888poker launches in Portugal

888 has gone live with its poker product in Portugal, marking the first licensed competition for PokerStars in the market.

The 888poker.pt site will share liquidity with 888’s Spanish offering, boosting both products according to the London-listed operator.

“Portugal is a fantastic opportunity for 888 and we’re excited to be just the second poker operator to enter the market,” said Guy Cohen, 888 Holdings’ head of B2C. “Players love their poker and there is incredible scope to grow its popularity.

“We’re looking forward to giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy the game. Shared liquidity with 888poker.es will enhance players’ gaming experience with a greater pool of players and we believe our platform can help lift the entire landscape for poker in Portugal.”

888poker revenues were down 28% in the period from 1 January to 18 May, with the operator suggesting the launch in Portugal would help reverse the decline, along with the new Poker 8 client.

Unique 888 poker variants include SNAP, BLAST and Progressive Knockout Tournaments.

Portugal’s gross gaming revenues rose by 44% year-on-year during the first quarter of 2019, according to new figures released by the Portuguese regulator SRIJ.

Poker has been gradually declining as a share of online casino revenue however, from 20% at launch in Q2 2018 to 14% in Q1.

The Poker 8 client