MGA Online Casinos based in Malta

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) was established in 2001 and, through the introduction of the 2004 Remote Gaming Regulations, became the first EU member state to introduce comprehensive online gambling laws. The MGA began operating under the Lotteries and Other Games Act, 2001, regulating land-based businesses such as casinos, amusement arcades, betting shops, bingo halls, and lotteries, shortly followed by online casinos, providing a safe and fair landscape for businesses and consumers.

The 2018 Gaming Act introduced a new legal framework, which has since been complemented with new directives in response to an everchanging online gaming landscape. The Prevention of Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism Regulations (PMLFTR) laid out the same year cemented the MGA’s position as a robust and constantly evolving regulator whose aims are to:

• Protect minors and other vulnerable persons.
• Safeguard players rights.
• Promote responsible gaming in a fair environment.
• Ensure the integrity of games and gaming devices
• Keep gaming free from criminal activities.

All persons involved in a prospective business who wish to apply for an MGA licence undergo fit and proper tests, executing checks to ensure the company is from legal and legitimate sources. Assessment of the business plan and organisational structure and satisfying operational and technical standards through testing and functioning system checks are fulfilled before issuing a licence. The MGA carries out periodical compliance audits following launch to ensure licencing conditions are being met. Failing to meet the strict criteria can lead to fines and criminal proceedings.

As Malta is an EU member state, the MGA can offer licences into European countries where gambling is legal. The MGA has a strong presence in places like Canada, New Zealand and Finland, which regulate land-based gambling but have no regulation for online. Having coverage in the EU and international markets means the MGA oversees around 12% of Malta’s GDP, second only to tourism.

While MGA casinos and betting sites serve hundreds of nations, in Europe, the UK, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Germany have their own regulatory bodies and framework, and more countries are following suit. Still, the MGA remains a major regulator with a hardy reputation built over two decades that may benefit from more opportunity as gambling becomes more popular and newly legalized markets emerge.