Industry News

The MGA publishes a study to better understand the existing skills gap in the gaming industry for the year 2018

Published

6 years ago

January 17, 2020

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), through its Information & Research Unit, has conducted a survey (second of its kind) among its licensed remote gaming operators in order to obtain a better understanding of the existing skills gap in the gaming industry.

This report highlights the key findings of a survey carried out by the MGA in 2019 (for 2018) and outlines the main elements of similarity and contrast with the results of the previous survey, where relevant.

The following are the key highlights from this survey:

A total of 730 unfilled positions have been reported by the online gaming companies in Malta as at the end of 2018;
68% of unfilled vacancies are primarily at the operational level;
The majority (69%) of the vacancies remained unfilled for no more than three months;
Lack of work experience (28%), competition from other firms (27%) and lack of qualifications (21%) are the main reasons for unfilled vacancies;
According to the survey results, more than one-third of the operators recruit personnel employed by other firms in the sector;
35% of firms engage in in-house training activities or mentoring in order to tackle skill shortages;
The recruitment of workers immediately after the completion of their formal education was reported by 9% of the surveyed firms, confirming the potentially stronger role which could be played by educational institutions;
Several policy efforts have been made to ensure that training courses are aligned with the industry’s needs. In 2017, the European Gaming Institute of Malta (EGIM) was launched following an agreement signed between the MGA and Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST). In 2018, 56 students applied for the iGaming Diploma at MCAST, and an additional 43 enrolled between January and mid-November 2019;
By mid-November 2019, 58 students enrolled for the Award in iGaming course at the iGaming Academy – a joint collaboration between the MCAST and EGIM;
In 2019, 21 students were selected and matched with seven companies through the Gaming Malta’s Student Placement Programme, an initiative that aims to reduce the mismatch which exists between the supply and demand for gaming skills in the Maltese labour market; and
The majority of the surveyed companies expressed their satisfaction with the training offerings in Malta; however, between 15% and 20% of the respondents indicated that more needs to be done with respect to the availability, quality and value for money of the training opportunities in Malta.

The survey which reflects responses received from 238 individual respondents (companies) looks at the size, nature and causes of unfilled vacancies, the recruitment strategies of the respondents, training and development activities as well as the educational offering to the online gaming industry in Malta.

The MGA’s Chief Officer of Finance & Programme Management, responsible for the Information & Research Unit, Peter Spiteri said:

“We are pleased to publish the second paper on the Skill Gap Affecting the Online Gaming Industry with a view to shed light on the current state of play regarding human capital found on the island.

Recent figures published by MGA through its Interim Performance Report indicate that 69% of employees in the online gaming sector are non-Maltese, highlighting the need for expatriate workers to sustain the ever-increasing demand of the industry.

Whilst acknowledging that significant milestones have been achieved through the establishment of the European Gaming Institute of Malta as well as Gaming Malta’s Student Placement Programme initiative, the study indicates that there is significant potential for the local educational system to contribute in addressing the continuous thirst of the industry for a skilled workforce.”

A full copy of the survey can be downloaded from here.

ESG

Play’n GO publishes 2025 Sustainability Report with emissions and governance updates

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

play’n-go-publishes-2025-sustainability-report-with-emissions-and-governance-updates

Play’n GO has published its 2025 Sustainability Report, framing the year as a milestone as the supplier marks 20 years in the gaming industry. The report covers performance across four pillars—Players, Partners, People and Planet—and positions sustainability as tied to product design, operations, and partner expectations.

On climate reporting, the company said it has “achieved and exceeded” its long-term 90% reduction target for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and reported a 69% absolute reduction in Scope 3 emissions versus its 2023 base year. Play’n GO also said its total material emissions for 2025 were kept below 500 MTCO2e.

The report also points to a move into land-based delivery. In 2025, Play’n GO said it launched its first land-based gaming solution in partnership with Genting UK, positioning the rollout as part of a “player-first, low-footprint approach” for regulated venues.

On responsible entertainment, the company said it continues to reject game mechanics it believes “compromise player trust or wellbeing,” and highlighted participation in discussions on digital wellbeing and cognitive health, including at the United Nations and G7. “We have always believed that great entertainment should be fun, safe and fair,” said Vanessa Björkbacka, Director of CSR at Play’n GO.

The report also outlines internal development and reporting infrastructure. Play’n GO said 43% of employees engaged in AI-related learning during 2025 and that average training time exceeded seven hours per employee globally. It added that reporting was further aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and World Economic Forum Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics, alongside investment in “secure, AI-supported carbon data management.” “As expectations on transparency and accountability continue to rise, we see it as our responsibility to lead,” Björkbacka added.

The post Play’n GO publishes 2025 Sustainability Report with emissions and governance updates appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

complaint resolution

Casino Guru CRC returns $5.3m to players in Q1 2026

Published

3 days ago

April 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

casino-guru-crc-returns-$5.3m-to-players-in-q1-2026

Casino Guru’s Complaint Resolution Center (CRC) published 3,986 complaints in Q1 2026 and says it resolved 1,321 cases, returning $5,304,894 to players during the quarter.

Casino Guru said March was one of the CRC’s most active months on record, with the second-highest number of published complaints to date. The company added that ongoing cases exceeded 1,300, pointing to rising demand for third-party dispute mediation.

By volume, the most active complaint markets were Germany (657), the United Kingdom (270), Canada (240), Italy (207) and Australia (194), according to the CRC update.

Delayed payments remained the most common player-reported issue. Casino Guru also reported a March shift in complaint mix, with self-exclusion-related complaints rising to the second most frequent category for the first time in CRC history. KYC-related issues and blocked accounts were also among the most common complaint types, often linked to withdrawal delays.

Casino Guru said the quarter’s results reflect the increasing role of independent mediation as players look to third-party platforms to resolve disputes.

The post Casino Guru CRC returns $5.3m to players in Q1 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

branded content

RubyPlay launches Firerose studio for operator-specific casino games

Published

4 days ago

April 20, 2026

Wladimir P.

rubyplay-launches-firerose-studio-for-operator-specific-casino-games

RubyPlay has launched Firerose, a new studio aimed at building operator-specific casino game experiences, as suppliers and operators push for more branded content to stand out in crowded markets.

The company said Firerose is designed to let operators combine RubyPlay’s existing game catalogue with the studio’s technology and creative resources, using operator-led insight to shape games around an operator’s brand identity rather than standardised supplier content.

RubyPlay said Superbet is among the first operators to launch Firerose-powered titles. The supplier did not disclose game names or specific performance figures, but said early results showed “strong engagement metrics”.

Firerose becomes part of RubyPlay’s multi-studio structure alongside Koala Games, Mad Hat Games, Ruby Studio, and Xslots, which the company said share technology, infrastructure and distribution.

Dima Reiderman , Chief Commercial Officer at RubyPlay, said: ”Firerose represents a deliberate shift in how we think about content creation and partnership. The market is no longer driven solely by volume, but by identity. Operators want experiences that feel native to their brand and help them clearly differentiate in increasingly competitive casino environments.”

Dr. Eyal Loz, CPO at RubyPlay, added: “Firerose was created to put the operator’s voice at the centre of the creative process. Every game starts with their brand, their audience and their story, and our role is to bring that to life through the full weight of RubyPlay’s creative capabilities.

“We’re shaping experiences that players immediately associate with the operator itself. That level of ownership is what allows operators to stand out in increasingly crowded casino environments.”

The post RubyPlay launches Firerose studio for operator-specific casino games appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.