As Malta’s Spring iGaming Week 2022 draws to a close, we caught up with Altenar’s Business Development Manager Gabriela Novello for her reflections on a busy few days at the CasinoBeats Summit conference and exhibition.

CasinoBeats: With CasinoBeats Summit returning once again to Malta this week, how key do you see the island as the base for Altenar’s global operations?

Gabriela Novello: We see Malta as a key player for our global operations, so of course CasinoBeats Summit was always going to be a central part of our event calendar for this year! This week didn’t disappoint, and it’s proven an excellent opportunity to harness the collective passion for the industry in one of Malta’s most popular locations. 

Such opportunities really give companies like us a chance to showcase what we have to offer the world of igaming and sports betting – and with a week of speaking tracks, networking events and catching up with friends and partners, it’s really brought everyone together. 


CB: With a host of conference sessions lined up for CasinoBeats Summit, which panels have caught your eye and how is Altenar looking to get more involved in the world of casino?

GN: Where to start? There’s been an excellent range of panels on show this week from some real leading lights in the industry. For us, the speaking tracks on regulation have been particularly informative given our current plans for international expansion. The packed emerging markets panel was also particularly interesting for team Altenar, as the likes of Brazil, Canada, LatAm and North America are all regions we’re watching very closely, and in some cases, already active in. 

Such speaking tracks are a really great opportunity to provide a seamless exchange of ideas between operators and suppliers, giving everyone the chance to share their experience of global gaming regulations and adapting frameworks to suit new locations. It really does offer a really diverse range of perspectives from within the industry, especially when it comes to areas that sportsbook suppliers are able to help casino operators in new markets given their established experience. 


CB: With the US and Canada no doubt set to be hot topics this year, what potential does Altenar see on the other side of the Atlantic?

GN: It’s going to be an outstanding opportunity – and it’s been a very hot topic at CasinoBeats this year! We’ve already begun the groundwork for building our presence in Canada, with our Ontario licence expected very shortly. No doubt once we’re live, we’ll be set to use our localised solution to power some really strong brands in the market. 

Of course, both are very unique markets compared to the rest of the world. I’m very confident that Canada will provide an excellent springboard for our future US plans too. With the market lending plenty of parallels to the US on the other side of the border, our initial Canadian operations will give us a chance to learn as we go on the ground, which will put us in pole position once we’re ready to go live there. 

CB: Last but not least, any advice for our readers out there who’ve just attended their first Malta-based gaming conference?

GN: Make sure you enjoyed yourself! Conferences like these are a great opportunity to expand your network among key people in the industry. Make new friends, make sure to add them on LinkedIn after and keep that new relationship going. One of the wonderful things about our industry is that we’re all a friendly network – so success is always about the contacts you build!

Aside from that, make sure you’ve taken in as much industry information as you can, expand what you already know, of course, check out Altenar’s website if you didn’t see us at the show and be sure to say hi next time! 

Last but not least, if you get the chance to wander around Malta, take in the beautiful architecture and experience some of the reasons the industry gravitates to the island. If you wanted an excuse for a long weekend in igaming paradise, you’ve got it!