The Portuguese Institute of Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (ICAD) has confirmed plans to create two additional specialised centres, including one in Porto, dedicated to gambling addiction.
The second centre will open in Lisbon and focus on issues related to video gaming. This expansion follows the June opening of Portugal's first public centre specialising in gambling addiction, located in Marvila, Lisbon.
According to the Institute, the number of individuals seeking help for gambling-related problems has more than doubled in the past two years, reaching 782. By demographics, most people seeking help for these issues are young men. Among male patients under 40, half are 25 or younger.
Since opening four months ago, the Marvila centre has conducted 300 consultations and is currently treating 50 patients. Psychologists, a psychiatrist and social workers support patients. Additionally, an accountant is available four hours a week to help manage gambling-related debts.
The new services form part of wider plans to strengthen addiction treatment in Portugal by 2027. The opening dates of the new centres have not yet been confirmed, and ICAD notes that the expansion remains in the planning phase.
Earlier this month, Portugal’s Socialist Party (PS) proposed creating a sports development fund financed by revenue from the country’s special online gambling tax, aiming to address funding inequalities between football and other sporting disciplines.
The proposal, submitted to Parliament through Bill 813/XVII, would redirect 7.5% of the Special Online Gambling Tax (IEJO) towards a new fund supporting sports projects and structural development.
The measure would reduce the share of tax revenue allocated to the state and regulatory bodies from 62.5% to 55%, while leaving the existing 37.5% allocation directly to sports unchanged.
In September, Portugal’s Parliament held a debate on gambling regulation, with the Government highlighting the fight against illegal gambling as a key priority
