The Gambling Commission of Malta

The Malta Gaming Authority is an online casinos regulator that has been on the market from 2001. It has been conducting its responsibilities properly setting high requirements for casinos applying for its license.

Although there were questions to the regulator regarding delays of solving disputes between casino and player till 2015, though they coped with problems by recruiting additional staff and developing live chat to support players. The regulator improved the overall level of carrying out services. After that, it has become one of the leaders of the industry.

Under a Malta gambling license an online casino can operate around the world although there are a few countries which the regulator does not allow to accept players from.

How I chose the best MGA licensed online casinos

There are hundreds of the MGA licensed online casinos currently on the market, and, as you may have concluded, these casinos are not all equally good. Therefore it might be a bit challenging to pick a casino yourself. The rating that you can see above has been created to help you with the choice. Moreover, I used the following criteria:

• Reliability. Jumping forward, a Malta license protects players being strong enough. However, at some casinos with this license you might experience withdrawal delays/cancelations. All casinos from my rating are absolutely perfect in this regard.

• License validity. As there are a number of online casinos operating with a fake Malta license, this step becomes truly crucial. I have checked the validity of the licenses of casinos in the rating myself (and do it on a regular basis).

• Software validity. Only licensed casino software guarantees that all winnings are distributed purely randomly, and you have fair chances to get it. I use this technique , which allows me to verify software with 100% confidence.

• Overall account security. All casinos from the rating have got SSL certificates implemented, which ensures that your personal data won’t be stolen by malicious actors.

• Customer service (support). The best way to get your problems solved or questions answered is via live chat. At all casinos live chat is in place and pretty much ready to help.

• KYC policy. There is a set of rules regarding KYC established by the MGA so you need to expect this procedure at all MGA licensed casinos. However, it must be done in the smoothest possible way.

• Promotions (bonuses, VIP-programs, races, tournaments, cashback). This is a “must have” for any modern online casino. All casinos from the rating at least have some promos to make players feel appreciated.

• Deposit/withdrawal options. Here everything is very simple. The more payment options the better. On top of that, all the most popular payment methods (Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, Ecopayz) must be in place.

• Withdrawal limits. 15,000 EUR per month is going to be enough for the majority of casino players. Especially given that these limits are not applied to progressive jackpot winnings, which are going to be paid in full at once.

• Variety of the games. It is hard to imagine a good online casino without hundreds of online slots/card games/ table games/ live dealer games on a casino’s platform.

• A casino’s website quality. Some online casinos still have slow, unusable websites, like they were still in the 2000s. This can not be said about online casinos from the rating at all.

Is the Malta gambling license strong enough?

The short answer is yes. I would call the Malta gambling license a tier 1 license meaning it has very high standards regarding the protection of players’ interests.

Moreover, this license is the strongest international license which has an affordable price at the same time (opposite to Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Alderney licenses). That’s why so many fair online casinos do acquire a Malta license.

Objectives of the MGA

As it says on the official website here, the objective are the following:

• Protect minors and vulnerable persons;

• Safeguard players’ rights;

• Promote responsible gaming in a safe environment;

• Ensure the integrity of games and gaming devices;

• Keep gaming free from criminal activities.

MGA license types:

• Gaming service license. This license includes all activities that interact with the end customer (casino, sports betting, lotteries, bingo etc.)

• Critical gaming supply license. This license is for B2B services. For example, all popular slot studios (such as Netent, Microgaming, Yggdrasil and a lot of others) have got exactly this type of license.

How to check a Malta gambling license

There are quite a few online casinos with a fake Malta gambling license. I guess it is needless to elaborate how harmful it will be to play at such venues. Hence, you need to verify a Malta gambling license each time you would like to try out a new casino. Here is a detailed guide on how to do so in the right way (yes, there is an incorrect way).

How to file a complaint to the MGA

The MGA has implemented a very convenient online service which can be found here: https://www.mga.org.mt/support/online-gaming-support/

Moreover, I have a dedicated guide on how to do it in the right way.

Self-exclusion at the MGA licensed online casinos

Although there is no centralized self-exclusion service for addicted gamblers (for example, as it is done by the UKGC), all Malta licensed online casinos must block players if they are asked to.

The MGA actually enforces this rule very strictly.

Can Maltese citizens play at the MGA licensed casinos?

It depends on a particular online casino’s policy. So to speak, if a casino has a Malta license, it does not necessarily mean that it accepts Maltese residents.

If you are visiting this page from a Maltese IP address, my website is going to automatically filter online casinos which accept Maltese residents. Just simply scroll up at the beginning of the review.

Is the Malta gambling license international?

Yes, under this license online casinos are allowed to accept players from around the world.

However, there are still many prohibited countries (such as the USA, France, Spain and some others) so it does not mean that a casino with a Malta license automatically accepts players from all countries.

Does the MGA allow casinos to give away bonuses?

Opposite to some other gambling commissions (for example, the SGA is known to have such sort of restrictions), the MGA allows casinos to provide players with all sorts of bonuses (including welcome bonuses) and many other promotions.

Closing thoughts

The bottom line is that a MGA licensed online casino is the best choice for the absolute majority of casino players worldwide.

The commission does really care about players’ interest, not only declaring such noble goals.

	Website	http://www.mga.org.mt
	Email	[email protected]
	Phone	+356 2546 9191
	Address	Malta Gaming Authority Suite 1, Level 3 TG Complex Brewery Street Mriehel, Birkirkara, BKR 3000, Malta