Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)

Established in 2001, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is arguably the most popular and one of the first iGaming regulators in the world. As of 2018, the MGA boasts more than 250 licensees from different categories. As part of its mandate, it awards a business to consumer license to offer a gaming service, a Critical Gaming Supply license for software, a business-to-business license, and a Critical Gaming Supply license to supply the material elements of the game.

Its task is to regulate different sectors of the gaming industry by ensuring transparency and fairness in games. The Authority’s mandate covers five important aims:

• 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

Aside from the regulatory functions of Malta, there are several specific laws and guidelines that govern the Maltese gambling industry and they’re categorized into three tiers:

• Gaming Act of 2018- Chapter 583 of the Laws of Malta as the enabling Act
• Regulations like the Legal Notices by the Minister responsible for the MGA
• Directives and other binding and non-binding instruments as published by the MGA and amended on a regular basis

What you should know about (online) gambling in Malta (FAQ)
In the following section we explain who can play at casinos that have a license from the MGA, what games are regulated and where to go to solve disputes.

Who can play legally?

Malta is one of the first countries in the European Union that allowed online gambling. A license from the MGA makes online gambling available for almost all countries across the world, except those that have regulated their market nationally and don’t allow foreign licenses, and those countries where any type of gambling is illegal as, for example, is the case in most Muslim countries.

Maltese residents who are at least 25 years of age are allowed to enter brick-and-mortar casinos in the country. However, the minimum age requirement for foreigners is 18 years old.

This different minimum age requirement in accessing gambling services is set forth in Article 26(1) of the Gaming Act. The Gaming Premises Directive (Directive 2 of 2019) also states that the minimum age requirement for visiting a casino without the intent to play is 16 years old. For example, students who want to observe or learn about the operations of the casinos are allowed to enter the premises. Also, online casinos licensed remotely by the MGA allow players who are at least 18 years of age to access and play the casino games.

Here’s a summary of the legal gambling age in Malta:

• Physical casinos:
  • 18+ for foreigners
  • 25+ for Maltese residents
  • 16+ for those who want to visit but not allowed to play
• Online casinos 18+
• Online sportsbooks 18+

What can you play legally?

Under the Maltese laws, both land-based and online gambling are allowed to offer most games of chance.

The website of the MGA mentions the following verticals:

• Casino;
• Live casino;
• Scratch Cards;
• Lotteries;
• Secondary lotteries;
• Fixed-odds betting including live betting;
• Pool betting, including betting exchange;
• Peer-to-peer Poker;
• Other commission-based, peer-to-peer games such as bingo, but excluding pool betting, betting exchange, and poker

As a resident, you can visit physical casinos and entertainment centers to play amusement games, commercial tombola games, commercial communication games, and popular casino games like slot machines, table games, and poker. Commercially tombola is simply your bingo game that uses one to 90 numbers. You can play tombola in bingo halls that are licensed by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority.

Aside from the popular casino games, you can also bet on sports both remotely or in physical betting shops or participate in the National Lottery or other forms of lotteries.

Where to go with complaints?

In case of problems or disputes, we highly recommend that you immediately contact your casino operator. You can contact them through a variety of contact channels including email, Live Chat, or toll-free numbers. Once all means have been exhausted, that’s the only time that the complaint can be elevated to the Authority.

For online gaming support, you can use this form. For other correspondences, you can contact the office at this address:

Malta Gaming Authority

Building SCM 02-03, Level 4,
SmartCity Malta
Ricasoli SCM1001, Malta
Tel: +356 2546 9000

Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 09.00hrs till 17.00hrs (excluding Public Holidays)

Responsible gambling and addiction (for self or others)?

All licensees of the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) are required to commit to the protection of the welfare of players. The Authority’s values focus on fairness and transparency and these are reflected in responsible gambling policies. For this reason, all MGA-licensed online casinos are your first contact for assistance and help. All licensed casinos offer Responsible Gambling programs that incorporate the following tools:

• Session Limits
• Deposit Limits
• Self Exclusion
• Reality Checks
• Game Clocks

In its commitment to help promote the welfare of players, MGA initiated three projects, namely:

• Responsible Gaming Foundation
• GamingMaltaEuropean
• Gaming Institute of Malta.

You can check out their websites and brief project descriptions below.

Website of the authorities

If you need more help, you can check out the following links:

• Responsible Gaming Foundation. This was established in 2014 to promote responsible gambling initiatives in relation to responsible gaming actions.
• GamingMalta. Launched in 2015, GamingMalta aims to promote the country as the leading destination for safe and secure gaming.
• European Gaming Institute of Malta (EGIM). This is a joint venture between the MCAST and MGA with an objective to develop education and training programs for the gambling industry.

History of regulation

Formerly called the Lotteries and Gaming Authority, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is Malta’s gaming control board. Established in 2001, the Authority is the responsible agency for regulating most forms of gambling both online and land-based. As of March 2021, the laws and legislative framework that governs the country’s gambling industry include the Gaming Act (which created the MGA), Chapter 583 of the Laws of Malta, and other legislations.

Reputation of the Gaming Authority

The MGA license is arguably one of the most popular and influential in the industry. As of July 2021, there are more than 350 licensees that work with the Authority to deliver different types of casino games and sports betting services. Thanks to its popularity, it’s now considered one of the primary drivers of the Maltese economy. In the first half of 2017, the country’s gaming industry accounted for over 12% of the economy’s output.

From the players’ perspective, the Authority’s dominant presence in the gambling industry is always assuring. The Authority is committed to the promotion of a fair and safe gambling industry through its comprehensive Regulatory Framework. Applicants undergo a three-step certification process that starts with the operator’s assessment for fitness up to the checking of the statutory and regulatory requirements. As an extra step, the applicant is then asked to prepare to go live in 60 days. During this phase, the applicant must implement an external review of its system, like a third-party test of its software. With these safety nets in place, players can count on a safe and fair gambling experience in a casino that operates with a license from the MGA.