In Portugal, only entities licensed by the Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ) may offer games of chance and sports betting online to residents. Any other website is operating illegally, however professional it looks. This guide explains how to confirm a licence in under five minutes without relying on anyone else.
What the SRIJ is and why the licence matters
The SRIJ is the department of Turismo de Portugal that licenses, regulates and inspects online gambling under the Legal Framework for Online Gambling and Betting (Decree-Law 66/2015 of 29 April). An SRIJ licence is not a decorative badge. It obliges the operator to
- use a domain ending in .pt;
- verify the identity and age (minimum 18) of every player;
- provide deposit limits, self-exclusion and account history;
- keep players' funds segregated and pay out prizes;
- have its games and platform technically certified;
- comply with the advertising rules of the Advertising Code and the SRIJ itself.
At an unlicensed operator none of these guarantees exist. If the operator decides not to pay, there is no Portuguese regulator to turn to.
Step 1: open the official list of licensed entities
The only reliable source is the Entidades Licenciadas page on the SRIJ website at srij.turismodeportugal.pt. Do not treat third-party lists (ours included) as final proof; use them only to reach the official register faster. Our SRIJ Licences page shows the date of our last check, precisely so you know how recent the information is.
Step 2: find the brand or the operating entity
Each line of the register shows the operating entity (the company holding the licence), the brand or website and the licence number. The brand name does not always match the company name. Real examples:
| Brand | Operating entity | Licences |
|---|---|---|
| Betclic | BEM Operations Limited | 001, 004 |
| Placard.pt | SAS Apostas Sociais, Jogos e Apostas Online, S.A. | 013, 026 |
| Betano | Kaizen Gaming International Limited | 017, 018 |
| Solverde.pt | Solverde – Sociedade de Investimentos Turísticos da Costa Verde, S.A. | 010, 024 |
If the brand you are looking for appears in neither column, it is not licensed.
Step 3: confirm the licence type
Each licence number corresponds to one activity. An operator licensed only for fixed-odds sports betting cannot offer slots or roulette; an operator with only a games of chance licence cannot take sports bets. If a website offers both and shows only one licence number, something is wrong.
Step 4: check the operator's website
With the licence confirmed, open the operator's website and check three things:
- The address ends in .pt (for example
betclic.pt, notbetclic.com). - The footer shows the SRIJ licence number and the name of the operating entity.
- There is visible information about responsible gambling, minimum age and self-exclusion.
Licensed operators are required to do all three. If any is missing, stop.
Step 5: check the licence status
Licences are valid for three years and can be renewed, amended or suspended. A concrete case: Luckia's sports-betting licence (no. 014) is listed as suspended at the operator's own request, while its games-of-chance licence (no. 015) remains active. Always check the current status on the register, not just that the number exists.
Signs that a website is not licensed
- A
.com,.net,.ioor similar domain aimed at Portuguese users. - Accepts cryptocurrencies as a deposit method (not allowed for licensed operators).
- Promises "guaranteed wins", "no risk" or "easy money".
- Does not ask for identity documents before the first withdrawal.
- Shows a Curaçao, Malta, Gibraltar or UK licence as if it were valid in Portugal. Those licences may be legitimate in their own territories but do not authorise offering gambling to residents of Portugal.
- Hides or obstructs access to the terms and conditions.
What to do if you find an illegal operator
Do not register and do not deposit. If you have already deposited and the operator does not pay, your options are very limited, because the SRIJ has no jurisdiction over unlicensed entities. You can still report it to the SRIJ (info.srij@turismodeportugal.pt), which runs procedures to block illegal websites, and file a complaint with the authorities.
How we verify on this website
Every operator page on CentralCasinoReview shows the operating entity, the licence numbers linked to the SRIJ register and the date of our last check. We only link to operators listed on the register. If you spot a discrepancy between what we publish and the official register, tell us and we will correct it within five working days.
Remember: a licence guarantees that the operator follows the rules, not that you will win. Gambling can be addictive. If you need help, call 1414 (ICAD's SOS Jogador line, free and confidential).
This page is for information only and is intended for persons aged 18 or over. We do not encourage gambling: we help people who have already decided to play choose licensed operators with better information. Gambling can be addictive. Helpline 1414.