Former CEO of the Malta Gaming Authority, Carl Brincat, has transitioned from his regulatory role to join the LeoVegas Group as the Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs. Over the past decade, Brincat has been instrumental in shaping Malta's gaming laws, and now finds himself on the other side—with insider knowledge and ready to operate under different rules.
In an interview with journalist Louis Harter (LH), he discusses the reasons behind his decision, how his experience as a regulator gives LeoVegas an edge, and the new battlegrounds in the global iGaming sector.
LH: You recently moved from CEO at MGA to Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs at LeoVegas Group. What prompted this change? How do you think your previous experience will influence your new role?
Carl Brincat: As I mentioned when deciding to leave MGA, after serving in various capacities for 9 years, it felt like the right time to seek new opportunities. During a six-month sabbatical following my tenure as CEO, I had the chance to consider different paths, and ultimately, the position at LeoVegas seemed the best fit for utilizing my developed skills while continuing to learn and grow. As for how my past experience will impact my role at Leo, since my role heavily focuses on ensuring productive dialogues with regulators and legislators worldwide, I believe I can leverage my years of perspective as a regulator to effectively communicate our messages and help drive conversations, ensuring we correctly understand what regulators expect from us as operators.
LH: What are the biggest challenges and opportunities you anticipate in your new position at LeoVegas, especially as the company continues to expand into new international markets?
Carl Brincat: The biggest challenge is certainly keeping up with all the developments and dynamics in the jurisdictions we are currently in and those we are expanding into. The opportunities are largely the same—dealing with peers from other operators, suppliers, regulators, and legislators worldwide is a continuous learning experience and gives me room and opportunities to spread the message of LeoVegas.
LH: Given your extensive background in regulatory affairs, how do you plan to manage compliance across different countries?
Carl Brincat: Compliance management is the duty of my excellent colleagues in the compliance and technical compliance teams. My role is to assist them by monitoring upcoming regulatory changes, ensuring we provide reliable feedback to regulators and legislators on consulted changes, ensuring we correctly understand their expectations, and thereby developing our relationships with the regulators.
LH: How do you develop relationships with regulatory bodies in different jurisdictions?
Carl Brincat: It naturally depends on whether different regulatory bodies are willing to engage directly with the industry. If this is not possible, we seek to establish robust communication channels through the various trade organizations LeoVegas is part of. If open dialogue with individual operators is welcome, I believe the secret is simple—honesty and transparency. These are values I personally hold dear and are core to LeoVegas's values. Having open and honest conversations with regulators about legal obligations, the measures we take to ensure compliance, and our views on how best to achieve regulatory objectives is the best way to build long-term and mutually respectful relationships.
LH: The iGaming industry is rapidly evolving. What trends do you think will have the most significant impact on the industry? How will LeoVegas prepare to adapt to these changes?
Carl Brincat: The most impactful "trend" is certainly the increasing number of markets establishing regulatory frameworks for the industry. This naturally creates opportunities, but also adds complexity and difficulty for multinational operators like us. We prepare and adapt by always keeping an eye on new developments so that we can provide feedback during consultations and have a correct understanding from the start, giving us more time to prepare for the legal requirements to come into effect.
LH: What is your assessment of the Latin American market, particularly Brazil, which is expected to become one of the largest regulated gaming markets in the world?
Carl Brincat: Latin America is an exciting region for the industry, with some countries having implemented varying degrees of regulation and others in the process. As the most populous country in the region, Brazil is certainly a great opportunity, and LeoVegas looks forward to being the platform provider for the BetMGM joint venture. It's commendable that these countries are regulating the industry, as it ensures their citizens can play in a safe environment and clearly distinguishes operators who adhere to strict rules and standards from those who do not. It's encouraging to see highly responsible legislators and regulators like those in Brazil, and we hope to continue this kind of open engagement in Brazil and elsewhere.
LH: How important is collaboration with industry trade bodies now that you've joined LeoVegas? How do you plan to develop these partnerships to foster the company's growth and regulatory compliance?
Carl Brincat: I believe industry organizations are essential for two main reasons: expertise and the power of unity. Each market has its own characteristics, so having industry organizations focused on specific markets and equipped with experts in the field can bring a lot of added value, as we need to keep pace with developments in many countries. Additionally, as operators, we compete against each other for customers, but we also have many common interests. Coming together to discuss issues of mutual concern and presenting a united front on important issues helps us communicate more effectively and clearly, and industry organizations are invaluable in this regard.
LH: LeoVegas places a strong emphasis on providing gaming in a safe and enjoyable way. How do you plan to enhance and promote the company's ethical gaming practices?
Carl Brincat: This ethos is an integral part of everything LeoVegas does. Our services are designed from the outset to be the pinnacle of entertainment, and ensuring our customers enjoy our services means they must do so safely and responsibly. There's always more to do, but my intent is first to help ensure we communicate to regulators and legislators what we are already doing well, and then of course to keep improving, both to meet upcoming regulatory requirements in multiple markets and to exceed our commitment to providing a premier safe entertainment space.
LH: Looking back on your career so far, what are the most valuable lessons you've learned that you can share with other compliance professionals in the gaming industry?
Carl Brincat: The most important lessons I've learned are (in no particular order): everyone fails, what's important is that you learn from it and get back up; no one is an island, so trusting colleagues and pulling in the same direction will get you further than going it alone; most decisions are reversible, so making a decision quickly when you have all the reasonably available information is often more important than continuing to wait (Jeff Bezos's famous two-way door decision rule).
Finally, a few quick questions!
LH: What's your favorite travel destination? Why?
Carl Brincat: Italy, for everything but the food and culture (Japan is also loved by people for the same reasons, but of course, Japan is not as accessible).
LH: What do you usually do on a Saturday morning?
Carl Brincat: Sleep in a bit, exercise, do chores, visit my parents, then go out.
LH: Do you have any guilty pleasures?
Carl Brincat: Pizza on the couch and football.
LH: Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies?
Carl Brincat: I'm an anime fan (which is not a secret to those who know me).
LH: What do you prefer? TV shows or movies, documentaries or books?
Carl Brincat: If I have the time, I'd choose all books, but if I must choose, I'd go with books.
Lea Hogg interviewed Carl Brincat, former CEO of the Malta Gaming Authority and current Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs at LeoVegas. Brincat is a professional lawyer who served as the Chief Legal and Enforcement Officer at MGA. After three years of criminal law training, he joined MGA's legal team, where he worked for over six years, contributing to the authority's strategic direction and its senior regulatory board during the last four years. Brincat is also a board member of the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit and a member of the Malta Chamber of Advocates, the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL), and the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). He frequently speaks at local and international conferences on gaming and regulatory issues.
