Blockchain

MALTA GAMING AUTHORITY PUBLISHES REPORT ON SKILLS GAP IN IGAMING INDUSTRY

Published

7 years ago

January 17, 2020

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), through its Information & Research Unit, has conducted a survey (second of its kind) among its licensed remote gaming operators in order to obtain a better understanding of the existing skills gap in the gaming industry.

This report highlights the key findings of a survey carried out by the MGA in 2019 (for 2018) and outlines the main elements of similarity and contrast with the results of the previous survey, where relevant.

The following are the key highlights from this survey:

A total of 730 unfilled positions have been reported by the online gaming companies in Malta as at the end of 2018;
68% of unfilled vacancies are primarily at the operational level;
The majority (69%) of the vacancies remained unfilled for no more than three months;
Lack of work experience (28%), competition from other firms (27%) and lack of qualifications (21%) are the main reasons for unfilled vacancies;
According to the survey results, more than one-third of the operators recruit personnel employed by other firms in the sector;
35% of firms engage in in-house training activities or mentoring in order to tackle skill shortages;
The recruitment of workers immediately after the completion of their formal education was reported by 9% of the surveyed firms, confirming the potentially stronger role which could be played by educational institutions;
Several policy efforts have been made to ensure that training courses are aligned with the industry’s needs. In 2017, the European Gaming Institute of Malta (EGIM) was launched following an agreement signed between the MGA and Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST). In 2018, 56 students applied for the iGaming Diploma at MCAST, and an additional 43 enrolled between January and mid-November 2019;
By mid-November 2019, 58 students enrolled for the Award in iGaming course at the iGaming Academy – a joint collaboration between the MCAST and EGIM;
In 2019, 21 students were selected and matched with seven companies through the Gaming Malta’s Student Placement Programme, an initiative that aims to reduce the mismatch which exists between the supply and demand for gaming skills in the Maltese labour market;
The majority of the surveyed companies expressed their satisfaction with the training offerings in Malta; however, between 15% and 20% of the respondents indicated that more needs to be done with respect to the availability, quality and value for money of the training opportunities in Malta.

The survey which reflects responses received from 238 individual respondents (companies) looks at the size, nature and causes of unfilled vacancies, the recruitment strategies of the respondents, training and development activities as well as the educational offering to the online gaming industry in Malta.

The MGA’s Chief Officer of Finance & Programme Management, responsible for the Information & Research Unit, Peter Spiteri said:

“We are pleased to publish the second paper on the Skill Gap Affecting the Online Gaming Industry with a view to shed light on the current state of play regarding human capital found on the island.

“Recent figures published by MGA through its Interim Performance Report indicate that 69% of employees in the online gaming sector are non-Maltese, highlighting the need for expatriate workers to sustain the ever-increasing demand of the industry.

“Whilst acknowledging that significant milestones have been achieved through the establishment of the European Gaming Institute of Malta as well as Gaming Malta’s Student Placement Programme initiative, the study indicates that there is significant potential for the local educational system to contribute in addressing the continuous thirst of the industry for a skilled workforce.”

Read the full MGA report.

AYO.NEWS says:

Malta has made good progress in increasing the amount of suitable local talent, but people really need to keep things in perspective. The Republic of Malta is the EU’s smallest state, and though it feels very crowded due to its small size (smaller than the Isle of Wight!), its population is only around 494,000 (including the resident foreigners). To put this in perspective the population of the UK city of Nottingham (the conurbation, including suburbs), is almost 770,000!!!!

However, despite its sub-city size, Malta is a real country, with all the trimmings of a state, including a parliament, armed forces, and full set of regulatory and educational institutions. Because of this it is easy to understand why, to Maltese, they often feel like they should be better represented in the iGaming, and other specialised industries.

But, in reality, it is absurd to think that such a tiny place, with an insignificant population (numerically speaking), should be able to provide a larger proportion of skills for such a specialised sector.

This is something that the Maltese authorities need to keep in mind as we go forward – especially in relation to how they need to keep living costs and conditions in Malta competitive in order to attract, and critically, retain foreign talent.

AYO.NEWS says features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited.

Blockchain

VCOIN LAUNCHES DEBIT CARD WITH UPHOLD: IMVU USERS EARN IN-GAME & SPEND IN REAL LIFE

VCOIN has teamed up with Uphold on a debit card that lets IMVU users spend currency earned in-game on real-world purchases.

Published

5 years ago

June 29, 2021

AYO News Staff

Vcoin launches debit card with uphold: imvu users earn in-game & spend in real life

VCOIN, the transferable digital currency used in the social metaverse app IMVU, has launched a debit card in partnership with digital money platform Uphold, allowing users to take value earned inside the virtual world and spend it in real life.

IMVU users can now withdraw VCOIN to an Uphold account and spend it using the Uphold debit card, earning 2% cashback on every purchase, both online and in store.

How the card works

The card is available first to US residents, with international availability to follow. Digital-only cards are free to order and use through the Uphold Card app, while a physical card carries a one-off fee of $9.95. Cashback on purchases is paid into the cardholder’s Uphold account.

From virtual economy to real wallet

VCOIN was first introduced inside IMVU, the friend-discovery and social metaverse app operated by Together Labs. IMVU runs one of the larger virtual economies of any social platform, with around 27 million transactions and 14 billion credits changing hands each month, according to the company.

The debit card closes the loop between that in-app economy and everyday spending. Creators and users who earn VCOIN by selling virtual goods or participating in the community can now convert those earnings into money they can use at ordinary merchants, rather than keeping the value locked inside the app.

A test case for the creator economy

The launch reflects a wider effort across gaming and virtual worlds to let users earn real income from in-game activity. It also highlights the regulatory hurdles involved: by routing withdrawals and spending through Uphold, an established and regulated money platform, VCOIN relies on a partner already set up to handle compliance, identity checks and card issuing.

How widely users adopt the card will be watched closely by other platforms considering whether to let virtual currencies flow out into the real economy.

Blockchain

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE’S WOLVES ENTER ROCKET LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Published

6 years ago

November 5, 2020

AYO News Staff

English Premier League football club Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) has entered the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS).

Wolves already fields rosters in FIFA 21, FIFA Online 4, PUBG, Identity V, and Pop Kart Racing, and is the first Premier League club to enter the RLCS.

Discussing the news Wolves General Manager for Marketing and Commercial Growth, Russell Jones, said:

“Gaming and esports remain a crucial part of our brand growth strategy and signing such talented and ambitious players to represent our Rocket League esports team is another step forward in our journey to build stories outside of football and widen the appeal of the Wolves brand across the world.

“We have spent the last six months scouting teams and players and are delighted to welcome Rix, Luis and Ole, who will become Wolves Esports for the remainder of the current RLCS season X and beyond. We will be offering the team our full support as they compete in the winter split.

“I’d also like to thank the University of Wolverhampton who continue to be an exceptionally supportive partner of the Wolves Esports programme.”

While Team Captain of Wolves Esports Rocket League, Rix Ronday, added:

“It is a real honour to captain the first-ever Wolves Esports Rocket League team. I’m confident that we have recruited two of Rocket League’s most exciting talents in Ole and Luis and we are working hard behind the scenes to prepare for the RLCSX Winter Split kick-off.”

AYO.NEWS says:

Wolves have already demonstrated their enthusiasm for esports, using it to strengthen what is now a powerful global brand – for example, way back in February 2019, it became the first Premier League club to enter Chinese esports, through a partnership with Weibo eSports Club.

And, given the very real possibility of COVID-19 causing further disruption to football, diversifying the brand into multiple esports seems like a smart way to ensure fan engagement can continue, come what may.

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates.

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.

Blockchain

FIFA 21 CHALLENGE IS MOST WATCHED EA ESPORTS EVENT YET

Published

6 years ago

November 4, 2020

AYO News Staff

The EA SPORTS™ FIFA 21 Challenge has smashed the viewership record, with an Average Minute Audience of over 250K.

A one-day esports tournament that paired top global professional footballers with the world’s best FIFA players, the EA SPORTS™ FIFA 21 Challenge drew an average minute audience (AMA) of 254,057 with a total watch time of 1,024,696 hours, making the event the most-watched EA operated esports broadcast in history.

In fact, the broadcast more than doubled the viewership metric set by the next most-watched EA operated FIFA event, the FIFA Global Series FUT Champions Cup: Barcelona, which took place over multiple days in January 2018 and registered an AMA of 92,678.

During the competition, four esports players paired with four professional footballers from international clubs Liverpool, West Ham United, Inter Milan, and Borussia Dortmund, clashed on October 29 for the EA SPORTS FIFA 21 Challenge.

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fnatic’s Tekkz took home the trophy and won $20,000 on behalf of their selected charities

In addition to incorporating celebrity participation to reach non-traditional gaming audiences, the EA SPORTS FIFA 21 Challenge was the first event to utilize FIFA Global Series Viewership Rewards, creating an interactive broadcast for viewers with in-game benefits for watching to further drive engagement and subsequent play time.

Reflecting on the event EA SPORTS FIFA Commissioner, Brent Koning, said:

“EA SPORTS FIFA is woven into the fabric of football culture. Bringing professional footballers and our esports pros together creates entertainment that sets our tournaments apart.

“The success of the FIFA 21 Challenge reinforces our strategy and vision for broadening the esports audience, creating content for our fans, and underscores the value of entertainment-driven events that branch outside of traditional esports.”

The FIFA 21 Challenge was a part of a series of EA SPORTS FIFA 21 Global Series pre-season invitationals, featuring notable influencers, footballers, and FIFA pros, in partnership with the interactive entertainment world’s biggest video streaming and content platforms.

It’s a nod to EA’s renewed competitive gaming strategy, which leverages the convergence of traditional sports, competitive gaming, and pop culture to create new, engaging, and accessible broadcasts for diverse audiences.

AYO.NEWS says:

Viewership figures like this illustrate just how integrated esports, especially FIFA, is becoming in mainstream football culture, and the growth looks set to continue, and reflects well on EA’s competitive gaming strategy. Last month, EA announced improvements and a bigger prize pool for the upcoming esports season.