Gaming watchdog rents new premises from casino owner
The Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) is defending its choice to rent new offices from the company which owns the Oracle Casino, and consequently is a licensee that falls under its watch.
The gaming watchdog is claiming it was “impartial” over its decision to rent its office space at the Tumas Group’s TG Complex, in Mriehel.
Tumas Group is the parent company of Tomino Ltd, a licensee regulated by the gaming authority, which runs the Oracle Casino and that is now bidding for the Dragonara Casino.
The concession for the Dragonara has attracted the interest of three firms, namely Tomino, Dragonara Casino Ltd and Novomatic Peninsula. The evaluation of the bids is being handled by Mimcol, the government’s investment arm.
The gaming authority did not even publicise the fact it was moving out of its offices in Ta’ Xbiex. But a tender it issued for new office furniture also carried the architects’ plans of its office site at the Tumas complex.
The LGA said that following a public call for tender, it awarded the contract for the rental of office space to the Tumas Group.
A spokesperson for LGA chief executive Reuben Portanier side-stepped questions made by sister newspaper Business Today last Wednesday on the amount of the agreed rental fee. “The lease value per metre squared is lower than the existing lease cost per metre squared paid today by the Authority.”
Questions were also asked on whether the rental opened the authority, as an impartial regulator of the gaming industry, to potential conflict.
“The selection of the premises was a result of an impartial public competitive bid,” the LGA spokesperson replied. “It assessed criteria relating to aspects concerning floor space offered, cost per square metre, security, parking availability, location, health and safety standards, eco-friendly measures, premises availability and organisational requirements.”
The spokesperson said the arrangement carried the authorisation of the Finance Ministry, adding that the “selection process was impartial, as is its (the LGA’s) role as a regulator.”
Attempts for a direct comment from CEO Reuben Portanier proved futile. An LGA official who was asked to provide us with Portanier’s mobile number, said: “I never even saw his face. The best I can do is see if I can get you his email address.”
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