Malta Gaming Authority – MGA
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is one of the best-known gaming authorities. It is headquartered on the island of Malta.
This license can really only be obtained by fairly reputable betting providers who are subjected to various checks in this regard.
In addition, the betting or casino provider must be financially well positioned and adhere to all guidelines for player protection. The betting providers that have received this license are regularly checked so that the quality standards can always be kept up to date.
This gaming authority also fights crime in this industry, where fraud is no stranger. If a betting provider can show the logo of this gambling authority on its website, then customers can breathe easy. There is almost never any doubt about the seriousness and safety of this betting provider.
Malta Gaming Authority history
The Lottery and Gaming Authority of Malta was launched with the entry into force of lotteries and other games in 2001. At that time, Malta passed a law that should regulate lotteries and games of chance. The MGA was set up as an official control body, which is also responsible for licensing the providers.
Since 2004 a large number of companies have been based in Malta and have developed into the largest online gaming jurisdiction in the world which has an excellent international reputation.
Over the years, the authority has earned a first-class reputation and is considered one of the most competent points of contact. This is also the reason why players rate the license of this authority as extremely trustworthy. The area of responsibility now includes not only casinos, lotteries, and sports betting, but also fantasy sports, poker and other games of chance.
Usually, sports betting and casino companies licensed in Malta can be classified as reputable, since the requirements for a license are far higher than in Curacao, Costa Rica and Kahnawake, for example.
The MGA mission statement is to “competently regulate the various areas of the lottery and gaming industry that come under the authority of Malta by ensuring that gaming is fair and transparent to players and that crime, corruption and money laundering are prevented and protecting smaller and more vulnerable players. ”
Some of the largest brands in the world are registered in Malta, which we present in detail in our reviews.
How MGA works
If a provider wants to offer his gambling in Malta, he must first obtain the permission of the MGA. Without these, it is not permitted to offer gambling in the country. For this purpose, contact is made with the authority, which then examines the applicant in various ways. On the one hand, it is considered whether the company complies with all requirements of the Maltese laws in the area of gambling.
If this is not the case, of course, no license will be issued. The background of the company is also checked. No criminal activities are to be discovered here, at the same time the owners of the gaming provider must be serious and equipped with a “white vest”.
The third important point is financial. Of course, every gambling provider must have a certain amount of financial backing so that, for example, the winnings are also paid out to the players. Here, of course, the authority looks very closely, because the MGA would not be interested in a quick bankruptcy of the provider.
The advantages of online casinos licensed by the MGA
It is clear, of course, that playing in licensed casinos has some advantages for players. Every player can place their bets with confidence and can rest assured that gambling in this casino is really fair. But what does that mean in detail? We show it!
Protection of the players
The casinos are about a lot of money for the players. This, in turn, makes things interesting for criminals who are primarily concerned with the sensitive data of the players.
This is exactly why all online casinos have to comply with certain standards if they want to get a license from the Maltese authorities. The standards include data encryption, which is implemented with SSL protection. To be more precise, this protection means that all sensitive player data is encrypted and only transmitted in a protected manner.
If, for example, the customers in the casino make a payment or enter their name in a form, criminals will never have access to this data. At the same time, the providers must adhere to other data security requirements, which relate, for example, to the “storage” of the data. In other words: If a gaming provider is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, this promises the highest level of security and maximum protection against cyber attacks.
Fair play and safety
Of course, gambling should always be fair and every player should be able to start with real chances of winning. So that this can really be guaranteed, all games in the casinos are checked.
No matter whether roulette, blackjack or slot machines: Every game is examined for its fairness. The Random Number Generator, RNG for short, is interesting for this. This is a random generator that lets the games in the casino run randomly. In the past, there have been providers who have manipulated this random number generator in their favor.
To prevent this from happening, the random number generators and therefore the payout ratios of the games are checked regularly. If correct values no longer appear here, this would be equivalent to fraud by the provider and the provider would lose his license.
In an online casino licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, every player can therefore be sure that there is a real chance of winning and that the requirements are equally fair for all players.
Player funds are kept separately
One of the financial requirements for obtaining a Maltese license is that player funds are kept separate from the casino’s assets.
The funds that the provider uses every day are therefore stored differently than the deposited amounts of the players. This promises enormous protection for all customers, because a cyber attack on the provider would most likely only affect the money from the operative business.
his separate storage also has another advantage. If the casino is in financial difficulties, the players’ funds are not affected by a possible bankruptcy and can be repaid to them. Accordingly, this is an extremely important requirement
Surveillance of casinos and bookmakers
Without controlled surveillance of online casinos, the market would go haywire. After all, providers could do whatever they want. This situation would be almost intolerable for the players.
After all, in the event of a conflict with the provider, there would be no place for the players to turn. However, should problems arise, each player can report to the Maltese authorities and explain their case.
Incidentally, that also makes a lot of sense from a financial perspective. After all, the lawsuits against a provider in Malta would involve enormous costs for players from EU countries. At the same time, the chances of success in court are very poor.
How do I know if a casino has an MGA license?
Since every player should only play in licensed casinos, the question naturally arises how these providers can be recognized. First of all, we can look at the site.
Any casino that is listed with us can be described as trustworthy and reputable. These providers work with fair conditions at all times and all of them require the necessary licenses.
In addition, the website of the Malta Gaming Authority can be accessed, on which a list of all licensed casinos can be found. You can also find more information about the respective providers here.
The MGA logo must also be found on the website of a casino. But be careful: The logo can of course also be placed on your website by providers who do not have a license from the Maltese authorities.
Accordingly, players should always check that the license number of the authority and the license number on the homepage of the casino match. If not, it suggests fraud or error.
These problems can be reported to the MGA
There are several reasons why players can contact the authorities from Malta. In general, contact can always be sought if the players feel they have been treated unfairly. For example, if the payment amount is incorrect, this is a case for the authorities. In addition, Malta Gaming Auhority will also be contacted because players feel unfairly treated by a provider’s bonus terms.
In addition, the MGA is responsible for complaints in the area of IT security, data protection, verification or the general terms and conditions. In short, players can contact the Maltese authorities with any problem or concern.
Can I complain?
In general, it is made very easy for every player to complain to the Malta Gaming Authority about a provider or how he works. A contact form can be found directly on the website of the authority, which can be completed within a few moments.
Here the players can describe their case and if possible also provide screenshots or the like. The more precisely the case is described, the easier it is for the authority to respond correctly.
At the same time, the MGA also points out on its homepage that players should always seek direct contact with the provider in order to discuss the problem with the provider. If this does not lead to a solution, the help of the authority can be called on. There is, of course, more information about this topic, at the MGA complaints site.
Conclusion
The importance of a license for an online casino is enormous because every player can rely on a reputable provider due to this license. Malta’s authorities have been doing a first-class job for many years, ensuring that players have a safe environment. If you play in casinos licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, you definitely have nothing to fear.
