Why More Operators Are Leaving PaymentIQ in 2025
Aug 11, 2025
Fluid
PaymentIQ is losing operators in Malta's iGaming sector due to rising costs, compliance issues, and poor user experience in 2025.
PaymentIQ is losing ground in Malta's iGaming sector in 2025. Here's why:
Rising Costs & Legal Risks: New anti-money laundering rules, ESG reporting, and legal challenges are increasing costs by 15–20%. PaymentIQ struggles to keep up with these demands.
Scalability Issues: Operators handle €4.2 trillion in wagers annually, but PaymentIQ can't manage high transaction volumes, leading to failed payments and lost revenue.
Compliance Problems: PaymentIQ's rigid system makes it hard to meet Malta's evolving regulations, including KYC and AML requirements, exposing operators to fines and penalties.
Poor User Experience: Slow processing, complex checkouts, and limited mobile optimisation are driving players away. Nearly 20% of transactions fail due to these issues.
Weak Fraud Prevention: With online gaming fraud up 64% in two years, PaymentIQ's outdated tools leave operators vulnerable to financial losses.
Operators are moving to modern platforms like Fluid, which offer:
AI-driven payment flows for personalisation.
Real-time fraud detection with better accuracy.
Faster integration and mobile-first design.
Bottom line: PaymentIQ's outdated system isn't meeting the demands of Malta's fast-changing iGaming market. Operators are switching to platforms that prioritise compliance, speed, and player satisfaction.
Why Operators Struggle with PaymentIQ in 2025
Malta's iGaming sector is facing a wave of challenges, and PaymentIQ's shortcomings are becoming increasingly apparent. As the industry evolves to meet growing player demands and the need for more adaptable systems, PaymentIQ's limitations are forcing operators to reassess their payment infrastructures. These issues are creating significant operational roadblocks.
Growth Challenges and Rising Costs
In today's fast-paced iGaming market, PaymentIQ is struggling to keep up. The platform has difficulty managing the massive transaction volumes typical of the industry, where players wager approximately €4.2 trillion annually, and operators handle about €3.8 trillion in payouts. This inability to scale effectively leads to more failed transactions, directly impacting revenue streams.
Expanding into international markets requires a diverse range of payment options to cater to local preferences. PaymentIQ, however, lacks the flexibility needed to support these variations, limiting operators' ability to enter new regions or adjust to local demands. This rigidity stifles growth and makes it harder for operators to compete globally.
Compliance and Regulatory Hurdles
Malta's constantly changing regulatory environment poses another significant challenge. PaymentIQ's rigid architecture makes it difficult to adapt swiftly to new legal requirements. In an industry where regulations on taxation, advertising, and player protection vary widely, this lack of flexibility becomes a major liability.
The Malta Gaming Authority's focus on evidence-based compliance adds further pressure. Operators need advanced tools for fraud prevention and player protection, but PaymentIQ often falls short in these areas. To compensate, operators are forced to invest in additional compliance tools and manual processes, increasing operational costs.
KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) requirements add another layer of complexity. PaymentIQ's slow verification processes not only delay player onboarding but also lead to higher abandonment rates. Falling short of these standards can result in severe penalties, including fines, licence suspension, or even platform shutdowns. On top of this, PaymentIQ struggles with cross-border transactions, where each jurisdiction introduces unique compliance demands. Its inflexible framework makes it difficult to implement the localised solutions necessary for smooth regulatory adherence.
"The key to identifying the right markets goes beyond upfront costs or immediate profitability. True capital lies in market knowledge, operational flexibility, and the ability to build meaningful partnerships. These are the assets that lead to sustainable growth and the most promising opportunities." - Max Trafimovich, CCO at SOFTSWISS
Technical limitations only worsen these compliance struggles, undermining both efficiency and user satisfaction.
Integration Issues and Poor User Experience
Technical integration with PaymentIQ often drains resources, pulling focus away from core business operations. This inefficiency directly impacts the user experience, which is already hampered by design flaws.
Statistics show that 38% of users abandon a transaction if it takes longer than 2 minutes. Additionally, nearly 20% of online transactions are abandoned due to lengthy or overly complex checkout processes. PaymentIQ's slow processing speeds, cumbersome workflows, and frequent redirects during payment processing contribute to these high abandonment rates, while also raising concerns about payment security. When players encounter unfamiliar third-party payment pages, trust erodes, and conversion rates drop.
The platform's limited analytics capabilities further compound the problem. Without access to real-time data on transaction success rates, drop-off points, or preferred payment methods, operators struggle to optimise their payment processes. This lack of insight makes it harder to deliver the personalised experiences that players now expect.
Fraud prevention is another weak point. With online gaming fraud increasing by an average of 64% annually over the past two years, PaymentIQ's monitoring tools are insufficient to combat sophisticated fraud patterns. This leaves operators exposed to financial losses and regulatory penalties.
Finally, the platform's failure to prioritise mobile optimisation is a major drawback. As mobile gambling continues to grow, PaymentIQ's desktop-focused design fails to meet the demand for seamless mobile payment experiences. These integration and usability issues are driving operators to explore alternative solutions that better align with the needs of modern iGaming.
iGaming Payment Trends for 2025
The iGaming industry is evolving at lightning speed, and payment processing is right at the heart of this transformation. In Malta, operators are adapting to a shifting landscape that demands smarter, more adaptable payment solutions. With Europe's online gambling market reaching €13.5 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2024 - a 15% jump from the previous year - it's clear that the pressure is on to meet new market demands. Three major trends are leading this charge: AI-driven personalisation, real-time fraud detection, and mobile-first, multi-currency payment systems.
AI-Powered Payment Customisation
Gone are the days when payment systems could rely on one-size-fits-all solutions. Today, AI is stepping in to deliver tailored payment experiences, a shift driven by rising consumer expectations. 71% of consumers now expect personalised interactions, and 76% feel frustrated when they don’t get them. This demand for personalisation extends to payments, where generic systems risk alienating players.
AI-powered tools are reshaping how operators connect with their users. By analysing player behaviour, preferences, and transaction histories, these systems craft payment journeys that feel natural and frictionless. The payoff? Businesses that excel in personalisation report 10% higher revenue growth rates compared to their less adaptable competitors.
For example, operators leveraging AI-driven platforms have seen their active player bases double, alongside revenue boosts of 10%. These systems process over 1 million messages per second and deliver recommendations with 90% accuracy. However, this level of sophistication demands robust data infrastructure and real-time capabilities - areas where older platforms like PaymentIQ often fall short.
Real-Time Fraud Detection
Fraud in online gaming is a growing challenge, with operators losing €2.8 billion to first-party fraud and 4% of gambling platform logins being takeover attempts. Traditional batch-processing methods can no longer keep up with the speed and complexity of modern fraud schemes. That’s where real-time, AI-powered fraud detection comes in.
These advanced systems use machine learning to flag suspicious transactions with 84.2% accuracy, while processing over 1 trillion events annually. Fraudulent activity like affiliate fraud - impacting up to 17% of CPA applications - continues to siphon 12-15% of marketing budgets.
A standout example is EvenBet Gaming, which employs Fingerprint JS Pro technology alongside behavioural analytics to detect bot activity. Their system evaluates poker player behaviours in real time, analysing factors like session length, hand strength, and jackpot hunting patterns to differentiate between legitimate players and bots.
Mobile-First Design and Multi-Currency Options
As mobile gaming continues to rise, payment systems are adapting to meet the needs of players who demand seamless experiences across devices. Malta’s mobile games market alone is projected to generate €5.86 million in revenue by 2025, growing to €7.68 million by 2029 with an annual growth rate of 7.07%.
Mobile-first design is about much more than just making payment interfaces responsive. It’s about rethinking the entire payment process for users who expect fast, frictionless transactions, whether they’re on a smartphone, tablet, or desktop. Players switching between devices want consistency, and payment systems that fail to deliver risk losing their audience.
At the same time, multi-currency support is becoming a must-have as operators expand globally. Players want the convenience of paying in their preferred currency without worrying about hidden fees or confusing exchange rates. This includes support for digital currencies like cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, which appeal to tech-savvy players seeking privacy and quicker settlement times.
How Fluid Addresses Modern iGaming Payment Problems
Fluid provides tailored solutions to overcome the challenges faced by modern iGaming operators. With a focus on advanced technology and user-centric design, the platform tackles key payment issues head-on.
AI-Powered Payment Journeys for a Smoother Experience
Fluid leverages AI to completely change how players interact with payment systems. By analysing player behaviour in real time, the platform customises payment flows to match individual preferences, transaction history, and gaming habits. This personalised approach eliminates confusion, guiding users through a seamless and straightforward payment process.
Advanced Analytics and Fraud Protection
To combat evolving threats, Fluid employs machine learning algorithms that continuously monitor transaction patterns and flag suspicious activities. From detecting fraudulent affiliate schemes to identifying bot networks, the system provides real-time insights for operators. These analytics help operators track key performance metrics and adapt payment strategies to stay ahead of risks. By combining advanced fraud detection with actionable insights, Fluid ensures both operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
Effortless Integration and Local Market Support
For operators in Malta, Fluid simplifies integration while supporting local requirements. Thanks to its API-first design, the platform can be seamlessly embedded into existing systems with minimal development time.
Fluid offers full support for the euro (€) and other currencies, along with digital payment methods. It handles currency conversion and displays prices in familiar formats, reducing friction for players. Additionally, the platform is built to comply with Maltese and EU regulations, including GDPR, anti-money laundering protocols, and Malta Gaming Authority standards. This built-in compliance eases the regulatory burden for operators, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their business.
Feature | Fluid | Traditional Platforms |
|---|---|---|
Security & Compliance | AI-driven fraud detection | Basic rule-based systems |
Transaction Speed | Instant processing | Variable delays |
Mobile Experience | Mobile-first design | Responsive adaptations |
Integration | Easy API integration | Complex implementation |
Currency Support | Fiat & digital currencies | Limited options |
Fluid’s cutting-edge solutions meet the growing demands of Malta's iGaming industry, ensuring smooth operations while staying compliant with local regulations.
Conclusion: Getting Ready for Future iGaming Payments
Traditional payment systems are no longer cutting it for the fast-evolving iGaming industry. Operators are moving away from outdated platforms that struggle with scalability, high operational costs, and complex compliance demands. With global digital transactions expected to surpass €12.7 trillion by 2027, it’s clear that choosing the right payment platform is no longer optional - it’s essential.
The shift towards modern payment solutions is being driven by the rise of new technologies and changing consumer habits. For example, digital wallets accounted for 30% of European e-commerce value in 2023, and this figure is growing at an impressive 17% annual rate. Players now expect fast, seamless payment experiences, and operators who fail to deliver risk losing out due to high abandonment rates. In today’s competitive market, smooth payment processes are a necessity, not a luxury.
"Payments are central to the player experience and directly impact gambling operators' revenues. A seamless deposit and withdrawal process is essential for acquiring and retaining players. Those who optimize payments gain a competitive edge, increasing conversion rates and player satisfaction." - Davide Villa, Manager at EDC
For operators in Malta’s booming iGaming sector, staying ahead means aligning with emerging payment trends for 2025. This includes adopting AI-driven personalisation, implementing real-time fraud detection, and offering multi-currency support, including cryptocurrencies. With SEPA Instant becoming mandatory from 9 January 2025, instant payment processing is no longer just desirable - it’s a must.
The challenges of adapting to these trends highlight the need for forward-thinking solutions. Fluid is one such platform addressing these demands. By combining AI-powered payment journeys, advanced analytics, and seamless integration, Fluid enables operators to diversify payment options, stay compliant with regulations, and enhance player satisfaction. Its mobile-first design and support for both fiat and digital currencies allow operators to tap into new market opportunities while maintaining efficiency.
Transitioning from legacy systems requires careful planning, but the rewards are worth it. Operators who take decisive action in 2025 will see improvements in conversion rates, fraud prevention, and overall player experience. As the iGaming landscape continues to evolve, those who embrace modern, scalable payment solutions will position themselves as leaders in the industry.
FAQs
What challenges does PaymentIQ face with Malta's updated iGaming regulations in 2025?
In 2025, PaymentIQ is facing challenges in aligning with Malta's updated iGaming regulations, rolled out by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). These updates include tighter rules around licensing, compliance, and data retention, which require more advanced technology and operational restructuring.
The MGA has also introduced higher capital requirements and stricter oversight measures to boost transparency and financial stability in the sector. For platforms like PaymentIQ, balancing these new demands with the need to remain cost-efficient and scalable adds another layer of complexity, especially while striving to meet the full scope of local regulatory expectations.
How do scalability challenges with PaymentIQ affect operators' revenue and payment success rates?
Scalability issues with PaymentIQ can directly affect operators' revenue streams and transaction success rates. When the platform struggles to keep up with growing transaction volumes, it can lead to slower processing, payment delays, or even failed transactions. These disruptions not only frustrate users but also increase abandonment rates, ultimately resulting in lost revenue opportunities.
In the fast-moving world of iGaming, instant deposits and hassle-free payment processes are critical for keeping players engaged and ensuring steady revenue growth. Scalability challenges can undermine these key aspects, leading to missed betting opportunities and decreased player satisfaction. To stay competitive and meet rising demand, operators must ensure their payment systems can handle growth without compromising performance.
Why is mobile optimisation essential for payment systems in iGaming, and where does PaymentIQ fall short?
The Importance of Mobile Optimisation in iGaming Payments
Mobile optimisation has become a must for payment systems in the iGaming world. With more players choosing smartphones and tablets for their gaming, the industry is adapting to meet these preferences. By 2025, over 60% of online gamblers are expected to use mobile devices, thanks to advancements like 5G and AI. These technologies are making mobile gaming quicker, more engaging, and incredibly convenient.
However, PaymentIQ has been struggling to keep pace with this shift. Its limited optimisation for mobile traffic leads to slower payment processing, clunky interfaces, and higher abandonment rates among mobile users. For iGaming operators, these problems can hurt player satisfaction and loyalty. In a market as competitive as iGaming, offering mobile-friendly payment solutions isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s essential for staying ahead.