Maltese Online Gaming Sites blocked

Three weeks ago, the Italian state blocked 80 internet gaming sites licensed in Malta which are considered to be illegal, to protect Italian gamers from the fraudulent purchase of passwords and credit card information.

The Lotteries and Gaming Authority is still awaiting an invitation for talks from the Italian gaming authority since the blockade of Maltese internet gaming sites.

The authority's website is now the only form of access for Italian players to get in touch with the Maltese gambling websites and last week the site was also blocked by Italian ISPs, but the situation was redressed a few hours later.

"The authority's CEO Mario Galea hopes the Italians would keep their word to start debates: "The Italians understand they have no problems with us and said they are ready to meet us. If they don't, we would have to take diplomatic action, and that means the issue will be dealt with at government level."
"The Italian regulatory board, the AAMS, has threatened Italian ISPs which do not block the websites with a daily fine of EUR180,000 each time they allow someone to bet with a Maltese company that is on their blacklist.

"The Malta Remote Gaming Council said there is no reason why Maltese gaming sites should be blocked, 'other than to protect the Italian government's monopoly which runs betting in Italy.'..."