Compliance Updates
MGA Publishes Skills Gap Report, Unveiling Insights into Workforce Trends and Industry Challenges
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has released its latest report analysing the skills gap in the online gaming industry, based on surveys conducted between 2020 and 2024. The findings, reflecting data from 2019 to 2023, provide valuable insights into workforce trends, challenges, and opportunities across MGA-licensed activities in Malta.
Key Findings from the Report
Positive Labour Market Dynamics
75.8% of surveyed respondents rated Malta positively in areas such as labour market trends, skills availability, and training opportunities when compared to other jurisdictions.
Vacancy Trends in 2023
At the end of 2023, 74.9% of job vacancies had been open for less than three months.
There were 92.5 vacancies per 1000 employees in MGA-licensed activities, with a total of 885 open positions reported by online gaming companies in Malta.
Vacancy Breakdown by Level
79.2% of open positions were at the operational level.
18.8% were at middle management, while top management roles accounted for 2.0% of total vacancies.
Roles in Demand
Marketing roles (including customer care) represented 21.1% of vacancies, while technology-related positions made up 16.8%.
Top Barriers to Recruitment
The most common reasons for unfilled vacancies over the reporting period were:
Lack of work experience.
Competition from other firms.
Insufficient qualifications.
Recruitment Trends in 2023
84.9% of surveyed firms hired personnel from other companies within the industry.
Only 25.8% recruited directly from university graduates, underscoring the need for better alignment between educational programmes and industry needs.
Addressing Skills Gaps
71.7% of firms implemented in-house training or mentoring programmes to address skill shortages.
55.4% intensified employee retention efforts as a strategy to close skills gaps.
MGA CEO, Charles Mizzi, commented on the report’s findings:
“As Malta’s gaming industry evolves, it is essential to adapt and strengthen the foundations that support its success.”
“The Skills Gap Report reveals important insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead, particularly the need for targeted skills development and stronger partnerships between educational institutions and industry. By addressing these priorities, we can ensure sustainable growth and maintain Malta’s leadership in the global gaming ecosystem.”
The post MGA Publishes Skills Gap Report, Unveiling Insights into Workforce Trends and Industry Challenges appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Playson, the accomplished digital entertainment supplier, has secured approval from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) for the distribution of its games in the regulated Philippine market.
The approval was achieved through close cooperation between Playson and its aggregation partner, Light & Wonder, enabling Playson’s portfolio to be made available to licensed operators in the Philippines.
The project was delivered in a matter of days through a coordinated effort across Playson’s and Light & Wonder sales, integration, architecture and compliance teams. From a technical perspective, the process was completed with no major market-entry or infrastructure changes needed, as Playson’s platform was already prepared to meet the relevant specifications.
The milestone marks a new regulated market entry for Playson, which already operates in 27 regulated markets worldwide. PAGCOR approval further reinforces the company’s position as a recognised entertainment supplier with a strong and expanding compliant markets’ presence, and for delivering high-quality gaming content to operators and players around the world.
Ben Wood, Chief Commercial Officer at Playson, said: “Securing PAGCOR approval is an important step in Playson’s continued regulated-market growth. The Philippines represents an exciting opportunity for the business, and we are delighted to have achieved this milestone in cooperation with our valued aggregation partner, Light & Wonder.
“This approval reflects the strength of our platform, the readiness of our technology and the expertise of the teams involved. We are proud to bring Playson’s product suite to a new audience and to further strengthen our international presence.”
The post Playson Secures Approval from PAGCOR for Game Distribution in Philippines appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Expanse Studios, a subsidiary of Meridian Holdings Inc., announced regulatory certification enabling commercial deployment across Colombia’s online gambling market.
Gaming Associates, a UKAS-accredited testing laboratory (accreditation number 9263), certified Gates of Olympia, Candy’s Bonanza, and Leprechaun’s Wish as compliant with technical standards established by Colombian regulatory authorities. This certification authorizes deployment on licensed gaming platforms operating under Coljuegos oversight.
Colombia represents Latin America’s first comprehensively regulated online gambling market, operating under framework legislation established in 2016. According to reports, Colombia’s online gambling market generated $1.29 billion in revenue during 2024, growing at 9.53% CAGR with projections reaching $2.03 billion by 2029. Online casino games and sports betting account for the majority of market activity, with 82% of Colombians participating in games of chance according to industry research.
The market operates under strict regulatory oversight by Coljuegos, Colombia’s gaming authority, requiring comprehensive licensing and technical certification for content providers seeking market access. Colombia’s structured regulatory framework and established licensing infrastructure position the market as strategically valuable for B2B content providers targeting Latin American expansion.
“Colombia is one of the most mature regulated markets in Latin America. Certification here establishes the regulatory foundation we need to scale across the region. The market’s proven that regulated frameworks can work in LatAm—very high player participation shows demand exists when operators can operate legally. That’s the model we’re building toward in other territories,” said Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios.
The Colombia certification follows Expanse Studios’ recent regulatory approvals in Estonia, Latvia, and Portugal, continuing the studio’s expansion across regulated markets in Europe and Latin America. With over 1300 B2B operator partnerships globally and a portfolio of 70+ proprietary titles, Expanse continues building distribution infrastructure in jurisdictions where regulatory compliance creates competitive differentiation.
The post Expanse Studios Secures Colombia Market Certification appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Erika Spiteri Bailey, the Senior Executive of Business Intelligence & Data Analytics at the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), has been officially appointed as the Co-Chair of the InfoStat Working Group within the Gambling Regulators European Forum (GREF).
Erika Spiteri Bailey will serve in this role alongside Anssi Airas, representing the National Police Board of Finland.
GREF is a forum for European gaming regulators, facilitating the exchange of views and the development of approaches to common regulatory challenges. Within this framework, the InfoStat Working Group provides a platform for regulators to collaborate and exchange insights on the use of data in support of effective policy development and decision‑making across jurisdictions.
In her role as Co-Chair, Erika Spiteri Bailey will contribute to shaping the group’s work programme and fostering cooperation among members, with a focus on strengthening data‑driven regulatory approaches.
The post MGA Representative Appointed Co-Chair of GREF InfoStat Working Group appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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