Types of Licences
The MGA identifies two licence categories for businesses offering games of chance or controlled-skill games:
- A Gaming Service License authorizes an online or land-based casino to provide gambling services.
- A Critical Gaming Supply License is intended 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, preventing crime and corruption, and protecting minors and vulnerable players. One stated requirement is that casinos ensure players are at least 18 years old.
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. Under MGA rules, online casinos must make these tools available through player accounts.
Protecting player funds is another area of oversight. Casinos must submit monthly reports comparing player balances with the balances of bank accounts that hold player funds. The money must remain in an account separate from the operator’s funds and must not be combined with operating money.
Software Testing and Licensing
Games and related software are tested for fairness and accuracy. The MGA accepts tests only from agencies it has approved in advance. If software or game rules change, the provider must request recertification from the authority, meaning approval may involve ongoing review rather than a single check.
How to Obtain a Licence
Operators applying for 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 verifies that the required fees have been paid, then forwards the application to the Regulatory Directorate for assessment. The regulator may request additional documents. Before a successful applicant receives a licence, the platform must pay applicable licensing fees, gaming taxes and compliance contribution fees.
The MGA says applicants can track application progress in the LRMS. The authority’s Licensee Register is also available to the public for searching operators and checking their licence status.
Conclusion
The MGA oversees online gambling operators under its regulatory framework, with stated responsibilities including player protection and supervision of casinos and software. The source review describes MGA certification as evidence of rigorous vetting and 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 determine whether an operator is permitted in a Canadian province or territory.
