Six gaming companies today filed a judicial protest against the Police Commissioner, the Lotteries and Gaming Authority and the Attorney General following a series of police raids on gaming establishments last week.

Gaming Operations Ltd, Media Games Malta (EU) Ltd, Zammit Videomatic Co Ltd, Laak Ltd, Vanguiarg Gaming Ltd and Best Play Gaming Ltd said they had been holding talks with the Authority for the past three years on the importation of sophisticated gaming machines which made use of IT systems which permitted the Authority, as the regulator, to have direct access to them. The Authority could thus remotely monitor their operation and the money which they generated, and charge tax accordingly.

During the talks the Authority had imposed the specifications which the machines had to meet. Those talks were the prelude to a legal notice issued to regulate the operation of these machines.

In virtue of the talks and on the suggestion of the Authority itself, the companies said they had invested millions of euro on the importation of the machines since they conformed to the law which was to come into force and the specifications with the Authority had laid down.

The Authority had subsequently given them a temporary permit during which system tests were carried out on the machines.

Yet, without prior notice from the Authority or the Commissioner of Police, police offices over the past few days had seized such machines.

The companies said they were suffering damages as a result of the police action and were holding the police and the Authority liable for damages.