That’s a big fish!
A 300kg tuna was caught in St Paul’s Bay, with a photo shared to social media by Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said.
‘The investment into the hoist by the government in the zone is reducing the suffering of fishermen when they come to bring their catches to shore’, said Said.
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The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has released its Annual Report and audited Financial Statements for the financial year ending 31 December 2024.
The report provides a detailed overview of the performance of both land-based and online gaming sectors, while also outlining the Authority’s regulatory actions, operational updates, and future outlook for the industry.
Regulatory Activity and Enforcement
Throughout 2024, the MGA received 28 new gaming licence applications and approved 17. It also processed 12 licence renewal requests, granting eight. The Authority issued over 1,900 permits for low-risk, event-based games, including non-profit tombola and lottery events.
Nearly 1,200 criminal probity checks were carried out, leading to 64 Fit and Proper Committee decisions, 16 of which resulted in negative outcomes.
The MGA concluded 13 compliance audits and 116 desktop reviews. It also issued 35 warnings and 25 administrative penalties totalling €306,250, and reached three settlements amounting to €61,522. Eight licences were cancelled, and two were suspended.
Anti-Money Laundering Oversight
In cooperation with the FIAU, 43 AML/CFT compliance examinations were initiated, and 60 concluded. Six licensees were penalised, with fines nearing €185,000. Thirty-seven MLRO interviews were conducted to ensure compliance with national financial laws.
Player Protection and Responsible Gambling
The Authority resolved 3,372 player assistance requests and received 1,897 player funds reports. It completed 40 responsible gambling website checks and investigated 83 websites publishing misleading information, issuing 29 public notices. Over 9,000 inspections were carried out at various gaming premises across Malta.
International Cooperation and Integrity Measures
The MGA received 244 suspicious betting reports and participated in 30 cross-border investigations. It engaged in 161 national and 85 international cooperation requests, further reinforcing its role in safeguarding gaming integrity.
MGA CEO Charles Mizzi noted, “Resilience is not just about endurance – it is about adapting with purpose and staying focused on what matters. Over the past year, we strengthened internal operations and invested in our team to maintain Malta’s status as a trusted regulatory hub.”
The 2024 report reflects a year of proactive oversight, regulatory development, and a clear commitment to responsible, secure, and future-ready gaming regulation.
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A recent survey referenced by The Times of Malta suggests that Alex Borg, a Nationalist Party MP from Gozo, is currently the most favoured candidate among party members to take on the leadership role.
The poll places him ahead of two well-known figures: former PN leader Adrian Delia and ex-MP Franco Debono, who were ranked second and third respectively. Delia secured 19.3% of support, while Debono received 8.8%.
The survey gathered the views of 500 Nationalist Party members. Just over 25% selected Borg as their preferred choice.
However, a significant portion of those questioned either expressed uncertainty or opted not to respond.
One in three said they were unsure whom they would back, and a further 9% left the question unanswered. Combined, this indicates that around 43% of respondents withheld a clear preference.
The poll was carried out between 14 and 16 June, coinciding with the announcement by Roberta Metsola that she would not be seeking the party leadership.
#MaltaDaily
William Richard Henry Hanson, known on social media as ‘The Etiquette Guy’, was spotted in Valletta yesterday.
Dropping by for a visit at City Crown, Valletta, William posed for a photo with the restaurant’s Daniel Borg Cardona.
Hanson boasts over 3.6 million followers on Instagram, and is known as a British etiquette coach.
He is also a twice Sunday Times bestselling author and host of podcasts ‘Help I Sexted My Boss’ and ‘The Luxury Podcast’.
He is currently the executive director and owner of etiquette and protocol coaching company ‘The English Manner.’
#MaltaDaily
