The Remote Gambling Association has released a report that found that despite Portugal’s efforts to curb gambling at unlicensed online sites, about 68 percent of the country’s gamblers are using unlicensed offshore sites.
The Eurogroup Consulting Report, which is based on an online gamblers survey, said the finding “demonstrates that the Portuguese legislation has not achieved one of its key objectives, namely reducing the unregulated offer,”
The Portuguese Regulator Serviço Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal awarded its first license to Betclic Everest in May 2016. The regulator has said its policy is that a sensible licensing process and tax system would produce a better gambling system.
“The legal regime for online gambling that was adopted in 2015 is clearly failing to combat the unregulated market and change is much needed to make the regulation work,” said Pierre Tournier, director of government relations at the RGA in a press statement. “We strongly believe that the Portuguese government should follow examples of other European countries that have successfully regulated the sector by adopting a GGR-based tax and waiving some of the restrictions such as the sports catalogue, which would attract more operators in Portugal.”
The survey found that 38 percent of Portuguese gamblers use unlicensed operators and 30 percent place bets at both licensed and unlicensed sites. Only 39 percent of the funds gambled by Portuguese online gamblers are bet on the regulated market, the report said.
Respondents said the main reason they play at unlicensed sites is due to offers of better odds.
