IT WAS controversial and criticised
from the start, but no matter what your
opinion about the new Lisbon Casino
is, it certainly is glamorous. Protagonists
argue that it is providing 2,500
people with jobs, will generate millions
in taxes for the government, will
breathe new life into the Parque das
Nações (former Expo site) and is a
world-class tourist attraction that will
encourage the cruise line brigade to
part with their euros.
Those who were against the project
believe it will encourage the already cashstrapped
Portuguese to fritter away their
hard-earned money and fall into debt,
while others argue that now is not the time
for such a frivolous attraction.
The Lisbon Casino was launched last
week in a fanfare of publicity and a blaze
of razzmatazz. The red carpet was unrolled
from 7pm onwards to welcome the Portuguese
jet set, politicians and local dignitaries
to a champagne and canapé cocktail
reception in a specially constructed
tent, complete with ice sculptures, a mobile
disco and a troupe of clowns.
Then, in filed the good and the great:
the Mayor of Lisbon, Dr. Carmona
Rodrigues, the Minister of the Economy,
Manuel Pinho, billionaire Macanese property
and leisure developer, Stanley Ho
(who is also behind the Lisbon Casino
project), TV comedian Herman José,
Portugal Telecom’s Miguel Horta e Costa,
British model Fiona, Portuguese catwalk
queen Naima, TV news presenter
Manuela Moura Guedes and her media
mogul husband José Eduardo Moniz,
crooning fadista Carlos do Carmo, to
name but a few of the 1,300 guests.
Shortly after 8.30pm, Stanley Ho
joined Manuel Pinho on the dais to press
the button that would illuminate the façade
of the casino. Then followed a 10-minute
speech and a fabulous firework display,
which lit up the night sky to a fanfare of
triumphant music.
Taking a tour around the inside of the new
casino, it soon becomes clear that the gaming
establishment is designed to attract the
wider general public. There are rows of slot
machines from five to 50 cents to suit all
tastes and pockets, while the bright electric
blue, blood red and mauve lighting inside
has an air of Las Vegas about it, which is
gaudy, lurid but hypnotising all the same.
For shows, concerts and plays, a smart
silver and black auditorium has been built,
and bright, informal leisure areas nearer
the entrance have been set up, where
New Lisbon Casino is world-class
tourist attraction Report and pictures by Chris Graeme
gamesters are met by teams of smartly
dressed staff in shocking pink suits.
The evening wasn’t short on gimmicks
to draw in the crowds once the doors were
formally opened from 9.30pm. Inside, the
games room figures, dressed up from Star
Wars, greeted the gamblers, while the
prize accumulated at the slot machines
had reached a 25,000 jackpot 10 minutes
after opening. There were figure dancers
engaging in various high altitude stunts
from high wires and ropes, while the draw
of the night was a comical light operetta
performance from Natalie Choquette.
Stanley Ho, who posed graciously for
the photographers, as he sat at the slot
machines, commented: “I’ve never
played or spent money in casinos.”
When asked if he thought it was responsible
to open up another casino during
Portugal’s worst economic crisis since
the 1980s, he replied: “There’s no economic
crisis. I know this because the
Prime Minister has told me so.”
