Press Releases

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

Published

7 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.

ELA Games

ELA Games launches Age of Cleopatra slot with Hold & Win bonus

Published

17 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

ela-games-launches-age-of-cleopatra-slot-with-hold-&-win-bonus

ELA Games has released a new slot, Age of Cleopatra, adding another ancient-Egypt theme title to its portfolio. The studio positions the game as a medium-volatility release and says it is available to demo now.

Age of Cleopatra runs on a 5×3 reel set-up with 25 paylines. ELA Games lists RTP at 93.75% / 95.73%, with Buy Bonus RTP at 93.8% / 95.9%. The maximum win is x5000, according to the company.

In the base game, a Collect Symbol gathers coin prizes visible on the screen, while “colored coins” charge pyramids that can unlock additional value, ELA Games said. The slot’s Hold & Win Bonus Game awards three respins by default (or four in an “Extra Respin” version), with modifiers tied to collected coins.

Features named by the studio include Multipliers, Extra Respins, and an Expand Grid mechanic that increases the layout from 3×5 to 5×5. ELA Games also states that multiple features can trigger at the same time.

“You can’t do justice to a legendary theme with just background art. Building a world around Cleopatra meant it had to feel truly authentic, a standard we apply to all our releases. At ELA Games, we consistently look beyond the visuals to craft an original universe, keeping storytelling through the mechanics at the center of our titles.” Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director at ELA Games.

The post ELA Games launches Age of Cleopatra slot with Hold & Win bonus appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Awards

Tuplaus wins Gamification Manager title at Slotsoo Finland Casino Awards 2026

Published

21 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

tuplaus-wins-gamification-manager-title-at-slotsoo-finland-casino-awards-2026

Wildz Group brand Tuplaus has won the Slotsoo Finland Casino Awards 2026 “Pelillistämispäällikö” (Gamification Manager) title, according to a company announcement dated July 2026 from Ta ‘Xbiex, Malta.

Slotsoo’s organisers said: “Only a casino that has taken the gambling experience to a whole new level can be called a gamification manager.” Judges added that Tuplaus delivers “multidimensional gaming moments” that are “far from the monotonous spinning of classic slot machines”.

The judges also highlighted consistency in Tuplaus’ use of gamification from onboarding onwards. They said that “even with the welcome bonus, the player gets to progress step by step and unlock new benefits along the way, and not all the prizes fall into your lap at once. When you add in other promotions and gaming elements, the whole thing feels much more alive than the usual casino experience. Tuplaus shows that the best bonuses are not always the biggest, but they can also be the most fun”.

The company said the Slotsoo accolades assess “hundreds of brands” across multiple categories.

Tuplaus launched in 2025, when Wildz Group CEO Sam Brown said: “We’re exceptionally proud of this new product that will serve our players with the latest online casino experience. Our existing products, Wildz, Wheelz, Spinz, Caxino and Chipz already enjoy a convincing market share, and we’re optimistic that Tuplaus will meet with the same enthusiasm. We have a wide range of player rewards, bonuses, boosts, and more, [and] we’re confident players will love the latest addition to the Wildz Group family of online casinos.”

In the release, Tuplaus also pointed to Pay & Play functionality, no-registration onboarding, a catalogue of games from third-party providers, and frequent promotions as parts of its product proposition.

The post Tuplaus wins Gamification Manager title at Slotsoo Finland Casino Awards 2026 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Elysium Studios

Swintt’s Elysium Studios launches Odyssey Hold & Win slot

Published

21 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

swintt’s-elysium-studios-launches-odyssey-hold-&-win-slot

Swintt has released a new slot from its Elysium Studios label, titled Odyssey Hold & Win. The supplier said the game is built around a Hold & Win collection mechanic and features a stated maximum win of 3,317x.

Odyssey Hold & Win runs on a 4×4 grid that can expand to 4×8 when Athena appears, according to the company. The theme draws on Greek mythology, with symbols including Odysseus, Calypso, Poseidon and Circe.

The core mechanic collects and pays all cash symbols on the reels whenever Odysseus lands, Swintt said. The release also includes a respin-style feature where three Athena symbols expand the grid, mirror cash values and award three respins, with the counter resetting when new cash symbols land.

A Free Spins feature triggers with three scatters and awards 10 spins, with cash symbols locking until collected, the company said. During Free Spins, Poseidon can combine all cash values into a single icon, Circe can add a random number of cash symbols, and Athena and Calypso can add spins or respins under specific conditions.

Anthony Dalla-Giacoma, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt, said: “The Odyssey is one of the most enduring tales of hardship, adventure and homecoming, making it the perfect inspiration for a slot that’s packed with memorable characters and exciting feature potential.

“With expanding reels, locked cash symbols, divine modifiers and wins of up to 3,317x, Odyssey Hold & Win is a fittingly epic addition to the Elysium Studios line-up and a title we believe will appeal strongly to operators looking to offer players a fresh take on Greek mythology.”

The post Swintt’s Elysium Studios launches Odyssey Hold & Win slot appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.