Malta
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Malta is a generally strong regulator when it comes to the online casinos it chooses to license within the realm of its jurisdiction. Several of the casinos powered by Microgaming software are licensed through Malta.
Online casinos licensed through Malta are subject to the regulations of the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and their website can be found here.
With respect to online gaming, Malta has a piece of legislation called the Remote Gaming Regulations that is used to regulate the online casino industry in Malta’s jurisdiction. Malta is also one of the signature licensing jurisdictions within the European Union, so licensing from Malta carries a good deal of weight in the EU.
The MGA also lists currently licensed online casino operators as well as those whose license is presently under suspension, so that is certainly a good source to ensure that any online casino claiming to be licensed and in good standing in Malta falls under both of those categories. Malta also attempts to stay on top of those casinos that claim they have licensing under Malta’s jurisdiction, but do not, and a list of those casinos that are known to Malta is kept on the MGA site.
Malta is also an attractive destination for operators because the taxes and fees are fairly low compared to most other licensing jurisdictions, with the exception of Costa Rica (where having a license really means nothing), of course. For that reason, some legitimate casinos who may be able to be licensed in other jurisdictions may choose Malta as a form of cost saving.
Player Protection
With respect to the security of player funds, Malta does require monthly reporting of the balances of player accounts as compared to the balances of bank accounts that are used to store player funds. Furthermore, gaming logs must also be submitted to the MGA on a monthly basis. Therefore, there is definitely prescribed a certain degree of oversight of casinos wishing to operate within the jurisdiction of Malta.
Malta also requires certification of the fairness of the games and legitimacy of the software to be used by the online casino in question in order to obtain licensing. The testing agency must be a certified and approved one pursuant to the regulations of the MGA and all certifications must be current. Online casinos must be re-certified and approved by the MGA in the event that there is any changes to the software or to the rules of any of the games offered by the casino.
The MGA also has regulations in place similar to other licensing jurisdictions that deal with player's funds, equal to the amount that exists in the accounts of players, to be held in a separate fund than the operating fund of the casino. At all times, the balance of that account must be equal to or greater than the sum of the obligations that the licensee may have to the players. However, the MGA does provide a remedy should the amount in such account(s) fall short of that requirement. The MGA gives a licensee thirty days to remedy any shortfall in the account used for the holding of player funds by way of contributing its own funds to that account until such time that the balance of the account is again equal to or exceeding the available player funds. Failure to do so, of course, will result in a suspension of that casino.
With respect to the minimum age requirement to allow a player to play, the casino must ensure that all customers are at least eighteen years of age. Casinos licensed by the MGA are also required to display a link on the home page, ‘Entry Page,’ of their site to a site that deals in helping people who may have a gambling problem. In addition, similar practices regarding limitations and/or the self-exclusion of players who wish to engage in such must also be available on any casinos who are licensed by the MGA.
Player Complaints
However, with respect to any complaints that a player may have against a licensee, the MGA is somewhat lax in the sense that they may not necessarily choose to directly deal with player issues, and in its sole authority, may choose to defer the complaint to the licensee against whom the complaint was made. While the MGA online gaming support does require the licensee to make submissions as to the outcome of the complaint, it is difficult to say how much the authority will enforce its own regulations with respect to the players. The only reason we say that is because it would be better for the licensing jurisdiction, in this case the MGA, to handle any complaints directly submitted to it rather than deferring those complaints to the very alleged offender against whom such complaints were made.
Overall, we would consider Malta as being fairly, ‘Middle of the road,’ as relates the stringency of its regulations for licensees. As with any other online casino, we would suggest that you use our family of sites and the information contained within to research a casino’s reputation on your own. We would also suggest that you visit the MGA website to ensure that an online casino claiming to be licensed under the jurisdiction of Malta is, in fact, so licensed.
Online casinos with a license from Malta are listed below.
Casinos found: 449
Guts Casino
15/04/16
100% up to €100
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Dunder Casino
11/05/16
100% up to C$50 + 50 Spins
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All Software
Betsson Casino
09/08/16
100% up to €100 + 100 Spins
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All Software
100% up to €100
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All Software
100% up to C$50 + 50 Spins
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All Software
100% up to €100 + 100 Spins
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All Software
100 Spins
T&C's Apply-
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All Software
200% up to €/$150 + 150 Spins
T&C's Apply-
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All Software
100% up to €/$5000 + 100 Spins
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All Software
100% up to €100 Bonus code: WELCOME
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All Software
20 Spins
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All Software
200% up to €/$200 + 100 Spins
T&C's Apply-
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All Software
100% up to €300 + 50 Spins Bonus code: 100286
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All Software