Online betting: the addiction that grows with a touch of the screen
Online gambling and betting have become an increasingly present reality in Portugal. In just a few years, the sector went from a still relatively limited activity to a large market, with millions of active accounts, very high betting volumes and growing revenue for operators and the State.
Between 2018 and 2025, the total volume of online betting increased from €2,432 million to €23,131 million. In the same period, the sector’s gross operating revenue — that is, the amount bet minus the prizes paid to players — rose from R$152 million to R$1.206 million. In practice, this is the amount that players lost, in net terms, on online gaming and betting platforms.
The growth is significant when analyzed by an adult residing in Portugal. In 2018, the average annual loss was just 18 euros for each resident aged 18 or over. In 2025, this value reached R$133. As not all adults play online, this means that the average loss per active player will, naturally, be much higher.
The expansion of the sector is also reflected in the number of active accounts, which increased from 1.2 million in 2018 to 4.9 million in 2025. Although the same person can be registered on several platforms, these numbers show the strong massification of online gambling in Portugal.
There is another indicator that deserves attention: self-exclusion requests. This mechanism, provided by the Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service, allows players to block their own access to platforms, acting as a protective measure in cases of risky behavior. Between 2018 and 2025, the number of self-excluded accounts increased from 31,500 to 361,000.
The State has also benefited directly from this growth. Revenue obtained through the Special Online Gambling Tax rose from 67 million euros in 2018 to 353 million euros in 2025. Per Portuguese adult, this revenue increased from 8 to 39 euros.
The evolution reflects the digitalization of entertainment and the ease of access to betting through smartphones and mobile applications. But it also raises serious concerns: dependence, debt and social impacts, especially among younger and more frequent users.
- Facts viewed through a magnifying glass by André Pinção Lucas e Juliano Ventura – A partnership between POSTAL and the Institute
Also read:
