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MGA Issues Interim Performance Report for January to June 2023

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The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has released its Interim Performance Report for the period between January and June 2023. The report provides a review of the Authority’s accomplishments for the first half of 2023, together with a description of the Maltese gaming industry’s performance over the same period. The latter provides a medium-term outlook towards the future, as well as an analysis outlining important statistics for the land-based and online gaming industries.

Supervisory Activities

  • Between January and June 2023, the Authority conducted 14 compliance audits and 85 desktop reviews. The Commercial Communications Committee also issued a total of three Letters of Breach, whereby operators were found to be in breach of the Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations (S.L. 583.09). The Authority issued 23 warnings, cancelled four licences and suspended another five, following information which emerged from supervisory activities. Furthermore, the MGA issued a total of nine administrative penalties as well as one regulatory settlement, with a collective total financial penalty of €124,400.
  • The MGA also carried out 11 Compliance Examinations on behalf of the FIAU. During the same period, the FIAU imposed administrative penalties on three licensees based on violations discovered during examinations carried out in previous years. In total, these amounted to €599,420.
  • A total of 545 criminal probity screening checks were undertaken on personnel, shareholders, ultimate beneficial owners, key individuals, employees, and businesses from the land-based and online gaming sectors. A number of these were escalated to the Fit & Proper Committee, which during the period in review determined that four individuals and entities did not meet the Authority’s fit and properness criteria. The Supervisory Council also rejected one licence application on the same basis.
  • In the first half of the year, 19 interviews with prospective MLROs and key persons carrying out the AML/CFT function were carried out with the aim of determining the knowledge and suitability of each candidate.
  • In its efforts to safeguard players and promote responsible gaming, the Authority assisted a total of 2216 players who requested assistance, covering the majority of the cases received during 2023 and the spillover from 2022. Furthermore, 40 responsible gambling website checks were conducted to ensure that licensees are duly protecting their players as required by law, and 16 observation letters were issued identifying areas of improvement.
  • A total of 11 cases of websites having misleading references to the Authority were investigated, while a total of six notices were published on the MGA’s website with the aim of preventing the public from falling victim to such scams.

National and International Cooperation

  • Enforcement agencies, sports governing bodies, integrity units and other regulatory authorities made a total of 12 requests for information, specifically in relation to the manipulation of sporting events or violations of sporting regulations. Subsequently, these requests resulted in 17 data exchanges. In addition, 166 allegations of suspicious betting from licensees and other interested parties were received.
  • Between January and June 2023, a total of 118 alerts on suspicious betting were sent to the industry. Following further correspondence of these alerts to the industry, the Authority received a total of 12 new suspicious betting reports through the Suspicious Betting Reporting Mechanism.
  • The Authority participated directly in six separate investigations into sports rules violations or manipulation of sporting competitions during the time under review. A direct investigation implies that the report came from MGA licensed operators, and thus betting data was shared. In addition, the Authority also participated indirectly in another five investigations, where the events reported formed part of another jurisdiction, but concerned Maltese players.
  • The Authority sent 23 requests for international cooperation, relating to requests for background checks as part of an authorisation process. Furthermore, the Authority received a total of 37 requests for international collaboration from other regulators.
  • By the end of June 2023, a further 53 official replies were issued, providing feedback on the regulatory good standing of our licensed operators to the relevant authorities asking for this information.
  • In total, during the first six months of the year, the MGA received 45 requests for information from other local regulating authorities and governing bodies.

The MGA will publish a full-year industry performance report during the second half of 2024, when it publishes its Annual Report for the financial year ending 31 December 2023.

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Compliance Updates

Oddin.gg Officially Registered with LOTBA as a Supplier in the City of Buenos Aires

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Oddin.gg has been officially registered as a supplier by the Lottery of the City of Buenos Aires (LOTBA). This authorization clears the way for Oddin.gg to provide its end-to-end esports betting ecosystem—including its Odds Feed, Risk Management, BetBuilder, Widgets, and more—to licensed operators in the City of Buenos Aires. The milestone reinforces Oddin.gg’s strategic focus on supporting partners across Latin America.

LOTBA, the regulatory authority for online gaming within the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is well known for its rigorous compliance and technical standards. While the body manages licensing and enforcement, suppliers must undergo a formal registration process before providing services to local operators. Oddin.gg’s successful registration confirms that it has met all relevant technical, financial, and compliance requirements.

Juana Bischoff, Senior Business Development Manager LATAM at Oddin.gg, said: “Being officially registered with LOTBA marks an important step in Oddin.gg’s long-term commitment to the Latin American market. Esports is gaining real traction across the region, and we want operators in Buenos Aires—and beyond—to have the tools and insight to deliver a top-tier esports betting experience. We’re not just bringing leading technology—we’re bringing the local expertise and regulatory awareness needed to help our partners like Betsson and Jugadon grow.”

The post Oddin.gg Officially Registered with LOTBA as a Supplier in the City of Buenos Aires appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Uzbekistan Introduces Penalties for Illegal Gambling Operations

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Uzbekistan has introduced strict penalties for illegal gambling operations as the country prepares to launch its regulated betting market on October 9, 2025.

The new penalties target both domestic and foreign operators offering gambling services without a license. The new rules authorise fines indexed to the Uzbek Base Calculation Unit (BRV), a fiscal benchmark used for administrative penalties.

Foreign firms face fines of up to 25,000 Base Calculation Units, around US$882,000. Authorities can also seize illegal earnings, block access to banking and internet services, and ban repeat offenders from the Uzbek financial system. Unauthorised physical casinos, betting shops and mobile terminals will face the same sanctions.

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Violations of anti-money laundering rules or personal data misuse carry fines of 15,000 BRV (about US$529,200), and unlicensed deposit-taking could result in penalties of up to US$352,900.

The changes were drafted by the National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP), which is overseeing the rollout of Uzbekistan’s new gambling law. NAPP will act as the interim regulator until a permanent authority is established.

Licensed operators must meet strict financial requirements. Online gambling firms need authorised capital of $4.57 million and a $2.05 million reserve fund. Lottery providers must show at least $1.64 million in capital and $1.11 million in reserves.

“This is not a pay-to-play regime. It’s a compliance-first market that will reward transparency and capital discipline,” NAPP has clarified in communications with potential applicants.

Gambling has been banned in Uzbekistan since 2007, except for limited state-run lotteries. The new system marks a shift from prohibition to strict regulation. A centralised system, the Unified State Register of Bets and Players (USRBP), will track all wagers and enforce ID checks and monthly betting limits.

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Sanctions will be issued by NAPP’s director after internal review. Offending companies will have 15 days to appeal through NAPP or the courts. Half of all fines will go to the state budget; the rest will fund regulatory operations. Paying fines does not shield companies from further legal action.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved the new framework in 2024, requiring that gambling revenue be used to fund national sports programmes. Licensing guidelines will be released soon, with applications opening before the October launch.

The post Uzbekistan Introduces Penalties for Illegal Gambling Operations appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

St8 enters the United Kingdom after securing B2B licence

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Casino games aggregator St8 has secured a UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) remote gambling software licence, as the company continues its strategic expansion into key regulated markets worldwide.

The newly-granted licence means that St8 can now provide its market-leading casino aggregation platform to UK-licensed operators.

The platform has already won plaudits for streamlining integrations and delivering content with speed, simplicity and reliability.

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Vladimir Negine, founder and CEO at St8, said: “Securing a UK licence is another major milestone for St8. The UK remains a benchmark for regulation and player protection, and we’re excited to bring our tech-led approach to this mature and competitive market. We’re absolutely committed to supporting our operator partners in regulated markets around the world, and we’re already working on securing additional licences.”

The UKGC licence adds to St8’s growing list of regulated market approvals, which already includes Romania, Malta, and the Isle of Man, with further jurisdictions in progress as part of its broader European and global growth strategy.

St8 partners in the UK and beyond enjoy the industry’s leading back office, built to offer real-time reporting, deeper insights and simple promo management.

The post St8 enters the United Kingdom after securing B2B licence appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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