The Malta Gaming Authority has revealed that 62.3 per cent of the total gross revenue of the B2C licensees operating in the online industry was generated through gambling classified under the type one group.
Up six per cent when compared with the corresponding period of 2019, the increase in GR during 2020 was most prominent for type one games, with 78.2 per cent of the GR being generated through slot games whilst 17.4 per cent was through table games and the remaining 4.4 per cent generated through other games, such as live casinos, virtual sports and secondary lotteries.
In a year which was hit by well documented global impacts, the MGA published its Annual Report and audited Financial Statements for the financial year ending December 31, 2020.
The report, whilst providing an overview of work performed throughout the year and highlighting major projects undertaken by the Authority, also outlines the performance of the Maltese gaming industry – along with a medium-term outlook into the future.
The shift in the GR distribution between various game types resulted from the changes happening in the gambling sector due to COVID-19. The report noted that complete cancellations of national leagues and major sporting events around the world had a direct impact on the GR generated from type two games, which drove players to other types of games, resulting in the increase reported for type one and type three games.
At the end of 2020, the number of gaming companies offering online services stood at 314 – an increase from 284 in 2019. Additionally, the number of active player accounts registered on the websites licenced by the MGA grew by 18.1 per cent during 2020, reaching 36.2m. Despite the reopening of the land-based sector the report revealed that growth in the number of active players continued at “very much the same pace of earlier years”.
Alongside player accounts, the estimated number of new active player accounts stood at 15.9m, reflecting a 15.5 per cent year-on-year growth.
In publishing this report, MGA CEO, Dr Carl Brincat, said: “The year 2020 will undoubtedly be remembered for the challenges the pandemic presented us with, and I am proud of the Authority’s employees who worked tirelessly to ensure that we continued to perform the functions required of us at law.
“Keeping the ship steady during a challenging year serves as a strong foundation for us to look ahead with renewed commitment to keep building on the positives and improve on our shortcomings, to reach new heights in our regulatory approach.”
To read the full Annual Report from the Malta Gaming Authority, click here.