Following accusations that the Maltese government was dragging its feet over a proposal by US-based Cala to develop an offshore undersea casino, the government said it had not received any serious proof of financial standing, according to Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech.

Cala, doing business as UnderSea Resort and Residences, last year announced it was planning to build “landmark” casinos offshore.

Its first casino resort was planned at Qawra Bay and would feature 600 deluxe junior suites, 100 table games and 800 slot machines over an area of about 5,574 sqm.

The company had boasted it had secured a 70 percent financing agreement with Credit Suisse for the project. Questions sent to the company over a week ago remained unanswered.