Canada

Malta economy and online casinos

Published

4 years ago

October 13, 2021

Malta was one of the first countries in the world that recognized the potential of the online casino and iGaming industry in general. Formed in the 1990s, this industry is now worth over $50 Billion and thanks to the early recognition, this small Mediterranean county is now enjoying the benefits that come with this industry. It has a highly positive effect on the country’s economy in so many different ways.

The Malta Gambling Authority was formed way back in the early 2000s and it was part of the country’s strategy for the development of the iGaming industry. Unlike most countries of the time, Malta had a highly affirmative view of this industry from the early beginnings. The MGA was formed in order to issue licenses and support industry development in general. Obviously, the goal was to make this small island one of the best destinations for foreign operators. These days, around 300 global players in the industry are located in Malta.

With such a number of corporations operating in such a small country, there is no doubt that tax collection has had a significant impact on the overall economy. According to some reports, the iGaming industry has a 15% share of the country’s total economic activity. Obviously, that number will continue to grow.

Benefits from iGaming aren’t just displayed in GDP and tax numbers. This industry has also had a big impact on other fields. For example, Malta now has several educational programs specified for the online casino bonus industry.

The reason is obvious. This is a small country and if we look at the numbers, it turns out that 60% of employees in the industry come from overseas. Only 40% belongs to the domestic share. Obviously, one of the strategies is to change that trend and to increase the share of domestic workers. So, educational institutions have increased the offer of their classes, including numerous ones that target gaps that exist in the industry at the moment.

At this point, it is estimated that there are over 6.000 employees working in this industry and if we can trust experts, operators are currently in need of 3.000 additional workers. So, we may expect further arrivals of foreign workforce.

This leads us to another aspect of the iGaming influence on Malta’s overall economy. For example, with such a big number of abroad workers, it’s easy to conclude that demand for real estate has increased significantly. Workers prefer to rent a property, which has increased the rental prices by a notable percentage. According to some reports, the average property prices have been increased by 10% in the past several years.

Another impact of iGaming on Malta’s economy is the fact that offices of operators also have a positive impact on local businesses, such as service providers, restaurants, coffee shops etc.

In the last couple of years, more and more countries are starting with a similar practice as Malta. However, we don’t believe that this could slow down the growth of the country’s online casino industry and the overall economy. This small Mediterranean island will continue to grow, despite the growing competition. Simply, MGA is still one of the highest-reputable bodies in the business, who issues licenses to operators from all over the world. Simply, gaining these licenses is a matter of prestige, so operators who have gained them proudly advertise is, as a way to attract players from all around the world to register on their website.

Simply, the years of experience have provided MGA a kind of reputation that most newer regulatory bodies from other countries will hardly be able to reach. This body has set pretty high standards, whether it’s about player protection, fair gaming, operator accountability.

Founded in 2001, the Malta Gaming Authority also pays a lot of attention to the protection of youngsters and other vulnerable groups, and it is a body that ensures the integrity of games and operators, as well as that the industry is free from criminal activities.

Other than MGA, there are just a couple of more regulatory bodies in the world that can be considered as good. Those would be the UK Gambling Commission, as well as similar regulatory bodies from Gibraltar and Curacao. However, Malta still remains in the leading destination, and we have no reason to believe that things could change much in the future.

Canada

St8 launches in Ontario through partnership with Tonybet

Published

4 days ago

February 20, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

st8-launches-in-ontario-through-partnership-with-tonybet

Casino games aggregator and full-service technology provider, St8 has officially gone live in Ontario’s regulated market through a new partnership with international brand Tonybet.

Through the partnership, Tonybet gains access to St8’s casino games aggregation platform, offering a wide range of premium titles from leading providers through a single API, alongside bonusing and promotional tools, compliance and licensing solutions, advanced reporting and data capabilities.

Built as a single scalable platform, St8’s products are designed to help operators launch and grow across regulated markets with fast, flexible technology solutions while maintaining full compliance.

The agreement marks a further step in St8’s global growth strategy as the company continues to expand its presence across regulated jurisdictions.

Vladimir Negine, CEO at St8, said: “Going live in Ontario is an important milestone for St8 and reflects our continued commitment to growth in regulated markets. Since receiving our Ontario licence, we have focused on building strong local partnerships and delivering a platform that combines scalability, speed and compliance.

“As a respected international brand, Tonybet shares our commitment to building reliable solutions for regulated markets, and we look forward to working closely together as we continue to expand our presence in regulated jurisdictions worldwide.”

Kiryl Liudvikevich, Head of Product at Tonybet, added: “As we expand our presence in Ontario, it is important for us to work with technology partners that support continued growth while meeting the highest regulatory standards.

“St8’s platform gives us the flexibility to integrate a wide range of content and tools through a single connection, helping us scale smoothly while maintaining a strong focus on player experience.”

St8 continues to lead the way as a partner of choice for regulated markets. In addition to its Ontario licence, the company holds licences in key regulated jurisdictions like the United Kingdom, Sweden and Romania, among others.

The post St8 launches in Ontario through partnership with Tonybet appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Canada

Rivalry Corp. Announces Significant Reduction in Operations and Evaluation of Strategic Alternatives

Published

7 days ago

February 17, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

rivalry-corp.-announces-significant-reduction-in-operations-and-evaluation-of-strategic-alternatives

Rivalry Corp. announced that its Board of Directors has approved a significant reduction in operating activity as the Company evaluates strategic alternatives in respect of its assets and operations.

The Company is engaged in discussions with third parties regarding potential transactions. However, in light of recent performance volatility, the Board has determined to materially reduce the scale of operations while assessing whether a strategic transaction or other alternative can be advanced.

Effective immediately, the Company is implementing substantial cost reductions, including a significant workforce reduction and reduced operating expenditures. The Company has paused player activity on its platform and is facilitating player withdrawals in the ordinary course.

The Company is assessing a range of potential alternatives, which may include asset-level transactions, corporate transactions, restructuring initiatives or other strategic outcomes.

Given the Company’s reduced operating scale and the ongoing evaluation process, there can be no assurance that any strategic alternative will be completed or that operations will continue in their current form.

The post Rivalry Corp. Announces Significant Reduction in Operations and Evaluation of Strategic Alternatives appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Alex Malchenko

Evoplay Strengthens Canadian Presence with BetMGM Partnership

Published

2 weeks ago

February 13, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

evoplay-strengthens-canadian-presence-with-betmgm-partnership

Evoplay is celebrating another milestone in its regulated-market journey with a new launch in Ontario, teaming up with BetMGM to bring its games to one of Canada’s most dynamic and competitive jurisdictions.

The rollout introduces 18 Evoplay titles to BetMGM Casino in Ontario, carefully selected to deliver long-term engagement and appeal to a wide range of player preferences. The first wave includes proven performers such as:

• Hot Triple Sevens

• Hot Volcano

• Gold of Sirens Bonus Buy

• Inner Fire Bonus Buy.

These are games that have already demonstrated strong results across multiple regulated markets.

This launch marks another confident step in Evoplay’s Canadian expansion, reinforcing the company’s commitment to aligning its content with local market requirements, player expectations, and regulatory standards.

Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales at Evoplay, said: Ontario continues to set a high standard for regulated online casinos, making it a market where the right partnerships truly matter. Collaborating with BetMGM allows us to expand our reach with a portfolio that has already performed strongly across multiple areas and territories.

Oliver Bartlett, VP of Gaming at BetMGM, said: “Partnering with Evoplay adds a strong selection of proven, high-performing titles to our growing portfolio in Ontario.”

The post Evoplay Strengthens Canadian Presence with BetMGM Partnership appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.