Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)

Malta's gambling regulator. An MGA licence is a Maltese licence to provide gaming from and within Malta; it says nothing by itself about which countries may be served.

Official register: MGA licensee register

What this licence promises

What the licence is

The Malta Gaming Authority is set up and empowered by the Gaming Act, 2018 (Cap. 583 of the Laws of Malta).

The wording behind this

“for the governance and regulation of gaming services and products from and within Malta, together with all such activities and matters that are ancillary or incidental thereto or connected therewith, and for the establishment and functions of the Malta Gaming Authority” (legislation.mt)

How to check a licence

The MGA publishes a Licensee Register that can be searched by licensee name, authorisation status, URL or gaming service.

The wording behind this

“Interested parties can search by licensee name, authorisation status, URL or Gaming Service.” (Malta Gaming Authority)

Where it applies

The Act governs gaming services and products "from and within Malta". The MGA texts we checked name no list of countries where players may be located, so an MGA licence does not by itself show that a country allows the service.

The wording behind this

“governance and regulation of gaming services and products from and within Malta” (legislation.mt)

Identity checks

The MGA Directive lets a licensee take reasonably necessary time before paying out to verify the player's identity and carry out the customer due diligence that Malta's anti-money-laundering law (Cap. 373) requires. No ID or source-of-funds threshold is set in the MGA texts we checked.

The wording behind this

“(a) verifying the player's identity; (b) conducting security and other internal procedures” (Malta Gaming Authority)

“performing such other customer due diligence measures required in terms of AML legislation” (Malta Gaming Authority)

Player protection

Licensees offering a remote service must let players set deposit and/or wagering limits, and must keep a self-exclusion procedure readily available at all times.

The wording behind this

“B2C licensees shall offer players the possibility to set the following limits: (a) Deposit limits” (Malta Gaming Authority)

“B2C licensees shall make readily available to players, at all times, a procedure whereby players may exclude themselves from playing for a definite or indefinite period of time” (Malta Gaming Authority)

If you have a complaint

Licensees must run a written dispute procedure that offers referral to an ADR entity. Players can also complain to the MGA, which recommends trying the operator first.

The wording behind this

“offer players the possibility of referring any dispute to the ADR entity if the same player feels that the dispute was not resolved to his satisfaction” (Malta Gaming Authority)

“The below form is the formal channel enabling players to lodge a complaint against MGA-licensed operators.” (Malta Gaming Authority)

“It is strongly recommended that you actively seek to resolve your dispute directly with the operator's support and management prior to lodging your complaint” (Malta Gaming Authority)

Your money

Player funds must be segregated from other money and are treated as a separate patrimony; the operator's creditors have no claim on them in insolvency.

The wording behind this

“An authorised person shall segregate player funds at all times from the funds of any other person” (legislation.mt)

“the creditors of an authorised person shall have no claim or right of action on or against the player” (legislation.mt)

“such funds shall be deemed to constitute a distinct patrimony” (legislation.mt)

What it does not tell you

History of the regulator

1. 2 September 2002Lotteries and Other Games Act in force

   The Lotteries and Other Games Act (Cap. 438, originally Act 24 of 2001) entered into force on 2 September 2002.

   Source: legislation.mt
2. May 2004Remote Gaming Regulations published

   Malta published its Remote Gaming Regulations in May 2004, according to the Authority's later consultation notice.

   Source: Malta Gaming Authority
3. 13 October 2005Consultation on the Remote Gaming Regulations

   The Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority, as it was then called, published a consultation on amendments to the 2004 remote gaming regulations, to align them with current industry practice in areas such as poker and skill games.

   Source: Malta Gaming Authority
4. 8 March 2018New Gaming Act approved

   Parliament approved the new Gaming Act on 8 March 2018.

   Source: Malta Gaming Authority
5. 1 August 2018Gaming Act in force for remote operators

   The Gaming Act took effect for remote gaming operators on 1 August 2018. Land-based operators had until 1 January 2019.

   Source: Malta Gaming Authority
6. 1 January 2019Old Act repealed

   The Lotteries and Other Games Act was repealed by Act XVI of 2018, effective 1 January 2019, leaving the Gaming Act (Cap. 583) as the governing law.

   Sources: legislation.mt; legislation.mt

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