igaming

Imagine taking the world's oldest and consistently profitable sector of the entertainment industry and delivering it to hundreds of millions of individuals throughout an international marketplace, via the fastest growing telecommunications medium ever known.
Undeniably, the Internet is rapidly revolutionising the way people communicate around the globe. And this is just the beginning. Easy access and world-wide availability assure that Internet use will continue to enjoy explosive growth as more and more individuals turn to the Internet for information, entertainment and commerce.
History shows that gaming, in one form or another, whether sports, dice or chariot races, has been a part of nearly every culture. Clearly, the merger of gaming with technology is an obvious match destined for success. Gambling has proven to be an enduring human trait and has been considered an exciting form of socially acceptable entertainment for thousands of years. Dice made from carved antelope bone have been found in prehistoric burial caves; the ancient Egyptians wagered on Atep, a guessing game based on the number of fingers raised and the Romans are known to have bet heavily on the outcomes of gladiator fights and chariot races.
People love casino gaming and sports wagering primarily because they are driven by a natural competitive instinct. Betting on their favourite games or their favourite teams is a way of being part of the game, in on the action. With online gaming, a simple point-and-click, allows patrons to participate in this unique modern-day entertainment experience. This saw the birth of the online gaming industry, better known as iGaming.
Just like any other industry, from very humble beginnings, the online gaming industry in Malta has now started to gain ground and is beginning to have a serious impact on the country's economy. iGaming in Malta can be said to be still in its infancy. However, with the right environment being created by the government in order to attract more investment, the industry will soon flourish.
Online gaming was hardly ever heard of (in Malta) before the year 2000, when the Maltese Authorities started issuing licences to foreign business operators based in Malta to begin accepting online bets. This was just the beginning; before long the Maltese authorities realised that the iGaming industry was thriving in other countries and decided that Malta could not afford to miss out. Soon local legislation was revised to also include online casino, poker and lotteries etc. Today, Malta is the only EU country with iGaming regulations in place geared to attract all types of remote gaming.
The role of the Lotteries and Gaming Authority is to serve as the regulator in this industry during its boom and to set clear guidelines ensuring ethical behaviour at all times encouraging responsible gaming. Its role will also ensure that online gaming providers do everything in their power to protect minors from this hobby, which may easily turn into a habit if abused. Just like drugs and smoking, gambling can be addictive.
The latest information made available by the Maltese Lotteries and Gaming Authority show that there are presently 51 licensed operators in Malta, the majority of which are European while others are American.
In a nutshell, the iGaming industry may be described as the fastest growing segment of Internet commerce today.