Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
The MGA is the reference regulator for European online gambling. It licences a large share of the market, publishes a searchable register, and obliges operators to keep player funds separate from their own.
What we like
- Player funds must be segregated
- A public register you can check a licence against
- Established, well-tested complaints route
What we don’t
- Complaints can take weeks to resolve
- Licence fees push some smaller operators elsewhere
Licence at a glance
Authority details
- Full legal name: Malta Gaming Authority
- Jurisdiction: Malta
- Regulatory body: Independent statutory authority
- Licence types issued: B2C and B2B gaming service licences, across all game types
- Official website
- Official register
Oversight snapshot
- ✓ Player fund segregation
- ✓ Independent dispute resolution
- ✓ RNG / fairness testing
- ✓ Responsible gambling tools
- ✓ Public complaints channel
- ✓ National self-exclusion scheme
How players are protected
An MGA licence carries obligations that are checked, not merely stated.
- Player funds held separately from operating funds
- Independent dispute resolution after an internal complaint
- RNG and live tables tested by an approved laboratory
- Deposit limits, reality checks and self-exclusion offered by default
What an MGA licence means for players
The MGA is the reference regulator for European online gambling. It licences a large share of the market, publishes a searchable register, and obliges operators to keep player funds separate from their own.
- Segregated funds — your balance is not the operator’s working capital
- A named ADR body handles disputes the operator cannot settle
- Games are tested before they go live, not after complaints
Frequently asked questions
How do I check an operator really holds an MGA licence?
Search the authority’s licensee register by company name or licence number. The footer badge on a casino site is not proof on its own — the register is.
What happens to my balance if an MGA operator closes?
Player funds must be held separately from operating funds, so a balance is not part of the failed business. Recovery still takes time, but the money is identifiable.
Can I complain to the MGA directly?
Yes, once you have exhausted the operator’s own complaints process. Escalating before that will usually be referred back.
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