Minister for Competitiveness and Digital, Maritime and Services Economy Emanuel Mallia said during a conference, that gambling has always raised social, psychological and criminal concerns which demand a regulator to provide adequate controls in a number of areas, ranging from consumer protection to social well-being.
"In fact, entities charged with the regulation of the industry often find themselves in difficulty trying to achieve the right balance between setting the right environment for regulated business to thrive, and promoting responsible and legal behaviour. The quest for this balance is what continues to inspire Malta and jurisdictions all over Europe to do more in the name of clear and coherent regulation."
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) hosted a full-day gaming conference titled 'The Developing Landscape of Gaming Regulation. What next?' at the Hilton Portomaso Suite in St. Julian's.
The conference followed an expert group meeting among the European gaming regulators held under the auspices of the European Commission, and which was held in Malta for the very first time. This high-calibre event brought together advisors and regulators from all the global gaming spheres and provided an excellent opportunity for operators, suppliers, attorneys, investors, regulators and other stakeholders to meet and discuss key challenges facing the gaming industry today.
Minister Mallia continued by saying; 'I am aware that while there is no EU-wide regulation of the remote gaming industry, in spite of the fact that it is an industry which inevitably crosses borders, a number of more recent achievements signify the willingness of European governments to regulate the sector better, taking somewhat different approaches yet basing themselves upon similar policies and objectives. The very fact that regulators are coming together to exchange practices and learn from each other is also an accomplishment in itself. It is only with communication and cooperation that real results can be attained and enjoyed', the Minister emphasised."
The MGA's Executive Chairman Joseph Cuschieri delivered a keynote speech titled where he highlighted the importance of face-to-face discussions between key stakeholders to shape the future of gaming regulatory policy whilst taking the opportunity to learn from each other when it comes to balancing the needs of the industry. He also stressed the importance of the policy-maker's regulatory objectives to reflect transparency, clarity and consumer protection focus in the context of a competitive international market with fast-moving product development.
Amongst the key speakers, there was an update from Harrie Temmink, Acting Head, European Commission DG Internal Market, and Nick Sohnemann, CEO at Future Candy. Wes Himes of Instinctif Partners was the hosting speaker throughout the conference.