From January 1, 2008, Malta began to change its Maltese liri to the euro.
Retailers were accepting both currencies until the end of January but giving change only in euros.
Both currencies will continued to be displayed as valid until June and from July 1, Maltese people will have to take their Liri to the Central Bank to change it.
Malta is the only European country to experience an increase in numbers for their currency upon conversion, with one Maltese liri trading at €2.34.
For the amusement, gaming and vending machine markets, the 15,000 machines in the country with bill acceptors and coin mechanisms are all being converted.
Most coin acceptors in the vending and amusement industry are supplied by MEI, Astro Sytems supplies 87 per cent of the street gaming market and GPT and JCM share the casino market.
Malta’s euro changeover is being closely monitored by the National Euro Changeover Committee, which has been set up by the Government to help both consumers and businesses to complete the change.
It advises on price changes and keeps in close contact with key service providers such as leading distributor/operator Camilmac Services Ltd, which has a service centre for JCM, MEI and Astro and undertook to convert 12,000 machines in the fist 18 days of January.
Ivan Camilleri, one of Camilmac’s directors, said that the company monitors over 2,000 key gaming and amusement machines and is involved in the maintenance of over 4,000 other machines.
He expects the euro to increase operators’ cash box takings during the course of the year.
