The Times of Malta recently filed a Freedom of Information request asking the permanent secretary at the Finance Ministry to provide information on the number of casino concessions the ministry has granted, to whom they were given, how long the license will last and how much money the government generates through the concessions and licenses. The Times of Malta has made several requests for the information; after a month, a spokesperson for Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said the ministry could not divulge the information.
The newspaper asked the Malta Gaming Authority, which grants casino licenses after the government issues a concession, for the same information. The MGA said to date three Maltese companies had been licensed to operate casinos. Tumas Gaming Limited, owned by Hilton Hotel owners, has received two licenses to operate the Oracle Casino in Bu?ibba and another in Portomaso. Dragonara Gaming has a license to operate the Dragonara Casino until 2020, and Casino Malta Ltd. received a license last year to operate Casino Malta at the Intercontinental Hotel in St Julian’s.
The MGA also said the Casino di Venezia’s license was cancelled earlier this year after its Vittoriosa Casino experienced financial issues and closed in 2013.
