At Portomaso Marina in St Julian's, a setting synonymous with luxury yachts and high-end leisure, the casino has become a sought-after destination in its own right. On a typical night, between 100 and 300 players and guests pass through its doors.

Inside, the atmosphere is a world away from the stereotypical casino. Soft lighting, rich timber, marble, brushed metal and curved forms create the feel of an elegant lounge rather than a conventional gaming floor. Inspired by the yachts moored outside, the recently refurbished space is calm, polished and immersive, carrying the marina's atmosphere indoors.

This is Portomaso Casino, part of Tumas Gaming Ltd's operations, open 24 hours a day, 364 days a year – every day except Good Friday.

Overseeing its 4,000-square-metre venue and 150-strong team is Casino Manager Jonathan Micallef, whose remit spans the gaming floor, poker, hospitality, security, and the growing connection between the physical casino and its online audience.

Mr Micallef has been part of the Portomaso Casino story for 20 years, joining in 2006 as a trainee dealer. He has risen through the ranks, from dealer to inspector on the tables, then shift manager, senior shift manager and, eventually, Casino Manager, where today, he oversees virtually every aspect of the casino’s operation. He also finds himself at the helm at a significant moment for Portomaso Casino, and for Malta’s growing reputation as an international destination for casino entertainment.

Speaking about the thinking behind the recent refurbishment, Mr Micallef says: “With the full refurbishment of Portomaso Casino, we started another chapter and a new view of gaming in Malta. We wanted to give the best experience and the best service, so we invested heavily in the casino, with a new VIP room, new tables and new facilities. Everything is new. Our aim now is to offer a high-quality experience to mid- to high-class tourists and locals, with the aim of attracting even more international players to our shores.” 

The investment is steadily turning Portomaso into a more ambitious entertainment destination. It also reflects a broader shift in how the venue sees the modern casino, which is moving away from the formal, old-style image of ties and suits towards a more relaxed, social and experiential environment.

For Mr Micallef, the casino itself is in fact only part of the proposition. The bars, restaurant and wider setting around Portomaso Marina all contribute to the experience, giving guests the opportunity to move beyond the gaming floor and enjoy St Julian’s and the rest of Malta.

Poker is also increasingly central to its growing ambition. The reopening of Portomaso Casino was marked by the 11-day Diamond Poker Series, which brought €5 million in guaranteed prize pools to the newly refurbished venue and demonstrated the scale of international poker that Malta can now accommodate. For Portomaso Casino, these tournaments form part of a wider strategy to establish both the casino and Malta itself as a major poker destination in the Mediterranean, attracting experienced players and high-value visitors from across Europe and further afield.

But events of this scale require an operation almost as substantial as the tournaments themselves. Mr Micallef and his team coordinate with hundreds of experienced poker professionals arriving from abroad, bringing in dealers, floor staff and other specialist personnel specifically for the 10- to 15-day events. It is a significant logistical exercise, requiring careful planning to build an additional operation around the tournament while keeping the casino’s everyday business running smoothly. 

“It’s a very big challenge. When we have these large events, the influx of people goes through the roof, but we still need to keep our daily operation running and make sure we can cope with the additional demand. For the biggest tournaments, that can mean accommodating between 1,500 and 2,000 players while continuing to serve regular customers.”

The next major test is already on the horizon. Mr Micallef points to a major October tournament carrying a €3 million guaranteed prize pool, describing it as “one of the biggest that we have ever done.” 

What’s more, the casino’s potential audience is also expanding. The launch of direct flights between New York and Malta has also opened a new opportunity: the lucrative American poker market. It is a challenging proposition given the competition from established destinations such as Las Vegas, but the Portomaso Casino Manager sees real potential in tapping into such a valuable niche audience for Malta.

Ultimately, however, he believes the success of that strategy comes back to something more fundamental: the customer experience. It’s a point he repeatedly stresses with the eight managers under his direction on a daily basis. “In an increasingly competitive European casino market, I believe the quality of the interaction between staff and guests can be just as important as the physical environment, if not more so,” he explains.

That approach also shapes how Mr Micallef sees the casino’s role beyond its own walls. “People might think players come here just for the casino, but we generate much more than that. Our customers stay in hotels, use taxis, eat in restaurants, book tour guides, boat trips and excursions,” he says, going on to explain that his team also puts together packages for visiting players and their families, so they can enjoy the best that Malta has to offer as part of their trip.

“Casino customers also tend to have more spending power, so they bring more value to Malta’s tourism economy. There are a lot of different businesses that benefit from what we do, and that’s important for the entire island,” he concludes.