PORTUGAL CASINOS WILLIAM N. THOMPSON PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS [email protected] EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF GAMBLING STUDIES ANNUAL MEETING –LISBOA PORTUGAL September 16, 2016 PORTUGAL CASINOS ABSTRACT This presentation, spoken and in power point, offers an overview of the history, development, and features of casino gaming in Portugal. The presenter has visited seven of eight casinos that existed in the 1980s, all casinos except one on the island of Madeira. Since then an additional three casinos have been established in the city of Lisbon, at the northern city of Chaves, and in a south of Lisbon suburb of Troia. The developments in Portugal are compared to those in adjacent Spain, along with the influences of leaders Salazar of Portugal and Franco of Spain. PORTUGAL CASINOS ABSTRACT PART 2 The first casino in Portugal was opened in 1904 at Figueira Da Foz on the Atlantic Coast north of Lisbon. This was during an era of monarchy. Portugal then experienced severe political turmoil as the king was assassinated and his son deposed, followed by times of democracy and autocracy. An additional two casinos appeared at northern cities of Espinoza and Povoa de Varzim, only to be closed and then reopened. A right wing dictator, Antonio Salazar came to power in the 1930s. He endorsed casino gaming as facilities opened on Madeira Island as well as Estoril near Lisbon. Salazar’s successor opened three casinos on the south Mediterranean Coast area known as the Algarve. While these were operated privately, a new socialist government put them under government control after 1975. They returned to private ownership in 1979. The existing casinos opposed a Lisbon casino until 2006 fearing it would take their business away. Indeed it did, as 20% of the revenues at Estoril were lost. The presentation looks at taxation as well as games offered and rules pertaining to players. ONE SAYS CLOSE, ANOTHER OPEN Two Directions under Two Autocrats of the Right Spain---Casinos Closed in 1924; Opened in 1977: Two Years After Franco’s Death—Law for Casinos passed Two Weeks after Franco passes Portugal—Casinos come in 1904, stay off and on until Salazar emerged in 1930s—then Stay CASINOS LOCATIONS IN PORTUGAL (PLUS MADEIRA) CASINO OWNERSHIP GROUPS 1) AMORIM GROUP 3) PESTANA GROUP . Figueira Da Foz . Casino de Madeira . Troia Casino Grandola 4) SOLVERDE GROUP 2) ESTORIL SOL GROUP . Chaves . Estoril . Espinho . Lisboa . De Monte Gordo . Povoa De Varzim . Portimao . Vilamoura (Quarteira) FIGUEIRA DA FOZ ESPINHO CASINO POVOA DE VARZIM ESTORIL CASINO DE MADEIRA (FUNCHAL) VILAMOURA (CASINO QUARTEIRA) CASINO ALVOR-PORTIMAO TWENTY FIRST CENTURY CASINOS LISBOA-LISBON THE MOTHER CASINO LISBOA-MACAU CASINO DE MONTE GORDO NEW CASINO AT CHAVES NEW CASINO GRANDOLA AT TROIA SUMMARY ATTRIBUTES OF PORTUGAL CASINOS 1)AGE, 18 YEARS OLD 2) TAXES ON SCALE UPTO 30% OF GROSS 3) LOCATION IN GEOGRAPHICAL GROUPS 4) FOUR OWNERSHIP GROUPS 5) GAMES, SLOTS AND TYPICAL TABLE GAMES/FRENCH BANK SPECIAL.