Watch: H.E. Ambassador John Busuttils Manila message on regulating iGaming growth
A confident start to SiGMA Asia in Manila saw H.E. John Busuttil, Maltas Ambassador to China, cut the ribbon on the three-day summit before being interviewed by SiGMA TV. Speaking in the Business to Government series on day one, the career diplomat set out why sound regulation in iGaming, esports, and digital assets is fast becoming an economic necessity across Asia.
Any industry needs rules. Governments must protect society from harm and, in return, business gains the certainty to invest, he told host Georgia Latsa. The Ambassadors remarks come as Asian markets accelerate the development of legal frameworks for gaming and fintech, with Thailand targeting an annual $ 60 billion in new 바카라 revenue and 60,000 jobs once the legislation is passed.
iGaming compliance: Maltas global playbook
H.E. Busuttil reminded delegates that Malta wrote the textbook on remote gaming regulation almost 20 years ago. Today, the sector contributes an estimated 10 to 15 per cent of Maltese GDP, underpinned by European Union and European Central Bank oversight.
Being first to regulate iGaming and then digital finance paid off for us, he noted. Our experience is now shared with a fast-developing region. More than 20,000 participants in Manila underlined that appetite. Maltese exhibitors were out in force, reflecting deep commercial links with the Philippines, where some 12,800 Filipino nationals now live and work on the island nation.
European iGaming standards
Growing middle-class demand is pushing governments in Manila, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur to formalise markets that once sat outside the law. The Philippines recorded a 24 per cent growth in gaming revenue in 2024, driven by a 165 per cent surge in domestic iGaming. Thailands draft Entertainment Complex Bill promises comparable uplift.
H.E. Busuttil argued that European-grade rules will be essential to ensure growth translates into safe entertainment, secure payments and dependable public revenues. If there is a bet, the sport must be clean. If there is crypto, ownership must be traceable. Regulation delivers that balance, he said.
Diplomatic bridges
Trade and talent
- Fresh from meetings at the Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Busuttil highlighted EU interest in a free-trade agreement that would expand two-way trade.
- Malta is also finalising an adoption accord, reflecting close cultural ties with the 100 million-strong nation.
Community impact
- Beyond the conference halls, the Ambassador attended the opening of the Batiawan Community Centre in Zambales, a SiGMA Foundation project bringing digital learning spaces to rural families.
Crypto buzz
While the summit floor buzzed with blockchain start-ups, H.E. Busuttil injected realism. He relayed a conversation with a Singapore investor who claimed that cryptos unregulated nature guarantees its future. The Ambassador countered that the absence of oversight invites criminal risk and national security concerns, adding that many remain unconvinced about long-term value without clear statutes.
Spotlight in print
of SiGMA Magazine features a comprehensive profile of H.E. Busuttils Asia brief, tracing his journey from Brussels to Beijing and now to Manila. The feature reinforces the message delivered on stage: Malta stands ready to share hard-won regulatory expertise with partners who see gaming and fintech as pillars of diversified growth.
Ambassador Busuttil left delegates with a clear takeaway as SiGMA Asia concluded; rapid market expansion must be matched by rigorous, transparent regulation if it is to translate into long-term, broadly shared prosperity. Stay up to date with the latest hot topics with industry leaders happening on our and get ready for our upcoming SiGMA Euro-Med summit happening in Malta, September 1-3.
