Information in English concerning gambling in Portugal, in a bid to bring some clarity to this subject for the benefit of both residents and tourists, has been published in the Turismo de Portugal’s website.
And the Ministry of Internal Administration is in the process of uploading the same leaflet onto their website.
Following the case involving a number of people earlier this year for illegal gambling in Albufeira (see Algarve Resident, June 27 edition), Associação Safe Communities Algarve (SCA) received a number of enquiries regarding the position concerning various activities and whether these were legal.
In response to this, SCA, in consultation with Turismo do Algarve, the GNR and the British Vice Consul, decided to produce a government information document to help give some clarity to this subject.
Reflecting the queries that had been raised, a number of scenarios describing actual activities practiced here in Portugal were then drawn up and sent to Serviço de Inspeção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal, the legal authority on gambling, and SGMAI, responsible for the processing of applications in cases where approval needs to be sought.
Following several months of deliberation, the document has now been completed and covers the offences of organising, participating in, and being a place for the purpose of gambling, as well as the legal position concerning raffles, quiz nights, bingo, card games and sweepstakes in respect of both “for profit” and “non-profit” entities.
It also includes an overview of the application procedure, who to apply to and whom to contact regarding enquiries. The document also provides information regarding fundraising and how approval can be sought.
Anyone wishing to seek clarification concerning their own situation should contact Serviço de Inspeção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal – sij.expediente@turismodeportugal.pt or 211 140 200, and the Ministry of Internal Administration regarding the processing of applications – jogos@sg.mai.gov.pt or 351 213 409 000. Both organizations can be contacted in English.
The leaflet can be found at http://www.turismodeportugal.pt/Português/AreasAtividade/InspecaoJogos/jogoilicito/Pages/ColaboraçãonoCombateaoJogoIlícito.aspx
