To ensure a smooth transition, the Portuguese government recently announced a temporary three-month extension of the existing casino operating concessions in the key gambling areas of Algarve, Espinho, and Póvoa de Varzim. This measure aims to provide a buffer for the new round of long-term license bidding process, which has missed the final decision deadline originally set for December 31, 2025.
Why is the concession extended again?
The government explained the necessity of the extension in a statement, citing the need to "complete all necessary formal procedures." This bidding involves five casino licenses in the aforementioned areas, with the new licenses having a duration of 15 years. Due to the complexity of the process, the review work was not completed on time. This is the second "renewal" of the contract—the original concession was set to expire in 2023 but was previously extended to the end of 2025 to compensate for the pandemic shutdown impact. This additional three-month grace period is to ensure uninterrupted operations of the casinos in various locations until the final completion of the bidding.
Current operators stabilize their positions
This extension is undoubtedly a reassurance for the existing concession holders. The main beneficiaries include Estoril Sol, which operates the Póvoa de Varzim casino (its chairman is Macau gambling tycoon Pansy Ho), and the Solverde Group, which operates other regional casinos. They will continue to operate under the extended terms and are expected to participate in the bidding to retain their current territories. Especially Estoril Sol, which has explicitly stated its intention to fight for the retention of the Póvoa de Varzim license.
Bidding enters the "final round," with industry giants gathering
The preliminary qualification review phase of the bidding ended on December 29 last year, forming a highly competitive lineup of bidders. In addition to the two existing "old players," several strong "new players" have emerged, such as:
• Spanish group Cirsa (backed by the American fund Blackstone) and Comar
• French Lucien Barrière Group
• Canadian Mercan Group
While the final proposal submission window for Póvoa de Varzim and Espinho has closed, the bidding channel for the three licenses in Algarve will remain open until January 4, 2026.
Future timeline and industry impact
Next, a government-appointed review panel will analyze all final proposals and provide recommendations, pushing the entire process towards making the final grant decision later this year. This bidding is closely watched by the global gambling industry, and its outcome will reshape the Portuguese gambling market landscape for the next fifteen years. For readers interested in global regulatory dynamics, you can continue to visit the PASA official website for the latest information. Although this extension has been somewhat circuitous, it also reflects the government's cautious consideration of procedural compliance and market stability in the transition of major commercial concessions.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
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PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
