Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi told Parliament yesterday that over the last two years the gaming sector had increased government revenue by €4 million from €16 to €20 million.
Winding up the debate on the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill, Dr Azzopardi said that licensed operators amounted to over 400 showing a 25 per cent increase in licensing over the last two years.
He said that over the last weeks, the government and the opposition had met to clarify and smoothen out differences on some clauses. These included clarifications on games of skills. Both sides had already collaborated in 2009 in bringing the gaming sector forward through the appropriate legal framework.
The Gaming Authority was still putting the legal framework in place and as a result, operators were still waiting for their licence. The new framework established a safe barring on-line system so that certain persons would not be permitted in gaming establishments. The authority was also finalising the trust responsible for the fund aimed at educating people on gambling.
Dr Azzopardi said that the authority had doubled its checks on operators during 2010. Operators organising tombola also required a licence. Regulation meant that more measures were in place to avoid fraud. The authority cooperated with the Police to curb illegal gambling.
He said that Maltese-registered cruise liners and others entering territorial waters had to be licensed to operate a casino on board. The integrity of the gaming industry was built on a system which was legal, fair and transparent to the clients and fought money laundering.
The Gaming Authority had gained experience on the industry and on European jurisdiction over the last years giving support to the Attorney General in the preparation of cases in the European courts.
Gaming companies in Malta operated with great integrity and security against fraud. These companies not only provided employment but also had a multiplier effect on the economy.
Dr Azzopardi also referred to corruption in sports declaring that this was unacceptable and the responsible authorities had to do their utmost to fight corruption. He praised those companies that collaborated with the sports authorities to look for patterns of corruption and illegality in sports. The authorities had imposed additional guarantees to ensure that operators observed their obligations during last year’s World Cup event.
The Bill was unanimously approved.