MGA licence: what it means, how to check it, licensed casinos
Malta's gaming regulator, licensing online casinos, betting and B2B suppliers serving many markets, plus Malta's land-based casinos and lotteries.
Casinos with a page
14
Hunts tracked there
281
Accept crypto
0%
Founded
2001
About the Malta Gaming Authority
The Malta Gaming Authority was set up in 2001, when it was called the Lotteries and Gaming Authority, under the Lotteries and Other Games Act of that year. It was one of the first regulators in the world to write rules for online gambling operators. Today it oversees both online gambling and Malta's land-based sector, including casinos, gaming parlours, betting offices and lotteries.
Its main law is the Gaming Act (Cap. 583), which came into force on 1 August 2018. The Act and its regulations set out two main licences: a Gaming Service Licence for companies that offer games to players (B2C) and a Critical Gaming Supply Licence for companies that supply core game software or systems to other operators (B2B). Licences are open to companies established in the EU or EEA.
For players, an MGA licence means the operator must follow Maltese rules on player protection, anti-money laundering and complaint handling. Licensees have to offer self-exclusion and limit tools, and reply to complaints within set deadlines. If a dispute is not resolved, players can take it to the MGA Player Support Unit or to an alternative dispute resolution body.
To check a licence, search the MGA Licensee Register on the MGA website by company name, licence status, website address or type of gaming service. The MGA also runs a URL checker and publishes warnings about sites that falsely claim to hold its licence.
Recent changes
June 2023: Parliament adopted amendments to the Gaming Act (Bill 55, Article 56A) telling Maltese courts to refuse foreign judgments that conflict with lawful MGA-licensed gaming. June 2025: the European Commission sent Malta a letter of formal notice over Article 56A; the proceedings were still open in July 2026. 16 April 2026: the EU Court of Justice ruled in case C-440/23 that EU law does not stop a member state from banning online gambling licensed in another member state. Legal Notices 84 and 86 of 2026 (published April 2026, applying from October 2026) replace the flat 5% gaming tax with rates by game type and narrow the VAT exemption for gambling.
MGA licence facts
| Country | Malta |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 |
| Law | Gaming Act (Cap. 583), Act XVI of 2018, in force 1 August 2018 |
| Licenses | online casino, online sports betting, B2B gaming supply, land-based casinos, gaming parlours and amusement machines, betting offices, lotteries, fantasy sports |
| Licence types | Gaming Service Licence (B2C), Critical Gaming Supply Licence (B2B), Recognition Notice (recognises an EU/EEA or equivalent authorisation) |
| Market | Licences EU/EEA-based operators that serve players in many countries, as well as the local Maltese land-based sector |
| Self-exclusion | No national online register: each MGA-licensed online operator must offer its own self-exclusion. Land-based venues share a unified self-barring system run through the MGA and the Responsible Gaming Foundation. |
| Player protection | Operators must offer self-exclusion for a definite or indefinite period. Increasing a self-exclusion takes effect immediately; reducing it needs a written request and a waiting period of at least 24 hours (definite) or 7 days (indefinite). Self-exclusion for problem gambling applies to all brands of the same licensee. Players can set deposit, wagering, loss and session time limits. Reality checks on slot-style games show time spent and amounts wagered. Accounts opened by minors must be closed and deposits refunded. Operators must answer complaints within 10 days. |
| Complaints | Complain to the operator first; operators must reply within 10 days (extendable by 10 days with notice). If unresolved, refer the case to the MGA Player Support Unit through the online Lodge a Complaint form (English or Maltese) or to an ADR entity. |
| Licence register | www.mga.org.mt/licensee-hub/licensee-register |
| Website | www.mga.org.mt |
Casinos with a MGA licence
Casinos with a CasinoHub page that list this licence, most hunted first.
MGA licence FAQ
How do I check if a casino holds an MGA licence?
Use the Licensee Register in the Licensee Hub on mga.org.mt. You can search by company name, licence status, website address or gaming service. A logo on the casino's own site is not proof on its own; the entry in the register is what counts.
What law does the MGA apply?
The Gaming Act (Cap. 583), which came into force on 1 August 2018, together with regulations on licensing, player protection, compliance and advertising, and a set of MGA directives.
What is the difference between a B2C and a B2B MGA licence?
A B2C Gaming Service Licence lets a company offer games directly to players. A B2B Critical Gaming Supply Licence covers companies that supply essential game software or back-end systems to licensed operators.
How do I complain about an MGA-licensed operator?
Start with the operator, which must reply within 10 days. If you are not satisfied, you can file a complaint with the MGA Player Support Unit through the Lodge a Complaint form, or use an alternative dispute resolution body.
Is there a national self-exclusion scheme in Malta?
Not for online play. Each licensed online operator must offer its own self-exclusion, which then covers all brands of that licensee. Land-based venues in Malta share a single self-barring system.
What is Bill 55?
It is a 2023 amendment to Malta's Gaming Act (Article 56A) that tells Maltese courts to refuse foreign judgments that conflict with lawful MGA-licensed gaming. The European Commission opened infringement proceedings over it in June 2025.
Which casinos on CasinoHub hold a MGA licence?
14 casinos with a CasinoHub page list a MGA licence, including Casinobud, Wildz, Turbo Vegas, Betano. Each casino page shows the licence details we checked.
How many bonus hunts were tracked at MGA-licensed casinos?
Streamers tracked 281 bonus hunts with CasinoHub at casinos that list a MGA licence.
Other gambling regulators
Researched by Konrad van Daath, checked 7 November 2026. Facts come from public sources (en.wikipedia.org, legislation.mt, mga.org.mt, legal500.com). Always confirm a licence in the regulator's own register. Gambling is for adults only and can be addictive; play responsibly.
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