Last November, the iGaming industry’s brightest and finest gathered for an evening of celebration and acknowledgement at SiGMA’s eagerly anticipated Europe Gaming Awards ceremony. Following a rigorous voting process overseen by expert judges and members of the public, Malta-based IGA Group was delighted to clinch the title of iGaming Consultant of the Year. This marks a significant milestone in IGA’s story thus far and puts a cap on a hugely successful first five years in the industry.

“It was a huge honour to win iGaming Consultant of the Year at SiGMA’s Europe Gaming Awards. I truly believe the award is testament to the quality of the services we offer at IGA Group and the expertise and hard work of our entire team. It’s rewarding to know that industry experts together with the voting public have recognised our efforts to create a more transparent, secure, and accessible industry for iGaming operators, both new and established,” comments IGA Group founder Mario Fiorini.

IGA Group was originally founded as IGA (iGamingAdvisors) in 2017. From the very start, the firm was set up to offer iGaming consultancy services with a difference. Hailing from an engineering background himself, Mario enjoyed a 16-year career working on the technical side of the industry before he was inspired to move into the advisory services space. His years as a C-level leader overseeing IT systems, data centres, and other daily operational requirements across various iGaming businesses, gave Mario first-hand knowledge of the challenges and obstacles that iGaming companies face to bring their business in line with regulatory changes that come into force every year.

Working on the operational side of the industry also demonstrated that while most traditional iGaming consultants were experts with legalities and regulatory compliance, they had little to no knowledge of the nuts-and-bolts of running a successful iGaming brand—the technical and IT infrastructure required, the sales operations aspects, and the many consumer-facing components that build a reputable business.

“The iGaming industry can feel overwhelmingly complicated, especially to new brands with small teams and tight budgets. It’s unreasonable to expect a company just starting out to be on top of every aspect of this global industry from the get-go. But one wrong move can cost a start-up dearly and potentially put a stop to their business. That’s where we come in. We offer practical advice and provide robust solutions to steer operators in the right direction.”

The IGA formula proved to be a great success. Mario and his team quickly garnered an extensive list of clients who they helped with obtaining internationally recognised gambling licences, setting up their IT infrastructural needs, website operations, and more. This led the agency to expand rapidly, and by 2018, just one year after setting up shop, IGA moved into bigger premises in Sliema to accommodate its growing team of industry experts with a wealth of experience in niche specialisms.

Despite the rise of the pandemic in 2020, which threatened to upend many businesses, IGA continued on a steady path of growth. The changing landscape inspired the team to explore Remote Gaming solutions, offering iGaming brands tailored advice on how to implement best practice work-from-home systems and strategies that keep teams connected, drive productivity, and enable businesses to flourish within this entirely new business landscape.

Later that year, IGA also expanded its team of experts to incorporate IGAML, the AML-focussed arm of the consultancy firm. This newly launched service came amid greater global scrutiny on iGaming operators to tighten up their Know Your Customer (KYC) and due diligence checks to mitigate risks of their websites and products becoming vehicles for money laundering. 2021 brought further developments to the firm with the launch of IGA Corp Services, which specialises in booking services, tax advice, and other ancillary services.

With the business growing on multiple fronts a decision was taken to consolidate the firm’s various business ventures and services under the IGA Group brand. Another office move to Birkirkara reflected the immense growth of the IGA team in just five years. Today, IGA Group covers a whole spectrum of operator activities, including legal, finance, operations, online gaming regulation, compliance, AML, technical, licensing, corporate, SEO, support, company formation, mergers and acquisitions, and more. This is a truly full spectrum consultancy service that caters to all iGaming requirements and needs.

“I like to compare IGA to an iGaming operator’s Swiss Army Knife. Whatever the situation, whatever the challenge, we have the tools and resources to help them out. Our mission is to remain up to date with all the latest changes and developments within the industry on the operator’s behalf. Our expert advice and support is designed to set them on the path to success with ease,” he adds.

While the SiGMA award marks a pivotal moment in IGA Group’s journey, Mario is keen to point out that the company’s evolution is far from over. Going forward, IGA Group is set to further expand its services and help better establish Malta as a global iGaming hub to be reckoned with as more and more regulatory markets enter the scene.

Contact IGA Group today for all your iGaming requirements. We can set up an initial consultation to understand your challenges and explore the best solutions for your business.