Football Dominates Sports Funding in Portugal, While Some Sports Receive Next to Nothing

A recent report reveals a stark disparity in the distribution of funds generated from online gambling taxes in Portugal. Football, the nation’s most popular sport, receives the lion’s share, leaving other sports with meager or non-existent funding.

The data, sourced from the Imposto Especial de Jogo Online (IEJO) – Special Online Gaming Tax – for 2024, was compiled by the Confederação do Desporto de Portugal (CDP) – the Portuguese Sports Confederation – and shared with political parties ahead of the May 18th legislative elections. The CDP is advocating for a revised distribution model for these funds.

Football’s Financial Fortress

According to the report, football benefits immensely from the IEJO revenue. The Federação Portuguesa de Futebol (FPF) – Portuguese Football Federation – saw its funding increase from €27.31 million to €33.85 million. The Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional (LPFP) – Portuguese Professional Football League – received €10.85 million, a €2.1 million increase from 2023.

In total, football accounts for a staggering 72.3% of the sports funding derived from online betting taxes.

“Of a total ‘pie’ of €61.8 million, football represents €44.7 million,” the report states.

Other Sports Struggle

While football thrives, other sports are left to scrape by. Tennis receives €9.7 million (15.7% of the total), and basketball gets €4.57 million (7.4%). However, the situation is far bleaker for other disciplines.

The Federação Portuguesa de Surf – Portuguese Surfing Federation – received a paltry €5.21. Patinagem (skating, including hockey), the Comité Paralímpico de Portugal (CPP) – Portuguese Paralympic Committee – and the CDP itself received nothing. Athletics, which had previously received a small amount (just over €500), also saw its funding disappear.

A Glimmer of Hope for University Sports

One exception to the trend is the Federação Académica do Desporto Universitário (FADU) – Academic Federation of University Sport – which saw its funding increase from zero in 2023 to nearly €58,000 in 2024.

Overall Growth in Sports Funding

Despite the uneven distribution, the total amount allocated to sports increased by €11 million from 2023 to 2024, reaching €61.8 million. This growth is largely attributed to the surge in online sports betting.

The government’s 2024 budget included €54.5 million for sports, which is less than the amount generated and distributed through the IEJO. The government has since announced an additional €65 million in extraordinary support to be implemented by 2028.

Record-Breaking Online Betting

The Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ) – Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service – reported that 2024 saw the highest volume of online sports betting ever, totaling €2,053.2 million. This represents a significant increase compared to previous years:

• 2023: €1,721.6 million
• 2022: €1,482.1 million
• 2021: €1,402.9 million
• 2020: €808.1 million

The total for the last five years amounts to €7,467.9 million.

This surge in betting activity also led to a record-breaking gross revenue of €433.4 million, surpassing the previous high of €324.4 million in 2023.