Types of Licences
The MGA describes two licence categories for businesses offering games of chance or games of controlled skill:
- A Gaming Service License allows an online or land-based casino to provide gambling services.
- A Critical Gaming Supply License is for business-to-business suppliers, authorizing eligible companies to provide products or software to Gaming Service License holders.
Areas of Focus
The MGA’s mission includes promoting a fair and transparent gaming sector in Malta, guarding against crime and corruption, and protecting minors and vulnerable players. One stated measure requires casinos to ensure players are at least 18 years of age.
The authority also addresses gambling-related harm. Its requirements include a link to support services and options for players to set limits or exclude themselves. Online casinos must make these tools available under the MGA rules.
Protecting player funds is another area of oversight. Casinos must submit monthly reports, including comparisons between player balances and the balances of bank accounts holding player funds. Those funds must be kept in a separate account and not mixed with the operator’s operating funds.
Software Testing and Licensing
Games and related software are tested for fairness and accuracy. The MGA accepts testing only from agencies it has approved in advance. If software or game rules change, the provider must seek recertification from the authority, making licensing a continuing review rather than a one-time approval.
How to Obtain a Licence
Operators seeking a licence are directed to the MGA’s official website, where they submit applications through the Licensee Relationship Management System (LRMS).
The Financial Directorate first confirms payment of the required fees, then forwards the application to the Regulatory Directorate for review. The regulator may request additional documents. Before a successful applicant receives a licence, the platform must pay the applicable licensing fees, gaming taxes and compliance contribution fees.
The MGA says applicants can track their application status in the LRMS. The authority’s Licensee Register also allows the public to search for operators and check their licensing status.
Conclusion
The MGA oversees online gambling operators under its regulatory framework, with stated responsibilities that include player protection and supervision of casinos and software. The source review characterizes MGA certification as evidence of rigorous vetting and describes its oversight as nearly constant. These claims do not establish that a particular platform is safe or authorized to serve players in Canada. A Malta licence alone does not show whether an operator is permitted in a Canadian province or territory.
