Malta started detailed examination of bitcoin in order to implement it in gambling. The country known as an online gambling pioneer laid a course for using digital currencies and blockchain technologies in this sphere.

Joseph Cuschieri, the executive chairman of the Malta Gaming Authority, monitors land-based as well as online casino in the country. He commented on his attitude towards virtual money in the interview to CoinDesk: “The Authority is cognizant that the rise of crypto-currencies is inevitable.” According to Cuschieri, Malta keeps up with modern technologies, confirming through its performances its title of the world’s gambling capital.

In the second half of 2017, Maltese authorities and public organizations will conduct the analysis of cryptocurrency opportunities and evaluation of corresponding risks. The commission’s decision about integration of bitcoin in gambling will be published at the end of 2017.

In April, the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced that Malta had to become a leading country regarding development of payment systems and digital currency. He was supported by Silvio Schembri, the parliamentary secretary for digital economy.

He said that it was necessary to use new payment systems and they had to come out of shadows and become safe and legal.

Being a leader in the industry, Malta sets trends. Therefore, in case of successful integration of cryptocurrency in gambling, lots of countries with the developed gambling industry can follow the example.