Malta Gaming Authority review
Rate this licenses

The Malta Gaming Authority is without a shadow of a doubt one of the biggest gambling jurisdictions in the world. Formed in 2001 through the Lotteries and Other Games Act, the Malta regulatory body issues one of four licenses to online operators. In this Malta Gaming Authority review, we dissect the perks of such as license, plus what countries can still offer online gambling activities.

To begin with, the Malta Gaming Authority brings in a mammoth amount of tax revenue for the isle. This is due to the huge demand for a credible gaming license for online casinos. As of this moment, the MGA has issued over 500 different licenses to online casinos. Yet, to this date, none of those casinos accept players from the United States.

Malta Gaming Authority Review: History

So, just why is a small isle off the coast of Sicily so important in the gambling industry?

Well, the Malta Gaming Authority was the first member of the European Union to regulate online gambling. The Malta regulatory body was the first to issue licenses in 2000 with the MGA forming the following year. To this date, the Malta Gaming Authority is responsible for issuing gambling licenses and Malta gaming licenses.

They handle the following segments of the iGaming industry:

  • Casino Gaming
  • Commercial bingo
  • Amusement machines
  • Gaming devices
  • Online gaming
  • Sports gambling
  • Lotteries
  • Commercial communication games
  • Non-profit games

Only horse racing and spread betting is not under the surveillance of the Malta Gaming Authority.

How Malta Gambling License Benefits Players

First and foremost, the Malta Gaming Authority is a regulatory body set up for player satisfaction. Hence, the gambling jurisdiction has strict standards for operators to meet. Unlike some countries which have their own regulations, like the UK, the MGA offers offshore operators licenses as well, given they match requirements.

And, just like the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority is set up for numerous reasons. We’ll go through a few of them below.

Player Always Comes First

What makes casinos with a Malta Gaming Authority license so attractive is the attention to player’s rights. Within this bracket, we’re talking about the security of personal data from cyber-theft. This is usually an SSL encrypted structure.

Another factor is to try to help problem gamblers. Specifically, addiction to gambling is more dangerous than drug or alcohol addiction. Hence, the MGA also ask license holders to keep track of their customers and identify vulnerable players.

Transparent Gaming

Another such factor which must be taken into account is the attention towards fairness. Should the Malta Gaming Authority warrant any licenses, the casino operators in question must be tested and proved fair.

In turn, this ensures that players who wish to try out games using random number generators (RNG) have a chance to win. Unlike some online casinos, gambling firms with a Malta Gaming license are playing with a fair chance.

This also boils down to RTP (return to player) rate offered on slots and other games. Any casino with a Malta license has to show the RTP rate of various titles.

Encryption and Account Security

The Malta Gaming Authority has strict procedures and one instance of this is their care for security. On the one hand, players account funds are stored in a different place to the company’s funds. So, if an online casino goes bust, then players will still be able to claim whatever is in their accounts.

Aside from this, players are given complete reassurance when gambling at online casinos with MGA licenses, as the governing body takes player complaints directly. This would hold the operator accountable and would benefit the player.

Malta Gaming Authority Review: Countries

If you’re looking at a casino with a Malta Gaming license, you may well be allowed to gamble there as well. As of this moment, the Malta gambling license stretches across 180 different countries. So, instead of listing them one by one, we’ve decided to inform you about what groups they belong to.

Malta is part of the Commonwealth of Nations, the European Union and the Eurozone. Additionally, Malta complies with UK laws which in-turn allows UK players to bet online. However, German online gambling laws are stricter, hence, German players are banned.

Unfortunately for US players, they are so-far banned from all Malta Gaming Authority licensed casinos. The main reason behind this is a failure to see eye-to-eye with one another. Thus, Americans are not able to gamble online at sportsbooks, poker sites or card rooms at any Malta licensed operator.

There are also a few other countries which have actually been banned by the Maltese government. Those include:

  • Australia
  • China
  • Hong Kong
  • Macau
  • Turkey
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Syria
  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia

Mind you, in some cases, an operator may ban some countries based on not having a gaming license with a national regulator.

Malta Gaming Authority Review: Licenses

As mentioned before, there are four different types of licenses which the MGA can issue. They are as follows:

  • 1st Class: This is a license to operate a remote gaming site that uses a random number generator to determine winners.
  • 2nd Class: This license allows sports betting operations to conduct business.
  • 3rd Class: This is a license to advertise remote gaming from Malta.
  • 4th Class: The final type of license is for companies that host or manage remote gaming operations.

It’s key to point out that the most common license which is warranted in the iGaming industry is the third class. That is the most appealing license for online casinos.

Malta Gaming Authority Review: Overall

All in all, it’s quite clear that a Malta Gaming Authority license is not too troublesome to obtain. Unlike the UK Gambling Commission license, a Maltese license would only require a casino to follow the standards set.

A Maltese license is especially beneficial for the casino operator as they can avoid paying too much tax. Plus, such a license, as we’ve seen in this Malta Gaming license review, would be enough for a worldwide audience.

Find the best online jackpots right here at JackpotFinder. We provide all the information you’ll want to know, including what licenses online gambling sites have.