Portugal will return to hosting the weekly draw of its Loteria Classica at the Sala de Extrações of the Misericórdia de Lisboa.
The announcement was made by Jogos Santa Casa (SCML) as the steward of the Portuguese national lottery looks to “return the prestige to audiences and participants of Portugal’s weekly lottery draw”.
Sala de Extrações is the drawing room of Misericórdia de Lisboa, the building of Portugal’s first-ever charitable institution created by the Civil Parish of Lisbon in 1498.
The origins of the Loteria Classica date back to the priests of the Misericórdia de Lisboa hosting draws in 1784 to help raise funds for Portugal’s grape harvest.
In 1990, the government of Portugal formed Santa Casa as the state-owned lottery firm operated by Portugal Gambling Inspectorate (SRIJ) and reporting to Tourismo Portugal as head office.
Changes applied during the 1990s saw Santa Casa move the weekly draw from the heritage venue to accommodate the live audiences of Radio Portugal and Televisão.
During the 40-year break, the Misericórdia venue has been used sparingly to host anniversary and communal draws hosted by Santa Casa.
Santa Casa announced: “The relocation is to inject new dynamism into the Santa Casa Games draws, valuing their history and tradition while simultaneously enhancing their cultural and touristic dimension.”
“Forty years later, the Classic Lottery regularly returns to one of its most emblematic homes. Every Tuesday, tradition and the future meet again in the Drawing Room of the Misericórdia de Lisboa.”