Eden Leisure Group has been chosen as the preferred bidder for one of two new casino licences the government intends to issue.

Dragonara Gaming Ltd was the second preferred bidder, the government said in a statement.

The selection process by the government’s privatisation unit had started with a call for expressions of interest in July last year.

The government said it wanted to immediately hold talks with both companies and look into awarding them each a concession.

Last year four operators expressed an interest in a casino licence in Gozo and another six in one for Malta.

The government had announced it wanted to award two 10-year concessions for a casino in Malta and another in Gozo.

However, interest in the bid for Gozo later fell through.

The casino industry has been operating in Malta since 1964 and its tax contribution grew to €13.5 million last year from €10 million in 2008.

The Casino’ di Venezia at Vittoriosa seafront closed down last year and has remained closed since.

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