As Malta solidifies its role as a key global gaming hub, its work environment is evolving, with companies across the industry exploring and implementing diverse work models. This shift reflects global trends as gaming companies weigh the advantages and drawbacks of office-based, remote, and hybrid work structures. Each model presents unique benefits and challenges for Malta’s gaming sector, shaped by the island’s distinctive geographic, economic, and cultural landscape.

In 2024, remote work remains an attractive feature for recruitment, with around 60 percent of women and 52 percent of men indicating they would consider job changes if required to return full-time to the office. These preferences make flexible work models critical in talent retention for tech-savvy sectors like gaming, where remote work is more feasible due to the nature of the work.

A deeper understanding of sector-specific needs is essential. Office spaces designed for hybrid work, with flexible configurations and scalable options, may attract businesses looking to cut costs without sacrificing productivity. Meanwhile, Malta could also focus on luring foreign companies to establish hubs on the island, offering incentives that align with the global push towards remote and hybrid work.

The Central Bank of Malta (CBM) recently flagged this divergence as a “misalignment between pre-pandemic investment strategies and current market demands.”

Adjustments are inevitable for Malta’s office space market. Policymakers, developers, and business leaders must address the disconnect between pre-pandemic investment models and today’s market realities. Embracing flexible leases, adaptive space designs, and perhaps even repurposing office buildings for residential or mixed-use developments may be crucial in countering the oversupply issue.

Eman Pulis advocates office based model, a home away from home

To mark SiGMA’s 10th anniversary and reinforce his commitment to office-based collaboration, Eman Pulis is moving his team from the company’s long-standing offices in Msida to state-of-the-art global headquarters in Balzan. This new space reflects SiGMA’s growth and dedication to the gambling sector, creating a “home away from home” where employees feel both inspired and comfortable. The Balzan offices are designed to nurture the same camaraderie and unity that have driven SiGMA’s success, offering an environment that embodies the company’s values and propels it into an exciting second decade.

Ultimately, Pulis’ belief in office-based work is rooted in the understanding that when teams bond in person, they are not just employees but allies, forming a second family away from home. No matter which SiGMA office around the world they find themselves in, the integration between employees fosters a consistent, supportive environment. The company’s encouragement for employees to travel and work from different offices has created a unique bond, strengthening connections across teams globally. Pulis believes that this sense of unity not only enriches the workplace culture but also drives the collective ambition to exceed client expectations.

The benefits of office-based work are increasingly hard to ignore in iGaming, a sector where speed and competition is fierce. Industry leaders argue that the physical workplace plays a pivotal role in sparking innovation. According to Roger Strickland Jr., iGaming Director at CSB Group, the in-office experience offers unique advantages that enhance both productivity and job satisfaction. “Working from the office in an iGaming company offers unique advantages that are especially valuable in this dynamic, fast-paced industry,” Strickland notes. “Collaborative innovation is a core part of iGaming, where real-time brainstorming, rapid feedback loops, and spontaneous discussions spark fresh ideas and creative solutions.”

The collaborative environment of the office proves especially valuable for iGaming, where different departments—from development and design to marketing—must seamlessly coordinate to bring complex projects to life. “An office environment allows teams to work more seamlessly across development, design, and marketing,” Strickland continues, “building on each other’s expertise and driving projects forward with agility.” Here, the immediacy of collaboration fosters a momentum often hard to replicate over digital channels. Game design, customer experience improvements, and product launches benefit from the rapid and dynamic exchanges only face-to-face interactions can facilitate.

In addition to driving performance, the office plays a key role in building a cohesive team culture—an essential ingredient in an industry where creativity and enthusiasm run high. “The gaming industry thrives on passion, and office settings foster camaraderie through shared enthusiasm, from celebrating wins to navigating challenges together,” says Strickland. This shared experience, he explains, builds trust and engagement, forging a stronger, more resilient company culture that helps attract and retain talent in a competitive market.

Office work also offers practical benefits that are crucial in the technical world of iGaming. Specialised resources such as high-end testing equipment, dedicated gaming software, and optimised workstations streamline complex, resource-heavy projects. This access to professional-grade tools allows employees to work at their full potential and maintain a clear boundary between their work and personal lives. Moreover, Strickland explains, “with direct access to leadership, staff can receive immediate feedback, guidance, and mentorship, which is valuable for professional growth and for staying aligned with the company’s goals.”

While remote work remains a flexible alternative, the office emerges as an environment where collaboration, morale, and efficiency thrive—key drivers of success in an industry as dynamic as iGaming. In Strickland’s view, “the collaborative, resource-rich, and engaging environment of the office can amplify productivity and job satisfaction,” making it an invaluable asset for companies aiming to stay ahead.

Malta as a gaming hub and its work environment

Malta’s rise as a gaming industry powerhouse is anchored by a robust regulatory framework, favourable tax incentives, and a skilled talent pool. The Maltese government’s support of the gaming sector, along with the ’s regulatory prowess, has attracted global operators and service providers. Over time, the number of employees in Malta’s gaming sector has risen significantly, with many companies establishing operations and regional headquarters on the island. As gaming companies adapt to new work trends, Malta is witnessing a mix of remote, hybrid, and traditional office setups that reflect broader changes in the industry.

Gaming companies are increasingly exploring employee support systems that boost productivity and well-being in remote environments. Remote setups can lead to higher engagement—up to 81 percent for hybrid employees, versus 78 percent for fully remote—while helping mitigate burnout and stress by enhancing work-life balance​.

Professor Gianpiero Petriglieri of an authority on leadership and workplace dynamics, offers an thought-provoking perspective on the realities of remote work. While acknowledging the flexibility and convenience of working from home, Petriglieri also sheds light on its profound challenges. “Although people like working from home, it also has its downsides,” he notes, pointing to the mental strain and physical toll that remote work can impose. Though virtual meetings allow us to connect across distances, Petriglieri argues that they’re far from the futuristic ideal of “virtual reality” many might imagine. “What we’re doing is not virtual if you think about it,” he explains. “I am real, you are real when we speak remotely. We are remote, we’re distant, and we’ve been learning how to use these tools for working mostly, for quite a while.”

The experience of working from home, Petriglieri points out, has evolved drastically in recent years. While remote work used to signify expanded reach, allowing employees to collaborate from anywhere, it has shifted to feel more restrictive as it has become the norm. This, he suggests, introduces unique stressors. “Our experience of virtual life… can become a lot more stressful,” Petriglieri says, as continuous screen time blurs boundaries between personal and professional life. With every meeting appearing on the same screen, employees often feel an unbroken chain of work obligations, stripped of the natural transitions that a physical office provides. “You have work meetings all on the same screen with very little time between,” he adds, noting that the lack of change in environment amplifies feelings of isolation and contributes to a unique form of fatigue that’s both mental and physical.

Remote work also intensifies health concerns, from stiffness and decreased physical activity to mental fatigue, as employees spend extended hours seated in front of screens. Beyond physical discomfort, the psychological impact of remote work’s unstructured nature can be isolating. With colleagues now confined to screens, the absence of spontaneous social interactions can lead to a sense of detachment from the workplace community, sometimes resulting in feelings of loneliness and even grief.

In the end, while remote work offers a level of convenience previously unheard of, Petriglieri questions if this accessibility is always beneficial. The allure of flexible work arrangements is evident, but the unyielding, screen-dominated environment that accompanies it raises crucial questions about the true cost of this convenience on our well-being.

Office-based work in Malta’s gaming sector, advantages of a physical office

Maintaining a physical office offers several benefits for gaming companies in Malta, particularly in terms of networking, collaboration, and fostering a strong company culture. For businesses requiring close-knit teams and real-time communication, office-based work provides a centralised environment conducive to collaboration. Additionally, the opportunity for face-to-face interactions strengthens employee relationships and helps build a cohesive organisational culture, which is especially valuable in a creative, fast-paced industry like gaming.

Malta’s dense urban landscape allows easy access to office locations, facilitating in-person meetings and industry events. Being in a physical office in Malta also enables companies to participate in the island’s active gaming community and networking, giving the opportunity to interact with peers, share insights, and stay current with industry trends.

Capturing the essence of growth and innovation in an office-based setup

However, office-based work is not without its challenges, particularly in Malta where demand for commercial space is high. Rising rents and limited office availability drive costs up for gaming companies, forcing some to consider rep offices or coworking spaces to manage expenses. Commuting can also be a drawback; although Malta is small, traffic congestion can lead to significant delays, impacting employee productivity and satisfaction.

Despite these challenges, some gaming companies have successfully maintained a primarily office-based work model. These firms often cite the need for secure environments, quick team coordination, and seamless IT support as reasons for retaining office space. For example, several iGaming operators headquartered in Malta, such as Betsson Group, continue to promote the hybrid model.

Boom-bust cycle of office demand

Before the pandemic, Malta’s commercial real estate was in the throes of a construction boom. Developers, responding to a wave of foreign direct investment and a robust economy, sought and received approvals for large-scale office developments, banking on continued economic expansion. These projects were poised to cater to sectors such as finance, gaming, and professional services, each with a heavy demand for office space.

But then COVID-19 struck, forcing companies to pivot. Working from home (WFM) surged as companies across sectors—from audit firms to gaming entities—experimented with remote and hybrid work setups. Remote work peaked at 14.8 percent in 2020 and 2021, a stark rise from the 6.1 percent recorded in 2019. Even as pandemic restrictions lifted, remote work remained resilient; in 2023, with 11.5 percent of employees were still working from home, nearly double the pre-pandemic rate. These numbers signal a long-term shift, challenging pre-pandemic assumptions about workplace needs.

Popularity and challenges of remote work

The pandemic accelerated the shift towards remote work, and many gaming companies have since discovered the advantages of this model. Remote work allows firms to recruit from a global talent pool, reducing dependency on local resources and addressing talent shortages. Additionally, it offers cost-saving benefits, as companies can cut back on office-related expenses such as rent, utilities, and office supplies. For employees, remote work means greater flexibility, a better work-life balance, and reduced commute times.

Remote work comes with its own set of challenges, especially for companies with collaborative and real-time operational needs. Building and maintaining a strong work culture can be difficult without regular in-person interaction, and some employees may feel isolated or disconnected from the company. Effective team communication can also be challenging, particularly for firms working across multiple time zones. Gaming companies have addressed these issues by investing in communication platforms like Slack, Teams, and project management tools to streamline workflows and maintain team cohesion.

Advantages of the hybrid model

Many gaming companies in Malta are adopting hybrid work models to balance flexibility with in-person collaboration. Hybrid work enables employees to work remotely part of the time while still coming into the office for key meetings, team-building exercises, and collaborative tasks. This model has gained traction as it accommodates both employee preferences for flexibility and company needs for team cohesion and productivity. The hybrid setup also allows firms to optimise office space by designing hot-desking arrangements and reducing square footage requirements, which is particularly valuable given Malta’s high office rental rates.

The hybrid work model has emerged as a tailored fit for the fast-paced iGaming industry, blending the best elements of in-office engagement with the flexibility of remote work. For Milena Woźniak, a Fraud and Payment Analyst, this approach offers an ideal balance. “Hybrid work in iGaming is the best of both worlds for me,” she explains. “The mix of office energy and remote flexibility keeps me productive, connected, and balanced—it’s the perfect fit for such a dynamic industry.” In an environment that demands both collaboration and individual focus, hybrid work allows employees like Woźniak to benefit from the vibrancy and immediacy of the office while also enjoying the freedom of working from home.

For leaders in the iGaming sector, this model has proven not only practical but essential. Glenn Debattista, COO at Betstarters, highlights its value in fostering productivity and supporting team morale. “At our company, we recognise the importance of flexibility in supporting productivity and job satisfaction,” he says. “Given our business model, a hybrid solution here in Malta has proven to be the most effective approach, balancing collaborative in-office work with the benefits of remote flexibility.” This balance, he notes, allows companies to adapt to the unique demands of the industry while still meeting the evolving expectations of their workforce.

The adaptability of the hybrid model, particularly in Malta’s vibrant iGaming sector, means that companies can provide a supportive and flexible environment for their employees. This flexibility, in turn, translates to enhanced job satisfaction and retention. By offering a blend of settings, hybrid work taps into the industry’s need for real-time collaboration while allowing team members the autonomy to manage their tasks in a way that best suits them. As Debattista emphasises, “This model aligns with the dynamic needs of our team while ensuring our operations remain highly efficient and adaptive to industry demands.”

Ultimately, hybrid work has become more than a compromise between office and home; it has redefined the way iGaming companies leverage talent, foster innovation, and respond to the fast-shifting landscape of the industry.

Across Europe, companies are seizing the benefits of hybrid work, downsizing to cost-efficient offices or opting for coworking spaces to enhance flexibility and cut costs. Malta’s office market is capitalizing on this trend, offering significant savings. Our own relocation exemplifies this—doubling our space at a fraction of the previous cost—showing how optimised real estate strategies let businesses focus investments on employee experience, tech, and hybrid infrastructure, not high overheads.

Several Maltese gaming companies have implemented hybrid models to varying degrees. For example, Kindred Group and Evolution Gaming offer hybrid arrangements where employees split their time between home and the office. This approach allows these companies to remain competitive in attracting talent, particularly as candidates increasingly seek roles with flexibility. Hybrid models also relieve the logistical and financial constraints of a fully office-based setup.

Looking ahead

As Malta’s gaming industry evolves, the work environment will likely continue to diversify, with companies adopting models that align with business needs and reverting to the more traditional office based set up that will create a more resilient and adaptable workforce and adjust to a post–pandemic era.

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