Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ)

last updated

17 Oct 2024

by

Adam Maclean

Acting in accordance with Decree-Law No. 66/2015 of April 29, the Legal Regime for Online Gaming and Betting (RJO), the SRIJ strives to control, regulate, and monitor the operations of all land-based and online gambling in Portugal.

Part of the Portuguese Tourism Institute, the SRIJ aims to ensure a controlled and transparent gambling environment for players, while waging war on illegal gambling and illicit practices. The regulator is committed to safeguarding minors and vulnerable individuals, and will enforce changes or enhancements upon operators whenever necessary to ensure that players' rights are protected.

How to check a license

The SRIJ maintains a list of licensed operators on its website. Players can check this list to see if an operator is allowed to offer their services to players in Portugal. All brands are listed alongside their website, the types of services they offer and the licenses they have obtained. All websites that are licensed by the regulator must also have a URL that ends in ".pt"

Complaints

While it is possible to contact the authority directly, if a player has a complaint about a specific casino they must first complain to that particular operator. To do so, the player should follow the process outlined on the casino website. Complaints regarding payments or transactions, player verification, technical faults, or the terms and conditions should all be registered in this way.

Players are also reminded to make sure they read the terms and conditions, and to make sure that they provide all relevant information to help describe the problem, such as any screenshots or other evidence.

Player support

The SRIJ ensures that a number of measures are put in place to protect players by each licensee. Every licensed casino must have the option to set limits on the amounts deposited and amounts wagered at the very least, as well as the ability to take a break from gambling.

The regulator's website offers a plethora of contacts and information about responisible gambling, and the authority also took part in a research project with the Higher Institute of Statistics and Information Management - NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS/UNL) that aims to detect addiction patterns in online gambling. Additionally, an essential guide to responsible gambling is available to download.

Players that experience gambling problems can request that they be excluded from all online casinos licensed by the SRIJ, via a special Self-Exclusion Platform. The exclusion must be for a minimum of 3 months if a timeframe is to be specified, or can be indefinite. It is also possible to request exclusion via the casino website, but this will only be valid for that specific casino.

Note:

There is a separate process for exclusion from land-based gambling operations in Portugal, which must be requested either in person at the SRIJ offices, in writing or by email.

Working in collaboration with the Institute for Addictive Behaviors and Addictions (ICAD), the SRIJ also offers support to players by way of a confidential counseling service, specializing in addictive behaviors and in particular gambling addiction. The 'Linha Vida' is open from 10am - 6pm every working day, and is completely free and anonymous. They can be contacted by calling 1414 or by email.