Make it in Malta at SBC Summit Lisbon 2026
Malta closed three days at SBC Summit Lisbon 2026 with a strong Make it in Malta presence and a dedicated booth that brought the country’s main gaming and business-support partners together in one place.
GamingMalta was joined by the Malta Gaming Authority, Malta Enterprise, Bank of Valletta and Identità, giving operators, suppliers and investors direct access to expertise across regulation, investment support, banking, talent and workforce mobility.
This joined-up approach was one of the strongest messages to emerge from Lisbon, with GamingMalta providing the link into the wider ecosystem. The Malta Gaming Authority brought the regulatory perspective; Malta Enterprise focused on investment, business development and support for companies establishing or expanding in Malta; Bank of Valletta represented the banking and financial-services infrastructure available to businesses; and Identità addressed international recruitment, relocation and workforce mobility.
The Make it in Malta stand gave these areas a shared platform and, crucially, allowed delegates to speak directly with the organisations responsible for them. Visitors could explore regulation, investment, finance and talent within the same space, rather than approaching Malta through several disjointed angles. This afforded a clearer view of how these important areas interact when a business is considering Malta.
GamingMalta’s role across the wider ecosystem
GamingMalta CEO Ivan Filletti developed that theme in an interview given during the event, describing the value of presenting Malta’s ecosystem under the Make it in Malta umbrella. He referred to the presence of Malta Enterprise, Identità, Bank of Valletta and the Malta Gaming Authority as demonstrating the “power of one”, while also linking the sector’s future to Malta Vision 2050 and the continued commitment of policymakers to gaming.
His interview looked at Malta’s reputation as an international gaming jurisdiction and the factors that continue to shape it. The GamingMalta CEO was also invited to share Malta’s perspective through the SBC Media Zone podcast, where the conversation broadened further. He spoke about the level of interest in doing business in Malta during the week, the value GamingMalta can add for operators and suppliers looking to enter or grow their presence here, and the main case Malta makes to companies considering the island as a base.
The podcast also explored the way government entities work together to support investment, why Malta considered it important to exhibit at SBC Lisbon, and how GamingMalta can continue contributing to the country’s development as an international gaming hub over the coming years.
GamingMalta Ecosystem Manager Adrian Caruana approached the discussion from the operational side, examining the network behind Malta’s iGaming industry. His interview looked at how regulation, talent, business support, financial services and technology connect around the companies operating from Malta, and at GamingMalta’s role in helping businesses navigate that network and reach the right contacts.
On the regulatory front, GamingMalta Chairperson Alistair Dalli also reflected on the Make it in Malta approach, focusing on the network of talent, expertise and business support available to gaming companies at different stages of their development. His contribution reinforced the role of connectivity within the ecosystem, particularly for businesses that need access to specialist knowledge and institutional support as they establish, operate and grow.
Regulation and market integrity
Regulation continued to feature prominently throughout the three days. Ishmael Barbara, Manager of Authorisations at the Malta Gaming Authority, discussed the role of authorisations in supporting gaming businesses while upholding the standards expected of Malta as a regulated jurisdiction. His interview examined how that function contributes both to market access and to the integrity of the wider regulatory framework.
Dr Zachary Sciberras, Head of Legal Enforcement at the MGA, addressed one of the most immediate regulatory developments facing businesses operating from Malta: the enhancements to the gaming tax and VAT framework. His discussion covered the changes taking effect from October 1, including the areas operators need to understand as the revised framework is implemented, and placed those updates within the broader regulatory environment governing the sector.
Talent investment and financial services
International recruitment formed another major part of the Malta presence. Shaunee Mizzi, Legal Unit Coordinator at Identità, discussed the routes available to companies recruiting specialised talent from overseas, including the EU Blue Card, the Key Employee Initiative and the Specialist Employee Initiative. Her interview examined how these mechanisms support international recruitment and help businesses bring skilled employees to Malta, an increasingly important consideration for companies building specialist teams across borders.
Malta Enterprise added the investment and business-development perspective through Maria Zammit Micallef, Relationship Management & Implementation Coordinator within its Centre of Excellence, FDI & Large Enterprises. She shared her view of the support available within Malta’s gaming ecosystem and the role Malta Enterprise plays in helping businesses assess opportunities, establish a presence and develop their operations over time.
Bank of Valletta completed another practical part of that picture by representing the banking and financial-services infrastructure available to businesses operating from Malta. Its participation gave delegates the opportunity to discuss the financial side of setting up and growing an operation directly with one of Malta’s principal banking institutions
Technology and product development across the sector
Technology and product development also featured strongly with Draw & Code, Light & Wonder and Immense Group bringing different perspectives on how gaming innovation is developing across the industry.
Having formed part of the base_camp community, GamingMalta’s incubator for video game startups and esports businesses, Draw & Code had particularly valuable insight to offer. During the summit the studio showcased its virtual roulette experience, giving delegates a hands-on example of its work across immersive technology, XR, interactive experiences and R&D.
Light & Wonder added the perspective of a global games company working across game content, platforms and the technologies that support modern gaming experiences. Its presence underlined the breadth of innovation taking place across gaming, from the games themselves to the systems and technology that enable them.
Immense Group brought a Malta-rooted operator perspective, combining consumer brands with product and technology development and a clear focus on growth and innovation. Its presence added another dimension to the event, showing how technology development and product strategy are being driven from within Malta’s own gaming industry as well as by international suppliers.
Across the three days, these conversations gave the Make it in Malta campaign a very concrete form. The value of SBC Lisbon for Malta went well beyond visibility: it created space for face-to-face engagement, bringing the country’s main partners, support structures and industry voices into direct contact with the island’s future investors.
