Gambling Insider: Malta Focus 2022

Malta Focus 2022

Editor's Letter

As the European iGaming contingent reconvenes in Malta once again, this year’s build-up sees plenty of talk on the islands of compliance, licensing and (of course) overall regulation. To that end, our Malta Focus magazine this year reads like an operator’s dream, as we address issues like advertising, responsible gambling, compliance & licensing, the benefits of owning a Malta office, M&A and more.

Misconceptions are shattered in this issue, as Dr Kyle Scerri of CSB Group explains why Malta was never actually an ‘offshore’ hub. In our feature-length interview with Scerri and colleague Jan Wright, the lawyers also propose why EU regulators should consider working more in tandem across different jurisdictions. Could something like this ever happen? Operators certainly wouldn’t complain – but would regulators ever truly entertain such an idea?

Elsewhere, Ron Mendelson talks about the small matter of Malta’s Financial Action Task Force greylisting – which has since been reversed. It’s an issue also touched upon in our ‘Out with the new, in with the old?’ feature, where we assess exactly what companies can gain from being based in Malta, and whether the island should now focus more on retaining its existing company base, rather than attracting too many new firms.

Finally, in our last Malta Focus magazine, we discussed at length a growing trend of converging operator-supplier M&A. Over the past 12 months, however, we’ve seen a number of big-name mergers actually fail to occur within the gambling industry. Mark O’Sullivan of Exacta Solutions provides an interesting examination of why mergers and acquisitions aren’t always sunshine and roses.

So, with a wide range of insightful Maltese content, we encourage you to dive into our interviews and features while you walk the floors at SiGMA. And, you never know, they might just provide exactly the information you need ahead of your next big meeting. If you’re reading this outside the show – at home or in the office – we wish you all the productivity you need to round off a busy 2022 and head into a potentially lucrative 2023.

In the Magazine

In focus: Altenar

An insight into the technology that powers Altenar’s products and the company culture that drives it.

Out of bounds

Gambling Insider looks at the effect edgy advertising campaigns are having on the gambling market, as well as the lengths some are going to get noticed by the consumer.

In focus: Evolution

The Evolution Group is a leading B2B provider of online casino content, offering an unparalleled portfolio of unique games around the globe.

Keeping Malta responsible

Responsible Gaming Foundation General Manager Kevin O’Neill looks back on a busy year for the organisation, as well as offering operators advice on promoting responsible gambling.

In focus: Trustly

Payments supplier Trustly walks us through its company, products and what makes it stand out within the marketplace.

A regulatory revolution?

Dr Kyle Scerri and Jan Wright of CSB Group discuss how Maltese operators can navigate an increasingly challenging iGaming regulatory landscape, as well as proposing a new way of thinking for EU jurisdictions.

A message from SiGMA

SiGMA Founder and CEO Eman Pulis talks about this year’s SiGMA trade show, discussing how it has evolved post-Covid-19 and how it plans to continue its growth in the future.

Out with the new, in with the old?

Gambling Insider spoke to Stefan Nelson, CFO and Managing Director LeoVegas Malta, Trevor De Giorgio, Head of Compliance at Play’n Go, and Enrico Bradamante, Chief Commercial Officer at Pariplay, to find out how Malta is faring in the wider global marketplace.

In focus: PayRetailers

Founded in 2017, PayRetailers is a leading global provider of online payment services with Latin DNA. We offer e-commerce payment solutions for end-to-end cross-border transaction flow without the need of a local entity.

OCR Labs Global: ID, please?

OCR Labs Global’s Head of Gaming, Fiona Davies, speaks to Gambling Insider about the automation race in the ID verification market, OCR’s new expansion team and ensuring seamless player journeys using ID verification.

Why mergers & acquisitions fail

Industry consolidation is one of the gambling sector’s biggest trends. But many high-profile deals continue to fall through. Why? Mark O’Sullivan of Exacta Solutions is on hand to explore.

Out of the grey

After Malta’s FATF un-greylisting, what lies ahead for its iGaming industry? Ron Mendelson of Fast Offshore investigates.

In focus: MiFinity

Who is MiFinity?

In focus: AstroPay

Founded in 2009, AstroPay is one of the pioneer payment solutions in the world, with extensive experience in managing the specificities of emerging markets.

In focus: Habanero

Habanero is a premium slots and table games provider that is dedicated to delivering a thrilling casino experience.

In focus: OCR Labs

Fully Automated ID Verification.

In focus: Digitain

We showcase our latest products at SiGMA Europe.

In focus: Finnplay

How to win with a multi-platform strategy.

In focus: GameArt

GameArt is a developer of high-quality HTML5 slot games for both online and land-based casino operators in regulated markets.

In focus: Relax Gaming

Relax Gaming is a leading supplier and aggregator of award-winning content including slots, jackpots, bingo and poker.

In focus: Swintt

Established in 2019, Swintt is an innovative provider of online casino games that has swiftly carved out a reputation for itself as one of the most sought-after studios in the iGaming space.

In focus: CT Interactive

CT Interactive was founded in 2012 as the online brand of CT Gaming, a company with over 20 years of history in developing land-based gaming products.

In focus: Campeόn

Campeόn Gaming is evolving.

In focus: Gibtelecom

Launching services in Malta, with an expanded portfolio.

In focus: Internet Vikings

Internet Vikings is an award-winning ISO 27001 certified global iGaming & online sports betting hosting provider, delivering solutions to all industry related businesses worldwide with a special focus on the US market.

In focus: SOFTSWISS

blazing in Malta

In focus: Bombay Group

Bombay Group, part of Yolo Group, is redefining the future of luxury gaming experiences across a suite of B2B products. The company has been steadily expanding its portfolio in both the online and land-based sectors, as it builds for the next generation of casino entertainment.