The islands of Malta may be famous in the industry as a jurisdiction in which online gambling companies may establish their business, but it has its street market too.
Four casinos, 46 slots parlours, three bingo clubs and a scattering of the pure amusement industry sum up what the islands have – or what they are permitted to have.
In the case of the amusement industry there is very little, principally because for some reason obscured by history, the country is one of the very few which does not permit ticket redemption machines.
That means that there are no family entertainment centres and no meaningful entertainment machines for children. What there is comprises a collection of kiddie rides and novelty machines, scattered through the tourist-oriented towns and villages, usually alongside kiosks and cafes on the waterfront.
Among the operators of these is Ivan Camilleri, of the island-based Camilmac, but operating under the name Allied Games. Most of his business these days is in distributing gaming machines into Malta and selling internationally.
“I have a determination to see this most harmless of games return to the island,” he said. “I would like nothing better than to see family entertainment centres open here again to entertain families.”
He jokes that if redemption were to be re-introduced he would challenge his old friend Adam Steinberg of Leisure and Allied Industries to allow Camilleri to open one of the TimeZone centres in Malta.
His Allied Games is coming up (in 2017) for its 20th anniversary. “I formed Allied from Camilmac because I wanted to separate the brand from the administration.”
Camilleri wants Allied to be able to import and operate all forms of amusement machines in Malta, but particularly redemption, which was banned in the island in 2011. “There is a market here – a demand.”
