Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro is facing mounting pressure over financial ties between his family’s company, Spinumviva, and Solverde, a leading casino and hotel group. Reports from local media reveal that Solverde has been paying Spinumviva €4,500 per month since July 2021 for consultancy services related to regulatory compliance and data protection procedures.
The controversy has intensified as the government prepares to decide on the renewal of casino licenses for Solverde, which operates several gaming establishments across Portugal. Montenegro, who previously provided legal advisory services to Solverde through his law firm in 2018, has pledged to abstain from any decision-making regarding these licenses.
Critics argue that this situation raises conflict of interest concerns, particularly as other major gaming companies, such as Estoril Sol and Casino Lisboa, compete for licensing renewals. Opposition parties are demanding greater transparency, with some calling for an independent investigation into Montenegro’s family business dealings.
The controversy escalated after Montenegro convened an extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting to address the issue. Meanwhile, Portugal’s gaming regulatory body, Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ), is under pressure to ensure a fair and transparent licensing process.
Portugal with new land-based casinos licences that expire at the end of the year
As scrutiny grows, Montenegro faces increasing political challenges that could impact his administration’s credibility in the gaming sector and beyond.
