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Malta economy and online casinos

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4 years ago

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Malta was one of the first countries in the world that recognized the potential of the online casino and iGaming industry in general. Formed in the 1990s, this industry is now worth over $50 Billion and thanks to the early recognition, this small Mediterranean county is now enjoying the benefits that come with this industry. It has a highly positive effect on the country’s economy in so many different ways.

The Malta Gambling Authority was formed way back in the early 2000s and it was part of the country’s strategy for the development of the iGaming industry. Unlike most countries of the time, Malta had a highly affirmative view of this industry from the early beginnings. The MGA was formed in order to issue licenses and support industry development in general. Obviously, the goal was to make this small island one of the best destinations for foreign operators. These days, around 300 global players in the industry are located in Malta.

With such a number of corporations operating in such a small country, there is no doubt that tax collection has had a significant impact on the overall economy. According to some reports, the iGaming industry has a 15% share of the country’s total economic activity. Obviously, that number will continue to grow.

Benefits from iGaming aren’t just displayed in GDP and tax numbers. This industry has also had a big impact on other fields. For example, Malta now has several educational programs specified for the online casino bonus industry.

The reason is obvious. This is a small country and if we look at the numbers, it turns out that 60% of employees in the industry come from overseas. Only 40% belongs to the domestic share. Obviously, one of the strategies is to change that trend and to increase the share of domestic workers. So, educational institutions have increased the offer of their classes, including numerous ones that target gaps that exist in the industry at the moment.

At this point, it is estimated that there are over 6.000 employees working in this industry and if we can trust experts, operators are currently in need of 3.000 additional workers. So, we may expect further arrivals of foreign workforce.

This leads us to another aspect of the iGaming influence on Malta’s overall economy. For example, with such a big number of abroad workers, it’s easy to conclude that demand for real estate has increased significantly. Workers prefer to rent a property, which has increased the rental prices by a notable percentage. According to some reports, the average property prices have been increased by 10% in the past several years.

Another impact of iGaming on Malta’s economy is the fact that offices of operators also have a positive impact on local businesses, such as service providers, restaurants, coffee shops etc.

In the last couple of years, more and more countries are starting with a similar practice as Malta. However, we don’t believe that this could slow down the growth of the country’s online casino industry and the overall economy. This small Mediterranean island will continue to grow, despite the growing competition. Simply, MGA is still one of the highest-reputable bodies in the business, who issues licenses to operators from all over the world. Simply, gaining these licenses is a matter of prestige, so operators who have gained them proudly advertise is, as a way to attract players from all around the world to register on their website.

Simply, the years of experience have provided MGA a kind of reputation that most newer regulatory bodies from other countries will hardly be able to reach. This body has set pretty high standards, whether it’s about player protection, fair gaming, operator accountability.

Founded in 2001, the Malta Gaming Authority also pays a lot of attention to the protection of youngsters and other vulnerable groups, and it is a body that ensures the integrity of games and operators, as well as that the industry is free from criminal activities.

Other than MGA, there are just a couple of more regulatory bodies in the world that can be considered as good. Those would be the UK Gambling Commission, as well as similar regulatory bodies from Gibraltar and Curacao. However, Malta still remains in the leading destination, and we have no reason to believe that things could change much in the future.

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absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario

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4 days ago

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September 5, 2025

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Internet Gaming Operator by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

This significant milestone authorizes absolutebet to offer regulated iGaming services in Ontario’s legal market under the oversight of AGCO and iGaming Ontario (iGO).

The registration marks a key step in absolutebet’s mission to bring a trusted, responsible, and innovative online casino experience to Ontario players. absolutebet is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, meeting all provincial standards for player protection, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering, and game integrity.

“Securing AGCO registration is more than a milestone—it’s the start of absolutebet’s journey in one of the most exciting regulated markets in the world,” said Chen Truman, Founder of absolutebet. “We are building a brand that will grow with the Ontario community and set the stage for future expansion.”

On the regulatory milestone, Krisztina Kalla, Legal & Regulatory Compliance Advisor of absolutebet, commented: “I’m incredibly proud to see all the hard work behind this license pay off. Securing AGCO registration has taken months of preparation and close collaboration with regulators and partners. I am very happy to see the result of that work, and even more excited as we move into the launch phase and open up the absolutebet community to Ontario players in a fun and responsible way.”

Ontario is recognized as one of the most competitive and fast-growing regulated iGaming markets in North America. With AGCO registration secured, absolutebet will move forward with the final stages of its iGO onboarding process in preparation for launch.

 

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Alex Malchenko Head of Sales at Evoplay

Evoplay strengthens Ontario presence in partnership with Caesars Entertainment

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7 days ago

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September 3, 2025

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Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has partnered with Caesars Entertainment to expand its footprint in the Canadian market, following its initial entry earlier this year. The partnership integrates 20 of the studio’s top-performing titles onto Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe Online Casino and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino in Ontario, including fan-favourites such as Hot Triple Sevens, Triple Chili, and The Greatest Catch Bonus Buy.

Having announced its official entrance into Ontario in March, the collaboration with Caesars marks a significant step in Evoplay’s local strategy. Further standout releases, such as Inner Fire Bonus Buy and Hot Volcano, also launched as part of the initial package, with additional player favourites, including Fruit Nova and Ice Mania.

The collaboration underlines Evoplay’s commitment to working with leading operators to deliver high-quality content tailored to regional audiences.

Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales at Evoplay, said: “Launching with Caesars in Ontario marks a key milestone in our North American strategy.

“It reflects both the strength of our portfolio and our commitment to providing innovative, high-performing content to operators of the highest caliber.”

Ricardo Cornejo Rivas, Vice President of Online Gaming at Caesars Digital, said: “Evoplay brings a fresh and dynamic approach to online gaming, which we’re excited to offer to our players in Ontario. This portfolio of standout titles adds to our growing content library and furthering our ongoing goal of delivering top-tier entertainment experiences to our players.”

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iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO

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1 week ago

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September 2, 2025

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The iGaming Ontario Board of Directors has announced Joseph Hillier as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 8, 2025. Joseph’s depth in the Ontario igaming market combined with successful public and private sector careers make him the ideal President and CEO at this critical point in iGaming Ontario’s growth.

Joseph was most recently Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Secretary at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), where he delivered significant strategic and regulatory initiatives across the province’s alcohol, cannabis, gaming, and horse racing sectors. Prior to the AGCO, he served as Chief of Staff to Ontario Attorney General Hon. Doug Downey and led the development, launch and implementation of Canada’s first private sector-driven igaming market and the creation of iGaming Ontario. Joseph also spent more than a decade working in the financial and legal services sectors.

The Board expressed its sincere thanks to David Smith for serving as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer since Martha Otton’s retirement.

The post iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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