The Regional Government of Madeira has launched a new chapter for one of Portugal's most iconic gaming and tourism assets by approving an international tender for the next concession of Casino da Madeira, whose current operating licence expires on December 31, 2026. The decision, formalized through Resolution No. 723/2026, approved on July 15 and published on July 21, 2026, will end nearly six decades of uninterrupted operation by the same group and open competition for the exclusive right to operate games of chance in the Funchal Gaming Zone.
The tender will be managed by the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Environment and Culture of Madeira, headed by Eduardo Jesus, and will be conducted through a restricted international procedure with prequalification. Interested companies must first demonstrate their financial strength, technical expertise and operational experience before being invited to submit their financial and technical proposals. The concession will be awarded under Decree-Law No. 422/89, Portugal's Gaming Law, and the Public Contracts Code, while regulatory oversight will remain under the Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ), a division of Turismo de Portugal.
The current concession is held by ITI – Sociedade de Investimentos TurÃsticos na Ilha da Madeira, S.A., a company linked to the Pestana Group, which has operated the casino since 1986 and has controlled the Funchal Gaming Zone concession since 1968. However, the company will not receive an automatic extension and must compete with new bidders if it wishes to retain the concession beyond 2026.
Eduardo Jesus
Located on Avenida do Infante, just minutes from downtown Funchal, Casino da Madeira is one of the island's leading tourism and entertainment landmarks. Designed from a concept by renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer, the complex features 200 slot machines, two blackjack tables, two poker tables, two American roulette tables, electronic roulette, progressive jackpots, restaurants, bars, a convention center and venues dedicated to live entertainment and nightlife.
Although the Regional Government has not yet released the final tender specifications, these documents are expected to define the concession term, minimum investment requirements, financial guarantees, evaluation criteria and operational obligations for the future concessionaire. The outcome of the tender will determine who will operate Madeira's only casino from 2027 onward and shape its role within the archipelago's tourism and economic development strategy.
