RETAbet has secured a licence from Portuguese gambling regulator SRIJ, marking a significant milestone as the operator prepares to launch its sportsbook and online casino through retabet.pt.
The Spain-based operator is now active in three markets, having previously established itself in Spain and Peru before setting its sights on Portugal.
RETAbet Group CEO Xabier Rodríguez-Maribona described the move as a logical progression, telling NEXT.io that Portugal represented a nearby jurisdiction offering significant opportunities.
The company has operated retail betting shops in Spain since 2008 and moved online in 2012 under a licence issued by Spanish gambling regulator the DGOJ.
Its Latin American presence stretches back five years in Peru, where the brand has also built recognition through a sponsorship deal with top-flight football club Sport Boys.
Portugal’s online GGR increased by 13.7% year-on-year to €323.7m during the first quarter of 2026, underlining the market’s appeal to an operator seeking profitable growth.
“At RETAbet, we prioritise profitable growth,” Rodríguez-Maribona said. “This is not something we say to excuse poor expansion results; it is a guiding principle for our company.”
He added that the business had grown without sacrificing equity or taking on significant debt, reflecting its disciplined approach to entering new territories.
“For now, our focus is on continuing to gain market share in Spain and Peru, while establishing ourselves in Portugal with a strong product and good customer service,” he said.
On the topic of regulation and innovation, Rodríguez-Maribona pushed back against the idea that tighter rules stifle creativity within the industry.
“I have worked across several industries, and I believe there are very few sectors where more innovation takes place than in betting,” he said.
He acknowledged that regulation provides a framework for safely adopting new developments, while also praising the monitoring and enforcement work carried out by Spain’s DGOJ.
However, he expressed reservations about proposed rules that would establish shared deposit limits for individual players across multiple operators.
“I understand that the regulator faces a certain amount of political pressure to continue introducing new rules and controls, but I believe Spain already has one of the most heavily regulated and closely monitored markets,” he said.
Despite the regulatory environment, RETAbet has continued to perform strongly in its home market, with Rodríguez-Maribona noting the company holds a podium position in Spanish retail betting.
Spain restricts gambling and betting advertising to a broadcast window between 1am and 5am under some of Europe’s strictest rules, with further tightening planned by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda.
Rodríguez-Maribona argued that advertising bans have made it harder for customers to distinguish between licensed and unlicensed platforms, handing an advantage to illegal operators.
“You only have to look at Facebook to see illegal betting offers,” he said. “Banning advertising and sponsorship is a mistake.”
He also challenged any assumption that sponsorship bans reduce gambling harm, stating: “I have not seen any scientific study demonstrating a correlation between betting sponsorships and gambling addiction.”
“Introducing a ban is easy,” Rodríguez-Maribona concluded. “Correcting or reversing it is the difficult part.”
