The Public Prosecution Service (Ministério Público) filed 781 charges for illegal gambling activities between 2020 and 2025. During this six-year period, the office also opened 1,884 inquiries and issued 1,095 dismissal orders related to the illicit exploitation of gambling.
Public Prosecution Service reports hundreds of illegal gambling charges
Saturday, 27 June 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
The Ministério Público (Public Prosecution Service) is Portugal's independent state prosecution body, responsible for leading criminal investigations, bringing charges, and representing the public interest in court.
The MP operates autonomously from the government and the police, though it directs criminal investigations carried out by the Polícia Judiciária, PSP, and GNR. It is led by the Procurador-Geral da República (Attorney General), who is appointed by the President on the government's proposal.
The MP gets involved in high-profile cases including corruption, financial crime, and incidents of potential institutional negligence. It also defends the legality of government actions and protects citizens' fundamental rights through the courts.
