Portugal’s regulated online gambling market began 2026 with gross gaming revenue of €323.7 million, according to the latest data from the Gambling Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ). The gross gaming revenue (GGR) grew by 13.7% compared to the same period in 2025.
The data also indicated that the quarterly picture was softer. The revenues declined by 4.1% compared to Q4 2025, which set a new high at €337.6 million.
Sports Betting Handle Reaches New High
Sports betting generated €119.5 million worth of revenue. This was a 4% increase over the previous year but down 3.3% from the preceding quarter.
Staking volumes were stronger. Portuguese players staked €587 million on online sports betting in Q1. It was the highest sports betting handle recorded in Portugal, and it was above both Q1 2025 and Q4 2025.
Football continued to dominate the betting products. This form of betting accounted for most of the sports wagers, followed by tennis and basketball. This combination of betting products was common in Portugal, but the handle indicates that there is still more player spending on sports, even though operator revenue grew much more slowly than stakes.
Casino Games Carry the Market
Online casino accounted for the majority share of the regulated market. The gaming category reported GGR of €204.2m, corresponding to 63.1% of total online gambling revenue.
The segment increased by 20.3% relative to Q1 2025. At the same time, it went down by 4.6% compared to Q4 2025, in sync with the overall quarterly decline.
Casino bets amounted to €5.6bn. The figure was up by 20.7% on an annual basis, yet it decreased compared to Q4 2025. The figures show that casino games are still growing, although the segment could not repeat the record pace seen in Q4 2025.
Player Base Keeps Expanding
Data for the first quarter also indicates a larger customer base. The number of active online gambling accounts was higher compared to the past quarter and even a year before.
The number of self-exclusions grew as well. This adds useful context to the revenue figures. It shows that market growth is continuing alongside wider use of safer-gambling tools.
Portugal is now past the stage where every quarterly report can be read as a simple expansion. The market is bigger than it was a year ago, but Q1 shows more variation between revenue, staking, and player behavior. For operators, the main signal is clear: casino remains the revenue engine, while sports betting is becoming a volume-led business with thinner movement in GGR.
