GamingMalta CEO Ivan Filletti gives a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes work at one of the largest iGaming conferences
Malta’s presence at the recent ICE Barcelona conference for the first time brought together the leading stakeholders within the iGaming sector, as the GamingMalta Foundation and the Malta Gaming Authority worked alongside Malta Enterprise, Identità, and Bank of Valletta.
This unified booth at one of the largest iGaming conferences to take place globally not only offered the island strong visibility but also served as a comprehensive point of contact for conference attendees and companies looking to set up – or expand – their business in Malta.
For GamingMalta CEO Ivan Filletti, this is yet another facet of the local industry’s “relentless” work to make sure that Malta retains its position at the forefront of the sector, while continuing to successfully attract and retain leading brands to set up a base on the island.
“Over the three days of the conference we continued extending the impact of our Make it in Maltacampaign, offering operators and service providers direct access to speak to the stakeholders who make the ecosystem function. Organisations looking for information about relocating, setting up, operating finances, and even those who needed general guidance related to the infrastructure, were in a position to have all their questions answered and any concerns tackled directly by experts on these topics,” Mr Filletti explained.
Businesses were invited to pre-book meetings or even to drop in at the stand for spontaneous sessions, an invitation that many took up and that saw a continuous hub of activity surrounding the Malta booth.
“This is one of the things that differentiates Malta as a jurisdiction. Businesses have direct access to institutional decision-makers and policy-shapers. The Government listens to any concerns and works in tandem, as evidenced by the fact that iGaming is listed as one of the main economic pillars in Vision 2050. Malta’s presence at ICE Barcelona this year was the perfect example of this strategy, reflecting the overall infrastructural support Malta offers,” Mr Filletti continued.
Another facet of GamingMalta’s mission is the way the gaming sector in Malta brings together all facets of innovative tech and immersive gaming. This was highlighted on the Malta stand during ICE Barcelona thanks to the presence of the Malta Roulette Experience, a virtual-reality game that was developed by Malta-based studio Draw & Code. The game provided a moment of light-heartedness in between meetings but also provided a clear example of what can be achieved when iGaming and immersive tech meet.
The focus very much remains on consolidating Malta’s position as the home of gaming.
“Malta is not simply a hub. It is a home. At ICE Barcelona, we saw conversations centred around the relocation of entire families, employees starting new roles in a new country, and young people building lives around a stable, well-regulated industry. Businesses pick Malta as their base because they want to succeed, and they want to retain their human resources. Malta offers a good quality of life, with a framework that supports these ambitions,” Mr Filletti says.
During the conference, Mr Filletti shared insights about the future of the industry on a panel that discussed how jurisdictions have evolved, adapted, and remained relevant. Drawing on Malta’s long-term positioning as a home of gaming excellence, Mr Filletti reflected on the strategic choices that have allowed the island to retain its status as a leading industry hub.
“Malta’s strength has been built on long-term consistency, rather than short-term regulatory positioning. Regulation has enabled growth, with the ecosystem expanding beyond operators to include payments, platforms, infrastructure, and technology-led businesses. Our competitive advantage lies in the concentration of talent, decision-makers, and institutional knowledge as the island’s trajectory increasingly mirrors that of a Silicon Valley-style hub for gaming and interactive technology,” he stated.
ICE Barcelona left very positive takeaways, with a strong number of fruitful meetings with businesses. Yet, the relentless approach continues, as GamingMalta prepares for a slew of upcoming, high-profile events, including the SBC Summit in April and Next.io in May.
This will also continue to evolve against the longer horizon set by Vision 2050 and, at ICE Barcelona, that way of thinking came through clearly, thanks to conversations that were not about simple visibility, but directly tackled the ways a mature ecosystem adapts, experiments, and stays relevant in a fast-moving industry.
This article has been published on iGamingCapital.MT by Content House.
