The Unit, a leader in nearshore product development and marketing services for sports betting and iGaming, is playing its part in the revolution of grassroots football in partnership with fantasy football operator Dribble.

Dribble brings a Moneyball sports-analytics approach to the amateur game by presenting players with the chance to track their performance, while connecting with the wider football community to earn recognition for their on-pitch performances.

Players can track their games and see their data, earning points based on how they, and their team, perform in matches. Players vote for their player of the match each gameweek, and profiles and rankings will update automatically after each gameweek.

The Unit, as an experienced supplier in the field of designing and developing robust, scalable platforms, has worked on this innovative product from concept to launch. The beta version of Dribble is now live across five amateur UK football leagues, covering more than 600 players.

Paddy Casey, Co-founder at The Unit, said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with the team at Dribble on this project. At The Unit, we pride ourselves on having the ability to provide bespoke software development services, addressing unique business requirements and challenges.

“By offering the opportunity for amateur football players to become the stars of the show in their own fantasy football leagues, Dribble has brought to market an innovative and exciting platform, which ties in with our background in sports, so it’s been an ideal collaboration.

“We have enjoyed the process of working with the Dribble team and we are proud to have been part of the early stages of their journey. We are sure they will make their mark in the world of fantasy football, and this will certainly shake up the market.”

Kirk Flitton, Founder and CEO at Dribble, said: “In the past six months, we have raised early investment and gone from concept to product. We would not have been able to do so without The Unit, who have been a key part of the journey in making our idea come to life.

“We were delighted to introduce Dribble to football players recently, and we have been assisted through to launch by the expert software development The Unit provides.

“Dribble has been built to help every player tell their football story, and we are extremely excited to see how the platform can grow and develop in the coming seasons in a whole new era for grassroots football.”

With offices in Ireland, Ukraine and Moldova, The Unit has an unwavering commitment to becoming the partner of choice throughout the industry. In addition to its broad-ranging marketing services, the team has solidified its strong track record of building world-class, scalable and efficient products for the sports betting and iGaming sector in recent years.

As The Unit embarks on this period of growth, the company remains committed to delivering exceptional products and services to its clients. With its experienced team, best-in-class product development capabilities, and focus on innovation, The Unit is poised to shape the future of the sports betting and iGaming industries.

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The Malta Gaming Authority has published its Annual Report and audited Financial Statements for the 2023 financial year. The report provides insights into the Maltese land-based and online gaming industries, and outlines their performance in 2023. The report further provides an overview of the Authority’s accomplishments and offers a medium-term outlook for the future.

Supervisory Activities

• In 2023, the Authority conducted 21 compliance audits, and 125 desktop reviews The Commercial Communications Committee took five decisions regarding possible breaches of the Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations (S.L. 583.09). The Authority also issued 28 warnings, suspended nine licences and cancelled 11 licences. Furthermore, the MGA issued a total of 19 administrative penalties and one regulatory settlement, which amount to a total financial penalty of €172,900.

• A total of 28 AML/CFT Compliance Examinations were carried out; 13 were carried out by MGA and 15 by FIAU. During the same period, the FIAU imposed remediation and/or administrative penalties on seven licensees, based on violations discovered during examinations carried out in previous years, which amounted to €994,000.

• During 2023, the Authority received 24 applications for new gaming licences and issued 15 licences. A total of 13 applications were either rejected or withdrawn.

• Almost 1200 criminal probity screening checks were undertaken on individuals, shareholders, ultimate beneficial owners, key persons, employees and businesses from both the land-based and online gaming sectors. Applications of a more complex nature were escalated to the Fit & Proper Committee. In total, 64 decisions were taken by the Committee, including 14 decisions to reject individuals and entities who did not meet the Authority’s fit and properness criteria. The Supervisory Council reviewed 19 licence applications of which 14 were approved and four were rejected. One application was sent back to the applicant for further clarification.

• In 2023, 38 interviews with prospective MLROs and key persons carrying out AML/CFT functions were conducted with the aim of assessing their competence and understanding of the Maltese AML/CFT legal framework.

• The Authority, in its efforts to safeguard players and promote responsible gambling, assisted a total of 4483 players who requested assistance (including spill-over from 2022). Furthermore, 72 responsible gambling themed website checks were carried out, and 41 observation letters were issued to licensees outlining the responsible gambling issues and identifying areas of improvement.

• The Authority examines the financial standing of its licensees to ensure the continued viability of the business but also to safeguard the player funds. In 2023, 2059 Player Funds Reports were received and 24 player data extractions were carried out.

• A total of 49 websites were found to have misleading references to the Authority. In 23 instances, the information was not removed following notification, and notices are published on the MGA’s website with the aim of preventing the public from falling victim to such scams.

• In 2023, the Authority carried out just over 2300 inspections on Gaming Parlours, National Lottery Outlets, Bingo Halls and Non-Profit Tombola, in addition to another 7275 inspections, which were carried out to licensed casinos with the aim of having 24/7 inspectorate presence in such gaming establishments. Furthermore, the Authority was present during all the National Lottery licensee’s drawing operations. This is done to ensure compliance of the land-based licensees with the relevant rules and regulations.

• In 2023, following a consultation period, the Authority published the “Policy on the use of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) by Authorised Persons”. This policy supersedes “Guidance on the use of Innovative Technology Arrangements and the acceptance of Virtual Financial Assets and Virtual Tokens through the implementation of a Sandbox Environment”.

• In 2023, the Authority published amendments to the Player Protection Directive (Directive 2 of 2018), introducing five markers of harm. These are designed to help operators identify early signs of problematic gambling behaviour, enabling them to intervene in a timely and effective manner.

• In 2023, the Authority also published its voluntary ESG Code of Good Practice for the Remote Gaming Sector. The Code seeks to serve as an instrument for self-regulation, helping remote gaming companies align with best practices and maintain a position that allows them to effectively meet the evolving expectations of key stakeholders in the sector.

National and International Cooperation

• In 2023, the Authority received 255 suspicious betting reports from licensees and other interested parties. The Authority collaborated with enforcement agencies, sports governing bodies, integrity units and other regulatory authorities on 34 requests for information in relation to the manipulation of sporting events or violations of sporting regulations. Subsequently, these requests resulted in 44 data exchanges. In addition, a total of 235 alerts on suspicious betting were shared with the licensees. The Authority also contributed to 22 investigations into sports rules violations or manipulation of sporting competitions in 2023.

• The Authority sent 42 requests and received 77 requests for international collaboration. In both cases, most requests related to background checks as part of authorisation processes, or requests for information about the local regime.

• In 2023, a total of 75 letters of good standing were issued, providing feedback on the regulatory standing of the MGA’s licensed operators to the relevant authorities asking for this information.

• Additionally, in 2023, the Authority collaborated with other local regulating authorities and governing bodies on 124 requests for information.

MGA CEO Charles Mizzi said: “It is not a coincidence that the theme for the Annual Report is ‘sustainability’. The MGA’s ability to strike the right balance between allowing the industry to thrive and grow in a sustainable manner, while also protecting consumers, is key to Malta’s continued success.”