H1 2023 performance report published by MGA

 On Tuesday, December 19th, the Interim Performance Report for the first half of 2023 was released by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).
 The Malta Operations of Winners
 The report analyses the first half of the year's accomplishments of the MGA and the Maltese gaming industry overall.

 During the first half of the year, the MGA reviewed 85 desktops and performed 14 compliance audits.  Totalling €124,400 (£107,697/$136,345), the regulator levied nine administrative fines.

 Additionally, eleven Compliance Examinations were conducted by the MGA on behalf of the FIAU.  Three licensees were fined administratively by the FIAU over the same time period for infractions found during earlier examinations.  All told, that sum was €599,420.

 In addition to 40 checks of responsible gambling websites, the MGA helped 2,216 players who had asked for aid.  In order to identify possible places for development, it sent out sixteen observation letters.

 Of the sixteen requests for gaming licenses received, seven were granted by the MGA.  We declined eight applications or asked the applicants to remove them.

 Cooperation at the international level
 Twelve requests for information were made by various regulatory bodies, which the MGA acknowledged.  Because of this collaboration, 17 data exchanges took place, and 166 suspicions of suspicious behaviour were received.

 Not only did other regulatory agencies send the MGA 23 requests for international cooperation, but the MGA also received 37 such requests.  As part of H1, the MGA released 53 official answers.

 As part of its collaboration with regional governments, it fielded 45 requests for data from regional agencies.

 The performance of the Maltese gaming industry
 The research by the MGA highlighted the beneficial effects of the gaming industry on the Maltese economy.

 Approximately 9.5% of Malta's gross value added (GVA)—€810.7m—came from the gaming industry in the first half of the year.  When we factor in indirect impacts, the figure increases to 12.2%.

 The gaming industry's contribution levelled out in the first half of 2022, with a growth rate of 1.1% in GVA.  "Continue playing a fundamental role in the Maltese economy" is what the MGA intends for the gaming industry.

 Mizzi takes over as CEO of MGA in Malta  In January, Charles Mizzi will assume the role of mga chief executive officer.
 Following Friday's appointment of Charles Mizzi as chief executive, the MGA released its findings.

 After Charles Brincat's two-year tenure comes to an end, Mizzi will take over on January 26.

 It is possible that Mizzi's first order of business will be to rally European opposition against Bill 55, proposed by Malta.  The bill shields operators with a Maltese licence from any legal action related to their gaming operations.

 Other European parties have found this problematic since they believe it goes against European legislation.  German gaming regulator's August statement that law clashes with Brussels Recast Regulation sparked the dispute.  How members of the European Union handled court decisions is regulated by this law.