The Dragonara Casino said today it is placing operational staff on a four-day week plus one day forced leave to ensure they still retain their basic salary.

"A situation has arisen at the Dragonara Casino which is a result, in part, of the global recession but is mainly attributable to the government’s failure to control the proliferation of illegal slot operations. This is directly endangering the jobs of 220 families," the casino said.

Last week the Parliamentary Social Affairs Committee recommended that the government close gaming shops which were being used as gambling outlets without a licence.

A spokesman for the casino explained to timesofmalta.com that patronage at the Casino had dropped because there were between 100 and 120 outlets offering gambling on slot machines without the required licences.

"The situation is very serious," he said.

The Dragonara Casino is Malta's oldest, having opened in 1964.

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