The Government is to announce initiatives to update the i-gaming regulations in a bid to target new sectors such as social gaming, digital games and licensing of casinos on cruise liners.
Winding up the Lotteries and Other Games (Amendment) Bill, Parliamentary Secretary Edward Zammit Louis said these initiatives would be implemented in the coming weeks.
They would be based on positive initiatives of the previous PN government which were never implemented.
Earlier, Dr Zammit Louis said the i-gaming sector contributed around 12 per cent to the Maltese GDP. The sector could not be considered on its own as it was related to digital technology as well as financial services.
He praised the Opposition for backing the Government in the gaming sector, adding that the sector was a success because it was never affected by any change in administration.
Malta had to provide incentives for more people to come and operate from here
Dr Zammit Louis said that competitors, such as Gibraltar, were very aggressive in the way they marketed themselves.
Therefore, Malta had to provide incentives for more people to come and operate from Malta.
He agreed with former finance minister Tonio Fenech, who said there should be more EU regulations on this sector and that the Lotteries and Gaming Authority had to be more vigilant. The Government would safeguard national interests.
Dr Zammit Louis also agreed with the Opposition that that the gaming sector had to be diversified further.
He said the Government would not commit the same mistake made by the previous one. It would not allocate the work to only four legal firms.
A public call would be issued and the work would be allocated to those who were capable of doing the job.
Answering Mario de Marco, Dr Zammit Louis said the Responsible Gaming Foundation would be set up in the coming weeks to protect minors, addicts and victims of usury.
It was never set up by the PN government.
Dr Zammit Louis agreed with Marthese Portelli (PN) who said that the licensing regime had to be more business friendly.
Competitors had a more streamlined regime, which put Malta at a disadvantage, he said.