Malta Gaming Authority – European Licensing Body
As the gambling market in Europe was growing, the Malta Gambling Authority recognised online gambling as an opportunity that should not be missed. It offered comprehensive licensing to any online operator that would like to conduct their business in the EU. As long as the online casinos comply to the set regulations, of course.
In this MGA overview, we will be talking about the organisation’s primary functions, its history, how it affects online casinos, and what types of Gaming Authority Malta licences can be obtained. Bear in mind that if an operator that has a licence from the MGA would like to operate in Great Britain, it would still have to get licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
MGA Main Functions
Before we talk about what functions the MGA has, we would like to give you a bit of background on it, which we will further elaborate on in our history of the Malta Gaming Authority section. This non-profit organisation was previously called the Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority. It regulates the gambling industry in Malta as a whole, and it quickly became recognised in all of Europe for its high standards.
The Malta Gaming Authority enforces these strict requirements to all online operators to prevent corruption, crime, money laundering, and protect players in the gambling sector. Every online casino that obtains an MGA licence will be subject to regular testing and investigation in order to uphold the high safety and fairness standard.
Malta Gaming Authority Functions:
- Licensing and regulation of gambling operators (Both land-based and online)
- Protection of minors and vulnerable persons
- Promoting responsible gambling in a safe environment
- Guidance during the application process
- Player fund protection (Making sure all deposits and withdrawals are secure)
- Using independent testing facilities and audits to ensure the fairness of games
- Monitoring of licensees and gaming activities
- Handling player complaints towards licensees
As you can see from the list above, the MGA has many functions, which are vital for the safety of players and the integrity of the gambling market. The Malta Gaming Authority cannot enforce any operator to return stakes, which have been placed voluntarily and lost in a fair game.
The new gambling law in Malta introduces the so-called “a duty of care for operators”. All Gaming Authority Malta licence holders are expected to monitor the players’ habits during gambling. They need to look for signs of addiction and other problematic behaviour and can intervene if necessary. That’s why it’s a great sign to see the operator work with organisations, such as GambleAware, GamStop and more.
Licensing
The first order of business for any operator that wishes to offer their services in Malta is to obtain a licence. Of course, there is a wide range of different companies, and the need for multiple types of licences had to be met. They depend on the type of gambling activities that will be carried out. Here is a short list of the MGA licence types:
- Class 1 – This is meant for operators offering casino type games and lotteries. This licence is a must for all online gambling sites.
- Class 2 – This license is meant for operators who would like to offer fixed-odds betting to operate in Malta. Such companies can be online bookmakers or sports betting enterprise.
- Class 3 – The Class 3 Remote Gambling licence is meant for peer-to-peer gambling activities. Online poker sites need to get this licence to operate in Malta.
- Class 4 – This is a business to business licence. It is necessary in the case when a gaming operator needs to host products from another software vendor.
These licence types are mainly meant for online operators that are planning to offer their services in Malta’s jurisdiction. Of course, if the company wants to be present on other markets, such as in Great Britain, they would need to obtain multiple licences. In this example case, a licence from the UK Gambling Commission is a must in order to operate there.
Malta Gaming Authority Regulated Online Casinos
We have mentioned this many times in our other articles and reviews. The safety and security of our readers is our top priority. That’s why it’s crucial that whichever operator you chose to play at has been licences by both the Malta Gaming Authority and the UKGC. It’s very easy to find such sites thanks to our dedicated safest online casinos in the UK list.
Online gambling is very popular around the world and if you play at casino sites with no licences or regulation, you are risking your personal and banking details. Playing at safe operators, you can be sure that your information is secure, the games are fair, and there will be no scams involved. Incidentally, many of these top online roulette sites for Norwegian players are licensed by the MGA. Player protection is essential, and seeing that the casino partners with GambleAware and other such organisations are a great plus.
How to Know if an Operator is Regulated
If you would like to know whether a casino operator is licensed by the Malta Lottery and Gaming Authority, all you need to do is look on their website. Once a brand receives an MGA licence, they need to display it along on their website along with a link that transfers you to their certificate.
You can alternatively open the official MGA website and search for the operator with the help of the search function. These licences would usually be placed at the bottom of the casino page featuring the logo of the MGA. You can also find other licences and certificates there as well.
Advantages of The Gaming Authority Malta Regulation
In this section, we would like to focus on the main advantages of the Malta Gaming Authority. The first one is player protection. As you already know, this is essential. The organisation checks if the operator answers to the data protection act and if the safeguard of data against cyber-attacks is ensured.
The second most important advantage is providing the players with a fair and transparent gaming experience. The operators are required to inform their players of the winning chances as well as have their software tested. The games’ RNG testing is carried out by an independent entity, such as eCogra, which reports directly to the MGA.
Main Advantages of the Malta Gaming Authority:
- Player Protection
- Fair Gameplay
- Player Fund Separation
- Operator Accountability
The Malta Gaming Authority also requires online casinos to separate player funds from their operating funds. This will ensure that the gambler’s money is protected in the case of casino bankruptcy. Last but not least, the MGA really deems necessary to hold operators accountable for their actions. This protects the players from being at the mercy of the casinos’ wishes and any potential irresponsible or illegal behaviour.
History of The MGA
The Malta Gaming Authority was founded in 2001 as part of the country’s The Lotteries and Other Games Act. It set out to regulate all forms of gambling to provide a fair experience to players and protect minors and vulnerable individuals. The Malta Gaming Authority address is Ricasoli SCM1001, Malta. The MGA also works towards preventing any corruption, crime and money laundering through gambling activities.
| Address: | Building SCM 02-03, Level 4, SmartCity Malta, Ricasoli SCM1001, Malta |
| Phone: | +356 2546 9000 |
| Email: | info.mga@mga.org.mt |
| Working Hours: | Mon – Fri: 09.00hrs till 17.00hrs (excluding Public Holidays) |
Formerly known as the Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority, the organisation was among the first in Europe to offer and take serious online gambling legislation. This was their first step towards providing a more secure environment for the players. Nowadays, the Maltese gambling market has grown vastly, and the MGA regulations are recognised throughout the continent.
Final Thoughts on The Malta Gaming Authority
We hope that this overview of the Malta Gaming Authority has been interesting for you. To sum it up short, the MGA is one of the first regulatory bodies in Europe to legislate online gambling. Although it’s main aim was to provide its primary functions to Malta players, it quickly gained renown all over Europe. For example, many of the best roulette casino sites in Croatia hold an MGA licence.
If you would like to pick a great online casino, then check out our best roulette sites in the UK. Fret not, as all operators there have been regulated by both the UKGC and the MGA. Maybe you are not a strict roulette player. In that case, we have you covered as well. We have a great list of the best online casinos in the UK, where you can find a wide range of slots, table games and even live dealers.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section, we would like to showcase the most popular queries that players have towards the Malta Gaming Authority. Make sure to go through each question and answer we have given in order to solidify your knowledge and remove any confusion.
