Maltese MEP David Casa, a member of the Nationalist Party and aligned with the EPP group, has recently called upon gambling operators to prioritize employee investment over replacing staff with artificial intelligence. Speaking at the SiGMA World conference in Rome on Wednesday, he expressed concern about reports of job losses in the gaming sector due to automation, urging operators to heed these developments.
As the longest-serving Maltese member of the European Parliament, Casa acknowledged the advantages AI offers, including time savings, fraud detection, and enhancing employee efficiency. However, he emphasized the importance of considering the potential human cost associated with automation.
"Behind each job, there is a person, a family, a rent payment and a plan for the future," Casa remarked. He implored gaming operators to evaluate how professional roles might evolve rather than simply eliminating them and to provide training opportunities for their skilled workforce. Casa highlighted the irreplaceable judgment and insight experienced employees bring to their roles. "A tool may help you work faster, but an experienced team knows when something has gone wrong, when a player needs help, and when a decision requires a human choice and a human voice," he stated.
Drawing upon his experience focusing on employment and EU funding, Casa insisted that training should be integral to company strategies from the outset, with resources set aside for this purpose. "The gain from AI should reach the people whose work makes it possible," he remarked.
Casa’s comments come as the gambling industry faces significant job cuts. Last month, Flutter announced plans to eliminate up to 1,400 positions across its UK and Ireland division, which affects locations in Leeds, Dublin, and offshore hubs in Porto and Cluj-Napoca. The company attributed these layoffs to a significant increase in remote gambling taxes in the UK.
Some industry experts suggest there are additional factors contributing to this trend. Ollie Woodward, a corporate finance director at BDO, indicated that integrating AI to automate roles could be affecting company reorganization decisions, alongside the pressure from tax increases. Woodward noted that operators are increasingly using AI in areas such as coding, customer support, and CRM, remarking, "This is having a direct impact on the shapes of those teams."
The Stockholm-based platform provider Cubeia is one example of a company ramping up its AI usage. They announced plans to implement AI-generated code for all new features and releases by August. Chief Operating Officer Stefan Grenstad described the initiative as essential for remaining competitive but stopped short of characterizing it as a straightforward headcount reduction strategy.
Other companies, however, have been direct about their AI strategies. In May, Gambling.com Group reported a workforce reduction of 25% as part of an AI-driven restructuring plan designed to save $13 million annually, impacting around 150 employees. Incoming CEO Kevin McCrystle highlighted that 80% of the company’s new code is now generated by AI, informing investors about their strategic shift. "We continue to integrate AI into our workflows and are moving quickly to adopt AI as the foundational layer of how the entire organisation operates," he stated.
In the United States, former employees at FanDuel cited AI adoption alongside economic uncertainty as factors behind recent job cuts.
The issue of job losses is also present in Malta, where a former iGaming designer revealed to the Times of Malta that they lost their position after contributing to training an AI system that management believed could replace a significant portion of their team. However, this claim remains unverified. GamingMalta has disputed reports of widespread layoffs attributed to AI, asserting that talent is being redirected within the industry.
The overall impact of AI on employment remains ambiguous. A December 2025 survey by Resume.org of 1,000 US hiring managers found that 59% indicated they highlight AI as a reason for layoffs or hiring freezes, as it resonates better with stakeholders compared to financial constraints, while only 9% acknowledged AI fully replacing roles.
Beyond the implications of AI, Casa advocated for greater uniformity across Europe’s fragmented gambling markets. He described the single market as one of Europe’s strengths but noted that it often resembles a maze for cross-border businesses. "In gaming too, Europe should seek more common ground," he said, proposing stronger shared regulations to enhance player protection.
Casa underscored the importance of trust in the legal market, stating that a license must be credible and transparent so players understand the handling of their funds and have fair avenues for complaints or assistance. He argued that legitimate operators should not have to shoulder compliance costs while illegal sites operate with minimal consequences.
Additionally, Casa reiterated his opposition to a proposed EU gambling tax, emphasizing its potential to deter investment, jeopardize jobs, and inadvertently make illegal gambling sites more appealing. He pointed out that such a tax would serve no positive purpose for the industry.
Although Casa did not comment on Article 56A of Malta’s Gaming Act, currently under infringement proceedings by the European Commission, his remarks reflect broader concerns regarding the future dynamics of the gambling sector in Europe.
