Build to Be Built Upon
Pietà, an old-school European suburb along the Mediterranean waterfront in Malta, hardly conjures up images of gaming, whether live or remote. But John Debono, who grew up there, today serves as CTO and co-founder of Elantil, a Malta-based software firm whose platforms are designed to make life easier for gaming operators.
The company was created for entities struggling to build unique identities on rigid platforms that treat every business the same. Envisioning what Elantil can accomplish makes Debono tick.
“From the start, our goal was to be a technology enabler,” he says. “We ‘build to be built upon,’ providing a fully configurable platform that allows operators to develop their own unique selling points.”
Before he got into iGaming, Debono worked on similar projects in telematics, working for a company helping to build platforms to track business assets like cars, vans, buses, coaches, security vans and also involved in building management, such as temperature control, etc.
For example, he says, “The last project I worked on before hopping into the iGaming industry was using the Telematics Platform from vehicle insurance companies in Malta to monitor drivers between the age of 18 and 23 and ensure proper driving that allows them a lower insurance premium.”
Prior to Elantil, Debono spent eight years at the Gaming Innovation Group (GiG), where he played a variety of roles in data engineering, database administration and, later, solutions architecture. “I was one of the four people that started the Endeavour Project, which is now GiG’s flagship product called CoreX,” he notes.
Elantil isn’t just another iGaming software provider, Debono says. “We’ve reimagined how platforms should work from the ground up. Built for customers with big ambitions and technical expertise, Elantil is the alternative to clunky, monolithic systems that slow you down. Our modular, customizable and scalable infrastructure gives you operational independence and freedom to grow and succeed, whatever your starting point.”
Like many before him, Debono has leaned on mentors for guidance and support. “Our founder and CEO, Jonathan Gauci, has been indispensable to me both now as we build Elantil and throughout our previous ventures.”
The company’s future lies in empowering operators to thrive and remain creative on a platform that fosters growth through a distinct identity. Elantil provides its expertise whenever needed, ensuring a seamless experience where its partners’ growth “directly translates to our own.” All that bodes well for the industry in the U.S.
“The U.S. market is a testament to why software like Elantil should exist,” Debono says. “Our platform’s configurability enables operators to comply with complex regulatory frameworks while ensuring player protection.”
The CTO says his future is prefigured by a past record of success—and his willingness to make himself redundant. “I aim to build systems, teams and ideas that outgrow me—creating long-term value that continues well beyond my direct involvement.”
