So far, gambling online wasn’t susceptible to regulation or taxation in Portugal. However, an invoice authorized by the Portuguese Government, on 26 Feb 2015, intends to regulate the marketplace, by granting licences to personal operators in similar terms towards the ones in pressure in certain other European nations. This Bill has become pending approval through the Portuguese Leader.
Which means that, once passed, the Regulator may order the web Service Companies to limit or block the access in Portugal to unlicensed gambling online websites. The Web Service Companies are needed to handle the Regulator’s orders within 24 hrs. When the Online Sites Companies don’t perform Regulator’s orders within stated time period limit, they might be susceptible to justice. Considering the above mentioned, the access in Portugal to gambling online websites is going to be blocked unless of course the businesses which are presently operating such websites request and acquire these licence as from passing from the Bill.
Based on the suggested Bill, the licences is going to be granted with a public entity and candidates must meet several economic, financial and technical criteria. In addition, licences are only granted to operators compliant with specific good repute needs.
The Balance provides the status, technical expertise and economic and financial capacity of certain Portuguese companies (namely individuals presently authorised to function land-based games in casinos or games of the social character) is assumed. Considering the stringent criteria put down within the Bill and, therefore, the expected difficulties in acquiring a licence, this rule might be seen as encouragement for foreign gambling online companies to function in Portugal collectively with Portuguese land-based gambling companies instead of alone.
In addition, we draw your attention that these Bill lays lower a territorial requirement. Actually, licences must only be granted to companies either duly incorporated in Portugal or having a legal chair within the EU or EEA, provided the second operate via a Portuguese branch office or perhaps a subsidiary.
We highlight that, as from enactment of the aforementioned rules, unlicensed gambling online operators might be susceptible to justice (with penalties including jail time as much as 5 years or perhaps a fine as much as EUR 5.000.000, plus ancillary penalties).