PokerStars Becomes Latest Affiliate Member of the Portuguese Online Betting and Gambling Association (APAJO)

PokerStars, a branch of Flutter Entertainment plc, has officially become the newest affiliate member of the Portuguese Online Betting and Gambling Association (APAJO). As one of the pioneering brands in the regulated Portuguese iGaming market, PokerStars will collaborate with other industry leaders within the APAJO, which is the sole trade association representing entities operating with a local license. Other notable members include Betano, Betclic, Bwin, Casino Portugal, ESC Online, and Solverde.pt.

Since its establishment in 2018, APAJO has been actively involved in numerous initiatives. The association has been representing its locally licensed members in discussions with regulators, government bodies, and legislators. Moreover, it has developed a Responsible Gambling Manual, with members committing to measures beyond those required by law. APAJO has also been proactively involved in shaping the future of online gambling advertising in Portugal. It has joined the national advertisement self-regulatory organisation, the Portuguese advertisers association, and recently became a signatory of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Online Advertising led by the European Commission.

PokerStars’ affiliation with APAJO aligns with Flutter’s strategy of investing to establish leadership positions in regulated markets.

Ricardo Domingues, President of the Board of APAJO commented, “APAJO is pleased to welcome into its group one of the leading international brands and an operator which has been in the market since 2016. We look forward to working with PokerStars to promote an entertaining, safe and sustainable environment for online gambling in Portugal. APAJO has ambitious plans for 2023 and PokerStars will play an important role in driving these forwards. We also would like to use this opportunity to renew our invitation to the other licensed operators to join.”

João Saraiva, Planning & Strategy Manager for Portugal at PokerStars added, “We are delighted to join APAJO and look forward to sharing our expertise from other licensed jurisdictions to support APAJO in promoting a responsible and safe play environment. We have high ambitions for this market, and we can’t wait to start working together with APAJO.”