Karl Stagno-Navarra
Government’s unexplained decision to issue a late call for expressions of interest for operators to take over the Dragonara Casino, has seriously compromised the fate of 220 employees who lay in a limbo as to what is going to happen to them once their current employers’, Accor-Barrier, concession expires in just a month.
The employees are justified to be worried about their fate, as their outgoing concessionaires have been repeatedly sending clear signals to government that the current conditions – brought about by the same government – “highly discourage” them to continue their operation, even though they are being urged to extend their operation until January 2010.
Speaking to MaltaToday a Casino spokesperson expressed his disappointment with government for having “prejudiced” the sector by failing to regulate gambling outlets that have proliferated around the island.
“This has severely jeopardised the livelihoods of our 220 employees, and moreover, the loss in revenue has kept us from making the necessary investments to keep the operation viable,” he said.
Finance ministry statistics reveal a 9.2% drop in revenue for government from all Casino slot machines in 2008 when compared to the previous year. According to local casino operators, this loss is a result of the diversion of “controlled clients” to irregular gaming halls. The machines in these halls are identical to the casino slot machines, and their revenues remain totally unknown.
But whilst local casino operators continue to register losses, gaming hall franchises are making it big enough to consider taking over the Dragonara Casino. Pinnacle Gaming Group – the company behind the betting shop franchise Fairplay – will be bidding for the Dragonara Casino tender issued by government.
The move is considered to be “not surprising” to the local operators, as government repeatedly refuses to regulate this grey sector. “The government’s position on the slot machine issue is making it impossible for any operator other than the illegal ones to accurately predict future revenues,” the spokesman said.
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Search:
MALTATODAY
BUSINESSTODAY
Download MaltaToday Sunday issue front page in pdf file format
All the interviews from Reporter on MaltaToday's YouTube channel.
