New MGA Casinos

Malta is an island state situated in the Mediterranean sea, just south of Sicily. As one of the EU’s smallest countries, it has established itself as a hub for gambling and financial services within Europe. Since 2001, the online gambling sector in Malta has grown rapidly and now generates over 12% of the country’s GDP.

New Malta Gaming Authority Casinos 2023

Malta is the ultimate authority on European Casinos. Most major casinos have headquarters or at least offices there, and the MGA licence is considered the pathway into the European market. Below you will be able to see all the latest MGA licenced casinos – each has a different welcome bonus so that you can kickstart your journey with additional funds. Feel free to continue to their individual reviews or use our comparison tool for a clearer picture of what they have to offer.

Features of the Malta Gaming Licence

The Malta Gaming Authority issues four different classes of licence depending on the requirements and intentions of operators. The four classes are:

• Class 1 is a remote gaming licence suitable for casino-style games and online lotteries.
• Class 2 is a remote betting licence for fixed-odds sports betting.
• Class 3 is a licence to advertise gaming in or from Malta. Suitable for operators who earn a commission from promoting games.
• Class 4 is a licence to host and manage remote gaming operations. Mostly used as a business to business gaming licence.

Whichever of these four options a gambling provider is hoping to obtain, they must go through a very stringent application process. The MGA works hard to establish if they meet the suitable criteria before they will issue a gaming licence or not.

Applicants must be able to prove the following:

• Compliance with MGA rules and regulations.
• Clear ownership of their gaming operations.
• The ability to keep player funds separate and secure.
• Compliance with anti-money laundering regulations.

The MGA also closely monitors operators to ensure that they have all the appropriate safety checks in place. These measures are designed to help prevent underage or problem gamblers from accessing their services.

Responsibility of the Malta Gaming Authority

The Malta Gaming Authority has many responsibilities as a regulatory body. Their key areas of operation cover the following:

• Licensing and regulation of online and offline gaming operators.
• Investigating complaints against operators on behalf of players.
• The protection of underage and vulnerable persons through the promotion of responsible gaming.
• Ensuring that all deposits and withdrawals are secure and enforceable through the protection of player funds.
• Using audits and independent testing to ensure the randomness of results of casino games.
• Monitoring of licensee activities to ensure compliance and flag up any criminal activity.

Through the above activity, the MGA seeks to enhance its reputation in creating a safe and secure playing environment wherever possible so that you can play and be sure that your winnings will rightly be paid out.

How to Tell if You Are Playing at MGA Licensed Casino

By playing at an officially licenced MGA casino or sports betting provider, players can help to reduce their risk of fraud or identity theft. They will also be certain that the games they are playing have been independently checked and verified for fairness.

The easiest way to look for signs of an MGA licence is to investigate the footer text and logo area. Here players should be able to see some writing and possibly a logo that indicates the gambling provider is licensed by the MGA. It should state that the site is “licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority under licence…” followed by the licence number.

If there is any doubt regarding the authenticity of the MGA licence details shown on a gambling site, then it is advisable to check the official licensee register. Interested parties can search by licensee name, authorisation status, URL or Gaming Service at the official MGA website.

Also remember that we only ever recommend licensed casinos at NewCasinos, and on this very page we have a list of the newest MGA casinos that have just gone live.

Advantages of the Malta Gaming Authority Licence

With the gambling industry awash with unsafe and unlicensed websites, any operator holding an MGA licence can benefit greatly from the trusted status that it brings to their brand. Licences granted in Malta are on a par with those issued in Gibraltar in covering players from countries that do not provide their own official gambling licences.

From a financial perspective, the low gaming licence fees and taxes are a big draw for gaming providers in search of an EU base. The corporate income rate for businesses can be as low as 5%. The fact that gaming operators are only required to pay tax in Malta on revenue from Maltese customers is a massive boon for them.

It also benefits gambling customers. They can play safely in the knowledge that the MGA licence is ensuring the fairness of any games of chance via independent testing. With operators having to adhere to the strict guidelines around responsible gaming and fraud, players can feel somewhat protected by the MGA.

In addition to this, the Malta Gaming Authority checks that any provider wishing to obtain a licence completely separates its player funds from the rest of its operating funds. This is very reassuring for players because if a new casino or sportsbook goes bust overnight, your funds should be safe.

Risks of the Malta Gaming Authority Licence

One of the biggest risks facing the MGA at the present time is the reputation of the country regarding fraud and corruption. In recent years there have been several high profile incidents that have highlighted a mafia-style contingent operating within Malta. The MGA has sought to distance itself from these scandals but is still highly entwined with the government of Malta.

Additional risks come from outside forces such as the EU which are looking to tighten their anti-money laundering and financial services regulations. Any further changes in EU policy could dictate how long the MGA will be able to operate as a global gaming regulator.

Other countries around the world are already making moves to impose tighter regulations on their domestic markets and could prohibit sites that are using the MGA licence.

Recent Legislative Changes

The Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations were drawn up by the Malta Gaming Authority in 2018. They are intended to provide greater clarity to operators who want to advertise their products and services to potential players.

The changes were intended to help operators promote their brands in a lawful, fair and responsible manner. They are intended to protect underage and vulnerable people from being exposed to the temptations of online gambling and giving operators a practical framework to stick to.

This also helps the public to understand what is and is not acceptable in the way casinos and other gambling outfits promote themselves. Giving this new clarity means that complaints can be resolved quickly where necessary.

Complaints Against the Malta Gaming Authority

Some critics of the MGA have suggested that it has been historically slow to follow up on complaints and investigate licence holders. However, as regulations continue to tighten on gambling in many international markets, the Malta Gaming Authority is constantly making moves to improve its effectiveness.

If players feel like they are being treated unfairly by an online gambling operator which holds an MGA licence then they can make a formal complaint. In most cases, they will suggest that a player attempts to resolve the dispute directly with the operator. If this fails, then the MGA may step in to investigate the situation and look for a quick resolution.