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The MGA publishes its 2022 Annual Report and Financial Statements
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA/Authority) is publishing its Annual Report and audited Financial Statements for the financial year ending 31 December 2022. In addition to outlining the performance of the Maltese gaming business in 2022, the report gives a broad summary of the Authority’s accomplishments during the year under review and offers a medium-term outlook for the future. A thorough report outlining key statistics for the land-based and online gaming industries is then presented.
Supervisory Activities
- 28 compliance audits were conducted and 228 desktop reviews were carried out during 2022, accompanied by additional AML/CFT compliance examinations that are carried out by the FIAU, or by the MGA on its behalf. Following information which emerged from compliance audits, compliance reviews and formal investigations, the Authority issued 10 warnings and cancelled six (6) licences. In addition, the MGA issued a total of 16 administrative penalties as well as three (3) regulatory settlements, with a collective total financial penalty of €179,150.
- A total of 25 licensees were subject to remediation and/or administrative measures by the FIAU, ranging from written reprimands to administrative penalties, based on the breaches identified during examinations carried out in previous years, including by the MGA. In total, these amounted to just over €738,000.
- Six (6) individuals and companies were deemed by the Fit & Proper Committee to not be up to the Authority’s probity standards due to various factors, including due to the risks of money laundering or funding of terrorism.
- Forty-one (41) gaming licence applications were received during 2022. Thirty-one (31) licences were issued, while twenty-one (21) were unsuccessful.
- Over 1,500 criminal probity screening checks were undertaken on individuals, shareholders and ultimate beneficial owners, key persons and other employees, and companies from both the land-based and online gaming sectors.
- The Authority conducted 48 interviews with prospective MLROs and key persons carrying out the AML/CFT function to determine the knowledge and suitability of each candidate.
- The Commercial Communication Committee of the MGA issued a total of nine (9) Letters of Breach following breaches of the Commercial Communications Regulations (S.L. 583.09).
- In its efforts to protect players and encourage responsible gambling, the Authority supported a total of 5,280 players who requested assistance, covering most of the cases received during 2022 and the spill-over from 2021.
- The MGA conducted 85 responsible gaming-themed website checks, through which 38 URLs were found to have misleading information. This led to 17 notices being published on the MGA website, and 30 observation letters that were sent out reflecting responsible gaming issues.
Improvements in Efficiency and Effectiveness
- The Authority commissioned a sectorial skills strategy to address the gaming industry’s challenges with respect to the ongoing demand for qualified and skilled human capital, which increased significantly as the economy grew and diversified into numerous sectors.
- Consultation exercises were conducted with industry stakeholders regarding the bets offered by licensees – with a focus on sports integrity and player protection considerations – on the proposed amendments to the Player Protection Directive (Directive 2 of 2018), and on the proposed policy on the use of Innovative Technology Arrangements (ITAs) and the acceptance of Virtual Financial Assets (VFAs) and Virtual Tokens, which led to amendments and a finalised Policy, respectively.
- The Authority streamlined the approval process of appointing an MLRO in collaboration with the FIAU while, at the same time, ensuring that the industry is kept updated on any changes affecting this process and on any best practices that are intrinsic to the role of the MLRO.
- The concept of Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUPs) Reports was introduced, covering player funds and Gaming Revenue. Audit firms are drawing up these reports in compliance with the ‘International Standard on Related Services (ISRS) 4400 (Revised) Agreed-Upon Procedures Engagements’.
- The MGA kickstarted a process for possibly implementing a voluntary Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Code of Good Practice for the industry to showcase and increase the positive social and environmental impacts of the gambling sector.
National and International Cooperation
- Throughout 2022, the Authority issued 43 news items on its website and 26 external communications, providing a synopsis of various updates and developments at the Authority and across the industry.
- A total of 224 alerts were sent to the industry, 167 of which were also sent to the appropriate Sports Governing Bodies.
- A total of 44 requests for information specifically relating to the manipulation of sports competitions or breaches in sports rules were submitted by enforcement agencies, sport governing bodies, integrity units, and other regulatory bodies. As a result of such requests, data was exchanged in 25 instances. Additionally, a total of 475 suspicious betting reports from licensees and other concerned parties were received.
- During the period under review, the Authority was a direct participant in 15 different investigations across the globe relating to the manipulation of sports competitions or breaches in sports rules, as well as an indirect participant in 3 such investigations.
- The Authority received a total of 83 international cooperation requests from other regulators and sent 97 such requests, with the majority referring to requests for background checks as part of an authorisation process.
- A total of 177 official replies were issued providing feedback on the regulatory good standing of our licensed operators to the relevant authorities asking for this information.
- The MGA works together with other local regulating authorities and governing bodies. This is reflected through responses furnished by the MGA to requests for information made by the Asset Recovery Bureau (ARB), the FIAU, as well as the MPF on the gaming sector. Additionally, the relevant information is provided to the Sanctions Monitoring Board (SMB) to assist in issuing penalties in instances of non-compliance with sanctions screening obligations.
In publishing this report, the CEO, Dr Carl Brincat said: “This report is testament to our collective efforts in promoting a fair and sustainable gaming ecosystem. Through proactive measures and leaner regulation processes, we strive to ensure a level playing field that nurtures innovation while safeguarding against any potential risks.
“As the global gaming landscape evolves, our role becomes even more critical. We embrace this responsibility with utmost determination, working tirelessly to stay ahead of emerging trends, technologies, and challenges. We remain steadfast in our pursuit of robust frameworks that inspire confidence, protect vulnerable individuals and render Malta the home for gaming operators of good will.”
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Vegangster Partners with Citron to Power Crypto Payments and Analytics
Vegangster and Citron have partnered to power the crypto payments and analytics layer of Vegangster’s crypto casino solution.
Citron brings deep credibility to the partnership, having processed billions in crypto transactions for 100+ clients across 50+ countries.
Citron Processing, an AI-powered crypto payment solution, lets operators take deposits and pay out winnings on-chain in an instant, with every transaction screened through Chainalysis and incoming funds converted to stablecoins to keep things clean and free of volatility, all at sub-1% fees.
Citron Analytics, the first AI analytics for on-chain client and market intelligence, gives operators full visibility into their players, competitors, and market beyond what any platform data can show.
Powered by Citron AI, it reads live blockchain data to deliver client profiling, real-time alerts when players deposit, win, or start playing elsewhere, graph-based fraud detection, and competitive intelligence, including rival casinos’ volumes and market share, all through a live dashboard and conversational AI interface.
“For the first time, our operators can see how players spend across other casinos, not just their own platform. We are already integrating this information into platform PAM, automation tools, allowing customer support, VIP teams to react in real time to changes and increase retention rates.”
Michael Oziransky
Chief Product Officer at Vegangster
“On-chain data reveals knowledge and opportunities iGaming operators never had before. Citron’s partnership with Vegangster brings one of the most efficient iGaming platforms together with the industry’s powerful crypto intelligence tool – everything operators need for success”.
Artsemi Karpovich
Head of Sales at Citron
Together, the two products give operators using the Vegangster Crypto Casino solution both the payment infrastructure and the intelligence layer to acquire smarter, retain longer, and operate with full visibility into their market.
About Citron
Citron is an AI-powered crypto processing and analytics platform. Citron Analytics, the first AI analytics for on-chain client and market intelligence, reads live blockchain data to help businesses understand client behaviour, detect fraud, analyse competitors, and make real-time data-driven decisions.
Citron Processing delivers an intelligent crypto payment infrastructure with 12+ cryptocurrencies, sub-1% fees, and Chainalysis integration. Citron is dedicated to making blockchain and its data accessible and actionable for every business in the crypto economy.
About Vegangster
Vegangster provides a full iGaming platform built for speed, scale, and operator control. Its turnkey, white-label, and sweepstakes solutions bring casino and sportsbook content, payments, CRM, compliance, and social features together into a single mobile-first system. With Vegangster, operators can launch quickly and grow with confidence.
Press Contact
Romans Kozlovskis
affiliate marketing
SEOBROTHERS’ Aleksandra Drigo flags higher barriers for affiliates in regulated Alberta
SEOBROTHERS Chief of Business Development Aleksandra Drigo says Alberta’s move toward a regulated online gambling market is likely to raise the cost and complexity of affiliate acquisition, reshaping competition for SEO-led publishers. Drigo shared the view in an exclusive interview with SiGMA News focused on Canada’s affiliate landscape.
Drigo said regulation can bring more transparency, but also higher compliance demands and tougher economics for smaller players. “Many affiliates, especially independent SEO players, may decide not to enter fully regulated markets and instead focus on regions with more predictable economics and lower regulatory pressure,” she said.
She added that regulated markets typically advantage well-funded affiliate groups with the ability to invest in legal and compliance support and tracking infrastructure. “Regulated markets tend to favour larger players. Big affiliate companies have the resources for legal support, compliance teams, advanced tracking infrastructure, and long-term investment without expecting fast ROI.”
On partner selection, Drigo said affiliates are increasingly weighing operators on operational quality and regulatory readiness, not just commercial terms. “We pay close attention to how consistent an operator is in terms of reporting, responsible gaming policies, speed of communication, and local regulations compliance. Reputation risks affect both sides. If an operator lacks transparency or fails to follow compliance standards, it directly impacts the affiliate business as well.”
Drigo also pointed to communication and access to performance data as major friction points in operator-affiliate relationships. “Financial disagreements can usually be resolved quickly if there is trust and clear communication between both sides. Whereas, when affiliates do not receive timely information, face unclear reporting, or get no explanation for performance changes, tensions escalate very quickly. In regulated markets, communication and transparency become just as important as the financial terms themselves.”
Looking ahead, Drigo said affiliates targeting regulated North American markets will need stronger localisation, trusted brands and more diversified traffic strategies as search behaviour changes. “With AI and online search ecosystem changes already transforming the SEO landscape, affiliates need to become much more flexible and technology-driven than before. And compliance-friendly SEO strategies and diversification beyond traditional search traffic are becoming increasingly important.”
The post SEOBROTHERS’ Aleksandra Drigo flags higher barriers for affiliates in regulated Alberta appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Czech Republic
Sparta Prague extends Betano principal partnership through 2029
AC Sparta Praha has extended its principal partnership with Betano through 30 June 2029. Betano, Kaizen Gaming’s online betting and gaming brand, has held principal partner status since 2023 and will continue to feature on the shirts of Sparta’s men’s A-team, B-team and first women’s team.
Tomáš Křivda, CEO of AC Sparta Praha, said: “The three-year partnership with Betano has brought benefits to both sides, and I am very glad that it will continue. Sparta is a brand with weight and reach in Czech sport, and the partnership reflects that. Together we are setting the standard in Czech sport for what such a relationship should look like. It does not stop at a logo on the shirts. Together we have prepared a range of activations for fans, offered them attractive competitions and experiences, and opened up topics beyond the pitch as well, such as stadium accessibility. All with a clear focus on the fan. It works because we are pursuing the same goal. Extending it for another three seasons is therefore a logical step, and I believe we will build well on the work we have started”.
The clubs said the renewal follows joint activations including the “Million Kick” halftime competition, which has awarded two prizes of one million CZK over the first three seasons of the partnership. The companies also pointed to international-facing collaborations involving first-team players and representatives of Aston Villa F.C. and Club de Regatas do Flamengo.
Julio Iglesias Hernando, Chief Commercial Officer at Kaizen Gaming, said: “We are truly delighted to extend our partnership with AC Sparta Praha until 2029. Over the past three years, we have built a profound relationship founded on mutual trust and a shared pursuit of excellence. This renewal reinforces our commitment to Czech sport and its fans, aligning perfectly with our global strategy of partnering with elite sporting institutions that represent the very best the international stage has to offer. At the same time, we remain dedicated to shaping a safe, reliable and responsible gaming environment for everyone”.
Sparta and Betano said upcoming seasons will include an “enhanced Betano Million Kick” and additional fan formats, while the Betano Game prediction contest, draws for places in the Betano Zone, match streams and other benefits will continue. The partners also highlighted ongoing CSR work focused on stadium accessibility and inclusivity at the epet Arena, including audio navigation beacons, expanded wheelchair platforms, stadium tours for fans with visual or hearing impairments and audio-descriptive commentary, as part of Sparta’s stated aim to become “only the second football club in the world to receive the Access Champions certification.”
The post Sparta Prague extends Betano principal partnership through 2029 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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