Ivan Filletti connected Malta’s robust ecosystem, talent strategy, Vision 2050 targets, and growing role in esports and video games to the country’s long-term gaming strategy.

Across Malta, gaming contributes more than €1.5Bn in sector GVA and accounts for around 6% of national GDP. The island is home to more than 300 MGA-licensed companies, while the sector supports over 12,000 direct and indirect jobs. These are numbers that tell an important story but, for GamingMalta CEO Ivan Filletti, they also spell out the next phase. What’s next for Malta after building one of Europe’s most established gaming jurisdictions? Fuelling the  ‘MAKE IT MALTA’ messaging Ivan discussed this topic in detail during his keynote at this year’s edition of Next.io summit in Valletta, where he was joined on stage by Dr. Edric Zahra, CEO of Identità; Dr. Jonathan Spiteri, representing Malta Vision 2050; and Magdalena Podhorska Okolow, VP New Markets and Sales at Light & Wonder.

“Malta has spent more than two decades building its position in gaming,” Ivan started off. “The numbers show the scale of that work, but they also show why we cannot stand still. A jurisdiction has to keep improving once it has built credibility. And this is why I choose to use the word ‘relentless’ to describe the work we do.”

This concept of “relentlessness” sits at the centre of Malta’s current gaming story. There’s no question that the island’s success is the result of sustained work and a collaborative effort across various stakeholders, from regulators to policymakers, operators, service providers and infrastructure partners all the way to the wider ecosystem.

“This achievement is considerable, but it also brings with it a high level of responsibility. And right at the centre of that responsibility we find ecosystem,  credibility. This remains one of Malta’s strongest advantages and is one of the main reasons why operators and suppliers continue to use the island as a base for international growth,” he said, adding that, in 2026, operators need more than access to a licence.

“They need a continuous enegergised ecosystem clear north star and a jurisdiction that is recognised internationally. Additionally, Malta’s regulatory environment gives companies that trust.”

This environment is part of the jurisdiction’s business value, offering serious operators clarity and consistency, and in turn securing Malta’s ability to remain competitive.

“The more we strengthen these values, the stronger the jurisdiction. The VAT and gaming tax framework is a good example of how Malta keeps strengthening the ecosystem. Trapped input VAT was creating a real cost for operators. The updated framework gives eligible operators cleaner VAT recovery and stronger after-tax margins.”

Talent, he continued, forms the next major pillar. Identità’s Dr. Edric Zahra expanded on this point by addressing talent mobility, work permits, and the foreign worker trends that continue to shape Malta’s gaming workforce.

“Talent remains one of the most important parts of Malta’s competitiveness, and the movement of skilled people into the country needs systems that are efficient, credible, and responsive to the needs of a fast moving sector,” Dr. Zahra noted.

Ivan also pointed to the Highly Qualified Persons framework — which offers a 15% flat personal income tax rate to eligible professionals — as part of Malta’s effort to attract senior and specialist professionals into the gaming sector. The framework supports specific areas of industry need, such as senior leadership, technical specialists, compliance and product roles, and executive management.  Work permit applications and foreign worker population trends also form part of the wider picture, with international talent remaining central to Malta’s gaming ecosystem.

“This all aligns with the direction set out by Malta Vision 2050. The target is for the sector to reach between €2.3Bn and €2.8Bn in GVA by 2035, with growth of 5% to 6% CAGR. That growth has to be supported by transparency, player protection, fair competition, and talent development. The aim is to strengthen Malta’s leadership in a sustainable way,” he says.

Malta Vision 2050’s Dr. Jonathan Spiteri expanded on this national context by placing gaming within Malta Vision 2050’s wider sustainable economic growth agenda.

“Gaming forms part of Malta’s long-term economic direction, and the target is clear. Growth has to be supported by strong regulation, responsible practices, and the talent base needed to keep the sector competitive.”

The next phase also goes beyond iGaming alone. Video game development, esports, content creation, streaming, casino, and iGaming all form part of the wider opportunity.

“This is another part of the implementation of Malta Vision 2050. The direction is towards interactive entertainment, with innovation, talent, and global partnerships forming part of the growth path. That wider opportunity is particularly visible in esports, and recent numbers from local BLAST tournaments support this,” Filletti said. The events attracted 126M live views, with 48.5M hours watched, and 1.9M peak viewers, pointing towards impressive global audiences.

GamingMalta’s work in this regard has not gone unnoticed with the foundation being shortlisted for Industry Development of the Year 2025 and 2026, alongside major global names like Riot Games, Savvy Games Group, EVO Acquisition, and EA Acquisition Consortium.

There’s another pillar that occupies equal importance within GamingMalta’s efforts for the sector, and that’s responsible growth. The R.E.S.P.E.C.T campaign sits within a wider message around player protection, healthier gaming ecosystems, and long-term credibility, connecting back to Vision 2050, where competitiveness and responsibility need to move together.

“Recently we’ve seen a number of global organisations establishing a presence in Malta or expanding their existing footprint. Light & Wonder is one recent example, having expanded its office space and actively filled new roles locally,” Ivan noted, adding that the opportunity to keep building the ecosystem around innovation, talent, and global partnerships has never been stronger.

Light & Wonder’s Magdalena Podhorska Okolow added the first-hand perspective, explaining how that ecosystem works in practice for a global gaming company.

“Malta gives companies the ability to build real operations, not just establish a presence. For Light & Wonder, this means running teams from Malta, hosting core platform infrastructure here, and using the island as a base for commercial activity and international growth. The ecosystem gives companies access to talent, infrastructure, and the business environment needed to scale. That is why Malta continues to matter for companies that are building across global markets.”

“Malta has already shown that companies can build from here and scale from here. Our message is simple: build something that lasts, make it in Malta. The next phase for the sector depends on keeping the same discipline that created our advantage in the first place. And our work to ensure this is maintained is relentless,” he concluded.

For the full keynote click here.

GamingMalta is a participating entity at various Next.io Summits.

The event is shaping the conversation around HR, wellbeing, culture, and leadership within the iGaming sector.

GamingMalta once again joined NEXT.io as participating entity at HR Connect, which brought together HR leaders, recruiters, and industry decision-makers under one roof for a shared conversation. The event took place across the first day of the popular summit, which took place earlier this week at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta.

This year’s event kicked off with a short intervention from Project Director Heidi Lofthus, who introduced GamingMalta CEO Ivan Filletti for his opening address. Ivan opened by sharing a frank personal anecdote about a recent health scare. Speaking about how life, and health, can put the pressures of an intense sector into perspective, Ivan’s message was clear:

“iGaming is a healthy sector, and GamingMalta will continue supporting it, but the people driving the industry also need to take care of their physical and mental wellness. HR Connect offers us a forum and an opportunity to discuss the issues and the challenges of the sector, while focusing on solutions and new ideas. However, and equally importantly, it also offers us a space to reflect on our physical and mental wellness,” he stated.

The event continued with a series of interactive panels and workshops. Olympian, Ultra Distance Swimmer, World Record Breaker & Ocean Activist Neil Agius was next to continue building on the topic of wellbeing with a session titled The Ocean Mindset. Neil guided participants through a series of building exercises, explaining how these can help us find our focus even in extraordinarily challenging circumstances. Using his attempt to swim from Mallorca to Ibiza as an example, Neil also touched upon the realities of coping with failure, and the feelings of shame that these can give rise to.

Recruiters vs HR?

The day saw a total of eight sessions taking place, with David Ozi Borg (Co-Founder of BigWig Headhunters) taking the stage next to tackle the relationship problem nobody wants to talk about: HR versus Recruitment. Ozi discussed a number of elements that typically lead to a hire failure, including incomplete briefs, slow feedback, and even employing multiple recruiters for the same role.

Tech & HR

EvenBet’s session with Nikita Akulov and Daria Fot focused on how a tech-driven iGaming industry shapes HR, growth, and culture. The company’s growth from 87 to over 200 people was presented as the result of a strategy that doesn’t simply follow trends. Instead, the company took the route of using remote work strategically, tracking performance through trust and results, and investing in both recruitment and internal talent development. The strategy helped EvenBet retain 60 of the 87 people who were already part of the organisation in 2022.

From Average to Awesome

Alexander Grabner-Jarlung, Graveyard Speaker and Founder of SPEAKERx @ HeadGain, followed with another interactive session focusing on how to improve communication by moving away from self-focused habits and learning to understand the other person’s “why”. Participants explored common communication mistakes by staging live scenarios. The five biggest pitfalls were identified:

• Making it all about us.
• Not really listening – creating an emotional connection helps.
• Not minding our body language – it’s imperative to communicate the right things!
• Not being present – a killer in any high-stakes meeting.
• Doing things for the wrong reasons.

Changing Mindsets About HR

How does HR evolved into a people function to encourage people to give their best? This was the question tackled by Aarti Carl, Chief People Officer at Eeze. Aarti drew on her own experience to detail how adjusting the approach can help change perceptions of HR and create stronger support for employees. Topping the list were the following:

• Actually listening to complaints
• Understanding pressure points
• Building relationships
• Bringing strategic partners on board

Aarti’s session, titled I Don’t Like HR: A Story of What It Takes to Change Mindsets, also explored what can be achieved when this change is achieved.

The Question of AI

Tatiana Bogolyubskaya (Head of HR, Aviatrix) tackled one of the biggest ethical dilemmas we’re facing today in the industry. Are humans better managed by AI? AI can hire, train, monitor, evaluate and even terminate employees. So what is left for HR in the employee cycle?

For her Artificial Intelligence vs. Real Humanity session, Tatiana delved into whether foregoing AI is a scalable solution for HR. Worth noting is research that has shown how many AI agents are being trained to copy what the human HR is doing. This points towards two things: there’s still a human at the centre, and the interpretation doesn’t always work as would be expected.

That said, the takeaway here is not that HR is opposing AI – it’s about HR taking the driver’s seat and steering with confidence.

When HR & C-Level Alignment Works

Alexia Frendo (Global People Partner, FDJ United) took the stage for the Leadership Partnership: When HR & C-Level Alignment Works session. Alexia highlighted the positive impact of strong C-Level support for HR, proving how a mutually beneficial relationship elevates both leadership and people strategy.

During the session, Alexia drew on her own experiences after having gone through various organisation restructurings throughout her career. She also referred to studies which showed that when HR and leadership work together, culture becomes a competitive advantage. The flip side, she concluded, is that when there’s a disconnect cultural risks can become financial risks.

Supporting The People Behind The People

This year’s edition of HR Connect came to an end with a valuable session by Christine Hili (HR Consultant & Advisor | Warranted Systemic Psychotherapist), whose session offered HR professionals a structured space to turn the lens on themselves. Christine started off by sharing some sobering statistics released by the HR Mental Wellbeing Report 2025:

• 78% of HR professionals are experiencing or risking burnout
• 44% meet the criteria for clinically significant depression
• 44% report exhaustion very often at work

Christine followed up with an interactive workshop during which participants were invited to engage in a series of mental exercises, focusing on the emotional and physical work they carry out. The session closed with a series of strategies for HR professionals to improve their work-life balance and to set up healthy boundaries.

GamingMalta’s continued participation in HR Connect reflects its ongoing commitment to supporting the talent pillar within Malta’s iGaming ecosystem as it continues to contribute to the conversations that help attract and retain the people driving the industry forward, while positioning Malta as a stable and welcoming place for international talent to build their careers and their lives.

GamingMalta is a participating entity of HR Connect, which is part of Next.io Malta.

Light & Wonder celebrated the expansion and relocation of its Sliema, Malta office on May 26, 2026, reinforcing its long‑term commitment to Malta as a leading global hub for regulated iGaming.

The investment strengthens Light & Wonder’s iGaming operations across EMEA and globally, supporting continued growth in regulated markets through expanded teams, talent acquisition and enhanced operational capabilities.

The office opening also included a ribbon‑cutting ceremony attended by Simon Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Light & Wonder, iGaming, alongside Ivan Filletti, CEO of GamingMalta, representatives from GamingMalta, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), and Light & Wonder customers and partner studios.

“Expanding our presence in Malta reflects our continued investment in regulated iGaming markets and in the talent that supports our global growth,” said Simon Johnson.

“This continued investment and expansion by a global leader like Light & Wonder reflects the ambition of Vision 2050, Malta’s national long‑term strategy, which positions gaming as a key pillar for sustainable growth, talent development and innovation,” said Ivan Filletti, CEO of GamingMalta.

“Seeing Light & Wonder expand its operations in Malta is the kind of result we strive for through our economic vision and the policies we continue to implement,” said Minister for the Economy, Enterprise, and Strategic Projects, Silvio Schembri. “Our aim is not simply to attract companies to Malta, but to create the right environment for them to grow, invest for the long term, and create quality careers for Maltese workers. Today’s inauguration is another clear sign of the confidence that leading gaming companies continue to place in our country.”

Light & Wonder continues to invest in its Malta operations, with active recruitment underway across a range of roles as the company scales its iGaming capabilities and strengthens its presence in the region.

Malta serves as a scaled operational hub for Light & Wonder’s iGaming business, supporting teams across technology, product, compliance and commercial functions.

The milestone was also marked with a customer event hosted in the new offices, celebrating the upcoming, highly anticipated launch of Pirots™ 5 from Light & Wonder‑owned ELK Studios highlighting Light & Wonder’s continued momentum in iGaming content and innovation. 

GamingMalta will once again be a supporting entity at the HR Connect as part of the upcoming NEXT.iosummit, bringing HR leaders, recruiters and company decision makers together to examine the talent structures and conditions that support Malta’s gaming ecosystem.

GamingMalta will once again be a supporting entity at the HR Connect as part of the upcoming NEXT.io summit. The event, which brings together HR leaders, recruiters, people teams, and company decision makers, focuses on the heart of the gaming industry by placing people and talent at the centre of the conversation. During the event, leaders from the sector will be discussing the structures behind growth, from recruitment and workforce development to leadership, company culture, skills and wellbeing.

For GamingMalta, people have always been one of the main drivers of the sector. A strong jurisdiction needs regulation and international credibility. However, it also needs an infrastructure that can attract the right people, develop skills, and create workplaces where talent can flourish.

“Our Make it in Malta campaign is not only a message to businesses looking for the right jurisdiction. It is also about the people who build those businesses. When a company chooses Malta, the people behind it are also choosing where to live, where to raise families, where their children go to school, where they build friendships, and where they become part of a community. That is why our work goes beyond attracting operators and organisations,” says Ivan Filletti, CEO of GamingMalta.

HR Connect sets the agenda across the practical questions that companies face when they recruit and grow, with a special focus on the relationship between recruiters and HR. The sessions tackle issues that go beyond the hiring process itself, asking how gaming companies can support people properly, align them with the business, and give them reasons to grow with the organisation. The programme also looks at HR in a growing, technology-driven sector.

“Supporting initiatives like HR Connect is important for GamingMalta, because our role does not stop at promoting Malta as a destination for gaming companies. We also work relentlessly to support the ecosystem that allows those companies to remain competitive, and talent is a crucial part of that ecosystem,” Ivan elaborates.

One of the strongest themes that emerge from this year’s agenda is the shift in how HR is understood. Hiring people into gaming is one part of the task, but helping them succeed after they join is just as important. The agenda also reflects the role of HR inside fast-growing technology companies that are looking for specialist talent. The logic behind this is simple: Malta’s offer becomes stronger when the companies operating here are offered both jurisdictional strength and a serious approach to talent development.

“We are working continuously to ensure that the talent pipeline supporting the gaming sector keeps growing in a sustainable way. That means supporting training, encouraging professional development, and helping to create the infrastructure that allows people to enter the industry, progress within it, and keep building their skills over time. The ecosystem needs to continue investing in people consistently,” Ivan insists.

The leadership dimension is equally central. HR Connect looks at what happens when HR and C-level leadership are aligned. Senior leadership sets the tone for how people are treated inside an organisation, and HR can guide that work.

“The nature of the sector is such that gaming companies often need to act quickly. They scale teams, adapt to regulation, respond to customer behaviour, and adopt technology at a faster pace than many other industries. However, speed without good management creates weak spots. A company may hire fast and still struggle if people do not understand their roles, managers are unsupported, or teams grow without the right structure around them. This is where supporting events like HR Connect reveal their importance,” Ivan continues.

HR Connect also turns attention towards HR professionals themselves, putting a spotlight on the work carried out by people who lead difficult conversations, absorb organisational strain, and identify potential in others. It also addresses emotional labour, burnout, identity, boundaries, values, and self-care.

“HR teams often deal with the conversations others avoid. They support employees through uncertainty, advise leadership during change, manage sensitive issues, and keep company culture from becoming an empty phrase. If the sector wants stronger people functions, it also has to support the professionals doing that work.”

It is now accepted that the economies of the future will be led by high-tech industries like gaming. Through MaltaVision 2050, Malta has responded to this global direction by identifying gaming as one of the main sectors that will be driving the national economy in the years to come, together with the talent needed to sustain them.

“GamingMalta’s goal is to advance both the sector itself and the talent that builds it. Gaming in its widest sense will shape future economies by creating high-value jobs with sought-after skills that travel across industries. MaltaVision 2050 recognises that the country’s competitiveness will depend on sectors that can innovate, attract talent, and generate long-term value. Gaming is already part of that future, and we have the experience and ambition to keep strengthening this position,” says Ivan.

Events like HR Connect offer another stepping stone to this ambition, supporting a workforce that can keep learning, adapting, and building from Malta.

“The next chapter of Malta’s gaming sector will still rely on regulation and infrastructure, which will help us maintain international credibility. But those strengths need people behind them, and HR Connect gives this important aspect of the industry the attention it deserves,” Ivan concludes.

HR Connect is part of the Next.io summit agenda. It takes place on Wednesday, May 27 between 11.35am and 4pm at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. The full agenda is available at https://next.io/summits/valletta/#agenda.

GamingMalta and BLAST have been jointly shortlisted for Industry Development of the Year at the Esports Leaders Honours 2025/26, marking another major milestone for Malta’s growing position within the global esports sector.

The awards will take place in Cologne during Global Esports Industry Week between 18th June and 21st June, bringing together some of the most recognised organisations and leaders shaping the international esports industry.

The nomination recognises the collaboration between GamingMalta and BLAST, which has helped place Malta firmly on the global esports map through the delivery of international Tier 1 esports tournaments and long-term investment into esports infrastructure.

Central to this growth has been the development of Malta’s esports ecosystem, including a dedicated arena spanning more than 1,000 square metres. The project continues supporting the goals outlined in Malta Vision 2050 by strengthening the country’s position in technology, gaming, and digital entertainment.

The recognition places Malta alongside some of the strongest esports developments worldwide and reinforces the country’s growing reputation as a destination capable of hosting world-class competitive gaming events.

At the same time, Malta’s grassroots esports scene is also receiving international recognition.

DAIGON Esports, a resident company within GamingMalta’s base_camp incubator, has been shortlisted for the Access and Grassroots Champions award at the Esports Leaders Honours 2025/26.

The nomination recognises the work of Elliot Mack, Co-Founder and CEO of DAIGON Esports, whose efforts continue expanding grassroots participation and creating clearer pathways into the esports industry.

This category celebrates organisations and individuals helping widen access to esports while supporting future talent development. DAIGON Esports now stands alongside globally recognised names within the sector, highlighting the progress being achieved locally through Malta’s growing esports ecosystem.

The achievement also reflects the role of base_camp in supporting startups, founders, and emerging esports organisations through infrastructure, guidance, and access to opportunities within the wider gaming industry.

With Malta Vision 2050 identifying technology and gaming among the sectors expected to shape the country’s future economy, these nominations represent another strong step forward for Malta’s esports ambitions.

GamingMalta congratulates the teams at BLAST, DAIGON Esports, base_camp, and everyone involved in helping elevate Malta’s presence within the global esports industry.

SBC Summit Malta concluded last week in St Julian’s after bringing together operators, suppliers, regulators, investors, founders, and talent from across the global gaming industry.

The summit opened with a keynote address from GamingMalta CEO Ivan Filletti, who highlighted Malta’s journey to becoming one of the world’s most established gaming jurisdictions. He emphasised that Malta’s position as the Home of iGaming was built through long-term planning, regulatory certainty, talent development, and the ability to adapt as the industry evolved.

During his address, Filletti highlighted Malta’s position as the European Union’s leading iGaming hub, with more than 300 licensed companies operating from the island. He also referred to the sector’s contribution of over €1.5 billion in gross value added, representing around 6% of national GDP, while supporting more than 12,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The keynote also addressed the importance of maintaining a regulatory environment that international operators, financial institutions, and payment providers trust. Reference was made to recent updates to Malta’s VAT and gaming tax framework, which provide licensed operators with a clearer and more efficient recovery structure. Filletti also highlighted the role of the Highly Qualified Persons framework in helping companies attract specialised international talent.

Beyond iGaming, discussions throughout the summit reflected Malta’s growing ambitions across esports, video game development, software, digital content, and emerging sectors such as prediction markets.

A major focus of the discussions was Malta’s long-term vision for growth, aligned with Malta Vision 2050. This includes a target of growing the gaming sector’s gross value added to between €2.3 billion and €2.8 billion by 2035, representing 6-7% of projected GDP.

Throughout the summit, GamingMalta continued engaging with international stakeholders to showcase Malta as more than just a business destination, positioning the country as a jurisdiction where the gaming industry is understood, supported, and equipped for long-term growth.

The event closed with a clear message: Malta remains committed to strengthening its position as a global centre of excellence for gaming and digital entertainment.