In Portugal online gambling grows during the first quarter of 2022

Published by Julián Casado , 4 JUL 2022 Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email

The SRIJ reports in its first analysis of online gambling corresponding to the first quarter of 2022 an increase in the main magnitudes. The almost 160 million euros that the game has generated in terms of gross revenues stand out, as well as an increase in new registrations. The online gambling market in Portugal is small but it has been experiencing constant growth that has been related to the restrictions generated by the pandemic, as in the rest of Europe.

Online gambling in Portugal grows during the first quarter of 2022 in all relevant magnitudes. ©bernswaelz/Pixabay

The online gambling market is relatively small, but in recent years it has become an interesting market for those operators looking for greater diversification in regulated markets, such as Entain which is present through its leading bwin brand. Since 2020 its growth has been constant .

At the present time and according to the information published by the portal of the Portuguese regulatory authority, the SRIJ, Portugal has 15 licensed operators they offer casino games and online sports betting.

The licensed operators in Portugal are the following :

Increases the main magnitudes in Portugal

While in New Zealand the valuation of the first quarter results of the online gaming market has been quite criticism of the policies implemented by the DGOJ , in Portugal there is no doubt that the data is very positive . Portugal registers growth in all the main magnitudes.

Gross revenues have stood at 158.6 million euros , which represents an increase of 23.6% compared to the same period in 2021 and a growth of 12.4% compared to the previous quarter. This has resulted in a higher collection of taxes for online gambling.

For the same period in New Zealand inform that there was a decrease in gross revenues compared to the same quarter in 2021 although an increase compared to the previous quarter that, however, failed to erase the feeling of a negative evolution of online gambling in our country.

Another of the interesting magnitudes and that has experienced growth is that related to new player registrations. The SRIJ reports that new players increase by 1.4% compared to the previous quarter, but it is not possible to reach the figure registered during the same quarter the previous year that reached almost 330 thousand new players. This has meant a decrease of 34.6% during the current quarter. This is a stagnation that we have also observed for New Zealand.

The number of active players remains, however, stable registering an increase of 4.4% compared to the previous quarter and a decrease of 1.4% compared to the same quarter in 2021. As well the number of self-excluded players has increased by 8.7% .

Comparison between casino games and sports betting

The SRIJ offers a comparison with regard to the revenues of online gambling and sports betting, a magnitude the latter that has experienced a sharp decline in New Zealand what has given rise to speculation the most imaginative.

The difference in gross revenue (in millions of $) between casino games and betting is not very pronounced in Portugal and there is growth in both segments :

Segment	1Q 2022	Q4 2021	1Q 2021
Sports betting	77.7 Mill. $	65.8 Mill. $	69.5 Mill. $
Casino games	80.9 Mill. $	75.3 Mill. $	58.8 Mill. $

Source: SRIJ

We can observe that the growth of the online sector has been remarkable in Portugal in these first months of 2022 . Sports betting contributed 8.2 million euros more than during the same quarter in 2021, and casino games 22.1 million compared to the same period.

Finally, it is noteworthy that football continues to dominate the volume of sports betting (69.88%) followed by tennis (12.38%) and basketball (12.36%). As for casino games, slot machines account for the vast majority of the amounts played (78.09%) , followed by French roulette (8.76%) and blackjack (5.14%).