The study, which this year expanded its sample to 1,000 people, indicates that the percentage of players using only licensed platforms has not exceeded 60%, a figure reached in the 2022 edition (after initially being below 50% in the early years). The situation is even more concerning among the age groups 18-24 and 25-34, where the use of exclusively licensed operators does not surpass 52.1%.
Ricardo Domingues, President of APAJO, states: “Licensed operators, legislators, and regulators need to aim for a greater dominance of exclusively legal online gambling, ideally never less than 80% of users. We believe this is possible in a relatively short time with the right measures against illegal operators and the evolution of licensed products.”
The study’s methodology identifies who actually plays on licensed or illegal operators and separately asks players to declare whether they gamble on unlicensed platforms. This approach allows assessing how aware players are of the status of the sites and applications they use. Of those who gamble on illegal platforms, only 37.7% admit to doing so. The majority, 62.3%, either do not declare using illegal operators or do not know if they do.
Ricardo Domingues warns about “the imminent danger to user safety” that illegal platforms represent: “Currently, illegal operators are mostly obscure projects that blatantly exploit the ease with which they can reach Portuguese audiences while avoiding all consumer protection rules and tax payments. These organizations put players at risk in various ways, from their balances to their personal and financial data, and often engage in predatory behavior towards vulnerable audiences.”
“We must also consider the lost tax revenue, which we estimate to be over €100 million. It would be crucial to prevent these operators from promoting themselves through social media, influencers, and sponsored articles in Portuguese media, and to ensure they have payment methods such as Multibanco and MBWay available,” adds the executive.
The main reasons for the preference for unlicensed platforms, according to their users, are higher bonuses, better odds, and a wider range of games.
Players who use illegal platforms also specify some products and services they enjoy in that environment and would like to find in licensed operators: a larger range of sports betting, the ability to combine bets within the same game, virtual sports, live casino, and eSports betting. Those who prefer licensed platforms highlight security (61.3%), better customer support (37.3%), and faster prize withdrawals (32.6%).
For Ricardo Domingues, these preferences are revealing. “If legislation, regulation, and oversight allow for the evolution of licensed products to meet consumer expectations, we will channel more players into the regulated market. The products and features that Portuguese players identified in the study have been available for some time in other regulated European markets.”
According to the APAJO study, 71.5% of respondents say they spend up to €50 monthly, with most spending less than €25. For players who only use licensed operators, the percentage spending up to €50 rises to 77.6%. The study also shows that the percentage of users in higher spending brackets is significantly higher among those who bet with illegal operators.
Regarding responsible gambling tools, 78.2% of players are aware of their existence in licensed operators, and 43.3% say they have used or are currently using them. Both awareness and use of these tools are higher among younger individuals (18 to 35 years). Among the various options, deposit (45.5%) and betting limits (55%) are the most used.
APAJO has been combating illegal gambling, recently filing several criminal complaints against influencers promoting illegal gaming platforms, such as ritinhayoutuber, GODMOTA, and Bruno Savate, and again “Numeiro” (previously complained about in 2023). Cláudia Nayara was also complained about in early 2024. These individuals promote unlicensed operators through affiliate links and profit from this activity. In June, seven illegal operators were targeted with criminal complaints to the Public Prosecutor's Office for lack of licensing.
APAJO
APAJO is a non-profit association dedicated to defending and promoting the online gambling and betting sector, particularly for companies legally operating in Portugal. It also focuses on preventing and combating illegal gambling and promoting responsible and safe gambling. Founded in 2018, its president is Ricardo Domingues. APAJO members include Betano, Betclic, Bwin, Casino Portugal, ESC Online, Solverde.pt, BacanaPlay, Pokerstars, Evolution, IGT - International Game Technology, Playtech, and Omega Systems.
Source: GMB
