Portugal’s government is preparing to introduce fresh legislation targeting unregulated online gambling operators. It’s a move that signals an increasingly assertive regulatory approach to a market worth approximately €24 billion. Economy Minister Manuel Castro Almeida confirmed the timeline at the launch of a public awareness initiative, positioning the move as essential to protecting consumers and the legitimate gaming sector.

Strengthening the Regulatory Arsenal

The proposed framework will emphasise enhanced oversight, enforcement sanctions, and what the minister termed “active prevention” alongside consumer education. Castro Almeida characterised unlicensed gambling as a “plague” that destabilises families and distorts the broader economy. And he acknowledged something important: illegal offerings continue to proliferate partly because of perceived enforcement gaps.

The government has adopted a notably open position toward refinement, inviting industry stakeholders and interested parties to propose amendments that would strengthen enforcement. This collaborative approach contrasts sharply with a failed opposition attempt earlier this year to reform the gambling regime through parliamentary amendment.

Momentum Building Across Multiple Fronts

Portugal’s regulatory push extends well beyond this legislative proposal. Back in January, the Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service approved product innovations including bet boosts and bet builders, modernising the licensed market to align with EU standards. The regulator simultaneously tightened restrictions on unlicensed platforms, blocking public access to Polymarket following the national election.

Most significantly, April saw the rollout of a unified national self-exclusion system. It replaced the previous fragmented, site-by-site approach that had allowed determined players to circumvent individual bans. The new database ties all licensed operators together, meaning exclusion decisions now take immediate effect across the entire regulated network rather than requiring manual intervention at each platform.

A Calibrated Strategy

These developments reflect a deliberate strategy: modernising the legitimate market whilst systematically closing loopholes and expanding enforcement capacity. The summer legislation will likely consolidate these gains into a more coherent legal framework, addressing what Castro Almeida identified as the perception of impunity surrounding unlicensed activity. Whether the proposal achieves parliamentary support remains unclear, but the government’s clear commitment suggests this reform will proceed with substantive backing.