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The MGA Publishes its 2019 Annual Report and Financial Statements

Published

6 years ago

June 23, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA/Authority) is publishing its Annual Report and Financial Statements for the financial year ending 31 December 2019, providing an overview of the work performed throughout the year by the Authority. In addition, the report also includes a summary of the performance of the Maltese gaming industry during 2019 and an outlook for the medium-term future.

The following are the key highlights from the Annual Report covering the year 2019:

The Authority cancelled 14 licences and suspended 11. In addition, it issued 20 warnings, 89 Notices of Breach and 23 administrative fines imposed on operators following various regulatory breaches;
89 applications for a gaming licence were received in 2019; 44 applications were either rejected or withdrawn and 53 licences were issued during the period under review, including licences the application for which had been received during the previous year;
15 individuals and companies were deemed not to be up to the Authority’s probity standards by the Fit & Proper Committee, mainly on the basis of mitigating the risks of money laundering or funding of terrorism;
48 audits were conducted by the Compliance and AML function;
69 international cooperation requests were sent by the MGA in 2019, predominantly as part of the criminal probity assessments, with the Authority receiving 58 international co-operation requests;
1,300 criminal probity screening assessments were carried out in 2019;
The Authority revised its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit, and also signed an MOU with the Malta Police Force, aimed at strengthening the fight again corruption and money laundering;
As at the end of December 2019, the number of companies licensed by the MGA, including both online and land-based entities, stood at 294.

In publishing this report, Heathcliff Farrugia, Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Gaming Authority, stated that: “Overall, 2019 was a very challenging but at the same time rewarding year for the MGA. The increased focus on compliance and enforcement which was prevalent throughout the year has yielded tangible results for the Authority.

This focus led to internal restructuring for the better achievement of the MGA’s objectives, and was also pivotal in the Authority’s drive towards the setting up of the Sports Integrity Unit, tasked with increasing the commitment towards the fight against the manipulation of sports competitions. In its first months, this unit has already signed important collaboration agreements with international sport bodies in order to tackle betting-related corruption and ensure the integrity of sports.

Such collaboration, both at a local and international level was high on the agenda in 2019, and will continue being crucial in 2020, as a key determining factor in the ongoing fight against crime, corruption and money laundering.”

casino games

F*Bastards says it now distributes content via 400+ operators worldwide

Published

5 hours ago

July 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

f*bastards-says-it-now-distributes-content-via-400+-operators-worldwide

F*Bastards says its casino content is now available through more than 400 operators worldwide, marking a distribution milestone for the iGaming supplier as it continues to expand its portfolio and partner network.

In a company statement outlining its background, Co-Founder Ugnius Seskas said the team’s earlier attempt to build a game studio fell short due to positioning rather than production capability. “Looking back, we realised we weren’t missing talent. We were missing identity. We could build games, but we hadn’t built something people could remember. That lesson became the starting point for everything F*Bastards would later become.” says Co-Founder Ugnius Seskas.

The company said it intentionally built its brand around differentiation, including the decision to use the name F*Bastards despite the expectation it would split opinion among potential partners. The founders described early progress as incremental, driven by game releases, industry events, operator feedback and relationship-building, rather than a single breakout moment.

F*Bastards also pointed to a fundraising milestone in 2026, saying it secured its first seven-figure investment. The company positioned the round as validation of execution rather than an early-stage concept.

“From day one, the goal wasn’t to become the biggest supplier. It was to build something people would remember. We’ve come a long way, but in many ways, it still feels like we’re only getting started” says Co-Founder Ugnius Seskas.

The post F*Bastards says it now distributes content via 400+ operators worldwide appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

API integration

Belatra signs cooperation deal to distribute slots via VeliGames

Published

5 hours ago

July 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

belatra-signs-cooperation-deal-to-distribute-slots-via-veligames

Belatra has signed a cooperation agreement with VeliGames to distribute its online slots to operators across Latin America, Africa and Asia. The deal was announced Tuesday 7th July 2026.

VeliGames is a game aggregation platform by VeliTech. The companies said the platform is designed for operators in Latin America, Africa and Asia, with architecture optimised for unstable internet connections and low-cost devices.

Under the expanded agreement, VeliGames will gain access to Belatra’s portfolio through a single API integration, giving operators access to Belatra’s slots via the aggregator.

Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra said: “Our integration with VeliGames through a single API opens a direct route for our slots to reach operators in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Our mathematical architecture and character-based IP are focused on long-term player retention, and VeliGames’ technology ensures stable operation of content in these markets regardless of the quality of communication.”

Revaz Janelidze, Operations Lead at VeliGames, added: “Belatra’s award-winning portfolio and proven mechanics are just the kind of dependable content our operator partners are looking for across multiple regions. Bringing the games into our ecosystem through a single API makes it simple to deliver, even on lower spec devices and slower connections.”

The post Belatra signs cooperation deal to distribute slots via VeliGames appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

GCGRA

UAE Lottery names second AED 30m Lucky Day jackpot winner in five weeks

Published

5 hours ago

July 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

uae-lottery-names-second-aed-30m-lucky-day-jackpot-winner-in-five-weeks

The UAE Lottery has confirmed its second AED 30 million Lucky Day Grand Prize winner in five weeks. The operator said Sunil Kumar Sadasivan, a 52-year-old Indian resident of Abu Dhabi, matched all seven winning numbers in the Wednesday, July 1 draw.

The company said the Wednesday Lucky Day draw has now produced two AED 30 million Grand Prize winners and one AED 5 million Second Prize winner “in a span of a few months.” Lucky Day draws run every Wednesday and Saturday at 9:30 PM.

Speaking about the win in a statement included by the operator, Sadasivan said: “When I first looked at it, I couldn’t believe it. Then I looked again and saw the full number. That’s when I realized I had won.”

The UAE Lottery said each draw offers an AED 30 million Grand Prize and an AED 5 million Second Prize, as well as three guaranteed AED 50,000 Lucky Chance prizes. Tickets cost AED 50, according to the operator.

The company said its games are regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) and reiterated its commitment to responsible gaming.

The post UAE Lottery names second AED 30m Lucky Day jackpot winner in five weeks appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.