The RGA, known to be the largest iGaming and betting trade association that represents some of the world’s largest gambling operators, has been among the most vocal critics of Portugal’s newly established gambling regulatory framework.
Portugal liberalized its online gambling market in 2015, allowing international operators to apply for licenses and operate in a regulated environment. The first online gambling licenses were issued in 2016. Portugal’s new gambling laws were heavily criticized by industry stakeholders due to the taxation system implemented, which taxes sports betting operators on percentage of their turnover.
The RGA’s report argues that the new regulatory framework in Portugal has failed to purge the local market from unregulated offering. According to the report’s findings, around 38% of all Portuguese who gamble online have been doing this only on the websites of unlicensed operators, and 30% have been gambling on both unlicensed and licensed websites.
Respondents pointed out that they prefer gambling on unlicensed websites to gambling on licensed ones due to the fact that the former offer better odds. The reports also found that of all bets placed by Portuguese bettors, only 39% were gambled on regulated websites.
Source: GMB / Casino News Daily
