The architecture of Malta’s gaming industry

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)

The MGA’s legal role, according to the Lotteries and Other Games Act 2001, is to regulate the various sectors of the gaming industry that fall under the Authority.

To satisfy these legal obligations, the MGA aims to ensure gaming is fair and transparent, protect minors and vulnerable persons, safeguard players’ rights, promote responsible gaming in a safe environment, ensure the integrity of games and gaming devices and keep gaming free from criminal activities, corruption and money laundering.

It also consolidates all regulatory functions relating to gaming activities while providing a one-stop-shop for licensing. It offers support to the industry in technological innovation as well as provide authoritative and accessible information.

In practice the Authority grants all licences relating to gaming and monitors licensed gaming while collecting gaming taxes on behalf of the government. It also conducts research on various aspects of gaming, ensures the sector contributes to the country’s development and supports good causes.

The Malta Gaming Authority is chaired by Joseph Cuschieri.

Malta Remote Gaming Council (MRGC)

MRGC was launched in March 2005 as an initiative of the Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority as part of its strategic plan to create a dynamic regulatory environment for remote gaming. 

The council is made up of stakeholders in the remote gaming industry including licensed operators, data carriers, Internet service providers, lawyers and professional service providers. Its main objective is to serve as an ongoing discussion forum, giving valuable feedback to the Malta Gaming Authority to be able to keep abreast with the latest developments in the industry.

The Malta Remote Gaming Council is chaired by George Debrincat.

GamingMalta

GamingMalta was launched in March 2015 by the Malta Gaming Authority to serve as a promotional arm for Malta’s gaming industry. 

Its aim is to enhance and focus all the promotional efforts previously conducted by the Malta Gaming Authority and to further enhance the communications channel between all the industry stakeholders. This is meant to ensure that all support services provided in Malta meet the industry’s current and future needs it anticipates.

Responsible Gaming Foundation

The Responsible Gaming Foundation is a non-profit making organisation supporting good governance, awareness initiatives and enactment of regulations in order to protect vulnerable people in the gaming sector. In doing so it administers funds collected for the support of individuals affected by gaming-related projects,to foster awareness about responsible gaming and organise projects aimed at rehabilitating problem gamers.