Interviews
European Gaming Streamers Roundtable
Participants
Michael Pedersen, CCO at Livespins
Will Barnes, Owner at Hideous Slots
Bryan Upton, Founder at Lucksome
David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt
There is no question that online slot streaming is enjoying a meteoric rise in popularity? What are you doing to leverage the potential it provides?
Michael Pedersen, CCO at Livespins
We have launched an entire company with the sole purpose of leveraging the meteoric rise of online slot streaming, Livespins. For a long time, people have been asking if online casino can be social, but you only have to look to Twitch to see that it absolutely can be. To date, there have been more than 280 million hours of streaming footage consumed in the slots category and the chat is on fire. With the hypothesis well and truly proved, we launched Livespins to take this a step further by allowing players to get in on the action by betting behind the streamer and to also offer operators and developers a reputable, compliant platform via which they too can capitalise on the popularity of streaming. We really are going all-in on this as, ultimately, we believe that it is the future of online casino.
Will Barnes, Owner at Hideous Slots
Hideous Slots was always meant to be about community, and the live streams themselves are really at the core of audience engagement. I consider that streaming and video promotion has already overtaken traditional methods of content discovery amongst key demographics. For me, this means using online streaming to achieve the things that would previously have been achieved elsewhere – for example, remembering to lead viewers to your website through streams, comments and Live Chat has now become just as important as traditional SEO. Working with game providers is becoming more common for streamers – as you’ve said, online slot streaming is massively on the rise, and streamers are now proving to be one of the most direct tools in marketing. But we still need to maintain our integrity and the trust of the audience – so commentary on specific products must always fair and balanced.
Bryan Upton, Founder at Lucksome
Not enough would be the honest answer. We are a small and new studio going through a normal start-up process of improvement, scaling and hitting our rhythm. I would say that we are building Slots that the streaming community would have an affinity for. Voodoo Temple, our latest slot has a lot of punch and enough big wins behind it in the first week of launch to have proven that. This is a starting point at least. Now, for us it’s about getting our games and brand in front of the streamers around the world and letting them do what they do best – play and entertain. We are just starting to push in this direction and learning how this part of the industry is working. With this meteoric rise, has come a premium for streamers’ time, and that is something smaller studios like Lucksome would need to understand in terms of return before taking that cost on. Is there some solid data on this to prove the business case? It would be great to be able to have those discussions, and how to help the younger, innovative studios into the limelight.
David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt
I agree that the popularity of slot streaming is increasing every month. And for us, as a slot supplier, it is very important that the streaming community knows about our game releases so they can share our latest titles with their followers. A good relationship with the streamers that share the same culture and beliefs as the studio is key as this ensures they are aware of new games coming to the market. However, it is also important to release games that are liked by the community that follows the streamers, because ultimately big wins are what are people interested in. So high volatility games with high max wins should definitely be a part of the portfolio of anyone who wants to succeed in gaining visibility for their games among streamers and their audiences.
We are seeing some studios build out their own teams of streamers. What are the pros and cons of doing this?
Michael Pedersen, CCO at Livespins
I am a great believer in knowing what you are good at and making that your focus. Game studios are great at developing engaging and entertaining slots and that is where they should deploy their resources. They can then partner with streamers or platforms such as Livespins and get in on the action that way. Of course, this means that streamers and streaming platforms need to be driving progress.
The way I see it, live streaming consists of two parts – the technical and the human. Over time, everyone will nail the technology but because there is such a reliance on the human element this is where the real difference will be made. That is why at Livespins we provide our streamers with access to coaches, props, themes, etc and this is something that studios will struggle to do while also ensuring their games continue to top the charts.
Will Barnes, Owner at Hideous Slots
I think the biggest advantage of building your own team is that you’re going to have complete control over the content. Ultimately the engagement will always be with the individuals on screen and I think this might be difficult to manage if things become successful. The danger will always be that people are tuning in for the influencer and not the brand itself. An associated issue is that social media success often involves interaction across platforms and this can be a 24/7 job. Motivating a team to make personalised social media posts, and to be passionate about your product would be a challenge – especially when competing against streamers who are offering this with ease. To really enjoy success, you need to find someone who is not just passionate about entertaining, but also passionate about engaging with the audience, and passionate about the gambling!
Bryan Upton, Founder at Lucksome
The pros are pretty obvious, if you set up something well, you gain influence and the exposure of your games, which all studios, big and small need and want. It would also create a stream of solid and direct feedback on a segment of the market to allow you to hone your product even more. The cons, personally I think the truly GREAT streamers are not just the ones that are fun to watch but are also authentic and independent. Meaning they play everyone’s games, they play the games they love, the games their audience love. Asking them to play a game they don’t like falls flat on the stream and the watchers feel it. If you have your own streamer set up, you need to make sure what you’re producing in terms of content is spot on for the community you are serving and your streamers really need play other competitor games as well – otherwise you’ll lose the audience. I guess another con is scale. You’ll need a lot of people to tackle those important local markets, Italy, German speaking, Spanish etc etc. In the same way as a provide you try to push your games all over the world, you would want your reach and influence to match. I would say that is out of reach for smaller studios and a different business to that of running a game studio. I think it would be great to see some stronger relationships between streamers and suppliers to produce some great original content and experiences – so there is something to be had there.
David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt
I believe studios that build a team of their own streamers lose the legitimacy and trust of the viewers because it is very probable that in-house streamers will not criticise the studios’ games even if they are not up to standard. However, by having your own team of streamers, you a studio can ensure that all of their games are played and see the light of the streaming community. So, there are pros and cons to both, but if studios want to engage and entertain players in an authentic way it is important for streamers to remain independent.
Just how difficult is it to launch streaming channels and build sizable audiences? What are the key challenges faced and how can they be overcome?
Michael Pedersen, CCO at Livespins
Livespins is a very different beast. We are not an affiliate streamer and we do not depend on building large audiences and a loyal community of fans. This is because we integrate directly with an online casino operator and engage with their existing player base. For affiliate streamers, it is insanely difficult to launch a channel and build a sizeable following, and then also convert that following into paying players at partner online casino brands. That is why Livespins is so innovative – it allows operators to capitalise on the popularity of streaming by offering it to their players and by also letting them bet behind the action taking place across the reels.
Will Barnes, Owner at Hideous Slots
Launching a channel comes with a number of challenges, and the most significant challenge is building an audience. Often, finding those first 20-30 viewers comes quite easily – friends, friends of friends, or those who enjoy the high level of engagement that a smaller stream can provide. Again, once you surpass 150-200 viewers, growth is more consistent, as your content is pushed out by YouTube and Twitch organically. But between 30-150 viewers is a real struggle, and I think the quickest way to overcome this hurdle is to try and offer something a bit different, and to keep trying. Keep showing up, keep offering somewhere for people to join together, and hope that eventually these numbers continue to grow. There’s no shortcut to building huge numbers – it’s about being authentic, and if you have something interesting or unique enough, eventually it will pay off.
Bryan Upton, Founder at Lucksome
We are seeing this continued trend in European markets of high volatility game play – but we have hit the ceiling in terms of how much we can push this, factors from high exposure to the Operators and squeezing of margins with very harsh, high risk math profiles are, in my opinion, creating the beginnings of player fatigue and burnout and reticence from the industry. I feel player tastes are settling into a happy medium between the extremes that our industry tends to have an affinity with, with is a good thing. From our side, we continuously have to avoided falling into the noise of all the other game releases, and having something to talk about directly to players and through influencers I think is key. We pride ourselves on being more transparent on the games we’re producing and how they work, as we think it is key to attracting the right players to your games. We keep an eye on new trends in and outside our industry and how we can utilise or jump on them to make better gaming experiences, which is our life blood, as is as adjusting our design processes looking at the new generation of players out there.
David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt
This is definitely not the easiest task. You need to be trustworthy, entertaining and stream on a regular basis to gain a sizable audience. But trust is really key here. Viewers follow streamers to see their reactions so during a stream they need to interact with the audience and react to the important moments when they play. Streamers are also trying to help to change the perception of gaming, so it is important to set the key goals when launching a streaming channel. I see it being of huge importance to be a legit streamer and to stay away from adopting the practices of so-called fake streamers.
What tactics are you using to drive growth? Are audience demands changing? If so, how? And what impact is this having on streams?
Michael Pedersen, CCO at Livespins
Because we are coming at live streaming from a B2B perspective, we are driving growth by integrating with more operators and partnering with more slot providers. Audience demands are changing – no longer are players happy sitting at home just spinning the reels. They want to engage and interact with streamers and other players, and they also want to be involved in a more direct way and that is why we offer the option to bet behind.
The quality of streams is going to have to improve, and that is why we offer our streamers coaching and the tools they need to create entertaining environments. I think we will also see players demand more transparency from streamers and ultimately concerns about responsible marketing and safe gambling will probably lead to regulatory oversight. Of course, this is something that has already been built into the Livespins platform.
Will Barnes, Owner at Hideous Slots
As I’ve said previously, I always try to put a unique spin on any content I produce, which in itself can be difficult when working within a niche category. I recognise that a commonality amongst successful influencers is to share as much as possibly – and so I endeavour to put myself out there, engaging with social media at every opportunity. Over time, the audience changes. You bring in new viewers, and you begin to notice some of the older ones drop off – this is natural, but as a result of a changing audience, sometimes we have to move along with content too. Some months our viewers primarily want to see bonus buys, and at another time there may be a demand in the chat for an exciting new release. What endures is the desire to have a say in the content – taking requests from the chat, so we keep this at all times. There’s no denying this has a huge impact on streams – our bonus hunt streams receive the most engagement, especially in terms of live viewers when we open the bonuses we have saved. Often it’s about weighing up what gets the most viewers against the cost of producing the content, and keeping the majority of viewers happy with the decisions made.
David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt
To have your game streamed by popular streamers introduces the game to a much wider audience and can bring potential players, therefore we like to team up with the streamers and run promotions together to reward the players for trying out our games. We believe that by doing this it’s fun for the players, streamers, and ourselves as well. The audience loves to see huge wins but at the same time, it is important to keep bets within a realistic range so the streamer can show their followers that they can hit nice multipliers with affordable bets.
Where is slot streaming ultimately headed? And what role will you/your organisation play in pushing the sector towards its ultimate destination?
Michael Pedersen, CCO at Livespins
I touched on it in the last question, but I believe that affiliate slot streamers are heading into troubled waters. It is only a matter of time before regulators, operators and providers in regulated markets and even Twitch distance themselves from some of the more unsustainable practices that we are unfortunately seeing many affiliates adopt today.
For example, many have their gameplay sponsored in some way, but do not always disclose this to their viewers, essentially misleading their community into thinking their often-lavish lifestyle can be afforded due to gambling winnings, which is not the case.
As affiliate streamers have their income strongly correlated with the size of their community, unfortunately, we often see practices like view botting, very large bet amounts and extreme studio behaviour, often engineered to create virality and subsequently, increase their following.
Again, this is where Livespins comes in. We really do not like what we are seeing right now with affiliate streamers on Twitch, and we do not think that it is a sustainable platform or practice in the long term. Of course, the appetite for streaming content is only going to intensify. Livespins is an alternative to this; it is regulated, and all of the streaming and betting is taking place inside a licensed entity. We are also leaving unsustainably large bet amounts behind.
Ultimately, the experience that we offer means that we don’t need to wager irresponsibly to create viral videos that engage audiences and allow us to monetise.
Will Barnes, Owner at Hideous Slots
As time goes on and streaming continues to build in popularity, I think we will only see growth and diversification within video promotion. Even outside of slot streaming, influencers are leading the charge in marketing. Long gone are the days of radio or television advertising driving the majority of sales – nowadays, the endorsement by a trustworthy influencer, can make a real difference. What’s most interesting about this is that for a person to earn that position of trust, they just have to be well known, even if no one is quite sure why they’re well known. I believe slot streaming will go in the same direction.
I think we all play a part in this by continuing to build the streaming community, but on a personal level I’d like to play a role in showing viewers that yes, I advertise a product, and yes I am an ‘influencer’, but I take that position of trust seriously. I want my viewers to know that whether they’ve watched me for a week or for three years, I stand by the things that I say, the content I produce, and the products that I advertise, and I think it’s important that anyone involved in the streaming community shares this goal. Streaming will continue to drive marketing, and it’s up to those of us currently involved to decide how we are viewed in this time.
Bryan Upton, Founder at Lucksome
It’s headed to a more interactive experience with the audience becoming more involved with the stream. New platforms will emerge that will add tools to allow this form of gambling interaction and socialisation. We are a fast-growing industry that is mainstreaming, and now, therefore, I believe can support this level of community that perhaps before would not have been impossible. We hope to be a content partner in this, supplying a core part of the experience, but also meaning that we are aware will may need to look at how to adapt our games design in this direction in the future. Until then we will watch, learn and see where we can add value in what we do best, games.
David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt
In my opinion, streaming is undoubtably a very important part of the gaming industry and its future and it will only grow over the coming months and years. I hope that we will see an increase in legit and trustworthy streamers who will help to improve the perception of slots and gaming. Our plan is to release more games that will be liked by the streaming community and to cooperate with the streamers who we believe run their business in the right way.
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We sit down with Rafael Levy, Chief Growth Officer at Dreidel, to learn more about how the rising start slot machine manufacturer from Mexico is taking the market by storm.
For those who haven’t heard of Dreidel, who are you, and what products do you offer to the industry?
We are a proudly Mexican company that’s been designing and producing land-based slots since early 2020. Recently, we’ve expanded our offering into the online space for the first time. From day one, our mission has been to bring innovation and quality to the land-based gaming market in Mexico, and we’ve done this by making sure we have a deep understanding of player and operator needs through the hands-on experience of our team and constant iteration and improvement of our products. What sets us apart – indeed, I’d say it’s our superpower – is the highly experienced team we have built at Dreidel, with everyone having worked directly in the field. This has allowed us to learn not only from the successes we have enjoyed but also from the challenges we have faced and overcome along the way.
Can you describe your approach to slot development?
Rather than develop products in isolation, we take a meticulous and practical approach to understanding the dynamics of the market we are in, especially when it comes to what the player expects from a slot game. By doing this, we’ve been able to put innovation at the foundation of our approach to development, which in turn allows us to consistently evolve our games and cabinets so they deliver fresh, engaging and differentiated experiences that hit the mark with players. Ultimately, our products for both land-based and online are born out of real-world insight and combine quality with creativity to ensure we not only meet but exceed player expectations. Because we are a young company, we’ve been able to use and leverage the latest technologies, and this has helped us deliver a superior product and ultimately build massive momentum behind the business.
Just how important is it to read the market and understand what players and operators are looking for?
It’s very important, and that’s why it’s a fundamental pillar at Dreidel. We have developed a process that allows us to read the market with precision and agility, and then easily feed that insight into our development cycle. We know that we operate in a highly dynamic environment where player preferences can shift quickly, driven by trends, global influences and evolving technologies. This is why we invest so heavily in continuous market research and pay close attention to player and operator feedback, as this enables us to act fast, adapt effectively and launch innovative products that stand out and gain traction from day one.
You mentioned your team as being critical to the early success you have achieved. Who are the key people behind the business?
Dreidel was formed as a joint initiative by a group of entrepreneurs with extensive operational experience in the gaming industry. This includes Isaac Shemaria and Moisés Shemaria, who came up with the initial idea for the business. Since our launch in 2020, we have grown with a structure that balances an ambitious strategic vision with strong on-the-ground execution. Today, the company is led by José Shemaria and Rafael Levy, and has a highly skilled multidisciplinary team driving key areas of the business.
The direction of the project is led by a collaborative leadership group that ensures every decision is aligned with our long-term goals. This synergy allows us to maintain a strong commercial focus, efficient operations, and sound financial planning, all aimed at meeting the evolving needs of the market. It’s worth highlighting our technology and innovation team, which plays a vital role in developing unique gaming experiences, turning ideas into functional products that resonate with both operators and players. This is complemented by the daily work of our developers, technicians, operators and commercial staff, who bring deep industry knowledge to ensure our products reach the market with both impact and quality.
We firmly believe that our true value lies in the strength of our collective talent. Every area and every person play a key role in turning ideas into reality. This integration of strategy, creativity, execution, and consumer insight is what has shaped our growth and continues to drive our success in such a competitive industry.
You’ve quickly established Dreidel as a leading slot machine manufacturer in Mexico. How did you do this, and what sets your product apart?
The market-leading position we have achieved is the result of a long, challenging yet rewarding journey. It’s been a step-by-step process, marked by both setbacks and incredible achievements, all of which have shaped us into the company that we are today. What sets us apart from other suppliers? I’d say it’s our ability to deeply understand and analyse what players want and enjoy. We don’t create generic products, we listen to the end user, study their behaviour, preferences, and playing habits, and design games that resonate with them on a personal level.
We focus on meeting the unique demands of the gaming sector, tailoring our offerings for each market we target. Mexico is our primary market, but we are making moves into other LatAm markets and North America, too. Our goal is to deliver games that are not only innovative in terms of technology and design but also captivating for the player, grabbing their attention from the very first spin to the last.
Today, we offer Class III products that are ranked among the top performers in the Mexican market. That leading position is the result of a clear vision, a player-focused approach and a passionate team committed to creating experiences that truly stand out.
What makes the land-based slot market so difficult to crack?
The land-based slot machine market is one of the most complex and demanding areas within the gaming industry, mainly due to the high barriers to entry, both technological and regulatory. It’s not enough to have a good idea; you need a product that is technically solid, commercially viable and fully compliant with strict industry standards.
One of our biggest challenges was developing the right product, one that would truly succeed in the market. This required significant investment in research, development, certifications and continuous testing. We also faced the challenge of competing against well-established brands, which pushed us to stand out not just through innovation, but through product quality and a deep understanding of the player.
We overcame these challenges by being patient, strategic and consistent. We had to earn the trust of operators and players one step at a time, proving that our products meet the highest standards while also delivering unique experiences that resonate with end users. It’s been a journey of perseverance, but one with highly rewarding results.
What is your top-performing game, and what made it so popular?
Our top-performing game is Imperial Ascension, a Class III title that stands out for its innovation and its ability to truly engage players. It’s more than just a slot game—it’s an immersive experience that captures attention through its functionality, visual appeal and the excitement it creates.
What has made Imperial Ascension such a success is its unique touch: it offers high rewards and a strong element of mystery that keeps players engaged throughout their session. The game continuously surprises players with multiple progressive jackpots embedded within the gameplay, which not only increases anticipation but also significantly boosts the potential for big wins. This combination of innovation, excitement and rewarding mechanics has made it one of our standout titles.
You also have a portfolio of online slots. What are your plans for the online segment, and what opportunities have you identified?
The online segment represents a completely different universe for Dreidel, with its own dynamics, audience profiles and player behaviours. That’s why we’ve developed a dedicated approach for this channel, with a specialised team that understands the nuances of the digital player experience.
Our online strategy is not about replicating the land-based model but rather adapting to new consumption habits by leveraging the advantages of technology and the accessibility of online platforms. We’ve identified significant growth opportunities in this segment, particularly driven by the increasing demand for digital entertainment, flexible formats and the ability to reach a much broader audience.
We are currently in a phase of deep market analysis and building a solid, tailored offering. Our goal is to deliver innovative, responsible and engaging experiences for online users. The online segment is a key path for our future expansion, both within Mexico and internationally.
You mention international markets. What are your plans to take Dreidel beyond Mexico?
This is the perfect time for international expansion and particularly into the United States because it’s the largest and most dynamic market in the gaming industry. It offers tremendous growth opportunities, a highly diverse base of end users, and presents many exciting challenges that we are fully prepared to take on.
The variety in player preferences within the US market pushes us to continue innovating and refining our approach. Our focus is on adapting to that diversity by delivering customised products that offer unique and engaging experiences.
The United States is one of our main strategic priorities, as we see the potential for exponential growth in that region. We’re confident that this is the natural next step for Dreidel and that we have the strength, creativity and vision to compete successfully on an international scale. Of course, we are also looking at other markets within Latin America and to replicate the success we have enjoyed in Mexico in the jurisdictions we chose to enter.
The post Getting to know Dreidel appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Armen Tatarevic VP of Gaming at White Hat Studios
White Hat Studios: The power of a diverse jackpot product portfolio
From the earliest brick-and-mortar facilities to the digital age of online casinos, jackpot products have remained a powerful acquisition and engagement tool, appealing to players with the allure of increased win potential beyond the base gameplay.
With the US iGaming market still in its relative infancy, there has been limited development and implementation of progressive jackpots. However, as the nation’s market continues to evolve, we are increasingly witnessing a variety of unique jackpot payout structures emerging, fuelled by companies like White Hat Studios. The first provider live in all seven regulated US states, the supplier has been at the forefront of jackpot innovation, initially with its Jackpot Royale
product, and most recently with the launch of Jackpot Royale Express, a fast-hitting structure that delivers more frequent payouts.
We spoke exclusively with Armen Tatarevic, VP of Gaming at White Hat Studios, to discover why developing a diverse suite of promotional tools has become essential.
What trends are influencing jackpot product development within the US?
Jackpots have long been synonymous with the US gambling industry and this appetite has translated from land-based to online casinos. However, with the rise in popularity of iGaming and the breadth of choice for players, it has become crucial to tailor products specifically in alignment with consumer preferences.
This approach is particularly pivotal in regulated US markets, where each regulated state has its own intricacies. For example, players in the established New Jersey market are typically drawn to larger jackpot prizes, considering the greater number of operators available to choose from.
In contrast, we see a trend of players in less mature markets, such as Pennsylvania, gravitating towards smaller, faster-hitting jackpot structures as they explore what works for them in the iGaming landscape.
Why is it important for suppliers to offer jackpot networks with varying payout structures?
Each player has unique preferences, and it is simply an unattainable goal for a single jackpot product to satisfy every playstyle. Crafting a diverse suite of promotional tools can accommodate a variety of preferences, with each product engineered to appeal to contrasting player tastes. Not only does this result in the curation of a well-rounded portfolio that maximizes potential audience reach, but also ensures operators can find everything they need from a comprehensive, all-in-one suite of promotional tools.
White Hat Studios’ progressive jackpot networks are the perfect example. Following the success of Jackpot Royale, which has a top prize that pays out an average of $175,000, we recently launched Jackpot Royale Express, designed to enhance engagement with a specific subsection of players by offering smaller jackpot payouts with far greater frequency. Landing five fireball symbols in linked games activates the Jackpot Wheel, where cash prizes and five progressive jackpots can be won, guaranteeing suspense with every spin.
Have you witnessed an appetite for fast-hitting structures in US markets?
It varies state-by-state, but there has been a general surge in the popularity of jackpot products that offer more frequent payouts, especially across mature UK and European markets. A key factor driving this trend is player psychology – some individuals feel that winning a top jackpot is highly unlikely, leading them towards games with more attainable prize structures. By offering lower prizes that drop regularly, these products sustain player engagement and enhance retention by creating a sense of continuous excitement and anticipation.
This is particularly prevalent in newly regulated states where players are still familiarizing themselves and exploring the landscape of online jackpot products. Here, the more cautious player approach drives traffic to fast-hitting jackpot structures. Striking the optimal balance between the frequency and size of payouts is the challenge for developers to overcome. Both jackpots that drop too infrequently and those that deliver regular but insignificant prizes will result in a loss of player interest for operators.
What has been the initial response to your own fast-hitting jackpot network, Jackpot Royale Express?
Jackpot Royale Express was designed to attract players with achievable jackpot prizes by increasing the likelihood of the Wheel feature triggering. It has certainly delivered on that promise, and in less than a week following launch, had already awarded more than 1,000 jackpot wins to US players. Many US-facing titles feature five fixed jackpots, so the nation’s players are already familiar with the format, and Jackpot Royale Express elevates this to new heights by triggering more frequently. We look forward to tracking its continued success as more and more of our hit titles are integrated into the network.
The post White Hat Studios: The power of a diverse jackpot product portfolio appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Despite rising competition, Malta remains Europe’s beating heart of iGaming. In this exclusive roundtable, Mehmet Guven, VP of Operations at EEZE, Natasha Giorgio, Head of Sales and Business Development at Hub88, and Mark O’Donnell, Head of Marketing at LuckyStreak, unpack what keeps the island at the industry’s core, from the enduring weight of the MGA licence and renowned tech infrastructure to a collaborative and supportive ecosystem.
The industry continues to invest heavily in Malta by hosting a number of high-profile events year-round. What keeps the country a ‘buzzing hub’ for iGaming despite global competition?
MO: Malta has a thriving gambling industry with loads of resident gambling companies. It’s a big and vibrant iGaming community, and a sunny, welcoming Mediterranean island, so it’s no surprise that the events side is growing, because people love going there.
There is a perception that the MGA licence may be under pressure with the growing number of local and international licences available across the world, but Malta still has big benefits for gaming companies, whether that’s low tax, a skilled workforce, EU membership, great tech and supporting services, or a very supportive government. And the reputation and credibility of the MGA means that a Malta licence is still highly coveted across the globe. It’s why LuckyStreak obtained a B2B Critical Supply Licence last year and can now offer our content to hundreds of licensed businesses and their players. What’s not to love?
MG: Malta’s success is rooted in a reputable regulator, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), along with a talented workforce and a cooperative industry climate. The country’s appealing tax policies, strategic position, and continuous industry events contribute to its vibrant scene. These factors foster a supportive atmosphere that attracts operators.
Additionally, Malta’s extensive industry expertise enables local companies to export these valuable skills to emerging markets, further solidifying Malta’s role in the global iGaming industry.
NG: Malta remains a crackling arena for iGaming because it offers basically everything the industry needs to thrive: strong regulation, a highly skilled workforce and, through a variety of conferences and events, an unbeatable industry community.
The MGA is still seen today as one of the gold standards for licensing, giving operators confidence to base their businesses here. But beyond compliance, Malta thrives on its networking culture. Year-round events like Next.io Networking events and Summits and countless other meetups keep the ecosystem connected and collaborative. This is why Hub88 is so intent on collaborating with firms like these so frequently.
Plus, the lifestyle helps – the land of eternal sunshine. A global language hub with English-speaking professionals and a great work-life balance attract talent from all over the world. While other jurisdictions compete on tax or licensing, Malta keeps evolving by fostering collaboration between startups, major operators and service providers. It’s this sense of community, combined with regulatory leadership, that keeps Malta at the heart of global iGaming.
What are the key opportunities to innovate and expand in Malta?
NG: Despite it already being something of a Goldilocks zone, Malta’s iGaming scene still offers plenty of room for improvement and growth. On the tech side, there are big opportunities in data-driven personalisation, gamification and payment solutions. These are some of our key foci in Hub88 innovation, as well as Live88 and Odds88 by extension, especially for emerging markets in Africa, Asia, and LatAm. The common theme on all of these development points is that they all put the customer first.
Responsible gaming tech is another growth area. It’s a deeply fascinating area of growth too as it balances the challenge of working to meet rising compliance standards while keeping players engaged.
Beyond tech, Malta’s diverse talent pool and active startup culture mean there’s room for fresh B2B services for Hub88 to collaborate with. The HubMarket The HubMarket has been a first-mover in collaborating with AI-powered marketing tools, retention platforms, and safer gambling solutions. Furthermore, from an expansion POV, Malta is the ideal launchpad for brands targeting Europe and beyond. Many operators use Malta as a base to explore crypto gaming, esports betting and social gaming verticals. Plus, with its strong support network of legal, financial, and tech service providers, Malta keeps making it easier for companies to test new ideas, partner fast and scale globally from a stable, regulated environment.
MG: There’s a lot of activity happening! Companies are actively exploring AI, blockchain, and mobile-first solutions, particularly in response to the growing demand for live and immersive experiences, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
At the same time, we’re seeing strong momentum in expanding into emerging markets, with fintech playing a larger role, particularly in payments and player onboarding. It’s an exciting time to be part of the innovation happening here.
MO: For a business like LuckyStreak, it’s a huge market opportunity. Half of MGA licensees are casino operators and the market is worth $100bn a year, so the upsides are clear. But as we know it’s a super-competitive market, and a live dealer provider like us, in this big industry, has to appeal to and persuade casino decision-makers, while all the others are doing the same. And we’re working hard at that.
It’s a place where innovation thrives; locally they have invested in modern and robust technology, and this nurtures solutions like secure blockchain and AI-powered personalisation, supporting the development of new verticals and formats, and it’s developing a reputation for responsible gaming, environmentally friendly operations, and transparent and compliant data practices. These developments are good for everyone in the industry.
What infrastructure is crucial for Malta to keep fostering a supportive and competitive environment?
MG: In the current landscape, robust internet infrastructure and data security are foundational, yet success hinges on adaptive compliance with evolving regulations, strategic investments in talent development, and the fortification of industry networks through targeted events. Focusing on operational efficiency and process optimisation is paramount, as a well-defined framework significantly accelerates time-to-market and enhances overall agility.
NG: For Malta to stay competitive, both digital and professional infrastructures are essential. We boast across a few of our verticals that maximum uptime with our products comes as standard. Continued investment in high-speed connectivity and cloud services is what enables this to happen; understandably our partners rely on real-time data, secure transactions and seamless experiences for their players.
Equally important as we’ve discussed already is regulation. The MGA must keep modernising its own frameworks to support innovation in areas like blockchain, esports and so on whilst maintaining player protection.
A thriving and robust ecosystem of legal, payments, compliance, support, commercial and marketing services makes both Hub88 and Malta in general’s industry agile. Meanwhile, conferences, meetups and knowledge-sharing forums obviously need to be continued for collaboration and growth. Together, this combination of both tech and human infrastructure ensures Malta stays not only a place to licence an iGaming brand but a place where bold new ideas are built, tested and scaled.
MO: Malta is attractive thanks to the investment in technology, like telecommunications systems and data centers, and has very high-speed internet, as well as new office developments like Ta’ Xbiex. It’s got a strong legal and regulatory framework in the MGA, and also plenty of legal and compliance practices on the island. Talent is obviously crucial and a big iGaming community serves that, and investment in training, and supporting access to the island for new talent is critical.
It’s no surprise that big money is being spent, seeing as 14% of the island’s GDP comes from iGaming. And anyone visiting for the big events will testify to the congestion and difficulty getting about, but the nature of the quaint towns and small streets makes it hard to see how they could or would build big highways for these peaks.
With a shift in the global regulatory landscape, why does a licence from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) still hold so much weight?
NG: The MGA persists as one of the world’s most respected regulators because it perfectly balances player protection with business innovation. While many countries have introduced local licences, the MGA’s framework is still seen as a global benchmark for compliance, fairness and responsible gaming. Operators with an MGA licence show partners, payment providers and players that they meet high standards for transparency, anti-money laundering and ethical marketing.
Given its proximity to both Europe and MENA regions, MGA has decades of experience managing cross-border operations, making it a preferred choice for brands targeting multiple international markets from one hub. I think the key thing that sets the MGA apart is its willingness to evolve very quickly, whether it’s adapting to new tech like blockchain or improving responsible gambling tools.
Even as markets like the Netherlands, Germany and Ontario launch local licences, the MGA remains a gateway for startups and global operators looking for a credible, flexible, internationally recognized licensing base.
MO: Because it is recognised globally for its rigorous standards, transparency, integrity, stability and credibility. As one of the first regulators, it set a benchmark for RG, AML, compliance, and player protection. This was a big attraction for LuckyStreak when we applied for our licence.
Being an EU jurisdiction grants operators access to European markets, tax benefits and banking. And investment in technology infrastructure and new technologies keep it at the head of innovation. And of course iGaming is hugely important to Malta’s economy, and the benefits go both ways with attractive tax rates and contributions to GDP. All these are values and benefits that it has, and which it endows licence holders with, in the eyes of the iGaming world, means Malta is still a hugely attractive location and jurisdiction and will remain so.
MG: The MGA licence is globally trusted for being stringent yet fair, signalling operator reliability and player protection. It serves as a benchmark that new regulatory bodies often measure themselves against. The licence opens doors to numerous markets, reassures players, and continuously adapts to stay ahead of industry developments, which is why it remains highly valued worldwide.
The post Roundtable: Why Malta remains the ‘hub’ of European iGaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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