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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.
Firecracker Frenzy™ Money Toad™
Ancient fortune explodes to life in Greentube’s Firecracker Frenzy™: Money Toad™
Greentube is leading players on a memorable adventure through ancient China with Firecracker Frenzy
Money Toad
, its newest five-reel slot game where rockets and pathways spark exciting action with each spin.
Set against the stunning scenery of China, the game features the mythical Money Toad, leading players through a realm of amazement and wealth.
The Firecracker Frenzy
Trail aspect is central to the gameplay experience and may result in the potent Lock ‘N’ Spin bonus. In this area, players can hit Mystery Rocket symbols that randomly disclose purple, red, or green rockets. Every disclosed rocket might add to its respective trail as players progress towards earning bonus rewards.
When one or more trails are finished, the Lock ‘N’ Spin activates with unique modifiers in effect (Extra Rows, Zone Boost & Coin Boost). By accumulating sufficient coins in the marked areas on the reels, a multiplier beside the area increases certain coin values and boosts a random count of coins on the reels by one or more.
In the Lock ‘N’ Spin bonus, every spot on the grid turns into a separate reel. The feature starts with three spins and resets to three each time a new symbol lands, keeping the action ongoing as Coin symbols, Mystery Coins, Trail Feature symbols, and Jackpot symbols show up.
Jackpots can be won by gathering all matching Jackpot Letter symbols, and at the conclusion of the bonus, all Coin values displayed on the screen are summed up, including any finished jackpots, to yield potentially impressive payouts.
In certain markets, participants can also instantly unlock the Lock ‘N’ Spin bonus through the well-known Bonus Buy feature.
Firecracker Frenzy
Money Toad
represents the newest addition to Greentube’s expanding collection of high-quality slot games, succeeding recent launches like Gorilla Cash
and Enchanted Pegasus
BOOM.
Richard Ganster, Director of Games Strategy and Games Portfolio Management at Greentube, said: “Firecracker Frenzy
Money Toad
delivers an exciting blend of mythology, atmosphere and innovative bonus mechanics and features. The slot also boasts visually stunning graphics that perfectly captures the magic of ancient China.
“The Firecracker Frenzy
Trails bring a fresh sense of anticipation to every spin, while the Lock ‘N’ Spin feature offers multiple ways to unlock wins.”
The post Ancient fortune explodes to life in Greentube’s Firecracker Frenzy™: Money Toad™ appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Aurimas Šilys
REEVO Announces Partnership with Betsafe
REEVO has announced a new partnership with Betsafe, strengthening REEVO’s growing presence across regulated European markets and reinforcing its expansion strategy in the Baltics region.
Through this collaboration, REEVO’s aggregation platform will support Betsafe’s casino offering in Estonia and Latvia, enabling access to a wide range of premium third-party content through a streamlined integration. The partnership reflects REEVO’s continued commitment to providing operators with scalable technology and an efficient route to expanding their game portfolio.
Betsafe is part of the Betsson Group, a global online gambling company operating more than 20 gaming brands across multiple markets. In the Baltics, Betsson Group operates under the Betsafe brand in Estonia and Latvia, offering a trusted and dynamic entertainment experience.
This partnership marks another important step forward for REEVO as it continues to grow as an aggregator and strengthen its reputation as a trusted partner for leading operators in key regulated territories.
Karl Grech, Head of Business Development at REEVO, said: “Estonia and Latvia are exciting markets with strong growth potential, and partnering with Betsafe is a fantastic milestone for REEVO. Betsafe is a well-established and trusted brand in the Baltics, and we’re proud to support their expansion through REEVO’s aggregation platform. This collaboration is another clear step forward in our growth strategy and reinforces our commitment to delivering efficient, high-performance solutions that help operators enhance their casino offering.”
Aurimas Šilys, Managing Director Baltics at Betsson Group, said: “Our collaboration with REEVO opens so many doors for Betsson Group brands in Baltics to onboard and launch more game providers and have the biggest and widest casino selection in Baltics markets.”
The post REEVO Announces Partnership with Betsafe appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Africa
Meridianbet Marks 17 Years in Tanzania with Over 500 Community Initiatives
When Meridianbet’s Tanzania operations spoke at the American Chamber of Commerce Appreciation Dinner last week, the presentation opened with a single number: 500.
That’s how many community initiatives the sports entertainment company has completed across Tanzania since 2009. Education programmes. Small business training. Youth sports sponsorship. Public health awareness campaigns. Local infrastructure support.
For a gaming company operating under a NASDAQ-listed parent, sustained community investment at this scale is unusual. The industry has a reputation for extracting value. Meridianbet’s seventeen-year presence in Tanzania tells a different story.
The Social Model
“We’re in the business of friends gathering at local clubs to watch matches, share a drink, and place small stakes on the outcome. The betting is part of the experience. The gathering is the real value,” a company representative said at the event.
The framing matters because it shapes operational decisions. Meridianbet Tanzania, as is the case worldwide, structures its platform to encourage many customers placing small amounts. The alternative would be concentrating revenue among high-stakes players. That model creates problems. Problem gambling. Revenue volatility. Regulatory scrutiny.
Small-stake betting spread across many customers creates different dynamics. Lower risk per individual. More stable revenue. Better alignment with Tanzania’s consumer protection regulations.
The company’s responsible gaming protocols reflect this approach. Early intervention when betting patterns suggest trouble. Support resources in Swahili and English. Limits designed to keep stakes small and entertainment value high.
Community Ambassadors
The scale of Meridianbet’s community programmes drew attention at the AmCham dinner. What got people talking was who runs them.
The company built a network of “community ambassadors.” These are customers who participate in CSR initiatives as partners. They identify needs in their neighbourhoods. They volunteer in education programmes. They mentor local entrepreneurs. They organise school supply drives and coach youth sports teams.
This shifts how corporate social responsibility works. Traditional CSR runs top-down. Companies donate money. Communities receive it. The relationship is transactional.
Meridianbet’s model distributes responsibility. Customers become patrons of community development. The company provides platform and resources. The customers craft the donation policy.
“When a customer helps fund a school program or mentors a young business owner, they’re building their own community. We make it possible,” the representative said.
Seventeen years and 500 initiatives suggest the model works. Whether it scales beyond Tanzania remains to be seen. For now, it appears to have created genuine community ties rather than performative charity.
The Gender Metric
One data point from the presentation got repeated in conversations after the event: 70% of managerial positions across Meridianbet’s African operations are held by women.
The gaming industry globally runs around 30% women in leadership roles. East African businesses average 35%. Meridianbet’s 70% is an outlier.
The company implements a performance-based hiring and promotion. No quotas. Just competence rewarded. Whether that’s the full story or not, the outcome is measurable. Management teams reflect the communities they serve. Diversity intentions are easy to state. Diversity outcomes are harder to deliver. The Company’s numbers show outcome.
Seventeen Years
Tanzania’s gaming market has grown considerably since 2009. Mobile penetration increased. Disposable incomes rose among the middle class. International operators entered. Some stayed. Many left when margins compressed or regulations tightened.
Meridianbet stayed. Seventeen years. 200 employees. Hundreds of local retail partnerships. That longevity suggests the company views Tanzania as infrastructure, not opportunity.
American companies face pressure to demonstrate ESG commitments in emerging markets. Words are easy. Execution is hard. Meridianbet’s Tanzania operations show what seventeen years of execution looks like.
The post Meridianbet Marks 17 Years in Tanzania with Over 500 Community Initiatives appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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