Analysis MALTA


Malta - in the headlights


Malta has consistently punched above its weight in the gaming industry by recognising and exploiting the opportunities the sector has to offer


MALTA WAS THE FIRST EUROPEAN country to regulate remote gaming back in 2004. It is also one of a handful of European countries which runs its land- based gaming sector side-by-side with its remote gaming industry in a fairly amicable marriage of convenience. Part one of this market report will look at the land-based sector covering the casinos and the new street gaming market whilst part two in the next issue will focus on the remote gaming sector.


“Size isn’t everything.” So they say. And as the smallest country in Europe, Malta is proving that these words of wisdom are possibly quite true particularly in reference to its overall business, financial and gaming market.


With a proven remote gambling market and a small but controlled casino market the country has just introduced new regulations to bring VLTs into the street market which is expected to open up the industry even further.


Malta is an archipelago made up of several islands situated in the centre of the Mediterranean between Europe and North Africa and just 90 kilometres south of Sicily. Covering just over 300 sq.m in land area, it is one of the world’s smallest and most densely populated countries. However despite its tiny size fortunately its cross roads location has given Malta


great strategic importance over the years.


The name Malta is thought to derive from a Greek world meaning ‘honey’ and the Greeks often referred to the island as ‘honey-sweet’ or ‘land of honey.’ Various powers have ruled the islands until it gained independence in 1964 and became a republic in 1974.


The origin of Malta dates back to around 5200BC when people from neighbouring Sicily decided to cross the narrow waters and investigate. They settled on the island primarily in caves and later huts. The Sicani were the only known tribe to have inhabited the island at this time and they grew cereals and raised domestic livestock.


Around 1200BC the Phoenician traders and mariners settled in Malta for around 320 years and it is thought this is where the Maltese language was derived from. Around 700BC the Ancient Greeks arrived in Malta especially in the area where Valletta now stands later followed by Phoenician traders who would stop on their trade route.


Arabs later ruled Malta for around two centuries until the Norman’s invaded and during this period Malta became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Sicily and the catholic church was re-instated which continues as the main religion today.


G3 I AUGUST 2011 I PAGE 46


Malta is classed as an ‘advanced


economy’, a title given to 32 other


countries by the IMF. Until the 1800s the


country depended on cotton, tobacco and its shipyards for


exports. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 was a great boost to the


economy at this time.


The French took over Malta in the late 1700s although this rule only lasted two years and the Maltese rebelled and with the help of the British they were ousted in 1800. The British then occupied the island for the next 15 years whilst the fate of the island was decided.


Malta finally asked the British to stay and this was finally legalised in 1815 when Malta became a part of the British Empire as part of the Treaty of Paris and the island was used primarily as a shipping way-station and fleet headquarters.


Malta supported the UK through both world wars and remained in the Commonwealth. Finally in September 1964 Malta achieved independence and in 1971 the Malta Labour Party won the


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