Malta Gaming Authority – Quality and Safety Standards

Back in 2001, Malta recognised the potential of online gambling and offered comprehensive licences to casino operators, which provide access to the entire European market. Join us in this Malta Gaming Authority review, where we will take a closer look at the mission of MGA, how it protects the players, the types of licences offered, and many other useful details.
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First, we will begin this Malta Gaming Authority review by explaining what exactly it stands for and what its purpose is. Second, we will briefly go over the types of licences issued by it and then explore some of the best casino operators licensed by the Gaming Authority Malta. At the end, we have selected some of the most frequently asked questions and answered them for you.

What is the Malta Gaming Authority?

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) was first established in 2001 with the purpose of regulating all sectors of the gaming industry in Malta. That includes many forms of gambling, such as land-based casinos, slot machines, betting offices, fantasy sports, lotteries, and online gambling services. Furthermore, the Malta Gaming Authority’s primary objective is to set standards that must be adhered to, thus ensuring the safety of the players.

📇 Company Malta Gambling Authority
🗺️ Address Building SCM 02-03, Level 4, SmartCity Malta, Ricasoli SCM1001, Malta
🏢 Founded 2001
👨🏻‍💼 CEO Carl Brincat
☎️ Phone 00356 2546 9000
📧 E-mail info.mga@mga.org.mt
🕘 Opening Hours 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
ℹ️ Official Website www.mga.org.mt

How Does the Gaming Authority Malta Operate?

Following the previous sentence of our Malta Gaming Authority review, we are now going to look at how this non-profit organisation operates to prevent crime, corruption, and money laundering, and protect players. First, the Malta Gaming Authority battles all of the aforementioned factors of insincerity by enforcing very high standards on all companies, including online casinos, on its territory.

If all the MGA regulator’s criteria are met by the operator, the Maltese company will issue a gambling licence. However, the non-profit organisation’s involvement with the companies does not end there. Every holder of an MGA licence is a subject of regular testing and investigation, which further guarantees the said company’s trustworthiness.

Throughout the years of its existence, the Gaming Authority Malta has become a widely respected and recognised organisation. Henceforth, the Maltese gambling licence has solidified its reputation as a stark guarantee of trustworthiness and legitimacy. Moreover, when gamers play at MGA regulated casinos, they are sure to expect a high-level service, gameplay quality, and most of all, a fair gambling experience.

Types of Licences Issued

The Malta Gaming Authority offers 6 types of gambling-related licences. They have their unique structure and requirements, but they also have one thing in common – making sure gamblers and casino companies play by the rules and follow the industry’s best practices. In the paragraphs below, we will take you through each category and briefly define how they can be obtained.

B2C Licences

The B2C abbreviation stands for the dynamic ‘business-to-customer’ relationship. In short, these are licences offered to various gambling businesses that deal with direct customers, such as land-based casinos, online casino platforms, and many others. Their customer is usually the gambler with its personal account and deposited funds. Find the full list of businesses which can apply for a B2B licence below:

  • Remote Gambling Services
  • Land-based Casinos
  • Commercial Bingo Halls
  • Controlled Gaming Premises
  • National Lottery Licence
  • Cruise Casinos

B2B Licences

Reputable online gaming software providers must apply for B2B licences. Having one means the software suppliers follow strict requirements for creating a fair gambling product with guaranteed random results which they deliver to various gambling business. As far as the MGA B2B licences are concerned, there are two main types depending on the scope of the certificate – the game provider licences and the back office licences.

Permits

The difference between a permit and a licence is usually their validity period. Permits are offered for one-time events or other, not regular gambling activities, which we have listed below. They usually require a lot more control and inspections from the audit organisation which needs to check a wide-range of details before giving its permission and approval to the applicant company.

  • Non-Profit Tombola/Lotteries
  • Low-Risk Games
  • De Minimis Games
  • Cruise Casinos
  • Commercial Communication Games
  • Exhibition Machine

Individual Licences

As the term suggests, individual licences are issued to candidates applying for key functions or director positions in gambling-related organisations. The key values for these roles include integrity, reputation, and honesty which must be present and ongoing way beyond the application process. The applicants for individual licences must maintain a good reputation and high standards without exception or their certificate could be taken away. Below you can see the 3 main individual licences a person can apply for.

  • Key Function/Director
  • High-Qualified Person
  • Beneficial Owner

Recognition Notices and Audit Service Provider Approvals

If your business holds a valid gambling licence from another EU member state, the Malta Gaming Authority can issue a recognition notice. This procedure is more complex than it sounds and might take some time for the MGA to consider and investigate if all their requirements have been met.

Audit service provider approvals, on the other hand, grant permission to companies to provide audit services in the gaming sector. As you can see, operating in this niche requires a lot of licences, regular audits, and constant control. This is the only way players can enjoy a safe and fair gambling experience.

Malta Gaming Authority Reputation & Players Protection

The player benefits of choosing an MGA-regulated casino are numerous, and all come down to safety and protection. Playing on a safe platform provides the player with an easy mind and stress-free gameplay, which is the number one rule if you want to have fun. Let’s look at the main strategies of the Malta Gaming Authority when it comes to keeping its core principles:

Players Protection

The Malta Gaming Authority offers multiple strategies for protecting players. The number one is aiming to keep the players’ data safe. Playing online comes with various risks, and your sensitive data getting into the wrong hands is a huge concern. All companies applying for an MGA licence must constantly prove that their customers’ data is well protected and managed. The full list of MGA’s player protection tools is featured below:

  • Players’ Data Protection
  • Unauthorised URLs List
  • Self Exclusion Tools

Fair Gaming

Playing casino games with real money is no joke, and the Malta Gaming Authority knows the importance of fair and transparent games. The MGA’s constant efforts in fair gaming require lots of time and can be placed in the 3 main categories featured below. They all have one clear intention – guaranteeing random results and 100% fair games.

  • Regular RNG Tests
  • No Hidden Terms
  • RTP Rates Displayed

Funds Protection

Before granting a licence to an applicant casino, the Malta Gaming Authority ensures the operator adheres to strict funds management rules. The most important condition for receiving a licence is keeping the player’s funds separated from the casino’s operating cash flow. This step protects players from losing money if the operator goes bankrupt for some reason. It’s not something that happens often, but it’s nice to know someone’s got your back covered.

  • Protection of Gamblers’ Deposits
  • Regular Financial Audits
  • Safe Money Transactions

Dispute Resolution

If a player feels the casino is not being fair or they suspect illegal practices, incorrect terms and conditions, misleading bonus offers, the MGA is always open to assist. The first advice for players is to try and solve the problem with the operator. If the communication is ineffective, the MGA can take over and intervene to protect the player or seek justice. Reporting your concerns to the MGA requires a few easy steps and can help solve difficult situations.

  • Free Complaint Form
  • Independant Investigation
  • Transperant Procedures

Operators Responsibilities

This protection measure is of great importance as it provides an additional layer of safety for gamblers. The Malta Gaming Authority holds licensed casino operators accountable for their behaviour. Players can report the casino platforms if they think their rights have been violated. The MGA acts like your best friend by keeping the operators accountable for not following the niche’s common regulations.

  • Report Unfair Casino Practices
  • Punishment of Illegal Casino Behaviour
  • Players’ Rights Protection

How Can You Find Online Casinos Licensed by the MGA?

Now that we have clarified what the Malta Gaming Authority stands for, it is time for us to talk about how to find casinos with a valid licence from the organisation. Players often think only the best online casinos in Malta can hold a licence from MGA. Yet, this couldn’t be any further from the truth. An MGA licence can be issued to all casino platforms operating on the European market.

The easiest way to see if your casino of choice holds a valid MGA licence is to copy the casino’s URL and search in the unauthorised URL register of the organisation. This is a register full of scam casino sites you better avoid. Another way is to search the casino name in the licencee portal and check for the document’s full details, including validity period, active status and many more.

Yet, if all this seems like too much hard work, you can always play it safe by choosing an operator from one of our expert guides. This is where we review and rank the best casinos in Europe which hold various licences and have put a lot of effort into guaranteeing their customer’s safety.

How to Contact the Gaming Authority Malta?

Suppose you have an issue with any Malta Gaming Authority casinos and cannot resolve it with the particular operator or want to file a complaint. In that case, you can take your case directly to the MGA. Moreover, you will be able to submit a ticket via the official Malta Gaming Authority, and the online customer support team will be quick to answer it.

Conclusion

In this Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) review, we discussed the important role of the Maltese organisation and its contribution to the gambling industry. More importantly, the MGA takes care of the millions of online casino players as its licences guarantee a safe and fair gaming environment, be it land-based or digital. Therefore, we strongly advise players to always play at trusted online casinos with gambling permits by the MGA regulator or other renowned authorities, like the UK Gambling Commission.

FAQ

If you have any queries after reading our Malta Gaming Authority review, we are pleased to inform you that we came prepared. Whilst doing our research on the Maltese organisation, we assembled a brief selection of the most frequently asked questions to ease your ventures.

What is the Malta Gaming Authority?

As previously mentioned, the Malta Gaming Authority, also known as MGA, is a non-profit organisation that is responsible for regulating many forms of gambling, including online casinos. These efforts by the MGA help to create a safe environment where players can enjoy their favourite games without any risks of fraud and unfairness.

What does the Gaming Authority Malta do?

The MGA's primary purpose is to set standards for online gambling companies to adhere and issue gambling licences to such companies that meet these standards. Despite the Malta Gaming Authority having a small jurisdiction, limited to the island of Malta, the licence is well-respected by many other countries and online casinos.

Why are casinos registered in Malta?

Malta recognised the big potential of online gambling and quickly founded the Malta Gaming Authority back in 2001. Its primary purpose was to regulate the growing gambling market and protect the players from scam platforms. The licences issued by MGA are among the most trustworthy in Europe and provide excellent player protection.

Does Malta tax gambling?

Yes, Malta does tax gambling revenues, but it’s the country with the most lucrative European tax rates. Combine that with the Malta Gaming Authority’s excellent reputation and its high player protection standards, and you will get the most beneficial environment for both casino operators and gamblers.

How much tax do you pay on gambling winnings in Malta?

Luckily, gambling winnings in Malta are tax-free. There are a few exceptions, but in most cases, if you’re lucky to win, you get to keep all your winnings. Remember that finding MGA licensed casinos doesn’t mean you won’t pay taxes. It just means you will play on a reputable and safe platform.

How to complain to the Malta Gaming Authority?

In case an MGA-licensed online casino engages in illegal behaviour, you can always reach out to the Gaming Authority Malta. If you were unable to resolve your issue with the particular operator, then the Maltese gambling authority will step in and get to the bottom of the problem.

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