Malta

Since 2000, the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta has been the hub of the online iGaming market. Above everything else, the country's love for gambling is well-known because of the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), which is highly respected all over Europe.

MGA is the body regulating sports betting and gambling in the country, and over the years, hundreds of casinos, software providers, and online sportsbooks have acquired a license from this authority.

Malta Gaming Authority & the MGA online gambling license

The initial steps toward the legislation of online sports betting in Malta began in 2000 when the country introduced the Public Lotto Ordinance to oversee online gambling regulation. In 2001, the lawmakers implemented both the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) and the Lotteries and Other Games Act.

The Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) was later renamed the Malta Gaming Authority, as it is popularly known today. The MGA was one of the first-ever authorities to issue legislation that monitors online sports betting and gambling activities.

In 2004, when the country joined the EU, it became the first European Union nation to regulate online gambling. A year later, in 2005, the country implemented the Remote Gaming Regulations. With this implementation, online gaming operators could apply for any of the four license types in the country. Today, the country issues the following licenses.

1. Class 1 licenses cover online lotteries, casino games, and skill games.

2. Class 2 licenses cover spread, pool, and fixed odds betting.

3. Class 3 licenses that cover betting exchanges and peer-to-peer gaming.

4. Lastly, Class 4 licenses cover all software vendors.

To get a gambling license in the country, operators must pay a license fee of €25,000. The gambling operators have to pay a request to process the application costing €2,300. Every ten years, the online gambling operators must renew their licenses to continue operating.

Currently, the Maltese gaming scene has over a hundred online sports betting operators with valid Class 2 licenses. A vast majority of the well-known sportsbooks in the world, such as 888Sport and Bet365 hold this license too.

Gambling regulation in Malta

As the first EU country with a regulatory authority on interactive wagering and gaming, Malta held gambling operators accountable for their actions. Today, the MGA issues gambling licenses in the country. Before issuing licenses, gambling operators must go through a rigorous quality, anti-fraud, and security checks, and the rules and regulations that accompany every gambling license are quite strict.

With this, one of the smallest nations in the world brought credibility to the growing online betting industry marred with suspicion. The MGA enforces various regulations concerning Maltese online sports gambling licenses. Currently, hundreds of casino sites, online betting apps, software developers, and betting exchanges are under the MGA’s jurisdiction.

The regulatory body is entirely legitimate in that it is among the authorities whitelisted by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. This means that all MGA-licensed operators can advertise their services in the United Kingdom. Sportsbooks that breach the rules and regulations set by the MGA may have their licenses revoked.

Pros: Why would a sportsbook want a gambling license from Malta?

When a bookmaker acquires an MGA license, it can attract more customers. This is because the MGA ensures:

High safety standards: The Malta Gaming Authority’s logo on any sports betting operator’s site signifies safety and trust. Players that opt for bookies licensed by MGA are guaranteed that their banking details and personal information are secure.

Appropriate resolution of complaints: The MGA obliges all licensed sports betting operators to accept players’ complaints. They have to issue appropriate complaint resolution within twenty-one days, after which MGA can take up the complaints.

Solid customer protection: The rules and regulations of this regulatory body require all licensed bookies to work together with responsible gambling bodies such as GamCare. Furthermore, MGA has the Responsible Gaming Foundation that helps in promoting responsible wagering.

Latest sports betting & gambling-related updates from Malta

• November 12, 2024: The Malta Gaming Authority's 2023 Annual Report highlights its regulatory activity, including 28 warnings, 9 license suspensions, 11 cancellations, 19 penalties, and one settlement totaling €172,900. The MGA received 24 license applications, approved 15, and identified 49 misleading website references, with 23 corrected after notification.

• November 7, 2024: In its first year, the Malta Gaming Authority's ESG Code Approval Seal was awarded to 14 gambling operators, including Aspire Global, Betsson's BML Group, L&L Europe, and Betway. Introduced last November, the voluntary ESG standard encourages licensees to submit ESG disclosures.

• October 24, 2024: The Malta Gaming Authority and UK Gambling Commission sign a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration. The agreement focuses on information sharing to protect consumers, prevent crime, and address gambling-related harm, reflecting the global nature of the gaming industry.

• September 13, 2024: The Malta Gaming Authority has disassociated itself from unauthorized websites, including rayvietnam.net and raybet03.com, clarifying they falsely claim to hold MGA licenses. The regulator labeled these claims as "false and misleading."

• September 13, 2024: Former MGA CEO Heathcliff Farrugia loses his appeal against his conviction for leaking confidential information to casino owner Yorgen Fenech. Malta's Court of Criminal Appeal upheld the May ruling by the Magistrates Court.

• July 29, 2024: Former MGA CEO Carl Brincat joins LeoVegas Group as director of policy and regulatory affairs. Brincat, who joined the MGA in 2014 as a legal adviser and became CEO later on, left the regulator in late 2023 and was succeeded by Charles Mizzi.

Most recent MGA license cancellations & suspensions

• October 3, 2024: The Malta Gaming Authority suspends Dimsacon Limited's license, prohibiting it from conducting gaming activities in or from Malta due to non-compliance with regulatory requirements.

• October 1, 2024: The MGA suspends the license from Goldwin, operator of Westcasino, citing anti-player policies and unmet customer obligations. Goldwin can no longer operate but must allow existing players to access and withdraw funds.

• May 22, 2024: The MGA revokes Tipbet's gambling license, ceasing its operations amid stricter regulatory enforcement. Known for targeting the German market, Tipbet offered free live sports streams and maintained partnerships with top soccer teams alongside operating betting shops.

• March 22, 2024: The Malta Gaming Authority has revoked BTM Entertainment Group's license, years after it was initially suspended in 2019. BTM previously operated the Roy Richie brand, offering fixed-odds and live betting services.

• March 11, 2024: Malta Gaming Authority cancels Rush Gaming's license, which is the operator behind OneBet and Fansbet. The license had already been suspended since January of this year.

Latest fines issued

• February 27, 2024: Ocean Star Limited, operator of 10Bet, is fined €67,194 by Malta's FIAU for non-compliance with anti-money laundering regulations. The company lacked a documented customer risk assessment procedure, increasing its exposure to money laundering and terrorism financing risks.

• February 21, 2024: Kanon Gaming, an operator equipped with Maltase, Swedish, and Danish gambling licenses, is fined $72,825,41 (€67,874) for flaws concerning anti-money laundering standards.

• December 19, 2023: Trannel International, a subsidiary of global gambling powerhouse Kindred Group, gets fined $238,940,04 (€222,736) due to deficiencies in both customer risk assessments and record-keeping practices.

• June 30, 2023: The Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) fines Glitnor Group, operator of Lucky Casino, €236,789 for multiple violations of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regulations. The penalty follows a 2019 compliance review identifying ten breaches of Malta's regulations.