Portugal Moves to Crack Down on Illegal Online Gambling

Portugal has a well-documented problem with illegal online gambling. The government has now made a public commitment to act. Economy Minister Manuel Castro Almeida announced new legislation on online gambling rules. He set “this summer” as the target delivery date. He described unlicensed gambling as a “plague” on families and the national economy.

The announcement puts the government on record with a concrete timeline. Castro Almeida offered no specific legislative proposals, but named oversight, sanctions, active prevention, and consumer education as priorities. He took an unusual step, inviting industry stakeholders to bring ideas directly to the government.

“If changing the law is necessary to make it easier to combat this problem, suggest it,” he said.

Portugal’s online gambling sector stands at roughly 24 billion euros. That scale makes the unlicensed segment a serious economic concern. Castro Almeida warned that illegal online gambling in Portugal is growing fast. He attributed the rise to what he called “the idea of impunity.” Operators feel they can break the rules without consequence, and that belief is a core driver of the problem.

The minister was also direct about the human cost. Illegal gambling, he said, destroys many people, many families, many individuals, and it is terrible for the economy. That framing shaped the tone of the entire event. This is not just a licensing issue. It is a consumer protection and social harm crisis.

A Multi-Agency Response

Portugal’s gambling regulator, the Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ), operates under Turismo de Portugal. Three agencies launched the campaign: SRIJ, the Directorate-General for Consumer Affairs (DGC), and ASAE. The Judicial Police joined as a formal partner.

The campaign carries the slogan “Not everything you see is safe gambling.” It focuses on young audiences through digital channels. The DGC and the Judicial Police signed a cooperation protocol at the launch. It covers digital crime, consumer rights, and criminal investigation. The protocol also includes training, knowledge sharing, and resource sharing between both bodies.

National Director of the Judicial Police Carlos Cabreiro flagged dangers that go beyond the gambling itself. He pointed to how unlicensed platforms create entry points for financial fraud, identity theft, and malware. The risks from illegal online gambling in Portugal extend well beyond lost wagers.

A Previous Reform Attempt Fell Short

The political background is worth understanding. Parliament rejected an earlier proposal to tackle illegal online gambling in Portugal. The ruling coalition, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and CDS-People’s Party (CDS-PP), voted it down. That proposal came from Livre, an environmentally focused opposition party.

The minister’s comments suggest the same coalition may now be ready to move. The shift matters. It is one thing for an opposition party to push for change. It is another for the Economy Minister to brand illegal gambling a plague publicly and promise legislation before autumn.

Portugal’s Regulator Has Already Been Moving

SRIJ has not been idle. In April, the regulator rolled out a new self-exclusion platform covering all licensed online operators in Portugal. The regulator built it to simplify the opt-out process and speed up access for players. Every self-exclusion applies across all licensed operators in the country.

That move showed SRIJ’s appetite for practical, consumer-facing action. The new awareness campaign and the ministerial pledge build on that momentum. Together, they point toward a more coordinated effort against illegal online gambling in Portugal than the market has seen before.

What Comes Next

The summer timeline is firm but light on detail. Castro Almeida gave no specifics on what the new rules might involve. Tougher sanctions against unlicensed operators? Better blocking mechanisms? Stricter advertising limits for younger audiences? None of that has a confirmed shape yet.

What the government has done is stake a public position. It has set a deadline, assembled enforcement partners, and opened the door for industry input. The next step is legislation that delivers on the urgency of those words.