PS insists action had been taken to tighten up gaming sector

The Parliamentary Secretary for the Digital Economy Silvio Schembri has dismissed an editorial which appeared on The Malta Independent yesterday, saying that the article is based on an old and recycled story.

The editorial, titled ‘Money laundering - Something must be done to stop the rot’, quotes a report by Europol’s Financial Intelligence Group which makes a point of highlighting the case of Malta and the €2 billion that mafia clans are believed to have at least sought to launder through Malta.

The reply by the parliamentary secretary said that the company mentioned in the editorial applied for the necessary permits in 2010 and the Gaming Authority has taken all the steps necessary so that such an episode it not repeated.

“The Gaming Authority has kept on its fight against money laundering and organised crime in this vital sector for our country. We are also in process of implementing the fourth Directive on Money Laundering.”

The parliamentary secretary said that together with the Malta Gaming Authority, it had launched a white paper so that the authority is given more power to fight illegalities and protect consumers.

“If the gaming sector is not doing well, as The Independent is implying, then there would not be more companies of international fame willing to invest in Malta, besides ones which are already based here in Malta and are willing to expand.”