Compliance Updates

The MGA Issues Interim Performance Report for January – June 2022

Published

3 years ago

January 10, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Malta Gaming Authority has released its Interim Performance Report for the period between January to June 2022. A review of the Authority’s accomplishments for the first half of 2022 is provided in the report, together with a description of the Maltese gaming industry’s performance over the same period. The latter provides a medium-term outlook towards the future, as well as an analysis outlining important statistics for the land-based and online gaming industries.

Supervisory Activities

During this period, 16 compliance audits were conducted together with 114 desktop reviews, accompanied by an additional seven AML/CFT compliance examinations that were initiated by the MGA on behalf of the FIAU. Additionally, the Authority issues a warning, cancelled a licence, as well as suspended another authorised entity, following information which emerged from compliance audits, compliance reviews and formal investigations Furthermore, the MGA issued a total of seven administrative penalties as well as two regulatory settlements, with a collective total financial penalty of €85,000.
Enforcement measures were also issued by the FIAU to an additional four licensees, ranging from written reprimands to administrative penalties, with an emphasis on remediation measures, based on the breaches identified during examinations carried out in previous years, including by the MGA. In total, these amounted to just over €386,567.
Based primarily on reducing the risk of money laundering or funding terrorism, the Fit & Proper Committee determined that four individuals and entities did not meet the Authority’s fit and properness criteria, while an additional two applications were rejected by the Supervisory Council.
A total of 626 criminal probity screening checks were undertaken on personnel, shareholders, ultimate beneficial owners, key individuals, employees, and businesses from the land-based and online gambling sectors.
In the first half of the year, 22 interviews with prospective money laundering reporting officers (MLROs) and key persons carrying out the AML/CFT function were carried out, with the aim of determining the knowledge and suitability of each candidate.
A total of six letters of breach were issued by the MGA’s Commercial Communications Committee (S.L. 583.09), out of which five operators were deemed to have violated the Commercial Communications Regulations.
In its efforts to safeguard players and promote responsible gaming, the Authority assisted a total of 2,578 players who requested assistance, covering the majority of the cases received during 2022 and the spillover from 2021.
A total of 22 cases of websites having misleading references to the Authority were investigated, while a total of 13 notices were published on the MGA’s website with the aim of preventing the public from falling victim to such scams. Furthermore, an additional 18 responsible gambling website checks were conducted, and five observation letters were issued.

National and International Cooperation

Between January and June 2022, a total of 122 alerts on suspicious betting were sent to the industry. Following correspondence of these alerts, the Suspicious Betting Reporting Mechanism received a total of 16 new suspicious betting reports.
Enforcement agencies, sports governing bodies, integrity units, and other regulatory authorities made a total of 23 requests for information, specifically in relation to the manipulation of sporting events or violations of sporting regulations. Subsequently, 10 of these requests resulted in the exchange of data. In addition, 278 allegations of suspicious betting from licensees and other interested parties were received.
The Authority participated directly in 12 separate investigations into sports rules violations or manipulation of sporting competitions during the time under review. In addition, the Authority also participated indirectly in another investigation.
The Authority sent 64 requests for international cooperation, the majority of which related to requests for background checks as part of an authorisation process. Furthermore, the Authority received a total of 36 requests for international collaboration from other regulators.
Up to the end of June 2022, a total of 84 official replies were issued, providing feedback on the regulatory good standing of our licensed operators to the relevant authorities asking for this information.
In total, during the first six months of the year, the MGA received just over 100 requests for information from other local regulating authorities and governing bodies.

The MGA will publish a full-year industry performance report during the second half of 2023, when it publishes its Annual Report for the financial year ending 31 December 2022.

Benjamin Bradtke Co-Founder of ThrillTech

ThrillTech lands Gibraltar B2B supplier licence

Published

29 minutes ago

June 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

thrilltech-lands-gibraltar-b2b-supplier-licence

Approval from HM Government of Gibraltar’s Gambling Division lets the supplier serve Gibraltar-licensed iGaming operators.

ThrillTech has been granted a Gambling Services (B2B) Licence by the Gambling Division of HM Government of Gibraltar, allowing the supplier to provide its opt-in jackpot and mystery reward products to regulated iGaming operators licensed in Gibraltar.

The company said the licence supports its international expansion plans and will enable it to deploy its ThrillPots product with additional operators in the jurisdiction, which hosts a number of tier-one betting and gaming brands.

Benjamin Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “Securing a B2B licence in Gibraltar is an important step for ThrillTech and a testament to our market-leading jackpots technology. Gibraltar is home to some of the industry’s most prestigious operators. This approval not only accelerates our global expansion strategy but now allows us to provide these major operators with new layers of player engagement which generate incremental revenue.”

ThrillTech said it seeks market-specific licences and certifications because its side-bet jackpots operate independently of operators’ core casino games and betting products. The company added that its jackpots are powered by a proprietary, certified RNG and do not alter core game RTP, with funding coming from opt-in player contributions.

According to ThrillTech, its regulated market licences and certifications also include the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Peru, and Brazil.

The post ThrillTech lands Gibraltar B2B supplier licence appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Betting and Gaming Council

BGC Calls on Tech Giants to Protect Consumers from Illegal Gambling Sites

Published

3 hours ago

June 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

bgc-calls-on-tech-giants-to-protect-consumers-from-illegal-gambling-sites

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has issued an open letter to Britain’s leading technology platforms calling for urgent action to tackle the growing threat posed by illegal gambling operators online.

The letter, signed by BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst, warns that black market gambling websites are increasingly using social media platforms, search engines, messaging services and digital advertising networks to reach consumers in Britain, including people who have self-excluded from gambling and those seeking support.

The intervention follows warnings from Gambling Commission Executive Director Tim Miller, who earlier this year highlighted the continued presence of illegal gambling advertising online, including promotions for so-called “not on GamStop” operators.

The BGC argues that illegal operators are exploiting digital platforms to access UK consumers while operating entirely outside the regulatory framework designed to protect them.

Unlike regulated operators, black market gambling websites are not licensed by the Gambling Commission, do not carry out customer protection measures, do not contribute to research, prevention and treatment services through the statutory levy, and do not pay UK tax.

Analysis by WARC suggests illegal operators now account for almost half of all gambling advertising spend in Britain and could overtake the regulated sector entirely by 2028. Separate analysis by H2 Gambling Capital forecasts that stakes with black market operators could grow from £17bn today to £33bn by 2028.

Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said:

“The harmful black market is growing at an alarming rate, and illegal operators are exploiting online platforms to target British consumers.

“Technology companies have some of the most advanced tools, data and expertise in the world. The question is no longer whether this problem can be addressed, but whether enough is being done.

“Every consumer drawn towards an illegal operator is being pulled away from the protections of the regulated market.

“We are calling on technology platforms to match the scale of the threat with the scale of their response.”

In the open letter, the BGC calls on technology companies to proactively identify and remove illegal gambling advertising, invest more resources in disrupting black market operators, strengthen cooperation with regulators and law enforcement, increase transparency around enforcement activity and work collectively to prevent vulnerable consumers being targeted by unlicensed operators.

The post BGC Calls on Tech Giants to Protect Consumers from Illegal Gambling Sites appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Blazing Flower

CT Interactive Strengthens its Presence in Romania with Newly Certified Games

Published

4 hours ago

June 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

ct-interactive-strengthens-its-presence-in-romania-with-newly-certified-games

CT Interactive continues to strengthen its position in Romania’s regulated iGaming market with the certification of 25 additional game titles. Following this expansion, the company’s certified portfolio in the country now comprises 126 games, reinforcing its commitment to growth across regulated European markets.

Among the newly certified titles is Diamond Tree, CT Interactive’s latest progressive jackpot, featuring some of the company’s best-performing games. The progressive jackpot includes popular titles such as 20 Mega Slot, 20 Star Party, 40 Mega Slot, 40 Treasures, Chilli Fruits, HOT 7’s x 2, King of Clovers, Lord of Luck, Lucky Clover, Lucky Clover 20, Moon Lord, Mystic Moon, The Big Chilli, Wild Clover and Win Storm.

In addition, several standout games have also received certification for the Romanian market, including Hell’s Cherries, Happy Miner, Blazing Flower, Win Storm Deluxe and other player-favourite titles.

“Certification in Romania is an important part of our European growth strategy. This expansion not only strengthens our presence in the market but also enables us to deliver a broader and more diverse range of premium gaming content to licensed operators and their players,” said Martin Ivanov, Chief Operating Officer of CT Interactive.

Bogdan Smeu, Regional Manager Romania, added: “Romania continues to be one of the most dynamic regulated markets in the region, with increasing demand for high-quality gaming content. Expanding our certified portfolio allows us to better support our operator partners while providing players with access to proven, high-performing titles.”

With these new certifications, CT Interactive further strengthens its position in Romania, offering operators a diverse portfolio of engaging and fully compliant gaming content.

The post CT Interactive Strengthens its Presence in Romania with Newly Certified Games appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.