Legal certainty and targeted AI incentives among business priorities for Budget 2027

Greater legal certainty for Malta's iGaming industry and more accessible funding for artificial intelligence (AI) adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are among the priorities raised by business leaders ahead of Budget 2027.

Speaking to MaltaCEOs.mt ahead of the Budget presentation on Monday 26th October, Andreas Ditsche, CEO of Berlin-based iGaming.com Group GmbH, and Jordan Bonello Gauci, Director of Business Development at KVLR Code, highlighted different challenges facing businesses, ranging from cross-border regulatory uncertainty to administrative barriers that can discourage investment in new technologies.

Legal certainty crucial for Malta's iGaming competitiveness

From an international perspective, Dr Ditsche believes Malta's ability to retain its position as a leading iGaming jurisdiction will depend on greater legal stability and regulatory cooperation across Europe.

"As a European stakeholder operating from Germany, my look ahead to the next Malta Budget is focused on long-term legal stability," he said.

He acknowledged Malta's longstanding role in the development of the iGaming industry but argued that maintaining its competitive position will require continued attention to the regulatory environment.

"Malta has historically been a pioneer in iGaming, but to maintain its premier status, the upcoming policy should actively foster cross-border regulatory harmony within the EU," he explained.

In particular, Dr Ditsche called for progress in addressing ongoing enforcement and jurisdictional discussions between European countries.

Differences in national regulatory approaches can create legal questions for businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions, making regulatory certainty an important consideration for international operators and their commercial partners.

"We hope the government uses this budget period to pave the way for settling ongoing enforcement and jurisdictional discussions across Europe," he said.

He added that providing greater clarity for operators, affiliates and international partners would strengthen confidence in Malta as a jurisdiction for iGaming businesses.

"Ensuring comprehensive legal certainty for operators, affiliates, and international partners alike will reinforce Malta's reputation as a reliable and future-proof hub."

Simpler access to digitalisation funding for SMEs

Meanwhile, KVLR Code's Jordan Bonello Gauci called for improvements to existing digitalisation funding schemes, arguing that administrative complexity and limited awareness are preventing some businesses from accessing available support.

According to Mr Bonello Gauci, digitalisation incentives introduced in the previous Budget attracted interest among businesses, but practical difficulties have affected their uptake.

"Last year's digitalisation funding drew real interest from the businesses we speak to, but paperwork, low awareness and unclear eligibility have held back take-up," he said.

He explained that these challenges prompted KVLR Code to develop an interactive funding guide on its website to help business owners understand the support available to them.

"Most owners don't have the time to work through the process," he remarked.

Looking ahead to Budget 2027, Mr Bonello Gauci would like to see a more straightforward application process, alongside financial incentives specifically designed to encourage AI adoption.

"We'd like to see a faster, simpler application route, and grants or tax credits aimed specifically at AI adoption for SMEs, not just general IT spend," he said.

His proposals reflect a distinction between broader investment in information technology and the adoption of AI tools that could help businesses improve their operations and productivity.

Targeting sectors with greater digitalisation potential

Mr Bonello Gauci also argued that Government support should take into account differences in technology adoption across economic sectors.

In particular, he identified construction, tourism and manufacturing as industries that could benefit from more targeted assistance.

"Support should also focus on sectors that are further behind, like construction, tourism and manufacturing," he said.

"That's where practical AI can do the most for productivity."

His comments suggest that, beyond making funding available, Budget measures should also consider which businesses face the greatest barriers to adopting new technologies and where such investment could deliver operational improvements.

Although their proposals address different sectors, both business leaders placed emphasis on creating conditions that would support investment and long-term competitiveness.