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Malta economy and online casinos

Published

4 years ago

October 13, 2021

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.

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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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Live-dealer specialist Ezugi to provide immersive casino experiences to SkillOnNet’s Brazilian platforms

Published

2 hours ago

August 12, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

Global entertainment brand SkillOnNet has announced the expansion of its successful partnership with live-dealer gaming solutions specialist Ezugi into the regulated markets of Brazil.

The move builds on a strong existing relationship between the two companies and highlights their commitment to delivering top-tier gaming experiences across Latin America.

Players at SkillOnNet’s Brazilian platforms, such as PlayUzu.bet.br and BacanaPlay.bet.br, now have access to Ezugi’s high-quality live casino games, including roulette, blackjack, and baccarat.

Part of the Evolution Network, Ezugi has established cutting-edge studio environments in Latin America to provide localised games with localised limits and Spanish-speaking dealers for an unbeatable live casino experience.

Meanwhile, SkillOnNet has been making a splash in Latin America through its PlayUZU and BacanaPlay brands. After launching PlayUZU in Brazil this year, the casino has quickly become a household name in the market, thanks to big-budget TV and marketing campaigns. PlayUZU promotes a “fairer” online casino experience, offering bonuses with no playthrough requirements.

Jani Kontturi at SkillOnNet said: “Ezugi has proven itself to be a standout partner with an exceptional product, and we’re excited to deepen our collaboration. Latin America is a key growth region for us, and we’re committed to offering our players the very best in live casino entertainment.”

Gilad Ben-Ami at Ezugi said: “With SkillOnNet, we share a vision of delivering localized, high-quality live casino content, and together we can offer a compelling product that meets the expectations of Latin American players.”

Compliance Updates

Final CFG USA 2024 Online Gambling Report Confirms: Crime Wins After Years of Legalization

Published

3 hours ago

August 12, 2025

Niji Narayan

The Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG) has released 2024 CFG USA State Supplement #2: All States, the final report in its landmark CFG USA 2024 Series, warning that the rapid expansion of legal online gambling is fueling more gambling and higher consumer losses – all without displacing crime from the total marketplace.

The analysis, produced by technical marketplace intelligence platform Yield Sec, offers the most comprehensive national and state-by-state breakdown ever produced across the US online sports betting, casino, and poker marketplaces. It shows that states with more legal operators record the highest Gross Gambling Revenue (GGR) per capita as a percentage of income – but, illegal operators continue to dominate, with 74% of total GGR across US online gambling being stolen by crime during 2024.

In 2024, the total US online gambling marketplace was worth $90.1 billion, of which $67.1 billion (74%) was illegal. The illegal sector grew by 64% year-on-year, outpacing the legal sector’s 36% growth.

There are three states with legalized online sports betting where the market is below the average of 0.31% GGR per capita as a percentage of income for states with no legalization, being Oregon, Maine, and Arkansas. These states have operator numbers of Oregon 1, Maine 2, and Arkansas 3, for an average of 2, below the national average of 9.

There are three states with both legalized online sports betting and casino gaming where the market is below the average of 0.77% of GGR per capita as a percentage of income for states with legalization of online sports betting only, being Delaware, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. These states have operator numbers of Delaware 4, Rhode Island 2, and Connecticut 3 for an average of 3, below the national average of 14.

There is a pronounced correlation between having a small number of legal operators and lower GGR per capita as a percentage of income.

The proponents of legalization assert that having more legal operators is better for competition and implies that this will help reduce the size of the illegal sector. The evidence, contained in CFG reporting from years of monitoring and the most comprehensive study ever conducted upon the US online gambling marketplace at both the national and state levels, contradicts this assertion.

Derek Webb, Founder and Funder of CFG, said: “The onus is on the proponents of legalization to provide an explanation as to how they managed to get it so wrong – at the least, they should apologize to the legislators they influenced based on their misleading representations. There should now be a moratorium on state expansion until effective action reduces illegal revenues and enables effective control of online gambling marketplaces.”

Ismail Vali, founder and CEO of Yield Sec, added: “Decades of illegal online gambling in the USA were meant to end with legalization and regulation. The hope was simple: legal, licensed options in each state would ‘channelize’ the marketplace and eliminate illegal gambling. This has not happened.

“Seven years after state legalization began in 2018, the US online gambling marketplace remains a fortress of crime, and the zero-sum game hope that legalization and regulation would, on their own, remove crime, has failed. Illegal gambling isn’t one problem – it’s many. You can only control it through process – MPEO: Monitor, Police, Enforce, Optimize. Crime has now stolen hundreds of billions of dollars from American commerce and communities over more than three decades – it’s time to make this end.”

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Century Casinos, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2025 Results

Published

4 hours ago

August 12, 2025

George Miller

Century Casinos, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2025 Results

Century Casinos, Inc. announced its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025.

Second Quarter 2025 Highlights*

Compared to the three months ended June 30, 2024:

Net operating revenue was $150.8 million, an increase of 3%.
Earnings from operations was $16.6 million, an increase of 16%.
Net loss attributable to Century Casinos, Inc. shareholders was ($12.3) million, a decrease in net loss of 70%, and basic net loss per share was ($0.40).
Adjusted EBITDAR** was $30.3 million, an increase of 10%.

“We are proud of the strength and momentum we have built across our portfolio, which has shown solid year over year growth and generated positive cash flow in the quarter. Following various inquiries from third parties about potential asset sales and strategic partnerships, we have initiated a strategic review process as part of our ongoing commitment to driving long-term value creation and optimizing our portfolio of assets and operations,” Erwin Haitzmann and Peter Hoetzinger, Co-Chief Executive Officers of Century Casinos remarked.

UPDATES

Sports Betting – Missouri – In May 2025, the Company announced that it has partnered with BetMGM to operate an online and mobile sports betting application under the Company’s license in Missouri. The agreement includes a percentage of net gaming revenue payable to the Company, with a guaranteed minimum, as well as retail sportsbook options to be exercised at the Company’s discretion. Sports betting is expected to begin in Missouri in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Caruthersville, Missouri – Since the opening of the new casino and hotel on November 1, 2024, net operating revenue and Adjusted EBITDAR** have increased 26% and 31% respectively.

Poland – The Company was awarded a second license in the city of Wroclaw in March 2025. The Company expects to open the casino in the fourth quarter of 2025. The Company was notified in June 2025 that it had not received a new license for a second casino in Warsaw and closed the casino at the Hilton Hotel. The license for the Company’s flagship casino in Warsaw at The Presidential Hotel runs through 2028.

Strategic Review Process – The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has initiated a comprehensive strategic review of its operations, capital structure and strategic growth options. The review will explore a range of potential strategic alternatives for the Company’s assets and businesses aimed at enhancing shareholder value and supporting long-term growth. These alternatives may include opportunities to unlock value within our existing property portfolio, optimize the Company’s capital structure, evaluate potential mergers, strategic partnerships, or the sale of the Company, and to analyze potential divestments of assets or other asset-level transactions. In connection with this review, the Company has engaged Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP as legal counsel and Macquarie Capital as financial advisor.

This review follows the Company’s recent substantial capital expenditure program and solid operational performance in the second quarter of 2025 and reflects the Board’s proactive approach to positioning the Company for future success in an evolving market landscape. The Board has not set a timetable for the conclusion of this review. At this stage, no commitments or decisions have been made and there can be no assurance that the review will result in any transaction or particular change to the Company’s business. The Company does not intend to make further public comments on the process unless and until it determines that further disclosure is appropriate or necessary.