The Gaming Department of Portugal’s largest charitable organisation, Santa Casa da Misericórdia, has launched a campaign on Responsible Gaming to warn people that gambling is only for people over 18 and that adults should be responsible when faced with a startling array of scratch cards and lottery tickets in sales outlets.
 
Santa Casa receives profits from the public’s purchases of tickets and scratch cards and is uses some of that money to promote responsible and moderate gaming habits - with the rest of its gaming profit used to run itself and fund its charitable works.

The captain of the stricken ship Costa Concordia has heard that his appeal against a 16-year prison sentence has been upheld.

The appeals court in Florence rejected Francesco Schettino’s appeal. Schettino was not in court when the verdict was announced.

Football legend Pelé is to send all his awards and memorabilia to auction in London.

The collection could realise £5m and anticipation is high that the event could be the biggest sports auction.

The prosecutor in the case against the former mayor of Tavira be convicted of five crimes allegedly committed when he was in office. The judges will pronounce their verdict on June 29th.

In the second session at Faro court of trial involving the former mayor, lawyer Eduardo Cunha considered that it had been proved that Correia had acted illegally by granting licenses in areas of the National Ecological Reserve (REN).

Socialist Party MPs have taken the first steps in uncovering what is going on at Ludo, the riverside park area to the west of Faro airport, that was created with public money.

The access gates are locked and ‘No Entry – Private Property’ warn off the public after €700,000 was been spent developing the land as a public utility, part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

SC Olhanense fans can look forward to next season with renewed optimism. Former Italian World Cup referee Luigi Agnolin, (pictured left with Pedro Proença, President of the Portugal Professional Football Leagues) who was elected president of the Olhanense Ltd Sports Company two months ago, has come good on his promise to move the club forward.

A complete new playing surface has been professionally installed over the past few weeks, including the latest in turf technology. After the problems of recent years, including having to play at the Algarve Stadium three years ago because of the substandard pitch, this will ensure a top class surface which should help to enhance the quality of football.

Pharol, the company formerly known as Portugal Telecom,* managed to lose €65.9 million in the first quarter of the year, 53% more than in the same period last year, according to its accounts that can be found on the CMVM Stock Market Regulator’s website.

The losses were blamed on appalling results from Brazil’s Oi in which Pharol owned 22% of the shares during the accounting period.

Property experts conclude that the UK’s pension law changes have pushed up the prices for prime property in Portugal's top areas.

The fact the pensions now can be drawn free of tax has seen wealthy Brits take advantage of Portugal with top end prices on the move for the first time since 2008.