Employees of NetEnt AB in Malta are facing an uncertain future after the online casino games developer reportedly disclosed that it intends to institute ‘a few hundred’ job cuts following its recent acquisition by Evolution Gaming Group AB.
According to a Monday report from the Times of Malta newspaper, the Stockholm-listed firm was recently purchased by its larger compatriot as part of an around $2.12 billion all-share deal and is now consequently aiming to permanently shutter its live casino studio in the Maltese community of Qormi. The developer purportedly stated that the employees of this enterprise are now ‘at risk of redundancy’ and that it has already initiated the formal process to decide who it will be letting go.
Maltese excess:
NetEnt AB employs approximately 1,000 people across the globe and reportedly announced as little as three months ago that it would be expanding its live dealer studio in Malta via the addition of blackjack tables. However, the newspaper detailed that numerous industry experts predicted that the firm’s acquisition by Evolution Gaming Group AB would trigger job losses as its new parent is already responsible for nine such facilities including one in the nearby Valletta suburb of Birkirkara.
Alternative assistance:
The newspaper reported that the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority approved the merger of NetEnt AB with Evolution Gaming Group AB in September while the small nation’s Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses is currently said to be in discussions regarding possible replacement positions for anyone being impacted by the redundancies. Maltese officials have purportedly moreover set up a special helpline and are encouraging anyone who may be at risk of losing their job to immediately register with the country’s JobsPlus training and employment search service.
A statement from the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses reportedly read…
“Whilst noting the strong commitment by Evolution Gaming Group AB to its Malta operation, the government through the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses has immediately started discussions with the relevant entities to facilitate the smooth transition of employees who may be at risk of being laid off as a result of this restructuring. Further arrangements have also been done for JobsPlus to offer a purposely set-up job match-making support service to affected persons.”
