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MGA Publishes its 2018 Annual Report and Financial Statements
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The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has published its Annual Report and Financial Statements for the financial year ending 31 December 2018 (can be found here). The report provides an overview of the activities and work performed throughout the year by the MGA. Furthermore, the report includes a detailed summary of the performance of the Maltese gaming industry during 2018 as well as a medium-term outlook into the future.
Throughout 2018, the MGA mainly focused on the implementation of the new Gaming Act which empowered the Authority to further strengthen its regulatory oversight. Furthermore, the MGA focused on the regulatory compliance through implementation of a number of innovative internal and external initiatives which improved overall governance and supervision of the gaming sector. In 2018, the Authority continued to further strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering/Combating Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) supervision, in order to ensure effectiveness in the mitigation of ML/FT risks relating to gambling services.
The Annual Report also looks at 2019 and beyond, with the MGA continuing to reinforce its compliance, risk and enforcement functions to ensure that it is equipped to achieve the regulatory objectives which the law requires it to pursue.
The following are the key highlights from the Annual Report:
- In 2018, the MGA and the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) jointly issued the Remote Gaming Implementing Procedures – Part II that were directed toward the remote gaming sector. Throughout the year, both Authorities participated in cooperative initiatives to strengthen the oversight of the gaming sector;
- Throughout 2018, the MGA conducted a total of 33 AML/CFT full-scope examinations, eight of which were conducted jointly with the FIAU;
- During 2018, the Authority placed a strong emphasis on effective enforcement. To this effect, the MGA has issued 16 Notices of Reprimand and 73 Notices of Breach, suspended four licences and cancelled another eight. In addition, a total of 139 administrative fines were imposed on operators following various regulatory breaches;
- In 2018, the MGA’s Fit & Proper Committee deemed 63 individuals or companies to be unsuitable for a licence, or for a significant role in a licensee, as the case may be. In particular, 37 of these were related to individuals or companies considered as not having satisfied the integrity and reputation pillars of the MGA’s fit and proper criteria due to possible connections to money laundering or funding of terrorism. Around 2,000 criminal probity screenings were conducted during the course of 2018;
- In 2018, the Authority set up a Commercial Communications Committee as required in terms of the new regulatory framework, ensuring due process in the assessment of regulatory breaches stemming from the requirements relating to commercial communications. During the year, a total of 14 cases were evaluated, out of which seven decisions determined that there had been a breach of the regulations;
- The Authority received 209 applications for a licence and issued 93 licences to gaming operators, with the remaining ones still going through the acceptance process. A total of eight licence applications were rejected during 2018;
- During the year under review, the MGA continued its digitisation efforts, including further updates to the Licensee Relationship Management System to cater for the submission of the Monthly Licence and Compliance Contribution Report. Additional functionalities will be added on the portal throughout 2019; and,
- In line with its vision to become an increasingly knowledge-driven organisation, the Authority conducted and published the results of two major surveys in 2018. The areas analysed by the MGA included the skills gap in the gaming industry and the threats and opportunities associated with the consumption of gambling and gaming services by Maltese residents.
In publishing this report, Heathcliff Farrugia, Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Gaming Authority, stated that: “2018 was a remarkable year for the Authority, predominantly because of the coming into force of the new law on the 1 August 2018. The new framework strengthened the MGA’s supervisory role, specifically in the areas of compliance and enforcement, enabling it to focus efforts on areas which present a higher risk profile.
The new regulatory regime has also been pivotal in ensuring the Authority could become more agile in its decision-making.
Last year was also the year when Malta adopted the EU’s 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive, which saw online gaming companies in Malta becoming obliged entities for the first time. This was challenging, both for licensees and the MGA, which together with the FIAU, started conducting onsite AML inspections.
In 2019, the MGA’s focus will be that of consolidating what has been built so far, and continue building on its regulatory powers, to ensure holistic regulatory oversight focusing on the integrity of market participants and the protection of consumers, whilst also embracing technological innovation without prejudicing the attainment of its regulatory objectives.”
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: MGA Publishes its 2018 Annual Report and Financial Statements
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SPAYZ.io, a global payment service provider has expanded its payment network to four new countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with new payment integrations in Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, and Tanzania.
Merchants in Turkey can access Havale bank for pay-in and payout transactions. In Egypt and Tanzania, SPAYZ.io has introduced Mobile Money solutions, supporting the growing demand for mobile-first financial services. Finally, in South Africa, the company has rolled out EFT bank transfer capabilities, providing a reliable and widely adopted payment method for local and international merchants.
Looking to Q4 2025, SPAYZ.io will be launching services in the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. In the UAE, merchants will soon be able to utilize bank transfer options for both pay-in and payout transactions, supporting the region’s dynamic and digitally driven economy. In Singapore, SPAYZ.io will offer PayNow for pay-ins and bank transfers for payouts, aligning with the country’s advanced financial infrastructure and consumer preferences for fast, secure digital payments.
SPAYZ.io will be exhibiting at SIGMA Rome to discuss its current and future payment solutions, including these new launches, as it plans for a host of new announcements in the coming months. Partners, merchants, and industry leaders can visit Booth 6007 at Fiera di Roma from 3rd to 6th November 2025, to find out more and discuss opportunities for collaboration.
Tatjana Meluskane, Chief Commercial Officer, commented: “We’re not just watching the rise of digital payments in Africa, we’re proudly helping to shape it. These are still cash driven economies, where the potential of digitalisation and online payments has not been realised.
“At SPAYZ.io, our mission is to bridge that gap with infrastructure that’s not only fast and secure, but trusted. What we’re seeing now is a tipping point – mobile-first ecosystems, agent networks, and real-time bank rails are converging to redefine the payments sector. We look forward to discussing with our partners at SIGMA Rome.”
You can schedule meetings with SPAYZ.io at SIGMA Rome by emailing [email protected].
The post SPAYZ.io expands payment network across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Sixteen Teams Locked In for the BLAST Rainbow Six Munich Major
8–16 November 2025 | BMW Park Arena, Munich
The countdown to the BLAST Rainbow Six Munich Major is officially on as the 16 qualifying teams from around the world have been confirmed and are set to battle it out from 8–16 November 2025.
The Major marks the final stop of the 2025 season before the Six Invitational in February next year and will see the world’s best Rainbow Six Siege teams compete for championship glory, crucial Global Standings points and a share of the $750,000 prize pool.
The action kicks off 8–13 November behind closed doors, before culminating in front of a live audience at BMW Park Arena from 14–16 November, as fans bring the noise for three days of top-tier Rainbow Six esports.
The 16 teams competing in Munich:
- Team Secret
- Team Falcons
- Team BDS
- G2 Esports
- FaZe Clan
- FURIA Esports
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- w7m Esports
- Spacestation Gaming
- Shopify Rebellion
- M80
- Wildcard
- Dplus
- CAG Osaka
- Weibo Gaming
- Enterprise Esports
With high stakes, fierce rivalries and the final Major title of the year on the line, all eyes turn to Munich as the stage is set for an unforgettable week of competition.
Limited tickets are still available – eventim.de/en/event/blast-r6-major-munich-2025-bmw-park-20359451/?srsltid=AfmBOopQhyzSgQxb_US-Zn88vxsiuTymssx09erEQ1eVWWymEFEnisHf
Fans can grab tickets to experience the electric atmosphere live at BMW Park Arena, watch the world’s top teams battle it out for the final Major crown of 2025, and celebrate the very best of global Siege esports.
The post Final Sixteen teams confirmed for the BLAST Rainbow Six Munich Major appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Cubeia, a Sweden-based iGaming software solutions provider, has unveiled the latest addition to its Originals Studio, Turbo Crash – a fast-paced, adrenaline-fuelled game designed to test players’ instincts.
Turbo Crash challenges players to make the ultimate risk-versus-reward decisions in search of astronomical returns. Players place their bets and watch the multiplier soar higher and higher – but timing is everything. It’s possible to cash out at any moment with a single click and every round can be verified for total transparency and trust thanks to its Provably Fair design.
Turbo Crash continues Cubeia’s Originals Studio mission to create operator-first, fully brandable games inspired by its Operator-Up philosophy – built from the ground up around what operators and their players need.
Cubeia’s investment in gamification and community-driven features is reflected in its latest release with challenges, achievements, and duels all available to bring players closer together.
A very successful first year for Cubeia Originals has validated this approach, and with Turbo Crash, the company is setting the pace for what an Originals experience can become as it scales the portfolio further.
Cubeia’s Head of Sales, Caroline Björkman, said: “Launching Turbo Crash as we approach our first anniversary is the perfect way to celebrate how well Originals Studio has established itself in the market. In less than a year, we’ve launched ten distinctive titles – from Mines and Crash to Turbo Crash – and built a portfolio that operators can rely on and players genuinely enjoy.”
The post Cubeia expands Originals Studio with Turbo Crash launch appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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