portugal introduced Decree-Law No. 66, the Legal Regime of Online Gambling and Betting (RJO), as the main regulatory law that oversees online betting in the country. The RJO was amended three times, each becoming more liberal and accepting of international sportsbooks.
As of 2024, the Comissão de Jogos is the main regulatory body that issues local gambling licenses, and it has, over the years, handed them to several international sportsbooks. However, due to the high taxes, most bigger brands, including Sky Bet, haven’t applied for the Portuguese gambling license.
Like in other countries with similar situations, punters can access unlicensed bookmakers as long as they’re of gambling age (18 years)
Comissão de Jogos is the primary body that issues local gambling licenses in Portugal, working alongside Serviço de Regulação Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ).
While the country has, over the years, become more accepting of international bookies, few decided to apply for a license. It is due to the high taxes imposed by the Portuguese government.
As of 2024, Portugal’s main licensed betting sites include Betclic.pt, bet.pt, Solverde.pt, Estorilsolcasinos.pt, Betway.pt, Moosh.pt, Luckia.pt, Placard.pt, Nossaaposta.pt, Betano.pt, and Casinoportugal.pt. And while these are the only legal options, Portuguese punters can easily access any unlicensed sportsbook without fear of prosecution.
For most of its history, Portugal monopolized the betting industry. 2003 Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (SCML) extended its monopoly over the online sports betting world with the introduction of Legislative Decree 282 in 2003.
Since then, local authorities blocked any international non-licensed bookmaker who accepted Portuguese punters. Things took a turn for the better in 2015. The Portuguese government took a more liberal approach and decided to start issuing licenses to international betting sites.
In 2015, the Legal Regime of Online Gambling and Betting (RJO) was established and is the main regulatory act for all online betting activities in the county. RJO has since amended three times, making the Portuguese online betting market more accessible to international sportsbooks who can now get a local betting license.
Before we conclude our article on the best betting sites in Portugal, here are some interesting facts about the betting world and sports in the country.
This roundup covers everything there is to know about sports betting in Portugal and where to find the best Portuguese betting sites. Equipped with that knowledge, you’re now ready to sign up with top Portuguese betting platforms and start betting – but remember to practice responsible betting and never bet with more than you can afford to lose.