The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) took offense at a media report claiming that Italian organized crime groups have extended their roots in the island nation's gaming industry.

Last December, the Times of Malta released a report claiming that members of Palermo-based mafia clans have developed “advanced plans” to shift their base of operations to Malta. One of these plans was allegedly realized by the Resuttana-San Lorenzo clan after they took over the operations of Palermo's Favorita race track. It was said that the clan controlled the race results to ensure maximum returns.

The MGA said that the report was “intended solely to harm Malta's reputation as a gaming jurisdiction of excellence.” It added that due to its “rigorous due diligence procedures, criminal probity checks, investigations and intelligence gathering activities,” any attempt to infiltrate the sector would be foiled.

CalvinAyre.com's Becky Liggero has listed five of the biggest events that you wouldn't want to miss in 2018. These include a talk from nChain Chief Scientist Dr. Craig Wright and Betting in Football in London, the inaugural CoinGeek.com's bComm Conference in Hong Kong, the new iGB Live in Amsterdam, and the SiGMA 2018 in Malta.

President Vladimir Putin has reportedly ordered officials in Moscow to start developing a cryptocurrency, called the “CryptoRuble,” that could become Russia's tool for carrying out “sensitive activity on behalf of the state.” According to Putin's economic adviser Sergei Glazev, CryptoRuble's “circulation would be restricted in a certain way.”

The Hong Kong-listed company has postponed the opening of its Jeju Shinwa World casino after the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Council failed to act on the company's request to relocate its 28 gaming tables and 16 slots and electronic table games (ETG) from the Hyatt Regency Jeju Hotel.

The Dutch Council of State has ruled that the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) regulatory body has no power to stop payment service providers from processing transactions from internationally licensed iGaming operators. The KSA said that the decision was a “major setback” in their aim “to take action against online gambling.”

An Argentine court has ordered four owners of suspended online betting site Miljugadas.com from leaving the country under new laws, which make unauthorized online gambling a federal crime punishable by up to six years in prison. The trial for the accused is set to start later this year.

If you are a marketer for a casino, you should explore the world of charity marketing. Charity marketing is a way to build a positive brand that will appeal across genders, geography and other cultural and social distinctions. It will also help lure new players who share the same cause that was adopted by the casino.

Don't miss Fire and Ice 2018 “Zhora,” the best networking party in the iGaming calendar! This year's theme is inspired by a specific scene of the legendary Blade Runner film series, perfect for fans of future fiction and dystopia.

Congratulations to Digitain for inking a new deal with 1X2 Network! Operators using the Digitain platform can now access various hit games which include Iron Dog Studio's Neon Jungle, Leap Gaming's Instant Racing and 1X2gaming's Gods of Olympus and Virtual Champions. Digitain CEO Suren Khachatryan said that the partnership deal with 1X2 Network will impress operators with their “increasingly diverse product range.”