A lack of government regulation of slot machine halls around Malta has led to these operators making money at the expense of the island’s casinos. In the face of this situation Accor-Barrière, operator of the Dragonara Casino, has yet to apply to renew its licence, saying the current conditions are highly discouraging. As many as 220 jobs are on the line but the company blames the loss of revenue for not investing further.

The Malta government has now issued a call for expressions of interest for the Dragonara Casino licence. One company said to be likely to make a bid is the Fairplay betting shop franchise owner, Pinnacle Gaming Group, a company with plenty of profits from its gaming machines. Fairplay was set up in 2002 and the brand is now present in cafés, bars and clubs The Dragonara, located in St Julians, is the largest casino in Malta.

The problem of the proliferating gaming halls has come about because since the law change in 2007 the Lotteries and Gaming Authority has failed to issue a single licence, despite being empowered to do so. Initial applications were never processed and gaming shops have been able to open under ‘change of use’ permits. In 2008 casino revenue from slot machines was down 9.2%.
(E-05.12.09)

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