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Portugal’s online betting landscape witnessed impressive growth in the first quarter of 2023, as stated by the nation’s Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ). Boasting a gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €196.4m (£169.4m/$209.7m), the sector showcased a commendable 24.8% leap compared to the first quarter of 2022. Moreover, this sum subtly surpasses the €195.3m brought in by Portuguese operations in the last quarter of 2022.
Online sports betting contributed significantly to this total GGR, pulling in a substantial €85.7m. Meanwhile, other online gaming pursuits collectively drew in €110.7m. Interestingly, sports betting during this quarter summed up to €441.4m. Despite being a slight 3.8% decline from the last quarter of 2022, it marked a respectable 19.5% rise year-on-year. Moreover, the volume of bets placed on other online gaming during the quarter was an enormous €2.97bn.
In the arena of sports betting, football secured its status as the preferred choice for bettors. It held a whopping 70.6% share of all sports bets. Following football, basketball and tennis betting collectively held their ground, drawing 25% of all wagers.
It’s worth noting the steps taken by Portugal to ensure responsible gaming. SRIJ reported that by the end of March 2023, as many as 166,300 players had registered themselves on the Portuguese self-exclusion list. This initiative represents a commitment to promoting safe and responsible betting habits among its players.
In contrast, the GGR generated by land-based gaming operations, which included casinos and gaming machine rooms, summed up to €65.9m in the first quarter. Although this represented a modest 1.7% dip from Q4 2022, it still marked a 22.2% increase year-on-year.
Non-banked games, encompassing poker tournaments and bingo, generated nearly €1m in GGR during the quarter, marking a substantial 50.3% increase from the previous year. Gaming machines brought in a significant €50.9m in GGR, up 15.9% year on year, while banked games, excluding poker and bingo, accounted for the remaining €14m in GGR.