The Lotteries and Gaming Authority has been rebranded as the Malta Gaming Authority, sporting a new sleek logo and a user-friendly website.

The authority worked on the project for over six months, a sign that this was about much more than a cosmetic change, executive chairman Joe Cuschieri said at the launch at the Westin Dragonara.

“We wanted to strengthen the connection between Malta and the jurisdiction’s sound reputation. And we also wanted to bring the authority in line with other regulators that have Malta in their name.”

The sector has grown rapidly over the 13 years since the authority was set up and is now the second largest economic sector after tourism, employing over 9,000 people. The change of name is not the only initiative to boost the sector: an academy is also being set up to bridge the gap between recruitment requirements and skill and a gaming foundation will promote Malta as a centre of excellence.

One challenge facing the sector comes from EU member states trying to protect their own gaming sectors, something that Parliamentary Secretary Josè Herrera said he would be taking up with Brussels in the near future.

Economy Minister Chris Cardona said that, in spite of various challenges, the sector had been agile and dynamic enough to grow and thrive.

The authority has also revamped and streamlined its website (www.mga.org.mt) and its social media presence.

The website has over 30,000 visitors each month and 400 requests for support from punters.