Portugal to issue more licenses

Around 11 online casino operators have been trying to enter to the country’s market since November.

Portugal.- Gaming Regulation and Inspection services -Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ)- have announced the possibility of issuing more licenses for the virtual gambling sector in March, after the closing of 86 websites, mainly poker platforms.

Since the decline of the Portuguese market a few months ago, when leading brands, such as PokerStars and William Hill, decided to pack their things and go, this could be the first good news for a pushing sector that is trying to grow like its European neighbors do.

Better legislation and attractive licenses are the best hooks Portugal can offer to recover its position in the gaming industry, especially with the strong steps online gambling is making around the world. However, the regulation entity has not been making reliable decisions lately.

Manuela Bandeira, director of online gambling at SRIJ, agreed to a non beneficial to customers command of online poker, which damaged the previous system as it tried to copy the French, Spanish and Italian models. Online gambling clients protested the resolution and boycotted newer licensed web sites with the support of the National Association of Online bettors -Associação Nacional de Apostadores Online (ANAon)-.