Former MGA exec Joseph Attard joins Entain Malta as managing director

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)'s former head of anti-money laundering and compliance (MLRO) has left the regulatory body to join leading international operator Entain as Malta managing director, he announced on Wednesday.

Joseph Attard took to social media to reveal his appointment, saying he was "grateful and excited" to announce the move, and that it was "an honour" to work with his former colleagues.

"I am extremely honoured and thrilled to start a new chapter in my career with one of the top gaming companies out there," Mr Attard said.

He made the announcement the day before Entain released its financial results for the final quarter of 2021.

The results mean that for the full year 2021, online net gambling revenue was up 12 per cent compared to the year before. This figure reflected strong performance across all major markets, except Germany.

Operationally, some highlights of the year included an investment of £25 million (€30 million) to support the launch of its first esports skill-based wagering products during 2022.

Additionally, the company launched a number of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) initiatives, including EnTrain, a new multi-million-pound global initiative to increase access to technology and improve diversity.

Jette Nygaard-Andersen, Entain’s CEO, commented on the results, saying: “2021 has been a successful and eventful period for Entain, and our market-leading platform has driven another year of strong, sustainable and diversified growth."