Malta Gaming Authority Casinos

Malta Gaming Authority Licensed Casinos

The Malta Gaming Authority is a regulatory body that oversees all land-based and online gaming establishments in Malta. As a body of authority, it promotes responsible gambling and presents all gaming activities in the form of entertainment.

The MGA has the power to issue licences to diverse operators and it ensures that the environment providing all kinds of gaming activities is regulated. With this licence, online gaming providers can give players a regulatory framework in case of problems.

We have created a list of some online casinos that have the MGA licence and are prominent names in the iGaming industry among hundreds of others:

Each of these online casinos has gone through the application process during which they were thoroughly reviewed. Only after having been carefully vetted can they obtain the MGA licence.

What Types of MGA Licences Exist?

When applying for the MGA licence, online providers need to specify exactly what type of licence they need. The Malta Gaming Authority offers a wide array of licences.

They are divided into 4 main classes:

• Class 1 — a remote gaming licence
• Class 2 — a remote betting licence
• Class 3 — a licence to abet and/or advertise gaming from or in Malta
• Class 4 — a licence to manage or promote gaming operators

Among others, these are the products that the MGA licenses:

• National Lottery
• Cruise Casinos
• Remote Gaming
• Gaming Devices
• Non-Profit Games
• Racecourse Bets and Sweepstakes
• Amusement Machines
• Advertising Lotteries
• Commercial Bingo Halls

The Malta Gaming Authority can grant a licence to almost anything gaming-related — from casino games and bingo to online sports betting.

What Is Randomness Requirement?

In order to ensure a fair and equal game for all players, every Malta Gaming Authority casino needs to guarantee that all games are completely random and not rigged or tampered with in any way.

This means all games need to be created with a Random Number Generator (RNG), and each platform goes through a trial period of six months. During that time, companies such as eCogra, TST, and iTech Labs independently perform tests and provide proof of fairness.

In case there are any changes to the software or the rules of any casino game in online casinos, they need to be approved and re-certified by the MGA.

Brief History of Malta Gaming Authority

Ever since it first appeared, online gambling has quickly taken over the world. Throughout the years of hard work, Malta managed to become the home of some of the biggest and most profitable names in the iGaming industry.

Formerly known as the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA), the MGA was established in 2001, with the goal of regulating and licensing various sectors in the gaming industry. The licence issued by Malta ensures transparency and fairness. Additionally, the MGA works to prevent crime, money laundering and corruption in order to protect and help vulnerable players.

The MGA was one of the first bodies of authority to regulate the activities of companies providing online gambling services. A strict set of rules, legislation and regulations make the MGA the uppermost name in the iGaming world.

The MGA is composed of the following entities:

• Non-Executive Board of Directors — oversees the development of the MGA;
• CEO — responsible for the performance of the MGA;
• Executive Management Committee — responsible for major MGA functions and cooperates with the CEO;
• Audit Committee — responsible for risk management, accounting/audit issues, etc.;
• Supervisory Council — ensures integrity, development and consistency in all MGA functions;
• Fit and Proper Committee — responsible for assessing and deciding whether applicants are fit for the MGA licence.

Player Protection

The Malta Gaming Authority licence is there to guarantee players’ protection. First of all, any player who wants to participate in gaming activities needs to be older than 18. Additionally, the MGA requires all of its licencees to provide monthly balances of player accounts along with balances of bank accounts that store players’ funds.

All the information is treated as strictly confidential. If there are any shortfalls or inconsistencies in terms of players’ funds, the MGA gives its licencees 30 days to solve the problem. Also, the MGA requires monthly gaming reports from all online gaming providers that hold their licence.

Player Complaints

In the event of a disagreement, there should be a possibility of resolving problems between casinos and players without any help from third parties. However, in case they fail to resolve the problem, the MGA will work with both parties to ensure an agreement is reached. Up until recently, the MGA has been criticized for not being more active and included in casino-player relations.

Luckily, that has changed and the MGA is now approaching every complaint seriously and taking appropriate actions. They are aware of every possible dispute, and in case it’s resolved without their interference, the licencee needs to report the outcome of the complaint.

List of MGA Licences

If you come across an online gambling website that claims to have the MGA licence but doesn’t seem trustworthy, and you can’t find the info on their website, you should always dig deeper. You can visit the MGA official website and look for that gaming platform’s name.

That way, you will know whether to avoid a certain online casino or not. Keep in mind that all reputable and secure online casinos will show the MGA licence in a transparent way, and maybe even link directly to the Malta Gaming Authority website.

MGA Contact Info

In case you ever come across a problem or you simply need more information, here is how you can contact the Malta Gaming Authority:

• For additional questions, enquiries, suggestions — [email protected]
• For media enquiries, use — [email protected]
• Phone number — +356 2546 9000.

Or you can simply send your enquiry or complaint directly to this address:

Malta Gaming Authority

Building SCM 02-03, level 4,

SmartCity Malta

Ricasoli SCM 1001,

Malta