What Is the Malta Gaming Authority?
The Malta Gaming Authority is a regulatory body that oversees different sectors of the gaming industry by ensuring gaming is fair and transparent, preventing crime, and protecting minors and vulnerable players from entering gambling sites.
The Malta Gaming Authority has existed since 2001, but it was formerly known as the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA). It was one of the first regulators to introduce legislation regulating the activities of gambling sites. The authority rebranded in 2015 and has operated as the Malta Gaming Authority since.
Official Resources and Contact Details
- Address: Building SCM 02-03, Level 4, SmartCity Malta, Ricasoli SCM 1001, Malta
- Phone: +356 2546 9000
- Email: [email protected] (for general queries, questions or suggestions)
- Licensee Register: MGA Licensee Register
- Player Hub: MGA Player Hub
How Does the Malta Gaming Authority License Online Casinos?
For operators, submitting an application is the first step towards obtaining the MGA licence. As part of it, any ultimate beneficial owners, directors and key persons must submit a Personal Declaration Form (PDF).
Once accepted, the MGA does:
- Fit and proper review: the MGA conducts a fitness and propriety test to ensure all information related to shareholders and key persons are accurate and confirms the business viability
- Funding review: the MGA checks sources of wealth and funds to ensure the owners can sustain a licence during its lifecycle and confirms the sources are legitimate.
- Business plan and operating policies and procedures review: the MGA reviews all documents related to gambling site operations and policies to ensure the organisation's viability and player safety.
- Technical set-up review and system audit: the MGA checks the technical blueprints and software manuals, after which the operator has 60 days to set everything up and prepare the gambling site. Once ready, an auditor reviews the site again to verify everything works properly and complies with the submitted guidelines and policies.
The regulatory body may request further information, during which the status changes to “Amendments required”. Once approved, the gambling licence is valid for 10 years.
Even after obtaining the licence, the operator must keep it. The MGA runs occasional checks to ensure casinos separate player balances from operational cash flow and follow gaming rules, from game fairness to responsible gambling. Breaching any rules may result in fines, licence suspension or even cancellation.
Because operators undergo a detailed licensing process and face ongoing checks, players at MGA casinos do have someone they can turn to in case they need an investigation.
What Does a Malta Gaming Authority Licence Mean for Players?
Players value casinos with MGA licences because the regulator may decide to investigate casinos after receiving complaints. The MGA keeps its doors open through the Player Hub, allowing players to submit complaints against casinos that breach the rules.
What the Licence Requires Operators to Provide
All online casinos with the MGA licence must clearly display it on the site. The MGA seal is usually placed in the footer and it can be clicked. This way, players can easily confirm they’re logging into a casino with a legitimate licence.
The casino must build infrastructure that protects players’ personal and financial data. Additionally, the licence issuer requires all casinos to set up responsible gambling tools such as deposit and other limits, reality checks, alerts, and self-exclusion, as well as provide players with access to support organisations.
MGA-licensed casinos must offer fair games, transparent and fair bonus and casino terms, clear pay tables and RTP. Lastly, players must have an option to submit complaints to a casino and resolve potential disputes.
What the Licence Doesn’t Cover
The MGA licence has safeguards, but it doesn’t eliminate every risk associated with online gambling. The licence issuer can’t guarantee that players won’t experience problems while playing at casinos.
Although the regulator requires operators to offer fair and transparent terms and it sets the framework, it can’t determine exact conditions for bonuses and promotions, as well as deposits or withdrawal limits.
With MGA-licensed casinos being accessible from different countries, it’s important to know that the licence doesn’t override local gambling laws, so this is something you must consider before registering.
The MGA doesn’t act as a debt collector if the casino hasn’t paid you (but it can fine the casino if it breaches specific terms), and it can’t be responsible for mirror sites.
Does the Licence Apply to Players in My Country
An MGA licence doesn't automatically allow a casino to accept players from every country. Availability depends on the casino's restrictions and local gambling laws.
Players in countries such as Canada (excluding Ontario and Alberta), New Zealand, Norway and Finland may have access to certain MGA-licensed casinos, depending on the operator and applicable regulations.
However, countries such as the UK, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy and Spain require operators to obtain local online gambling licences to provide services in their countries.
Before registering, check the casino's restricted countries in its Terms and Conditions and make sure online gambling with that operator is allowed where you live.
How to Check a Malta Gaming Authority Casino Licence
To successfully check whether the casino has an MGA licence, follow the steps below:
- Open the casino homepage
- Scroll down to the footer
- Click on the MGA seal
- A new tab opens with licence details
The Malta Gaming Authority requires casinos to include licence details in the footer of their sites. This way, players can easily check whether the casino is regulated by the MGA.
Another step is to visit the official MGA register and verify the licence and company information. Also make sure the casino's website URL is listed under the licensed operator.
What to Do If You Can’t Verify the Licence
If you can’t find the licence information in the footer, the safest option is to visit the official registry. If the casino/company isn’t in the official registry, it doesn’t hold an MGA licence, but before you conclude that, check whether the company operates under a different name.
You can also contact casino support, as agents should be able to send you licence details.
How AskGamblers Verifies Malta Gaming Authority Licensed Casinos
When writing our casino reviews, the AskGamblers team sticks to our editorial guidelines. We use the same verification steps we recommend to players.
We’re always looking for the footer logo first. Sometimes casinos include the logo, but it doesn’t lead to an active licence, but this isn’t usually the case with MGA online casinos.
For us, it’s an obligatory step to visit the registry and find the licence there. We also go a step further and research the company to find and verify where it is registered.
My process is to open the casino first, then visit the registry and I make sure to include the licence number in the written part of the review. For an MGA-licensed casino, I find it easy to verify the seal, as casinos are required to include it on their website.
How to Submit a Complaint About a Malta Gaming Authority Licensed Casino
Malta Gaming Authority accepts player complaints, which you can submit through its official website. The regulator also requires casinos to provide players access to an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) entity. Before you involve the licence issuer in your dispute, here’s what you need to know about complaining against casinos with an MGA seal.
Before You Submit a Complaint
Before you submit a complaint to the MGA, you must exhaust other options. Start by contacting casino support via live chat or email, or submit a complaint through the official form if one is available.
Try to resolve the dispute with the casino first, but save conversation screenshots and any documents or files you or the casino sends. If the casino doesn't resolve your complaint, you can refer the dispute to its approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider.
Then, you can report regulatory violations directly to the licence issuer. Remember, the primary goal of an MGA complaint is for the regulator to determine whether the casino broke any laws or rules.
What Information and Evidence You’ll Need
For MGA complaints, you’ll need to submit personal information, including your phone number and email address. Then, add the reason for the complaint, the operator name, your username, the game you’re playing, the disputed amount, and the date and time of the incident.
You can also add more details to the description. Keep the screenshots and documents once the MGA responds.
How to Submit a Complaint to the Malta Gaming Authority: Step by Step
To submit a complaint to the MGA:
- Visit the official MGA website
- Go to the Player Hub
- Lodge a complaint
- Fill out the form
- Click on Submit
Regulatory complaints usually last longer than casino complaints or AGCCS disputes. Once you submit a complaint, you’ll receive an automated confirmation. The initial response typically arrives between 1 and 3 business days.
Provided your complaint is accepted, the casino has up to 21 calendar days to provide an explanation and send proof. The complaint can take longer, so it’s hard to estimate, as it depends on the issue and how responsive everyone involved is.
Other Ways to Get Help
If you fail to resolve a complaint with a casino, contact our AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service (AGCCS). We’ve been working as a mediator between players and casinos since 2009, returning over $92 million to players in total.
The AGCCS is an independent service offered by AskGamblers, not an official regulator or an extension of the MGA. Before submitting an official complaint, review our complaint guidelines.
Responsible Gambling Rules for Malta Gaming Authority Licensed Casinos
The MGA has the Player Protection Directive (Directive 2 of 2018) which sets out various obligations casinos must adhere to. These include:
- Licensee details
- Underage gaming is not permissible sign
- Responsible gaming message
- Dynamic seal
- A link to a page that includes all responsible gambling information
- A link to one or more gambling help organisations
- A message before first deposit, advising players to set limits first
Casinos operating under the MGA licence must not encourage players to gamble, wager winnings, chase losses, go over their budget, or gamble if they’re under 18, 19 or 21, depending on the jurisdiction.
These casinos are advised to include the following self-exclusion timeframes:
- 24 hours
- 48 hours
- 7 days
- 30 days
- 90 days
- 180 days
- 365 days
Self-exclusion must always be available and straightforward and casinos must not encourage players to continue gambling if a request is sent. The casinos are also advised to offer the following tools: deposit limits, wagering limits, loss limits, time or session limits. For the MGA casinos where multiple limits are set, the strictest one takes precedence.
Malta Gaming Authority vs Other Licences
|
Licence
|
Valid for
|
Public Register
|
Structure and Scope
|
|---|---|---|---|
| MGA | 10 years | Yes (licensee register) | Four types of licences; available in different countries |
| UKGC | Indefinite | Yes (public register) | Individual or combined; UK-only |
| Curacao | Indefinite (6 months provisional + 6 months extended) | Yes (licence register) | A single licence available across different countries |
