Editorial
Closing & opening doors Simon Planzer PhD , Editor in Chief O ur readers will be familiar with the saying: “When one door closes another one opens”. It is positive thinking at work! Staying positive is a must of occasionally moving at a slower pace. Considered regulation, regularly reviewed and updated, as well as draft amendments put out for public comment has provided stability for the industry and a big economic benefit to the Mediterranean island. This issue puts a spotlight on Malta with several contributions from expert authors.
and embodied by the gaming industry worldwide. It has been optimistic and nimble. Ready to take advantage of new opportunities. Willing to grab them wherever they arise. Amid closing doors during a Covid pandemic, the past two years have witnessed some huge doors opening across North America as states and provinces race to legalize sports betting. The most recent of these is Ontario which has been applauded as a rather positive model of effective regulation and is covered in this issue of the IMGL Magazine. North America’s decade-long prohibition of online gaming combined with the rush to legalize it now stands in contrast to Malta’s rather steady and long-term approach. Over two decades, it has shown the benefits
Amid opening doors, we cannot fail to ignore those doors which appear to be narrowing at least - if not closing all together. Europe has proven its determination to show regulatory leadership in online gaming for many years. Recent regulatory trends may be motivated by the best of intentions, but there is a real and substantial danger that these trends stifle innovation and consumer choice. Sometimes they may hinder the achievement of the goals they claim to achieve. As another saying goes: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”. It is not just trends at a jurisdictional level that should invite us to thoroughly
Contents
7
Malta 20 years of fully regulated remote igaming Of big fish and little ones: Gaming M&A in Malta
10 14 17 21 26 34 38 42 47 53
Innovation in Malta: the use of player trusts to protect funds The growing tension between EU law and the gambling sector
Regulation of novel digital products
Digital game design and the changing regulatory landscape
Ontario’s first 90 days of regulation
The final countdown? Market update from Macau Sports betting in California: two initiatives on the ballot
Seattle conference report
IMGL London conference preview
4 • IMGL Magazine • April 2022
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