The government has initiated procedures in the First Hall of the Civil Court to order Port Cottonera Hotel Development Co. Limited, Galleys Development Co. Ltd and  Vittoriosa Gaming Limited to pay their rent arrears and give back the property they hold, including the Casino di Venezia.

On 2 June 1999, the government had signed a 99-year lease of three properties in Vittoriosa for a consideration of €582,343 a year.

The lease agreement stated that if the lessors fall back for two years on the lease, the government could get the properties back.