The Malta Gaming Authority has revealed that 165 remote gaming licences were issued last year – almost as many as 2016 (91) and 2015 (88) combined – though total gaming tax paid by remote operators was down three per cent to €26.5m, despite the increase in activity, due to a “more equitable and fair” taxation model.
The number of licences issued was boosted by the launch of the regulatory framework for skill gaming, which saw 16 licences granted.
The number of employees in the sector based on the island grew to 5,861, up from 5,327 in 2016.
There was an increase in popularity of online slot games – making up 78.1 per cent of GGR from Class 1 licence holders, a rise of nine per cent – while the number of active customer accounts within the same class was up by 13.4 per cent to 13.9m in 2017.
MGA outgoing executive chairman Joseph Cuschieri said: “Going forward, the main challenge of the MGA is to remain focused on its mission in the current social climate and to ensure that, above all, complacency does not creep in. The key risks that predominate this sector have remained the same and shall remain so for the foreseeable future.
“I trust that the new regulatory framework will empower the MGA even further to deliver effective regulation in the public interest, and, above all, to mitigate the underlying risks, promoting responsibility and integrity. There remains more for the MGA to do to roll out and transit the industry under this new framework and there surely remains the drive to raise standards.”
