Portugal to extend casino concessions after public tender stalls

Portugal’s government will extend existing casino concessions for a “strictly necessary period” after an international public tender for new licences failed to conclude on schedule, according to Expresso newspaper.

The extensions apply to casinos operated by Solverde Group and Estoril Sol, and will remain in place on an exceptional basis until all bidding procedures are completed. The previous concessions expired at the end of 2025.

The public tender covers gaming zones in the Algarve, Espinho, and Póvoa de Varzim. The deadline for submitting proposals expired at the end of 2025, after which bids are to be opened and assessed by a jury.

A preliminary report will be made available to bidders for comment before a final report with a proposed award is prepared, the ministry overseeing the sector said, without specifying how long the extensions could run into 2026.

“The proposals will be opened, and the jury will proceed with their evaluation, preparing a preliminary report that will be made available to the competitors for their comments,” the ministry said.

To bridge the delay, the government is expected to prepare an order or decree-law justifying the extensions. Sources linked to the process said this could involve “a short process, of one to three months,” although any legal challenge to the tender outcome could require a longer extension.

The issue featured prominently during the previous legislative election campaign. Former Socialist Party leader Pedro Nuno Santos accused Prime Minister Luís Montenegro of favouring Solverde through a possible extension without an international tender. Montenegro rejected the claim, saying “the last two extensions were decided by PS governments,” and insisting the tender was on schedule.

After being re-elected, Montenegro’s centre-right AD government launched a public tender for new 15-year casino concessions and received applications, but the process subsequently stalled.

The tender was launched on July 24, 2025, with a deadline of Sept. 5, 2025, for applications. The government said it received eight bids, without disclosing the names of the applicants. Initial forecasts had aimed to complete the process by Dec. 31, 2025, including awarding contracts for five casinos across Portugal.