The Lucien Barrière Group announces that it has been selected by the Portuguese authorities to take over the concession for the Póvoa de Varzim Casino, located in northern Portugal, and will officially take over on May 1, 2026.

This new location marks a significant milestone in the Group’s international expansion, as it pursues a growth strategy in destinations with strong tourism and economic potential.

Located just 30 kilometers from Porto, one of Europe’s most attractive destinations, Póvoa de Varzim is a historic seaside resort where the casino has served as a central hub for entertainment and cultural life in the region for nearly a century.

An iconic establishment at the heart of a dynamic region

Opened in 1934, the Póvoa de Varzim Casino is housed in a neoclassical building inspired by French architecture, reflecting the city’s long-standing tradition of entertainment.

The establishment currently offers: It employs 220 people.

• 500 gaming stations (slot machines and electronic table games)

• 11 traditional gaming tables

• 1 restaurant

• 1 bar

• a theater with over 400 seats

• a regular schedule of shows and events

This project is part of the transformation process initiated by the Group to offer venues that are increasingly open, attractive, and rooted in their local communities.

In Póvoa de Varzim, this ambition will be reflected in particular by:A strategic presence in a rapidly growing Portuguese market

• a gradual modernization of the gaming offering;

• an upgrade of the customer experience;

• a redesign of the dining concepts;

• an expansion of the artistic and event programming;

• better integration into the tourist flows of the Porto region.

Portugal is experiencing sustained tourism and economic growth, with over 31 million international visitors in 2024 and increasing appeal to European and international customers.

In this context, the north of the country and the Porto region are emerging as major hubs for development.

This establishment allows Barrière to establish a lasting presence within this ecosystem and to deploy its entertainment model there.

It also paves the way for a gradual strengthening of the Group’s presence in Portugal, in line with a strategy of coherence and complementarity among its various activities, as Barrière will soon be operating a residential and hotel project in Lisbon.

“Póvoa de Varzim embodies everything that makes the projects we develop unique: a place steeped in history, a dynamic destination, and genuine potential for transformation. Our ambition is to bring a contemporary vision to the casino, conceiving it as a living space in its own right, where gaming interacts with the performing arts, gastronomy, and the overall experience. ” Clément Martin-Saint-Léon, General Manager of Casinos for the Lucien Barrière Group.

“This is exactly how Barrière approaches its development today: evolving iconic establishments to reveal their full potential, without ever losing their identity.” Grégory Rabuel, General Manager of the Lucien Barrière Group