Illegal gambling. State loses 118 million in taxes (value prison and fine)

O State may have lost 118 million euros in taxes on illegal gambling sites in 2025, according to an estimate from the Portuguese Association of Gambling and Online Games (APAJO).

The news, refer to, is advanced by the Economic Journal, who realizes that this amount represents one third of the total amount collected in online gambling taxes in Portugal in 2025.

This amount for Online Gambling Special Tax yielded EUR 353 million in taxes and corresponded to a total online betting volume of more than EUR 23 billion.

Illegal online gambling can be worth 24 billion as much as legal gambling

The online game is worth about 24 billion euros and the online illicit game may be worth “another,” which is “a lot of money on the electronic platforms,” said Economics Minister Manuel Castro Almeida, in june.

Speaking of the launch of the campaign “Not all you see is safe play”, promoted by the Consumer General Directorate (DGC) together with the Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) and the Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ) of Tourism of Portugal, Castro Almeida appealed to the entities involved to fight the illicit online game “effectively, with determination and, above all, with great consultation”.

After a Free proposal to change the regime of online games and betting has been failed in parliament, by PSD and CDS, the governor announced that the government will approve “this summer” new legislation “to update the rules on online gambling.”.

Classifying the phenomenon as “a plague”, he said the need to “fight the phenomenon” at the level of supervision and punishment, but also of “active prevention” and the “awareness of citizens about the dangers of illegal gambling”.

“ Online illegal gambling destroys many people, many families, many people, and it also sucks for the economy.”he did.

He also warned that the phenomenon of illegal online gambling “is growing too fast”, also because “the idea of impunity in everything that is digital fraud has been created a little bit”.

“That’s why I appeal to you. If they need to change the rules, they suggest it. If we need to change the laws to allow this problem more easily, they suggest it. The government is here for this,” he said, addressing the campaign partners.

Illegal game: What are the sanctions? 

Who bets on illegal gambling “can submit to legal penalties, in the territorial base game, with penalty of prison up to 6 months and fine up to 50 days and online gambling counter-ordering with fine from 2,500.00€ to 25,000.00€“, according to the information provided on the website of APPOINTMENT.

Furthermore, APAJO reveals that illegal gambling is also a problem of:

The problem of illegal gambling is therefore a problem of: 

• Security: the security of your money and your personal data is not guaranteed. 
• Trust: there is no guarantee that the game is not being tampered with. 
• Regulation: there is no control, inspection or regulation by any entity. 
• Support: has no guarantee of support from these entities. 
• Protection: has no legal protection. 
• Addition: has no guarantee of access to the protection mechanisms that licensed operators are required to provide.
• Liability: An entity that operates illegally may not take care of issues such as: protection of vulnerable minors or groups; prevention and combating fraud and money laundering.