Gaming regulators in Malta plan to update the country’s gambling legislation, with a particular focus on protections for online gambling customers.

A representative from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) told the Agimeg news outfit that the existing gaming laws were currently under review and the plan was to submit proposals to parliament this autumn that would “innovate and extend” the MGA’s powers.

The MGA spokesman said the review has been underway since 2013 and denied that the desire for change was prompted by Italy’s recent crackdown on gaming businesses allegedly controlled by the ‘Ndrangheta crime organization, including Malta-licensed online operators Betuniq and Betsolution4U Ltd.

The MGA, which is cooperating with the Italian authorities’ investigation, suspended these and other licenses associated with Italian firms, some of whom have threatened to sue the MGA for millions of euros in damages if the investigations don’t lead to criminal convictions.

UK-based pools betting operator Sportech’s revenue fell in H1 2015 due to a dramatic tumble in its online operations.

On a constant currency basis, overall revenue fell 6.1% to £51m in the six months ending June 30, while earnings fell 10.6% to £11m and adjusted profit before tax fell 17% to £5.4m. Statutory profit rose nearly 900%, but this was due to the May sale of its share of the New Jersey-facing SNG Interactive joint venture to partner NYX Gaming Group.

The Racing and Digital division saw revenue slip £300k to £17.2m. The Tote services side reported revenue up £500k to £16m, while Digital revenue fell 40% to £1.2m and digital profit slipped two-thirds to just £200k following the loss of “two significant customers,” including the Colonial Downs track in Virginia, which ceased racing operations in April, as well as an unidentified “high value affiliate player.”

Revenue from the US-facing Venues division was flat at £17m despite a £1m decline at its 15 Winners race-betting venues in Connecticut, which the company blamed on the severe winter on the US northeast. But weather doesn’t exist online, and the Connecticut-facing MyWinners.com race-betting operation saw betting handle improve 59% to £4.1m.

A new gaming industry report suggests that stingier slot machine payouts are accelerating the decline of slots’ appeal among casino patrons.

The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) recently tasked Applied Analysis researchers to examine slot machine data in 16 US states in order to assess market trends. The report found a “clear and consistent trend” of falling slots spending, to which increased slots hold percentages may be contributing.

Slots handle in the 16 studied markets has declined at a compound annual growth rate of -2.8% since its 2007 peak. While much of this slide can be attributed to the global economic meltdown that began that year, the report notes that slots spending began to plateau prior to the Great Recession, “which was also the time in which slot hold percentages began to report their most significant rate of increase.”

The report goes on to say that consumer spending in the studied gaming markets has rebounded since the Great Recession while “gaming volumes have continued to contract.” Slots handle and slot win have fallen 18.1% and 13% respectively since 2007, while slot hold percentage has increased 6.2% over the same period and currently stands at a record high of 7.7%.