Portugal has its first licensed online gambling site as Estoril Sol SGPS SA has launched.
The business is majority controlled by business interests connected to Macau casino entrepreneur Stanley Ho Hung Sun.
The site was established in partnership with Gaming1, which describes itself in a press release as part of the Ardent Group. The website’s license is valid for three years.
Estoril Sol runs three land-based casinos in Portugal: Casino Estoril, near Lisbon; Casino Lisboa, in Lisbon; and Casino da Póvoa, near Porto, Portugal’s second largest city.
The platform EstorilSolCasinos.pt is available for mobile and desktop devices. It was launched offering 18 games, including video slots, roulette and blackjack. More content will be added later, Gaming1 said in its press release.
A report in GGRAsia citing Estoril Sol’s latest annual report says the company includes as members of its governing bodies several people who are also key executives at Macau-based casino operator SJM Holdings Ltd.
Ho is chairman of the board of directors of both companies. Rui Cunha, executive director of SJM Holdings, is chairman of the advisory board at Estoril Sol and Ambrose So Shu Fai, chief executive of SJM Holdings, is a board member at Estoril Sol.
SJM Holdings is not a shareholder at Estoril Sol. Ho and related parties control the company via Finansol – Sociedade de Controlo, SGPS, the report said.
Ho’s daughter Pansy Ho Chiu King is also a board member at Estoril Sol. She also chairs the firm’s executive committee. Ms. Ho is not directly connected with SJM Holdings, but she is co-chairperson of Macau-based casino operator MGM China Holdings Ltd., the GGRAsia report said.
