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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.
Gaming
58% of respondents like the“warmy” archetype. Rocket Match by RocketPlay became “ Valentine’s Tinder in Gaming”.
This Valentine’s, RocketPlay tested a playful idea: players who seek thrills in gaming don’t necessarily want intensity in everything — including relationships. Instead of asking users to pick a “perfect partner,” RocketPlay launched Rocket Match, a fast, flirty quiz that matches players with a vibe: Bold, Sunny, Dreamy, or Adventurous.
Early Results Flip the Stereotype
Around 58% of participants matched with the Sunny archetype — defined by warmth, charm, and easy-going fun. The experiment suggests that when it comes to Valentine’s, RocketPlay’s community prefers light-hearted connection over drama or high stakes.
What Rocket Match Is
Rocket Match is a Valentine’s matchmaking quiz built inside the RocketPlay Universe. Players answer five simple, no-wrong-answer questions and instantly discover their match vibe.
The goal: move away from typical Valentine’s content that swings between overly serious romance or clichéd tropes. Rocket Match keeps it flirty, playful, and moment-focused, letting players discover a vibe rather than a label.
The four vibes include:
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Bold – confident, high-energy, loves bigger sparks
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Sunny – easy-going, playful, social, effortlessly charming
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Dreamy – soft, romantic, focused on atmosphere and emotion
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Adventurous – playful risk-taker, spontaneous, curious
Community Insights from Rocket Match
The quiz quickly gained traction, with 7,000+ completions, revealing a strong preference: Sunny, the archetype defined by warmth, lightness, and charm.
Alex Martin, PR Lead at RocketPlay, said:
“What we liked most about Rocket Match is how clearly it captured the mood people actually want on Valentine’s. It wasn’t about labels or big statements — it was about light energy, easy chemistry, and a feel-good kind of connection. That’s the vibe we try to build across the brand: simple to join, fun in the moment, and positive without the drama.”
Why It Matters
Rocket Match was more than a Valentine’s gimmick. It offered a snapshot of what RocketPlay’s community enjoys most: light energy, playful interaction, and feel-good connections. By turning a pop-culture moment into a small experiment, RocketPlay gained insight into player preferences, informing how the brand continues to design engaging, fun, and positive experiences.
The post 58% of respondents like the“warmy” archetype. Rocket Match by RocketPlay became “ Valentine’s Tinder in Gaming”. appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Kaizen Gaming
Player Safety Tips and Tools For International Responsible Gaming Day by Kaizen Gaming
To mark International Responsible Gaming Day on February 17, leading GameTech operator Kaizen Gaming is reaffirming its commitment to safe and responsible play. The company has shared 10 practical tips to help players stay in control, along with an overview of the responsible gaming tools available on its Betano platform.
Responsible gaming is a core pillar of Kaizen Gaming’s strategy, embedded in technology, product design, and customer support. The approach focuses on prevention, education, and early intervention, ensuring gaming remains enjoyable, transparent, and safe.
10 Tips for Safe and Enjoyable Play
Kaizen Gaming encourages players to follow these key principles:
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Play for fun, not to earn money
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Monitor the time spent playing and take regular breaks
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Set a budget and do not exceed it
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Stay social and maintain balance with other activities
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Play sober
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Protect minors and prevent underage access
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Do not chase losses
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Avoid gambling under stress or emotional distress
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When in doubt, stop playing
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Use the responsible gaming tools available to you
These guidelines aim to promote awareness and help players make conscious, informed decisions while gaming.
Leadership Insight
Ismini Nasaina, Head of Responsible Gaming at Kaizen Gaming, said:
“Gaming can only stay fun when our players stay in control. Responsible Gaming is not a platform feature for us, it’s a core operating principle that shapes how we design our products and how we support players. Our focus is to help players stay in control through clear information, practical tools, and timely interventions where needed.”
Responsible Gaming Tools on Betano
Kaizen Gaming offers a comprehensive suite of tools to support player safety:
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Financial limits – deposit, loss, and wager limits, plus withdrawal cancellation and blocking
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Time management – session timers and personal time limits
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Self-exclusion – for longer breaks
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Time-out features – short, immediate pauses
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Access to helplines – for external support organisations
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Rigorous age verification – to prevent underage access
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Educational content – clear, localised guidance
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Self-assessment tools – evaluate gaming behaviour
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24/7 specialised customer support – trained in responsible gaming
Ismini Nasaina added:
“Increasing awareness around responsible play and making safeguards easy to understand and use is essential. International Responsible Gaming Day is a good opportunity to reinforce these basics and remind players that protection tools and support are always available. Player awareness and control are what keep the gaming environment safe and sustainable.”
The post Player Safety Tips and Tools For International Responsible Gaming Day by Kaizen Gaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BOS – the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling – welcomes you to a lunch seminar regarding the gambling policy of the Government and the Moderates.
Guest speaker: Minister of Financial Markets Niklas Wykman (M).
In what way do the government and the Moderates describe the impending conclusion of the term regarding gambling policy? What goals do they aim to accomplish in gambling policy during the next term, should they be re-elected in the fall elections?
Minister for Financial Markets Niklas Wykman (M) delivers a speech on the subject and will subsequently respond to audience questions.
Observe the somewhat unusual time for a BOS lunch seminar. You can choose to participate in both the lunch and the seminar or only the seminar.
The seminar will take place in Swedish. It will be interpreted into English at the same time, and it is completely acceptable to pose questions to the Minister in English.
The lunch seminar is complimentary and available to all who are interested.
When: March 18 at 1:00 PM. Lunch will be provided at 12:15 PM. The seminar will conclude by 2:00 PM at the latest.
Location: Convendum, Brahegatan 10, Stockholm
The post BOS Lunch seminar with Minister for Financial Markets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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