Sao Miguel Azores gets a New Casino

The island of Sao Miguel, located in the Mid-Atlantic ocean, has seen a tourism boom in the last five years, which has resulted in many additions to the island’s landscape and skyline. The newest addition to the Ponta Delgada skyline is the Azor Hotel and Casino, which recently opened in January 2017 with the casino being home in the Spring of 2017. The 10 million dollar investment from the Portuguese parent company is one of the modern-day additions that have come to the island. The Hotel has modern decor with just over 100 rooms and suites, overlooking the island’s capital’s harbor. The Pool and fitness facilities are open to hotel guests with the lounge and a la carte restaurant available to everyone. The restaurant is pricey but offers a creative, unique menu of some of the finest local ingredients the islands offer. The casino has come with mixed emotions from locals and tourists alike. The island’s GDP is not one that requires a casino since many of the population get paid once a month and hardly a salary that leaves a substantial leisurely disposable income. The rationale behind its building was that it was an excellent addition for tourists who come to the island either by day cruise or for the weekend for a getaway. However, most cruise lines have their casinos onboard, and the Azores being a location that thrives of its eco-tourism, it was strange to see that after close to a decade, the property was completed and opened. The property is stunning and offers the modern-day luxuries of any 4-star hotel. The casino, which has bilingual staff, is open till late hours of the night and has increasingly become a stopover point during the night for a quick card game or two by tourists. Most people don’t make the casino the highlight of their trip to the Azores and are more novelty or something to do in between tours.