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MGA Publishes its 2024 Annual Report and Financial Statements

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has published its Annual Report and audited Financial Statements for the financial year ending 31 December 2024. The report offers an in-depth overview of the performance of Malta’s land-based and online gaming sectors during 2024, while also highlighting the Authority’s key activities and regulatory developments over the past year. It also offers a medium-term outlook for the broader gaming industry, reflecting emerging trends, regulatory shifts and the evolving market landscape.
Key Highlights from 2024
Supervisory Activity & Enforcement
In 2024, the MGA received 28 applications for new gaming licences and issued 17 licences. In addition, the Authority received a further 12 gaming licence renewal applications from operators to renew their gaming licence that was bound to expire in 2024 and issued eight licence renewals.
Low-risk games require a permit, which is valid only for a singular event and expires when the event is concluded. To this end, the MGA issued 1812 permits for non-profit tombola, 19 permits for non-profit lottery and 84 certificates for commercial communication games.
As part of the Authority’s process to assess applications, the MGA carried out just under 1200 criminal probity screening checks on authorised persons, persons holding qualifying interest, directors, key persons and any third parties providing funding or exercising control over an authorised person in both the land-based and online gaming sectors. The Fit and Proper Committee made 64 decisions, 16 of which determined that the criteria to be considered as fit and proper were not met.
The Supervisory Council reviewed 30 gaming licence applications, including new and renewal requests. Out of these, two applications were rejected on the grounds that information or submissions provided were false, misleading, inaccurate, or materially incomplete following the completion of the “Minded Letter” process. One application remained in the “Minded to Refuse” stage.
In 2024, the MGA concluded 13 compliance audits and 116 desktop reviews.
The Authority was notified by the licensees of 123 Technical Information Security Incidents, which the MGA investigated to ensure that no licensed activity was adversely affected.
The Commercial Communications Committee took seven decisions regarding possible breaches of the Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations.
In 2024, the Authority also issued 35 warnings, 25 administrative penalties amounting to €306,250 and reached three regulatory settlements amounting to €61,522. The MGA also suspended two licences and cancelled eight.
AML/CFT Oversight
43 AML/CFT compliance examinations were initiated by the FIAU or by the MGA on its behalf.
60 examinations were concluded, and 11 closure letters were issued to licensees who either addressed the identified issues or where the findings from the compliance examinations were not deemed to be serious and/or systematic.
The FIAU imposed remediation measures and/or administrative penalties on six licensees. The total administrative penalties issued amounted to just under €185,000.
The Authority conducted 37 interviews on prospective MLROs to ensure that candidates meet the required standards of knowledge and awareness of the Maltese AML/CFT legal framework.
Player Protection and Inspections
As part of its efforts to safeguard players and promote responsible gambling, the MGA resolved 3372 requests for assistance (including spill-over from 2023).
To continue safeguarding player funds, the Authority received 1897 player funds reports and carried out 27 data extractions during the reporting period.
The Authority conducted 40 responsible gambling-themed website checks and issued 27 observation letters outlining the issues and areas for improvement.
The MGA investigated 83 cases involving websites that published misleading information and issued 29 public notices on its website.
During the reporting period, the MGA carried out just over 9000 inspections on Gaming Premises (including casinos and commercial bingo halls), Controlled Gaming Premises, National Lottery Outlets including National Lottery Outlets – Controlled Gaming Premises and Non-Profit Tombola.
National and International Cooperation
In 2024, the MGA received 244 suspicious betting reports from licensees and shared 247 alerts on suspicious betting. The Authority participated in 30 investigations across different jurisdictions.
The MGA collaborated with enforcement agencies, sports governing bodies, integrity units and regulatory authorities on 31 requests for information and participated in 39 data exchanges.
The MGA received 85 requests for international collaboration from other regulators. Most of the requests received were generic requests for cooperation or requests for background checks as part of authorisations processes.
The Authority issued 59 official replies to provide feedback on the regulatory standing of its licensed operators to the relevant authorities requesting the information.
The MGA collaborated with local regulating authorities and governing bodies on 161 requests for information.
“Resilience is not just about endurance – it’s about adapting with purpose and staying focused on what matters,” CEO Charles Mizzi said.
“Over the past year, we improved how we work, strengthened our internal processes, and continued investing in the people and systems that support effective regulation. As the sector continues to evolve, the MGA remains committed to anticipating challenges, adapting with purpose, and upholding the standards that define Malta’s reputation as a trusted jurisdiction.”
The post MGA Publishes its 2024 Annual Report and Financial Statements appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
How CommsHub Built-In Failover Protects High-Volume Messaging Businesses

In today’s connected world, a single missed message can have a ripple effect far beyond its intended recipient. For high-volume messaging businesses, from fintech to e-commerce, reliability isn’t just a feature; it’s the foundation.
At CommsHub, we’ve seen how even the most robust communication strategies can fall apart when traffic isn’t managed intelligently. That’s why built-in failover isn’t an add-on for us, it’s at the very core of our platform architecture.
The Hidden Risk in Messaging at Scale
Sending a million messages is easy. Delivering a million messages on time without losses, delays, or duplicates is the real challenge.
Traditional messaging setups often rely on a primary route, with a manual backup plan in case of outages. The problem? Manual intervention takes time and every second loss increases the risk of failed conversions, missed verifications and frustrated customers.
For some sectors, a five-minute delay can mean thousands in lost revenue. For others, it can damage trust irreparably.
How Our Failover Works
CommsHub’s built-in failover system works like an automated traffic director.
- Real-Time Route Monitoring: Every active channel is monitored for delivery speed, message status and error rates.
- Instant Automatic Switching: If performance drops below a set threshold or a provider experiences downtime traffic is instantly redirected to the next best available route.
- Multi-Level Redundancy: We don’t just fail over once. Traffic can cascade through multiple backup routes until successful delivery is confirmed.
This means campaigns keep running without interruption, even when unexpected technical issues occur in the background.
The Numbers Behind It
In controlled environments, we’ve observed that our failover logic reduces message loss to near zero. While previously around 17% of messages were considered as lost or undelivered – while in reality, fallback mechanism saves them.
The architecture also ensures that when switching routes, there’s no spike in costs thanks to our intelligent routing engine, which considers provider pricing in real time.
Protecting Revenue and Reputation
The immediate benefit is obvious: you don’t lose communication with your audience. But the deeper value lies in protecting both revenue and reputation.
For high-volume businesses, the stakes are high:
A trading platform missing two-factor authentication codes risks losing active traders.
An e-commerce brand failing to deliver time-sensitive promotions risks wasted ad spend.
A fintech company delaying fraud alerts risks customer churn.
CommsHub’s failover was designed to address these risks without requiring extra integration work or manual monitoring.
Engineering for the Future of Messaging
We see failover not as a safety net, but as a structural pillar of next-generation communication platforms. As channels diversify and volumes grow, redundancy and intelligent routing will be as essential as delivery speed and analytics.
This is why we’ve invested heavily in creating an architecture that can evolve with market needs from adding new providers in days instead of weeks, to scaling traffic instantly during spikes.
The result? Businesses that can move faster, sleep easier and deliver messages with confidence.
In messaging, there’s no such thing as “just a delay.”
Every second counts and with built-in failover, those seconds are always on your side.
Meet Us at SBC Summit Lisbon 2025
We’ll be showcasing CommsHub’s next-generation messaging solutions at SBC Summit Lisbon 2025, from 16-18 September.
Visit us at Booth D181 to see how built-in failover can help your business deliver every message with confidence.
The post How CommsHub Built-In Failover Protects High-Volume Messaging Businesses appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Conferences in Europe
New Gamification Academy at SBC Summit to Present Fresh Approaches to Player Engagement

With gamification emerging as a driving force in the casino industry, SBC Summit introduces the Gamification Academy, an initiative built to confront pain points in engagement, retention, loyalty, and differentiation by exploring what truly keeps players coming back.
Launched in partnership with leading iGaming turnkey solutions provider Soft2Bet, the Gamification Academy will take place on Tuesday, 16th September, at the Sala Tejo, MEO Arena.
The programme forms part of SBC’s newly introduced Tech Academies, a series of immersive learning streams designed to arm summit attendees with practical know-how in AI, marketing, Web 3.0 & blockchain, and gamification.
Delegates can anticipate discussions examining the role of personalisation in driving loyalty, strategies for balancing gamified features with brand authenticity, and honest reflections on both the successes and challenges of gamification in the industry.
“Gamification has transformed how people interact with digital products across industries, and iGaming is no exception,” SBC Founder and CEO Rasmus Sojmark said.
“Players now expect fun, engaging, and rewarding experiences, and that’s exactly what gamification delivers. The Gamification Academy will show the industry how to apply these proven principles to build deeper connections, keep players returning, and create more meaningful player journeys,” he added.
Kicking off the Academy, Soft2Bet’s Chief Product Officer Yoel Zuckerberg will lead the ‘Introduction to Gamification & Player Engagement’ workshop. Setting the stage for the day, the session offers a comprehensive overview of gamification’s power and how it has shaped the industry in recent years.
Chief Business Development Officer Toni Jermaniš (SofaScore), CEO & Co-Founder Josh Jones (Rise & Hustle), and Senior Solutions Engineer Alec Gehlot (Optimove) will focus on the player retention angle through their ‘Why Personalisation is the Key to Retention‘ panel moderated by Soft2Bet’s Chief Business Development Officer Martin Collins. The session will explore how tailored offers, customisable interfaces, and personalised recommendations are giving players more control over their experience and, in turn, strengthening loyalty and long-term value.
Following a networking break, two case studies will spotlight real-world lessons from gamification, dissecting what works, what doesn’t, and how to measure success.
First up is the case study titled “Baking in Gamification During Design”, led by Alexis Wicen (CEO, Scatters Group). In this session, delegates can learn how to weave gamification into their products without losing brand authenticity. Drawing on real-world examples, the session will examine where brands have succeeded in integrating gamification into their games and platforms, and where they have fallen short, showing delegates how to approach gamification more effectively in their own projects.
The second case study, ‘The Metrics of Gamification’, will examine where the impact of gamification is most evident and how brands can measure it effectively. Featuring Uri Admon (CEO, Captain Up), the session will cover key factors such as retention, loyalty, engagement, revenue, and player enjoyment, helping delegates understand how to balance player needs with company goals.
The Academy will close with ‘The Five Steps of Gamification,’ a panel hosted by Soft2Bet’s Head of Sales, Alon Eshed, joined by Helen Walton (Founder & CCO, G Games), David Olim (CEO, FootAR), and Tom Jang Lemke (CEO and Founder, SavageTech). By breaking down the fundamental building blocks of gamification, including rewards, progression, competition, and storytelling, the session will highlight how these principles form the foundation of more engaging and personalised player experiences.
The Gamification Academy will feature at the upcoming SBC Summit 2025, SBC’s global flagship event, taking place at Feira Internacional de Lisboa and MEO Arena from 16–18 September. The summit will also host a six-track conference, a 135,000 square meter exhibition, the Affiliate Leaders Summit and Payment Expert Summit, plus a full schedule of evening networking events.
Participation in the Tech Academies is exclusively for VIP Event Pass and Expo+ holders only.
You can RSVP to attend our tech academies here.
VIP Event Pass: Access to the show floor, all networking areas and conference sessions, complimentary food and drink from the summit’s food festival and access to exclusive evening networking sessions and parties.
Group VIP Event Pass: Get your passes for just €400 each when you purchase for three or more people (a saving of €200 per ticket!) – perfect for bringing your team along.
Expo+ Pass: Access to the show floor, conference sessions and daytime networking only.
Expo Only Pass: Our free option, which gives you access to the show floor only. This is perfect for individuals from outside the gaming industry who want to explore potential partnerships. Please note that this will not grant you access to our academies.
Operator and Affiliate Passes: Operators and affiliates are eligible for a free VIP event pass. Simply apply.
The post New Gamification Academy at SBC Summit to Present Fresh Approaches to Player Engagement appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Bodog Canada
Casino Games and Console Games: Are They Really That Different?

Games come in many shapes and sizes. This has long been the case. The digital age brings everything from slot machines to sprawling console adventures. Casino titles and console games might look like they live in two different worlds. One is often focused on quick play and chance. The other leans into storylines and hours of immersion.
There are definitely a lot of differences. But there are similarities and overlaps that not everybody has considered.
Two Industries, One Trend: Growth and Choice
One of the clearest similarities between casino games and console gaming is how both industries have grown in recent years. Players now face huge menus of choices.
Casino fans know that there can be some very big libraries and even new titles appearing by the week. They are all trying to stand out with a new theme or mechanic (or just new characters). New and emerging markets like Canada still benefit from the huge libraries that are available. Bodog Canada is a casino that has a lot of different slot games as well as a lot of traditional table games. Blackjack and similar options are ubiquitous – there are even new developments and tweaks to the gameplay.
Big slot developers and brands may even create a lot of different new games for the market. There are enough for brands to even advertise regular slots of the week or similar.
Meanwhile, the console market has exploded. There are AAA open-world adventures and indie gems. The huge number of games caters to different tastes. Just like casino libraries, console platforms thrive on variety. This abundance means players in both spaces are never short of something new to try.
The numbers definitely back this up. A record number of new titles were launched in 2024 on Steam. There were over 15,000 new titles. Nobody could possibly try all of the games that have been put out on the market. Steam is a PC platform – we have seen a similar pattern in other console games.
Different Styles of Play
There’s no denying that the styles of play differ. Casino games are designed around quick interactions. A spin of a roulette wheel or a few seconds on a slot machine. All of these fit neatly into short bursts. Console games often ask for long sessions. They draw people in with depth and are designed to be longer. Some even take hundreds of hours to complete or give open-world designs people can explore endlessly.
But even here, there are overlaps. Casual console games like mobile ports and indie titles can mimic the quick pace of casino games. Think of puzzle games or arcade-style shooters that are all about instant gratification. They echo the same “jump in and jump out” model seen in many casino titles.
Shared Themes and Visuals
Themes are another place where links appear. Casino developers know that visuals matter. Slots come dressed in everything from mythology to sci-fi to jungle adventures. Console games also lean heavily on themes. They build entire worlds around specific styles.
In both spaces, developers reuse familiar ideas because they work. Things like mythology and science fiction appear across slot libraries and console releases. The art and atmosphere can often feel strikingly similar, even if the gameplay itself is very different.
Mechanics: Skill vs Chance
One of the biggest differences lies in mechanics. Casino games are usually driven by chance. Spins and card draws are random – strategy often plays a secondary role. In contrast, console games usually rely heavily on skill.
Some casino titles do bring elements of strategy into play. Poker requires both luck and skill, and blackjack asks players to think carefully about probability. Console games sometimes lean into randomness, too. Loot systems or even dice-roll mechanics mimic the uncertainty of chance found in casinos.
Social Experiences
Another interesting similarity is the social side. Some casino games have turned into shared experiences. Players can sit at the same table virtually in a live dealer game and interact with others. Console gaming has mirrored this with online multiplayer. This could mean teaming up in a shooter. It could also be facing off in a sports game; the social element keeps people engaged.
Both industries understand the power of community. It’s no longer just about the game itself. The social element is huge.
Technology Driving Both
Technology has been the engine behind the rise of both casino and console games. Casino developers have embraced mobile play and used HTML5. Console makers have pushed graphics and processing power to create lifelike worlds.
Interestingly, both industries borrow from each other here. Casino games sometimes mimic console-style graphics and storytelling. Some console games sneak in casino-style mini-games, like card tables or slot-style mechanics tucked inside larger adventures.
The post Casino Games and Console Games: Are They Really That Different? appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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