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The MGA publishes its 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements

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The Malta Gaming Authority has published its Annual Report and audited Financial Statements for the 2023 financial year. The report provides insights into the Maltese land-based and online gaming industries, and outlines their performance in 2023. The report further provides an overview of the Authority’s accomplishments and offers a medium-term outlook for the future.

Supervisory Activities

• In 2023, the Authority conducted 21 compliance audits, and 125 desktop reviews The Commercial Communications Committee took five decisions regarding possible breaches of the Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations (S.L. 583.09). The Authority also issued 28 warnings, suspended nine licences and cancelled 11 licences. Furthermore, the MGA issued a total of 19 administrative penalties and one regulatory settlement, which amount to a total financial penalty of €172,900.

• A total of 28 AML/CFT Compliance Examinations were carried out; 13 were carried out by MGA and 15 by FIAU. During the same period, the FIAU imposed remediation and/or administrative penalties on seven licensees, based on violations discovered during examinations carried out in previous years, which amounted to €994,000.

• During 2023, the Authority received 24 applications for new gaming licences and issued 15 licences. A total of 13 applications were either rejected or withdrawn.

• Almost 1200 criminal probity screening checks were undertaken on individuals, shareholders, ultimate beneficial owners, key persons, employees and businesses from both the land-based and online gaming sectors. Applications of a more complex nature were escalated to the Fit & Proper Committee. In total, 64 decisions were taken by the Committee, including 14 decisions to reject individuals and entities who did not meet the Authority’s fit and properness criteria. The Supervisory Council reviewed 19 licence applications of which 14 were approved and four were rejected. One application was sent back to the applicant for further clarification.

• In 2023, 38 interviews with prospective MLROs and key persons carrying out AML/CFT functions were conducted with the aim of assessing their competence and understanding of the Maltese AML/CFT legal framework.

• The Authority, in its efforts to safeguard players and promote responsible gambling, assisted a total of 4483 players who requested assistance (including spill-over from 2022). Furthermore, 72 responsible gambling themed website checks were carried out, and 41 observation letters were issued to licensees outlining the responsible gambling issues and identifying areas of improvement.

• The Authority examines the financial standing of its licensees to ensure the continued viability of the business but also to safeguard the player funds. In 2023, 2059 Player Funds Reports were received and 24 player data extractions were carried out.

• A total of 49 websites were found to have misleading references to the Authority. In 23 instances, the information was not removed following notification, and notices are published on the MGA’s website with the aim of preventing the public from falling victim to such scams.

• In 2023, the Authority carried out just over 2300 inspections on Gaming Parlours, National Lottery Outlets, Bingo Halls and Non-Profit Tombola, in addition to another 7275 inspections, which were carried out to licensed casinos with the aim of having 24/7 inspectorate presence in such gaming establishments. Furthermore, the Authority was present during all the National Lottery licensee’s drawing operations. This is done to ensure compliance of the land-based licensees with the relevant rules and regulations.

• In 2023, following a consultation period, the Authority published the “Policy on the use of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) by Authorised Persons”. This policy supersedes “Guidance on the use of Innovative Technology Arrangements and the acceptance of Virtual Financial Assets and Virtual Tokens through the implementation of a Sandbox Environment”.

• In 2023, the Authority published amendments to the Player Protection Directive (Directive 2 of 2018), introducing five markers of harm. These are designed to help operators identify early signs of problematic gambling behaviour, enabling them to intervene in a timely and effective manner.

• In 2023, the Authority also published its voluntary ESG Code of Good Practice for the Remote Gaming Sector. The Code seeks to serve as an instrument for self-regulation, helping remote gaming companies align with best practices and maintain a position that allows them to effectively meet the evolving expectations of key stakeholders in the sector.

National and International Cooperation

• In 2023, the Authority received 255 suspicious betting reports from licensees and other interested parties. The Authority collaborated with enforcement agencies, sports governing bodies, integrity units and other regulatory authorities on 34 requests for information in relation to the manipulation of sporting events or violations of sporting regulations. Subsequently, these requests resulted in 44 data exchanges. In addition, a total of 235 alerts on suspicious betting were shared with the licensees. The Authority also contributed to 22 investigations into sports rules violations or manipulation of sporting competitions in 2023.

• The Authority sent 42 requests and received 77 requests for international collaboration. In both cases, most requests related to background checks as part of authorisation processes, or requests for information about the local regime.

• In 2023, a total of 75 letters of good standing were issued, providing feedback on the regulatory standing of the MGA’s licensed operators to the relevant authorities asking for this information.

• Additionally, in 2023, the Authority collaborated with other local regulating authorities and governing bodies on 124 requests for information.

MGA CEO Charles Mizzi said: “It is not a coincidence that the theme for the Annual Report is ‘sustainability’. The MGA’s ability to strike the right balance between allowing the industry to thrive and grow in a sustainable manner, while also protecting consumers, is key to Malta’s continued success.”

The post The MGA publishes its 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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SPORTFIVE Expands Global Media Production Services With Athlete-Focused Division

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SPORTFIVE, a leading international sports marketing agency, has announced the continued growth of its global media production services, reinforcing its position as a creative and strategic partner to rightsholders, brands and athletes worldwide.

An Integrated Approach To Athlete Content

With increasing demand for high-quality, digital-first storytelling across sport, SPORTFIVE has scaled its production capabilities across multiple markets – enhancing its ability to deliver original content, multi-platform campaigns, and athlete-led narratives at speed and at scale. As part of this evolution, the agency has brought together and formalized its athlete content expertise into a focused division dedicated to developing and producing bespoke media products for talent: the Global Athlete Media House. Integrated within SPORTFIVE’s broader production offering, this team delivers tailored strategies and cross-channel content that supports athletes in building long-term personal brands.

SPORTFIVE has long been a trusted partner for athletes seeking to strengthen their presence beyond the pitch, court, or track. From building digital identities and launching social media profiles, to producing documentaries and long-form content, the agency has played a pivotal role in helping athletes engage fans and position themselves as global media personalities.

Notable work includes Jürgen Klopp’s Instagram launch (@Kloppo), Manuel Neuer’s entry into the Chinese market via Weibo and Xiaohongshu, and Rio Ferdinand’s Tipping Point documentary with Amazon Prime Video. More recently, SPORTFIVE supported the Becker Petkovic Podcast, launched during the 2025 Australian Open, which quickly became one of the most popular tennis podcasts in German-speaking markets.

The Global Athlete Media House builds on this foundation, offering services across four key pillars:

Social Media
Custom content and platform strategy tailored to each athlete’s brand and audience.

Podcast Formats
Concept development, production, and distribution of athlete-hosted audio and video formats.

Off-Court PR
Media activations and storytelling designed to extend athlete relevance beyond competition.

Original Content
From branded videos to full-scale documentaries, creating high-quality stories that resonate globally.

These services are available not only to SPORTFIVE-represented athletes, but also to brands, rightsholders, and external talent seeking strategic, athlete-first media production.

“Athletes today are more than just sports professionals – they are brands, creators, and entrepreneurs. At SPORTFIVE, we recognized early on that authentic, high-quality content is essential for building long-term athlete brands. With the Global Athlete Media House, we are taking the next step by combining our expertise and services in one department. This provides not only our own athletes with a range of services but also extends these to external partners.” said Ron Wiegand, Senior Vice President Global Athlete & Team Marketing, SPORTFIVE.

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Industry Awards

Yaspa shortlisted for two prestigious gambling industry awards

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  • Real-time payment provider nominated for safer gambling and innovation accolades

  • London-based company was awarded government grant to develop unique responsible gambling solution

London, April 29, 2025 – Real-time payment provider Yaspa has been shortlisted for two prestigious gambling industry awards.

The London-based company is named among the nominees for Innovation in Payments Solutions and Safer Gambling Software Supplier at the forthcoming EGR B2B Awards.

Now in their 16th year, the EGR B2B Awards are known for recognising excellence in service providers in the gambling industry, rewarding those truly leading the way in innovation, reliability and client service. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Roundhouse in London on July 3.

Yaspa enables smooth, simple and secure instant payments through open banking for a range of partners. It works with online and offline gambling industry businesses, including Playbook Engineering, Novibet, NetBet, Casino Lugano and White Hat Gaming.

In 2024 Yaspa was awarded an Innovate UK grant to continue to develop its Intelligent Payments solution – a unique B2B platform that combines open banking technology and AI to help gambling operators identify vulnerable players in a frictionless manner. It is designed to empower businesses by combining Pay by Bank transactions, AI-powered verification, and real-time risk assessment into a seamless, secure experience.

In the gambling sector, Yaspa is able to help operators support responsible gambling with access to player transaction data at the point of deposit, delivering real-time user insights for a significantly broader and more accurate picture of a player’s pan-operator activity and financial health.

Yaspa CEO James Neville said: “The EGR awards are regarded as the pinnacle of B2B igaming ceremonies and for Yaspa to be nominated is great recognition for our team’s hard work and dedication to innovation.

“Our Intelligent Payments solution is a truly unique proposition and it’s wonderful to see that its potential to have a profound impact as a responsible gambling tool has been recognised.

“We are very proud to be shortlisted alongside some of the biggest names in the gambling and payments industries and we are very much looking forward to the awards night.”

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Compliance Updates

IC360 Announces Integrity Partnership with PGA of America

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Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360), the unequivocal global leader in delivering best-in-class integrity and compliance regulatory technology products and services for the sports betting and gaming sector, has announced a new partnership with the PGA of America.

Through this partnership, IC360 will provide the PGA of America with its state-of-the-art Integrity Monitoring technology, providing real-time alerts on global wagering activity. Additionally, the PGA of America will utilize ProhiBet, the one-of-a-kind prohibited bettor solution to prevent individuals from engaging in prohibited wagering activities.

“We are excited to partner with IC360, a leader in regulatory technology for sports betting and gaming. This collaboration underscores our commitment to maintaining the highest integrity standards within golf by integrating IC360’s cutting-edge Integrity Monitoring technology and the innovative ProhiBet solution. By leveraging IC360’s expert Advisory Team, we gain invaluable insights as we navigate the sports wagering landscape,” said Jeff Price, Chief Commercial and Philanthropy Officer for the PGA of America.

The PGA of America will also utilize IC360’s seasoned Advisory Team, who will provide consultative services to the organization as they navigate the nuances of the complex and evolving sports wagering regulatory environment. IC360’s team comprises former regulators and seasoned gaming industry professionals who ensure all regulatory compliance standards are hitting the highest standards.

“The PGA of America is a partner that shares the same vision of integrity and fairness in competition, which we promote and aim to protect. It is a privilege to provide this organization with our world-class technology and service, as they continue to showcase excellence in their commitment to integrity and their culture,” said Scott Sadin, Co-CEO of IC360, said.

The post IC360 Announces Integrity Partnership with PGA of America appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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