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The MGA publishes its 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements
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 A total of 13 applications were either rejected or withdrawn.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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Soft2Bet brand and Leadership nominated by Global Regulatory Awards 2025
The Global Regulatory Awards 2025 have recognised Soft2Bet and its leadership in four categories, reflecting the group’s B2B excellence, rigorous compliance culture, and clear commitment to responsible gaming and player protection.
For nine years, Soft2Bet has focused on competitive markets and built compliance into the product from day one. In-house controls and training, backed by real-time monitoring, give regulators and partners clear, auditable outcomes. MEGA extends this approach into gameplay, using innovative mechanics that merge engagement with responsibility, ensuring marketing impact and safer gaming go hand in hand.
Over the past 12 months, the industry has seen the strength of Soft2Bet’s compliance team, expertise and leadership across the EU and North America. Soft2Bet’s in-house approach brings together market-specific AML and RG controls, proprietary training and QA, and real-time monitoring, with MEGA embedding these safeguards directly into the player experience.
Also, David Yatom Hay, General Counsel, was recognised for Regulatory Lawyer or In-House Counsel of the Year, reflecting his major contribution to company processes and partnerships, his strong commitment to player protection and compliance, and his wider work for the industry through articles, keynotes, and the panel and roundtable discussions that help set safer standards.
“These shortlists reflect years of rigorous work by our Legal and Compliance teams in close partnership with our product, platform, innovation, expansion and partnerships teams. We run a compliance-first operation because it protects players and gives regulators and partners certainty. – stated David Yatom Hay, General Counsel of Soft2Bet – By building our own systems and training, and by operating a self-sufficient department that handles most matters in-house with minimal reliance on external counsel, we give the business speed, clarity and accountability.”
Operating in 11 jurisdictions and holding 19 licences, Soft2Bet treats compliance as a strategic discipline embedded in every team. Rather than outsourcing, the company builds its own tools, training and monitoring systems tailored to each market and customer profile. This self-developed ecosystem enables swift updates to AML and RG controls, targeted risk management and clear audit trails.
MEGA, Soft2Bet’s Motivational Engineering Gaming Application, is central to this model. MEGA supports real-time oversight of session length, spend patterns and betting limits, while localised missions and challenges encourage healthy play. By integrating responsible gambling into the product experience, MEGA makes protection intuitive and helps partners lift retention and lifetime value without compromising safety.
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From Track to Tech: SOFTSWISS Celebrates Barrichello’s First NASCAR Brasil Triumph
SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider with over 15 years of iGaming expertise, celebrates Rubens Barrichello’s victory in the first NASCAR Brasil Series title in his debut season. As the company’s Non‑Executive Director in Latin America, Barrichello exemplifies the champion’s mindset that underpins SOFTSWISS’ disciplined approach to product delivery in Brazil and worldwide.
The NASCAR Brasil Series crowns its champion over a full season under NASCAR-aligned regulations. The title was sealed at the Match Point finale at Velo Città in São Paulo, where the opening race set the decisive points. Barrichello’s calm, data-driven call at the critical moment mirrors SOFTSWISS’ practice: trust the plan, read the telemetry, execute cleanly.
Rubens Barrichello, Non‑Executive Director in Latin America at SOFTSWISS, comments: “Everyone knows how much I love this competition and how fierce I am. My heart is in my mouth and I’m very happy.”
Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, adds: “This title is a powerful example of what passion, confidence and disciplined preparation deliver. The champion’s mindset that Rubens demonstrates – clarity of plan, trust in the team and precision under pressure – inspires everyone at SOFTSWISS. We will keep applying the same approach in Brazil first and across all markets, bringing measured execution and data-driven decision-making to every release and every client partnership.”
In May, SOFTSWISS marked the first anniversary of its collaboration with Barrichello. This success arrives as an energising milestone for teams and partners, reinforcing a working culture built on preparation, clarity of roles, measurable outcomes, and continuous improvement. Earlier this month, the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator was named ‘Best Game Aggregator Platform’ at CGS Recife, adding local recognition to the company’s Brazil roadmap.
SOFTSWISS is fully certified in Brazil across its core products – Casino Platform, Game Aggregator, Sportsbook, and Jackpot Aggregator – enabling licensed operators to access a comprehensive, locally compliant stack with trusted support. The same track-to-tech discipline continues to drive responsible and sustainable growth.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides certified software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 30,000 casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.
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Swintt increase German market profile with new NOVOLINE deal
Having already established a substantial fan following in Germany thanks to its engaging range of classically-themed slots, sought-after software provider, Swintt, has announced it will be making further in-roads into the country via a new partnership with NOVOLINE.DE.
One of Germany’s most beloved online casino platforms, NOVOLINE.DE is home to a vast collection of over 650 slot games and this impressive library now stands to be significantly boosted by the addition of Swintt’s titles – most notably those included within the popular SwinttPremium range.
A core pillar of Swintt’s multi-faceted content line-up, SwinttPremium titles combine the classic graphics, sounds and fruit-based iconography of land-based slots with quick and easy bonus features. They have proven particularly successful in the regulated German market.
As a result of the new deal, NOVOLINE.DE customers will now be able to enjoy a number of popular entries in the series including Seven Seven Pots and Pearls, Xtra Win X and Aqua Lord – all of which have established themselves among the provider’s best-performing titles in the German market.
Of course, with upwards of 120 titles in the SwinttPremium collection alone, the addition of this exciting selection of 63 games will enable NOVOLINE to offer an even wider selection of casino content to customers, while also helping Swintt cement its position as a top provider in the German market.
David Mann, Chief Executive Officer at Swintt, said: “Having already established ourselves as a leading software provider in the regulated German market, we’re delighted to be teaming up with NOVOLINE.DE to bring our SwinttPremium games to an even wider range of players.
“As a hugely established online slots platform with a strong player base in the country, the partnership will enable Swintt to enhance its standing among German audiences while also bolstering NOVOLINE’s line-up with proven titles like the fan favourite Seven Seven Pots and Pearls.”
Florian Hermann, Managing Director at NOVOLINE.DE, said: “While NOVOLINE.DE already offers an incredible collection of over 650 slot titles to players, we’re always looking for opportunities to extend our line-up by joining forces with the software providers who can offer something new.
“We’re confident that our customers will love the SwinttPremium titles added to our offering .”
The post Swintt increase German market profile with new NOVOLINE deal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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