The Portuguese opposition party Livre has once again brought the gambling topic to Parliament's debate schedule. The party wants to impose limits on advertising and tax the money earned from this type of competition under the IRS (Income Tax).
Parliament previously rejected Livre's gambling-related proposals. However, in June, Portuguese Economy Minister Manuel Castro Almeida announced that the Government will present new legislation on online gambling this summer.
Livre has now, as summer approaches its end, highlighted that the Government has not yet made its plans public. The party is also urging universal self-exclusion across licensed gambling sites, betting limits, a ban on bookmaker bonuses and warnings about addiction.
As the parliamentary debate has yet to begin, Global Gaming Insider will continue to monitor developments and whether leading lawmakers provide any updates on their previous plans.
Previously, Castro Almeida stressed the need for stronger prevention measures and greater public awareness of the risks linked to illegal gambling. He also cited figures that Portugal’s online gambling market is now worth around €24bn ($27.5m), with the illegal market potentially matching that figure.
In separate but related news from this week, the Portuguese Association of Online Betting and Gaming (APAJO) has noted the presence of legitimate Portuguese payment methods, such as Multibanco and MBWay, on illegal gambling websites.
According to APAJO, this contributes to misinformation, as a recent study shows that one in five users of illegal websites recognise the legitimacy of these sites due to the payment methods they offer.
The study "Online Gambling Habits of the Portuguese," conducted by Aximage through 1,000 interviews, found that 40% of Portuguese online gamblers continue to use unlicensed platforms.
In August, APAJO submitted a package of legislative proposals to the Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ) and the Government, calling for the introduction of regulated live casino gaming in Portugal, as well as a broader selection of betting products.
Portuguese authorities are currently investigating allegations involving referee appointments and potential attempts to influence officials in domestic football
