The Portuguese Online Gambling and Betting Association (APAJO) has warned the public about misinformation on illegal gambling ads, after reporting a number of influencers and eight operators to the police.
APAJO is urging the Portugal public to be wary of illegal gambling ads and to ensure they are only gambling on legal platforms. Additionally, it’s calling on affiliates and influencers to avoid advertising illegal gambling.
As it looks to stamp out illegal play it has filed criminal complaints against five influencers advertising illegal igaming. The quintet reported are Numeiro, Cláudia Nayara, ritinhayoutuber, GODMOTA and Bruno Savate.
APAJO has also filed complaints against operators Betify, Monro, Weiss, BC.Game, Stake, Wolfi and Starda and Vem Bet, and warned it will continue to report criminal offences as they are discovered.
APAJO’s comments follow the release of its annual study on the online gambling usage of the Portuguese public. This revealed only 37.7% of players who bet on illegal sites are aware they are doing so. A further 62.3% claim to either not play with offshore operators or are unaware they are doing so.
In total the annual study found up to 41% of players gamble via illegal sites. Among younger people, aged between 18 and 34, the percentage shoots up to 52.1%
For Ricardo Domingues, president of APAJO’s board of directors, it’s imperative the media help channel players towards the legal market by making as clear as possible which sites are legal.
“It is, therefore, very critical that the Portuguese media are clear and accurate with the information provided about the sector, in order to prevent thousands of people from being continually exposed to the risks of betting on unlicensed sites,” Domingues said.
Betting regulations in Portugal
The Online Gaming and Betting Legal Regime states that anyone who operates online betting without the necessary licence is guilty of illegally exploiting online gambling.
That crime also applies to those who promote illegal betting, with the publication of advertising content on social networks required to adhere to the legal limits.
Anybody who directs Portuguese followers to a site that isn’t on the Gaming Commission’s list of licensees could therefore be at risk of being prosecuted.
APAJO warns ignorance of legislation doesn’t exempt citizens from having committed a crime, nor does condemnation of the promotion of illegal online gambling from those doing the same themselves.
Having already reported operators such as Stake and Betify, APAJO says it will continue to help the police by directing them towards companies advertising illegal gambling.