BW Game Hub Malta: MGA Licence Explained — How to Verify a Maltese Gaming Authority Licence

MGA Licence Explained — How to Verify a Maltese Gaming Authority Licence

A Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) licence is the most recognised online-gambling licence in Europe. This guide explains what the MGA is, the four licence classes it issues, how to read an MGA licence number, and how to verify in under two minutes whether any operator claiming an MGA licence actually holds one. Check an operator’s claim against the official register before you deposit money.

What the MGA is

The Malta Gaming Authority is Malta’s gambling regulator. It was originally established in 2001 as the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) and rebranded to the MGA in 2015. Malta was the first European Union member state to regulate online gambling, with a dedicated framework dating to 2004, which is why Malta developed over the following two decades into the leading European jurisdiction for online gambling operators.

The MGA’s remit covers both land-based and remote (online) gambling. Its core activities are licensing operators, auditing compliance, enforcing player-protection standards, managing complaints, and publishing a live register of active licensees. The regulator operates under the Gaming Act (Cap 583) and a stack of implementing regulations, most materially the Gaming Authorisations Regulations, the Gaming Player Protection Regulations, the Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations, and the Gaming Compliance and Enforcement Regulations.

For a Maltese player or an international player using a Malta-facing operator, the MGA is the accountable authority if anything goes wrong: complaints that the operator can’t or won’t resolve escalate to the MGA. The MGA can direct operators to settle confirmed liabilities, impose conditions, suspend, or revoke licences in serious cases.

The Gaming Act (Cap 583) — the one-paragraph version

The Gaming Act (Chapter 583 of the Laws of Malta) is the primary legislation. It consolidates the regulatory framework for all gambling activity in Malta: land-based casinos, remote gaming, and the National Lottery. It replaced earlier sector-specific laws with a unified framework centred on a single regulator (the MGA) and licence classes based on the type of game offered rather than the technology used to deliver it. The Gaming Authorisations Regulations specify the licence classes, the Gaming Player Protection Regulations govern the player-protection tools every licensee must offer, and the Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations govern advertising standards.

The four MGA licence classes

The MGA issues licences under four classes, based on the type of game offered:

Type 1 — casino-style games

Casino games where outcomes are randomly generated. Slots, video poker, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and the game-show live-dealer products all fall under Type 1. An operator running a casino, whether RNG-based or live-dealer, needs a Type 1 licence.

Type 2 — fixed-odds betting

Fixed-odds sports betting. All traditional sportsbook activity — pre-match and in-play prices on football, horse racing, tennis, and every other sport an operator covers — falls under Type 2.

Type 3 — peer-to-peer games and betting exchanges

Poker, bingo, skill-based games, and betting exchanges where the operator facilitates a game or market but does not itself take positions. Peer-to-peer poker rooms operate under Type 3.

Type 4 — controlled skill games

Games of skill or fantasy-style games where the outcome is determined by skill rather than chance, under specific regulatory conditions.

Operators can hold multiple licence classes simultaneously. Betway, for example, holds its B2C Gaming Service Licence covering both Type 1 and Type 2 scope under licence number MGA/CRP/130/2006 — a single licence authorisation allowing both casino-style and fixed-odds-betting activity.

Anatomy of an MGA licence number

MGA licence numbers follow a standard format:

MGA/CRP/XXX/YYYY

Where:

• MGA — the regulator
• CRP — the licensee-category code. CRP denotes a Corporate licensee; other codes exist for specific licence types
• XXX — the sequential licence identifier (three digits, though longer numbers may appear for older or reissued licences)
• YYYY — the year the licence was originally issued

For example, Betway Limited operates under licence number MGA/CRP/130/2006. That tells you: it’s an MGA licence, issued to a corporate licensee, licence number 130, originally issued in 2006. The fact that a licence was originally issued in 2006 doesn’t necessarily mean it’s been held continuously since then; licences can be renewed, reissued, or transferred. The MGA register shows current status.

How to verify an operator’s MGA licence in under two minutes

This is the section that matters. Any operator can claim any licence number on its homepage footer. The only way to know whether that claim is true is to check the official MGA register. Here’s the process:

1. Go to the MGA licensee register at authorisation.mga.org.mt.
2. Search by operator name or licence number. The register accepts both. Company name typically works best if you have it; otherwise, paste the licence number from the operator’s site.
3. Check the status. The register shows each licensee’s current status: Licensed, Suspended, Revoked, or Surrendered. Only Licensed status means the operator is currently authorised to operate.
4. Check the authorised services. The register lists which services the licence covers (B2C, B2B, and specific game types). Confirm the operator’s advertised product matches what the licence actually authorises.
5. Check the issuing entity. Licences are held by specific corporate entities. Make sure the entity name on the MGA register matches the entity on the operator’s terms-and-conditions page.

You can verify Betway Limited’s authorisation directly through this MGA register link. The page shows Licence Number MGA/CRP/130/2006, Licence Category “B2C – Gaming Service Licence”, and current status Licensed.

The whole process takes under two minutes once you know how to do it. It’s the single strongest protection against rogue operators misusing the MGA name.

What the MGA requires of its licensees

An MGA licence isn’t a passive stamp. Licensees must meet ongoing obligations:

• KYC verification — all account holders verified with government-issued identification, proof of address, and (for larger deposits or withdrawals) source-of-funds documentation
• Segregated player funds — customer balances held separately from operational funds, meaning the operator cannot use player money for its own expenses
• Prompt payouts — withdrawals must be processed within defined timeframes once KYC is complete
• Responsible gambling toolkit — deposit limits, loss limits, session limits, reality checks, cooling-off, and self-exclusion mandatory for all licensees
• Complaint handling — operators must run a documented internal complaints process; if the player remains dissatisfied, the MGA can investigate
• Advertising standards — all commercial communications must comply with the Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations (no targeting minors, no misleading bonus claims, no implying gambling solves financial problems)
• Technical auditing — game outcomes must be independently tested; RNG-based games carry third-party lab certification
• Anti-money-laundering compliance — standard AML procedures including transaction monitoring and suspicious-activity reporting

The MGA audits compliance and publishes enforcement actions on its website when it takes action against licensees.

Complaint escalation — how it works

If you have a dispute with an MGA-licensed operator that you can’t resolve directly, the process:

1. Raise the complaint in writing through the operator’s internal complaints process. Every MGA licensee is required to have a documented complaints-handling route. Details are on the operator’s terms page or in their responsible-gambling section
2. Allow the operator a reasonable time to respond — typically ten working days, though this varies
3. If unresolved, escalate to the MGA via the MGA Player Support unit on the MGA website. You’ll need to document the complaint timeline, the operator’s responses, and any evidence (screenshots, transaction records)
4. The MGA reviews the complaint and, if it finds the operator in breach, can direct them to settle confirmed liabilities. The regulator has discretion on the specific remedy

The MGA publishes summary enforcement data on its website. Repeated or material breaches can result in licence conditions, suspensions, or revocations.

MGA vs. other Tier-1 regulators

How the MGA compares with the other widely-recognised European regulators:

• UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) — the UK equivalent. UKGC rules on bonus terms, advertising, and affordability are currently more prescriptive than the MGA’s; both are considered Tier-1 regulators. UKGC-licensed operators may be a different corporate entity from their MGA counterparts even within the same brand family
• Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) — smaller-scale regulator covering operators based in the Isle of Man. Similar Tier-1 reputation, tighter operator base
• Jersey Gambling Commission (JGC) — Jersey-based operators; Tier-2 recognition, narrower remit
• Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) — Alderney-based operators; historically significant but smaller scale than MGA or UKGC

For a Maltese player, an MGA licence is the most directly accountable authority. If you’re playing at a UKGC-only operator (for example, a UK-facing brand that doesn’t hold an MGA licence), the UKGC is your regulatory recourse. For Isle of Man or Jersey operators, the relevant regulator applies. Operators often hold multiple licences to serve multiple jurisdictions.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if a gambling operator is genuinely MGA-licensed?

Search the operator’s name or licence number on the MGA licensee register. Confirm the status is Licensed, the services listed match the operator’s product, and the issuing entity matches the operator’s terms page.

What’s the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 MGA licences?

Type 1 covers casino-style games (slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, live dealer). Type 2 covers fixed-odds betting (sports betting). An operator can hold both simultaneously; combined-product sites typically do.

Is the MGA the same as the UK Gambling Commission?

No. The MGA is Malta’s gambling regulator; the UKGC is the UK’s. Both are Tier-1 regulators with robust player-protection frameworks, but they are separate authorities with separate jurisdictions and different specific rules.

What happens if an MGA licensee goes out of business?

MGA rules require segregated player funds, meaning customer balances are held separately from operational funds. If an operator becomes insolvent, the segregated funds are in principle available to refund players. In practice, the process can take time and is subject to the specific insolvency proceedings.

Do MGA licences cover casino and sports betting together?

A single licence (like Betway’s MGA/CRP/130/2006) can cover both, depending on the scope authorised. The MGA register shows the exact services each licence covers.

Can an MGA licence be revoked?

Yes. The MGA can suspend or revoke licences for serious or repeated breaches of regulations. Enforcement actions are published on the MGA website.

Why does Malta host so many online gambling operators?

Malta was the first EU member state to regulate online gambling (in 2004), building a regulatory and business ecosystem — regulator, legal firms, payment providers, technical testing agencies — that remains one of the most mature in Europe. iGaming is also a significant part of the Maltese economy, contributing a substantial share of GDP.

How do I raise a complaint against an MGA-licensed operator?

Start with the operator’s internal complaints process. If the response is unsatisfactory, escalate to the MGA Player Support unit via the MGA website. Document the timeline and evidence.

Related

• Sports Betting in Malta — Malta hub
• Sports Betting in Malta — the sports pillar
• Betway Malta review — Betway’s MGA licence verified