Impressive growth and responsible gaming practices shape Portugal’s online betting industry

The Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ) of Portugal has reported that the online betting and gaming industry in the country experienced substantial growth in the first quarter of 2023.

Outstanding results

During this period, the gross gaming revenue (GGR) reached an outstanding €196.4m (£169.4m/$209.7m), exhibiting a remarkable growth of 24.8% compared to the previous year. Moreover, there was a slight increase of €195.3m from Portuguese operations in the previous quarter of 2022, as opposed to the same period last year.

Online sports betting generated €85.7m of the total GGR, whereas other online gaming activities made up €110.7m.

In the quarter, sports betting saw a total wager amount of €441.4m. While there was a slight decrease of 3.8% from the previous quarter, there was still significant year-on-year growth of 19.5%.

Football supreme and responsible gaming

When it comes to sports popularity, football reigns supreme, with 70.6% of all bets being placed on this sport. Basketball and tennis combined account for 25% of the wagers.

It is worth noting that the SRIJ has pointed out that by March 31, 2023, around 166,300 players had already registered themselves on the Portuguese self-exclusion list. This indicates a strong dedication to promoting responsible gambling practices.