Responsible Gambling in Malta– Guide for Maltese Players

What is Considered Responsible Online Gambling in Malta?

As mentioned, Malta is among the leading countries to provide strict regulations relating to responsibility in gambling. For example, all sites must have a responsible gambling page with up-to-date information and contact options for relevant organisations, such as the Responsible Gaming Foundation. This page must also be one click away from all other pages, and the site must inform players of all responsible gaming tools.

The main licencing body for all gambling activities in Malta is the Malta Gaming Authority, whose logo must be displayed on all licenced operators ‘ sites. It ensures that the casino complies with the 2018 Gaming Act and provides responsible gaming tools to all eligible Maltese players. The MGA works hard to provide a safe experience for all.

Who Is Allowed to Gamble Online from Malta?

One of the MGA’s responsibilities is to protect vulnerable people and prevent them from getting addicted. These people may develop gambling addiction more easily than others, so they are banned from gambling establishments or participating in such games. Below, you can find a detailed list of all people who are prohibited from gambling in Malta:

Anyone who does not fall into these groups can gamble freely. However, remember that gambling is for entertainment only, and you should seek help from a responsible gambling council if needed. Ensure you only bet at safe and licensed operators, which will protect your data and provide all necessary responsible gambling tools.

Maltese Responsible Online Gambling: Best Practices

As mentioned earlier, every operator that the MGA licenses must follow a strict responsible gambling policy. Players must always have access to and know all responsible gaming tools. Additionally, they must have easy access to specialist organisations to receive the necessary support.

You can also find detailed information on the best practices to help prevent gambling addiction. Following them will help ensure a safe experience so you can play without any worries. The following paragraphs will examine some of these practices and how they can help, which can be seen in the following list:

Prepare a Budget

One of the best practices for gambling is to prepare a budget. That means setting aside some cash that you are willing to lose. Doing this will prevent you from feeling stressed when losing, so you can avoid overspending or trying to chase losses. It also ensures you can test games and their bet limits more easily.

One of the responsible gambling tools provided by Maltese operators for this is the deposit limit. It only allows players to deposit a set amount of cash into their account daily or monthly and is tailored to a person’s financial capabilities. The limit can also be adjusted if you wish. Having a good plan and self-control can help you have a better experience without using other tools.

Manage Your Time

Aside from overspending, one of the biggest gambling pitfalls is losing track of time. While the games may be fun, spending too much time can lead to addiction and ruin your social life. All legitimate games come with a built-in clock to help you keep track of the time, so make sure you take frequent breaks.

Some operators even have time-limit and loss-limit tools. These allow you to limit your playtime, forcing you to take a break when it runs out or when you lose too much money. According to Malta’s responsible gaming regulations, a pop-up that suspends play and provides statistics on all winnings and losses, along with the total wagered amount and time spent, will be displayed.

Activate a Self-Exclusion Option

One of the best ways to prevent addiction is self-exclusion. Self-control is vital as it can help you avoid most issues and know when to use the relevant tools. Many sites have self-exclusion options to limit your gambling activities or time-outs that force you to take a break. Below are some of the most common self-exclusion possibilities for players.

Always ensure you are familiar with the MGA responsible gambling regulations and the tools at your preferred operator. Knowing how to use any responsible gaming options and recognising the signs of an addiction can make the process smoother while ensuring you can easily overcome addiction. To activate self-exclusion indefinitely, you must provide a medical certificate and ID card.

Note that there are degrees to an addiction, so you should use the best option that suits your needs. If necessary, you can even freeze your account indefinitely, which may apply to all brands under the same parent company. Activating self-exclusion is immediate, as casinos cannot persuade you to keep playing. Still, you must prove that you can control your gambling if you wish to reactivate your account.

Create a List of Self-Limiting Options and Stick to It

Discipline is one of the most important parts of combating gambling addiction. That is why everyone who gambles responsibly in Malta should follow a set of rules and habits to avoid developing an addiction. It can be as simple as taking a break from the game. The following practices will help you enjoy gambling without having to freeze your account:

These tips are helpful for all players and not just problem gamblers. Aside from preventing gambling addiction, they ensure you won’t feel stressed over losses and can have an overall pleasant experience. Studying the game and its rules before playing is also a good idea, so you can choose an appropriate bet size.

Aside from the listed ones, there are plenty of other good practices, and players can develop their own. For example, some games may allow you to form strategies to limit your losses. You can also decide to play several spins or hands daily.

Don’t Hesitate to Seek Help if You Suffer from Gambling Addiction

If you believe you are suffering from gambling addiction and none of the tools are helping you, it is time to seek professional help. All casinos in Malta have valid links to responsible gambling organisations, such as the Responsible Gaming Foundation, so you can quickly get access to any helplines or information.

There is no shame in admitting you have a problem; attempting to hide it will only complicate the issue. You can contact these organisations 24/7, with some having helplines for extra help or to book appointments. Don’t delay seeking help if you experience any symptoms of addiction, as that can help you avoid serious adverse effects.

Maltese Responsible Gambling Organisations & Regulators

Whenever you need professional help or want more information on responsible gaming laws, you can contact various responsible gambling organisations. While MGA is the most important, many others can help through various tools. The following paragraphs will examine each of the major ones.

Malta Gaming Authority

The Malta Gaming Authority is Malta’s primary gaming control commission. It provides licences to legitimate operators and oversees compliance with the 2018 Gambling Act. Established in 2001, it also promotes responsibility in gambling through regulations and other initiatives, such as Responsible Gambling Week, where various topics are discussed to improve how operators can help prevent addiction.

Regulating all legitimate operators in Malta ensures they follow the relevant laws and responsible gambling policy. That includes providing all the necessary tools, displaying information for helpful organisations and detecting problem gambling. The MGA also has a list of unauthorised sites on its official website, so you can easily find which ones to avoid.

Responsible Gaming Foundation

The Responsible Gaming Foundation was founded in 2014 as an independent non-profit organisation by the then Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth. Its goal is to raise awareness of problem gambling through educational campaigns and help players combat addiction. Its funds are collected through the gambling sector or donated to promote fair gambling, provide rehabilitation services, research problem gambling, etc.

The foundation also has Supportline 1777, which you can call to receive immediate help from the responsible gambling council or book an appointment for additional consultation. Aside from that, you can access the foundation’s website for information on responsible gaming laws and articles on problem gambling, along with all their current projects.

SEDQA

SEDQA is an agency established in 1993 to provide drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitation services, but it soon expanded to cover compulsive gambling. As part of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, it helps with updates to the National Policy on preventing addiction, promoting healthy habits, and treating all forms of addiction. It also organises support groups and educational campaigns for children.

This organisation also works with the Substance Misuse Outpatient Unit, known as the Detox Center or SMOPU, to provide a full range of rehabilitation services with experienced doctors and psychiatrists. There’s also a three-step rehabilitation program to help addicts overcome their issues and be reintegrated into society. Lastly, players can call the helpline and learn about other responsible gaming tools through the SEDQA website.

Caritas Malta

Caritas Malta is part of the global Caritas Internationalis organisation, which provides Catholic relief and social services globally. Founded in 1968, it aims to help the poor through social initiatives and charity, which includes support groups for gambling addicts. They also offer helplines and provide professional advice to anyone who contacts them. You can find all their contacts in the following table:

Aside from its support groups, helplines and other responsible gaming tools, this organisation is involved in many projects to help people with various issues. One of the biggest ones is the Caritas Community Centre, where Gamblers Anonymous and GamAnon meetings are held. They also host various events and keep an updated schedule of them at their official website.

QuitGamble.com

Sometimes, all players need are some self-help tools, which QuitGamble.com provides. This site, founded by Andrew Bergman and EnigmaMedia, offers engaging self-help tools for gambling addicts. You can find various video courses with exercises, a community of people acting as support groups and tests to help identify the core issues. It also collaborates with reputable organisations, such as BeGambleAware.org and GamCare.

This innovative site provides a unique way for players to tackle the main issues that cause them to become compulsive gamblers. Naturally, you can also find links to various helplines on QuitGamble.com’s website and helpful gambling practices. You can also be certain it is a legitimate free site and featured on the MGA responsible gaming page.

Bet Blocker

If you need further assistance in avoiding casinos when self-excluding, you can utilise Bet Blocker. This UK charity aims to help players by restricting their access to gambling sites. After installing it, you won’t be able to access any of the URLs on Bet Blocker’s database. It is helpful for those who want to gamble responsibly in Malta but may be tempted to play if they have access to online casinos.

Bet Blocker also has parental control, so parents can prevent their kids from accessing any gambling sites. You can even schedule a block for certain days or set a period when sites are blocked, while the Bet Blocker website provides a tutorial on setting it up. It is an excellent tool alongside other self-exclusion practices, as it can ensure you won’t be tempted to gamble at a new site.

Risks of Excessive Gambling in Malta

While gambling can be fun, gambling addiction is serious, and you must understand the risks to avoid it properly. Financial issues are significant, as players lose money and go into debt trying to recoup it, but your mental health is also at risk. Many addicts suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts, perform poorly at work or even damage their relationships with loved ones.

Some gamblers even lose all their fortune in gambling. Playing at shady, unlicenced sites is risky as their games may be rigged, and they won’t provide tools to help you combat addiction. Below, you can learn more about the various risks associated with gambling addiction:

What risks do Maltese players face when not gambling responsibly?

• Becoming a compulsive gambler
• Losing all your money
• Going into debt
• Social and work issues
• Becoming depressed, angry and sad
• Ruining relationships with people

Similar to all addictions, gambling addiction can be incredibly destructive and ruin every aspect of a person’s life. That is why Malta’s responsible gaming regulations are strict, and licenced operators must monitor people’s gambling activities and attempt to stop them at the first sign of an addiction. Many companies even have jobs, such as Responsible Gambling Analyst, to help monitor players and aid them in combatting addiction.

Aside from following a casino’s responsible gambling policy and using tools, you can always practice healthy habits to avoid addiction. Always prepare a budget with money you are comfortable losing and browse the games to see which ones fit your playstyle. Remember to watch the clock and take frequent breaks. You can even set loss and time limits that will stop you from playing after a certain threshold.

Maltese Players Whom Gambling May Not Be Suitable For

While gambling may be entertaining, there is always some risk; thus, it is not suitable for all players. You should avoid gambling if you have financial issues, difficulties in your social life, or are otherwise prone to addiction. It is meant to be a form of entertainment and not a way to profit or escape issues.

According to Maltese responsible gaming regulations, only people 18 or older are allowed to gamble, so companies ensure minors do not have access to gambling sites or land-based casinos. If any of the following descriptions match your situation, it is best if you avoid gambling altogether:

Maltese Gambling Sites Without Responsible Behaviour to Avoid

Even a responsible player needs to be careful, as many illegal operators exist. These sites do not have the MGA’s approval and likely do not have responsible gambling tools to prevent addiction. They may also steal your data and money. Some even falsely claim to be licenced by the MGA, so you should be careful.

One of the MGA’s responsible gambling policies is to keep an updated list of unauthorised URLs, so you can always see which sites to avoid. Nevertheless, this does not cover everything, so you must be careful and avoid sites which have the following characteristics:

While there are many other signs of a bad casino, these are some of the most common ones. That is why you should always browse through your chosen operator carefully and ensure it meets all the standards for a safe and responsible casino. That will provide a safe and comfortable experience while helping you avoid addiction.

Frequently Asked Questions from Maltese Gamblers

Before finishing our guide to responsible gambling in Malta, we will answer all your pressing questions. You can learn more details on the best responsible gaming practices in the country and how to prevent addictive behaviour. We will also review the relevant responsible gambling organisations, some risks and how to avoid shady casinos.