The Portuguese gaming regulator, the Serviços de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ), has announced the beginning of a public tender process for exclusive casino operation rights in Estoril and Figueira da Foz, the two legal land-based gambling regions in the country.

The current licences are set to expire on 31 December 2022 – following previous licensing extensions which were the result of the general Covid-19 associated decline in the land-based gaming trade.

The public tenders will be open for 30 days and will grant the winner the exclusive rights to offer games of chance in the regions, with the process open to domestic businesses, as well as international operators with a branch in Portugal.