The Portuguese online gaming industry saw a healthy boost for the first quarter of 2020, with total revenues of €131.8 million (US$143.2 million). That’s an 8.4 percent boost over 2019, and an increase of 47.5 percent over the previous quarter.
As reported by iGamingBusiness.com, it was the highest revenue total for a quarter in Portugal and marked the first time that online gambling brought in more revenue than its land-based counterpart.
Just over half of the total came from online casinos—€35.3 million, which grew 56.5 percent. Sports betting was up 39.2 percent to €34.5 million, despite a 19.6 percent decrease in amounts wagered to €149.1 million, iGB reported. About 75 percent of bets were made on football (Portugal’s Premeira Liga was the fan favorite), followed by basketball with 11.1 percent of bets, tennis 9 percent and ice hockey 2.5 percent.
Online casino games rose 12.7 percent to €960.8 million, with slots in the lead with almost 70 percent of wagers. Roulette and blackjack were a distant second and third at 12.6 percent and 6.4 percent.
The number of new online players to March 31 increased 25.8 percent, but self-excluded players also grew 47.1 percent.
In April, Portuguese lawmakers passed a bill requiring the government to restrict online gambling, possibly banning it entirely until the lockdown ends.
