A landmark parliamentary conference in Portugal took place last July 2nd to discuss the regulation and recognition of esports in the country.
Supported by the Portuguese Socialist Party and promoted by the Portuguese Electronic Sports Federation (FPDE), this event aims to establish a regulatory framework for esports in Portugal, according to a report from Esports Insider.
Pioneering Esports Regulation in Portugal
The conference addressed key topics including the recognition of esports as a sport, its impact on employment and the economy, legal frameworks, and the effects of esports on mental health. The event will be held at the António Almeida Santos Auditorium in Lisbon and will feature notable stakeholders such as José Manuel Constantino, President of the Olympic Committee of Portugal, Vitor Pataco, President of the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth, and Raul Faria, Head of Gaming and Esports of the Portuguese Football Association.
Esports Insider’s Co-Founder and Managing Director, Sam Cooke, also delivered an opening address via video during the conference. Portuguese MPs Miguel Costa Matos and André Pinotes Batista, both members of the Socialist Party, are championing the event. Batista, a vocal supporter of esports in Portugal, highlighted the significance of this conference as a foundational moment in the regulation of esports in the country.
Vision for a Regulated Esports Ecosystem
Batista told the Esports Insider in an interview, “All great paths begin with a first step. In this sense, the conference on July 2nd will go down in history as the foundational moment in the regulation of esports in Portugal. It will promote good health practices, provide labour and tax guarantees for all stakeholders, and create a more attractive ecosystem from a business perspective.”
Portugal has seen significant private sector developments in esports, including the unveiling of a €1.2 million (~US$1.2 million) esports arena in Lisbon by Teleperformance in 2022 and the Portuguese Football Federation’s esports campaign in 2023. Additionally, RTP, the state-owned broadcaster, has a dedicated esports coverage vertical called RTP Arena. However, direct government support has been lacking until now.
Esports Insider Conference in Lisbon
Later this year, Esports Insider will host its flagship esports, gaming, and creator economy business conference in Lisbon from September 23rd to 25th. The event is expected to welcome over 1,000 professionals from the esports, video game, and creator economy sectors. André Pinotes Batista will kick off the B2B conference with an opening address at ESI Lisbon.
The conference will feature panels, networking opportunities, and events such as the first edition of Esports Leaders, the 2024 editions of the ESI Hall of Fame, the start-ups competition The Clutch, and the ESI Film Festival.
Currently, Portugal also has its own esports federation, the Portugese Electronic Sports Federation or FEPODELE, which is also a member of the International Esports Federation or IESF.
FEPODELE was created in 2016 and “aims to be the governing body of Esports in Portugal,” its description in the IESF website says.
Its mission, also according to the IESF, is to educate the population about what is Esports and promote its practice in a healthy way, ensuring the development of the Portuguese ecosystem, supporting all clubs and athletes and representing them at national and international levels.
