Latest news with #Malta-based
NZ Herald
26-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Lotto NZ powerless to stop a Malta-based gambling operation from running a direct copy of Powerball
TheLotter website says 'The distance between Russia and New Zealand is roughly 10,000 kilometres. So how did one of TheLotter's veteran players from Russia win a fantastic prize of NZ$226,101 when he played New Zealand Powerball? By playing it globally, of course!" Lotto NZ is aware of the development, saying TheLotter is one of many corporate syndicates that either 'resell physical tickets bought locally in countries, or offer their own variations of national lotteries, or some combination'. NZPowerLuck offers identical game play, draw results and prizes as Lotto Powerball's Wednesday and Saturday night draws. The online gambling industry accounts for 16% of Malta's GDP and employs more than 24,000 of the country's 552,747 population. TheLotter is geoblocked, meaning those using a New Zealand IP address can't access its games. Malta-based TheLotter offers punters a direct copy of Lotto Powerball - named NZPowerLuck. Photo / File A spokesman for TheLotter said its NZPowerLuck game received consistent interest from its customers 'particularly during large jackpot periods'. TheLotter offers tickets for more than 45 official lotteries from around the world, and its own derivatives of national or regional lotteries. Lotto NZ head of corporate communications Will Hine said Lotto NZ was 'aware' of TheLotter, and Kiwi Lotto bosses have previously raised the issue of the syndicates with the Department of Internal Affairs. The global online gambling market – including online casino, lottery and sports and racing markets - is estimated to be worth $97 billion, with a study by market research company FNF Research predicting it will grow to $306b by 2030. The Herald reported yesterday how Lotto NZ had blocked a global gambling group from buying tickets for big-dollar Lotto Powerball draws. Lotto NZ terms and conditions forbid ticket sales to people outside New Zealand, and tickets on-sold internationally become ineligible for prizes. But that hasn't stopped a 'commercial syndicate' trying to evade the rules and buy Powerball tickets anyway. Hine said overseas sites 'on-sell lottery tickets from a range of jurisdictions' and offer copycat versions of national lotteries - or both. Neil Reid is a Napier-based senior reporter who covers general news, features and sport. He joined the Herald in 2014 and has 33 years of newsroom experience. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Gulf Business
25-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
HR Hotel signs with Hard Rock to launch new hotel and residences in RAK
Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes HR Hotel, a joint venture between Malta-based db Group and RAK Hospitality Holding (RAKHH), has signed a suite of agreements with Hard Rock International to develop Hard Rock Hotel & Residences Ras Al Khaimah, a branded mixed-use property slated to open in 2028. Located on the Arabian Gulf adjacent to Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah's Beach District, the project will include approximately 300 hotel rooms and 395 branded residences. The project expected to be complete in 2028 will create around 500 permanent jobs. Amenities will feature multiple dining outlets, a rooftop bar, beach club, spa, fitness centre, event venue and conference facilities. ' Image: Supplied RAK is emerging as a high growth destination Ras Al Khaimah has positioned itself as a high-growth destination by combining investment infrastructure with sustainable tourism. Attractions include Jebel Jais, the UAE's highest peak, and the world's longest zipline. 'This partnership brings together db Group's development track record, Hard Rock's global brand, and our insight into Ras Al Khaimah's market dynamics,' said Alison Grinnell, CEO of RAKHH. The project marks db Group's first major venture outside Malta. 'With nearly four decades in hospitality, we aim to deliver a destination that embodies Hard Rock's energy,' said Silvio Debono, chairman of db Group. RAKHH is also involved in the upcoming Wynn Al Marjan Island integrated resort. Hard Rock operates more than 300 venues across 80 countries. Read –
Cision Canada
22-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Essential Turbines Inc. Closes Acquisition of AeroMaritime Mediterranean, Launches Essential Turbines Malta as European MRO Hub
, July 22, 2025 /CNW/ -- Essential Turbines Inc. (ETI), a global provider of engine and component MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) services, today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of AeroMaritime Mediterranean Ltd. (AML), a Malta-based Rolls-Royce authorized MRO center (AMROC). With this milestone, the business will now operate as Essential Turbines Malta, joining ETI's network of operations in North America and extending its strategic footprint into the Euro-Mediterranean region. The site brings over 45 years of expertise, a team of 36 MRO professionals, and full AMROC capabilities, including a 1,000 shp test cell and propeller test stand. "This is a pivotal moment for Essential Turbines," said Gannon Gambeski, President of ETI. "The addition of Essential Turbines Malta strengthens our ability to serve customers globally and reflects our commitment to scalable, strategic growth. We're proud to welcome the team to ETI and to build on the strong foundation established under ITP Aero." The integration of Essential Turbines Malta supports ETI's long-term growth strategy, which focuses on expanding core market leadership in the RR250/300 platforms, advancing additional strategic engine programs with OEM partnerships, and adding MRO capabilities and regional presence through targeted acquisitions and partnerships. For ETI's customers, the acquisition means greater proximity and agility in service delivery across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Current service levels will be maintained, with integration focused on improving consistency, collaboration, and enhanced value across all ETI locations. The move reinforces ETI's people-first approach to growth. The Malta team brings deep technical experience and regional insight that will enrich ETI's operational culture and capability set. "We are investing in people, platforms, and global reach to scale our mission," said Elias Lebovits, Managing Partner of Swift Anchor Holdings, ETI's lead shareholder. "The acquisition of ETI Malta marks another important step in ETI's evolution as a high-performance MRO partner to the world's leading operators and OEMs." About Essential Turbines Essential Turbines, headquartered in Montreal, with locations in Vancouver and Mesa, Arizona, is a leading aerospace maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider with a focus on helicopter and fixed-wing turboshaft engines. ETI is a specialist in the Rolls Royce M250 and RR300 engines, as well as turbofan engines modules, components, and accessories. Essential Turbines is backed by Swift Anchor Holdings and Balance Point Capital. Essential Turbines is actively pursuing strategic investments and acquisitions. Visit
Edinburgh Reporter
21-07-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Betmaster Casino Enters the UK: Behind the Scenes of the License Process
Have you ever wondered what it takes to get an online casino launched in the UK? It's a significant undertaking, with many steps that involve large financial commitments along the way. With Betmaster Casino recently launching as one the newest online gambling operators to hit British shores, studying how it has gone about getting up and running is an informative look behind the scenes of the UK gambling sector for both players and operators. Most fans of online gambling only see the end product. The flashy games, the lists of jackpot winners and the smooth user experience of a well designed online casino. But the reality is, getting it to that point is a whole lot of work from dozens or even hundreds of people. Who Are Betmaster and What Do They Offer? Betmaster Sportsbook and Online Casino is a Malta-based gambling operator that is newly-licenced to offer services in the UK. They offer all the bells and whistles you could want from a modern casino. That includes: A user-friendly mobile site built from the ground up A large selection of popular games from globally recognised developers Fast and secure payments Innovative rewards and bonuses Plus, a UK gambling license means they are duty bound to provide certain features for you the players. Responsible gambling tools, age verification and certified fair and secure games and banking options are all clear and present at Betmaster from launch. Which is not to say offshore gambling operators – of which there are many – can't and don't offer those features. But with a license to operate in Scotland, England and Wales, you're guaranteed by law to find safeguards that ensure everything is above board. Interestingly, Betmaster is a cryptocurrency-friendly casino in international markets. But under UK law, that isn't allowed. So, the operator has dropped crypto payment options for UK customers. Operators and crypto fans are busy campaigning against strict crypto regulations however, so who knows how that might change in the future. The Gatekeeper: The UK Gambling Commission All of the above regulation is overseen by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, or UKGC. This Government body is widely recognised as one of the world's strongest gambling regulators, although operators have criticized them for being overly strict and increasing regulation in recent years. The list of documentation required for a UKGC license is lengthy, so any organization wishing to acquire one will no doubt have several people working on the process. The whole process takes about 16 weeks to complete. There are three types of gambling licenses in the UK: Remote – for online services not based in the country Non-remote – for operators offering gambling from physical locations in the UK, or providing services to them Ancillary – everything else including bingo, phone and email betting In the case of Betmaster, they would have applied and been granted a remote license suitable for online gambling operators. The list of requirements is long, and at each step of the way there are costs. Some of the requirements, such as enforced Know Your Customer (KYC) checks or enforced slot betting limits may not be popular with gamblers who want their winnings and deposits moved as quickly as possible. However, the UKGC is adamant these checks are required to prevent fraud, money laundering and underage gambling. Operators also have to pay a relatively hefty fee for a license, as well as a 21% yearly tax. The fees start at £5000 a year for operators under £500,000 in annual revenue and go up to £800,000 a year for companies with more than £1 billion in revenue. Betmaster and the Booming UK Market Despite the significant financial and time cost, Betmaster clearly considers the juice to be worth the squeeze when it comes to the UK market. In 2024, Britains spent some £3.6 billion on online gambling – more than most other European nations. That number was also up some £250 million compared to 2023, showing it is a growing market that has not yet saturated. Multibillion dollar gambling operator FanDuel was actually founded in Edinburgh in 2009, although they no longer operate in the UK. Meanwhile the market from all gambling sources combined was worth £16 billion in 2024, resulting in some £3 billion in taxes for His Majesty's Revenue and Customs. Licensing is Good for Businesses and Players So, there is clearly a demand for new online casinos like Betmaster in the UK. The UKGC license, although strict, is a gold standard and will also look good for Betmaster when attracting customers to its separate international online casino business. Although it limits player deposits, blocks crypto transactions and requires stringent ID checks – the UK market is just too big to miss out on for online casinos based in Europe. Which is all good for players in the long run. More competition also means casinos bringing out bigger and better bonuses, promotions and rewards to stand out in a crowded market. All from fully regulated, safe and certified fair operators providing a service Brits clearly want. Like this: Like Related
Irish Examiner
22-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Company outlines how reduction of paramedics in air ambulance service poses safety risks
The company which provides a life-saving air ambulance service for the State raised serious concerns about flight safety risks after the HSE's National Ambulance Service (NAS) introduced changes to the medical crewing model on the aircraft. The crew changes included rostering just one paramedic to work some of the shifts on the aircraft, which operates from a base near Millstreet, in Cork, to covering the south west and beyond. In an explosive email, a senior official in Gulf Med Aviation Services (GMAS), which provides the aircraft and pilots for the service under contract to the NAS, said since the changes: he had seen a marked deterioration in how the medical staff on board the helicopter perform their aviation tasks while tasked to work shifts on the helicopter; he had seen "workflow and cognitive errors" in the aviation-focused tasks the medical crew need to perform safely as part of the helicopter crew; and how the 'low levels of motivation, concentration, and attention to the task' that appear to have resulted from the recent medical crew changes is 'evident and impactful'. Malta-based GMAS went so far as to formally ask NAS officials for 'an intervention at the earliest opportunity' to address the issues, which were flagged in February. The HSE has insisted, however, that the helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) is safe and working effectively, that the crewing model is safe for both patients and crew, and that there are no outstanding matters of concern in relation to the contract. The revelation comes just weeks after the Irish Examiner reported how the HEMS covering the south was at risk of being grounded in a row over NAS moves to cut the number of paramedics rostered to work on the aircraft from two to just one. Farm safety minister Michael Healy-Rae described any such move as 'reckless'. The crewing changes were being advanced despite internal reports warning HSE and NAS management that a solo paramedic crewing model poses a risk to patients, to the paramedics and pilots, and poses a flight safety risk. The Irish Examiner reported last March how one internal report warned that if the NAS couldn't provide two paramedics for each of the HEMS aircraft, then the service should be stood down on those days. The HEMS is currently operating several shifts with just one medical crew member on board. The National Ambulance Service provides two dedicated HEMS responses in Ireland - one based in Cork, operated by GMAS, and the other in Athlone operated by the Air Corps - with medical staff on both aircraft supplied by the NAS. File picture: Dan Linehan A senior manager also warned that a single patient safety incident such as a drug error, an in-flight patient emergency, or in the worst-case scenario, a crash, would bring the crewing issue 'sharply into focus'. Concerns were also expressed in March that the NAS was recruiting emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to replace the second paramedic on the aircraft. Qualifying as an EMT takes just five weeks. EMTs cannot perform any of the major 'interventional skills' required to help critically ill patients, including intubation – the placing of a tube in a patient's airway – and the intravenous administration of powerful painkillers, which are often required of patients who need an air ambulance. The NAS provides two dedicated HEMS responses in Ireland - one based in Cork, operated by GMAS, and the other in Athlone operated by the Air Corps - with medical staff on both aircraft supplied by the NAS. In 2022, GMAS won the competitive tender for the delivery of the Cork-based service, taking over from the previous charity provider in February 2023. It is understood the company won the tender again earlier this year. GMAS has an aviation safety management system (SMS) which underwrites the approval of its HEMS service here by its regulator, TM-CAD, the civil aviation directorate in Malta. The National Ambulance Service said it takes concerns raised around the safety of its services very seriously. File picture: Larry Cummins But earlier this year, concerns were emerging from within the service about changes the NAS was making to the medical crewing model on board the aircraft, which included reducing the number of paramedics rostered to work the aircraft from two to just one on certain shifts. In his letter to NAS officials in February, the GMAS official said the HEMS base in Cork had been operating for about two months with a limited medical team on the helicopter. 'It is important that as the operator of the service, we ensure our SMS processes are robust and commensurate with the acceptable risks that prevail during intensive HEMs operations,' he wrote. 'As we understand it, the advanced paramedics are generally spending seven shifts on the helicopter operation within a five-week period. The complex mix of other duties away from the HEMS operation further reduces their capacity to cope. 'As a result, Gulf Med is experiencing workflow and cognitive errors in the aviation centric tasks required of the paramedics that are critical for them to safely interface with the aviation side of the operation. In addition, the low levels of motivation, concentration, and attention to the task that appear to have resulted from the recent changes is evident and impactful.' The company said safety is the number one consideration for all aviation operations and the regulations demand that due attention is given to the management of changes. 'In this case, the HEMs Rathcoole unit has seen three new HEMs paramedics very recently trained and allocated to the helicopter,' the GMAS official said. 'These individuals were trained and certified in a multi-practitioner role (two medical crew on board) and had barely consolidated before being rostered in the single practitioner role on the helicopter. The risks involved in such a change are self-evident. 'For example, a paramedic returning from a significant period away from the unit is often required to mount a HEMS mission in the first few minutes of arriving at the base. This is not a safe practice.' It said like most safety critical activities, all that has to happen for a serious incident or an accident to occur, is for the good people involved to do nothing. The Gulf Med official said he felt they were at the point where something needs to be done to improve: the recent experience of all staff on board the helicopter to match the risks involved in the operation; the mental capacity of junior members of the team to cope with the HEMs role; and a reduction in the disruption and changes that are clearly affecting the motivation, concentration and attention to detail that is necessary to remain safe. GMAS did not respond to requests to comment. Any issues relating to a contract like this, and which are being raised for resolution, must be raised by the relevant company through a formal contract management framework which has been established through the relevant public procurement process. In a response to queries from the Irish Examiner, the NAS said it takes concerns raised around the safety of its services very seriously. 'Any concerns or issues raised in relation to the HEMS are escalated through our agreed contract management process and dealt with expeditiously,' it said in a statement. 'Currently the HSE and Gulf Med Aviation Services are satisfied that services are safe and working effectively. 'The crewing model for the HSE's HEMS is safe for patients and staff. Since its inception in June 2012, the HSE HEMS has operated a successful crewing model consisting of one specialist paramedic and one EMT. 'In September 2024, the HSE commenced a feasibility study to examine the need for physician-delivered HEMS in Ireland. The preliminary results of the trial have not supported any change to the HEMS crewing model, hence the trial period has been extended into 2025.' The HSE said both of its HEMS continue to operate normally, with further support, if required, provided through the Irish Coast Guard's search and rescue aviation service.
