MGA (Malta Gaming Authority)

Malta is the home of the Malta Gaming Authority, formerly known as the Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority, with the Mediterrean Island being home to a considerable number of online casino gaming operators.

Malta was one of the very first European Territories to regulate gambling of casino, with the first Malta licensee to accept online bets occurring back in 2000.

In the past Malta has had somewhat of a flaccid reputation when it came to regulating and overseeing their licensees.  However, I am pleased to report that over the past couple of years, the MGA has upped their game considerably.

Responsible for the governance of all gaming activities and operations that occur on the Island, the MGA have over 100 companies which currently hold a license. These include casino software developers as well as Online Casino and Remote iGaming operators. With the Remote Gaming Sector falling under the provisions of the Remote Gaming Regulations.

The Malta Gaming Authority website offers recourse to players at Malta licensed online casinos, should they have a complaint with an operator, with an online gaming support form for players.

Furthermore the MGA has written a Player’s Charter which lists the rights and obligations of players. Indeed, this is a vast improvement on the former Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta, which used to oversee Remote Gaming on the island. Having developed a reputation of being somewhat flaccid.

Several of the reviewed casinos here on Online Casino Reviewer are licensed and operate from Malta, with each of them also holding a license issued by the UK Gambling Commission, thus allowing them to accept UK Residents. For your convenience, all such online casinos are listed directly below, with links to their own dedicated review pages.

Each licensee has to nominate a Key Official whose role is to liaise with Malta Gaming Authority and the company issued with a Malta license. The Key Official also has to be a director of said licensee company, must reside in Malta and also must keep abreast of all the operations undertaken by the licensee. Ensuring all operations are supervised and adhere to all applicable laws and regulations set down by the MGA.

An advantage for players at Malta licensed operations is the fact that the MGA has procedures in place to protect player funds. These can involve a licensee providing a bank guarantee in the MGA’s favour in order to protect player funds.

In total there are currently four ( 4 ) classes of Remote Gaming Licenses issued by the MGA. These all cover all aspects of remote gaming.