Portugal’s online gambling market enjoyed a surge of activity in Q2 as punters looked to alleviate pandemic lockdown boredom.   

Figures released Monday by the Serviço Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal (SRIJ) regulatory body show online gambling licensees generated revenue of just under €139m in the first half of 2020, 44.2% higher than the same period last year.

Portugal’s online market started the year off on a strong note, setting a new revenue high of €69.8m in Q1 despite the March suspension of major sports due to COVID-19. But the SRIJ claims the market experienced “significant and atypical variations” in gambling turnover in April and May as pandemic boredom set in.

Sports betting turnover totaled €90.7m in Q2, down from €149m in Q1, as turnover slumped to just €7.7m in April before recovering its pre-pandemic form in June. Betting revenue was €20.7m, only around 60% of Q1’s total.