As the first jurisdiction in the EU that introduced regulated remote gaming, with an average of a hundred new applications a year and being the largest EU i-gaming jurisdiction, Malta’s success in the i-gaming arena is undisputed.
Malta’s strategy in i-gaming has been bold and unique. The legislator decided to focus on regulation and transparency, providing a strict approach to licensing and monitoring of gaming operations. This has resulted in optimum protection for players on the one hand, to providing a regulatory solution to operators on the other, thereby achieving a balance between two opposing needs: the supplier’s and the customers’.
Malta’s main advantage is the fact that, throughout the years, it continued to evolve, ensuring that its iGaming laws are relevant and in tune with the surrounding developments. In line with this, in 2018, Malta overhauled its gaming regime and enacted a new body of iGaming laws, meant to be future-proof, catering for the complexity of the industry while nonetheless promoting its further development and introducing numerous initiatives.
One such initiative that the new regime provides for is a formal recognition procedure of foreign licenses, in particular EU and EEA licences. Before the enactment of the new law in August 2018, EU and EEA licences were in principle recognised. However, no proper procedure was provided for. The new law provides for such procedure and the conditions for the recognition of a foreign iGaming licence.
As the first jurisdiction in the EU that introduced regulated remote gaming, with an average of a hundred new applications a year and being the largest EU i-gaming jurisdiction, Malta’s success in the i-gaming arena is undisputed.
Malta’s strategy in i-gaming has been bold and unique. The legislator decided to focus on regulation and transparency, providing a strict approach to licensing and monitoring of gaming operations. This has resulted in optimum protection for players on the one hand, to providing a regulatory solution to operators on the other, thereby achieving a balance between two opposing needs: the supplier’s and the customers’.
Malta’s main advantage is the fact that, throughout the years, it continued to evolve, ensuring that its iGaming laws are relevant and in tune with the surrounding developments. In line with this, in 2018, Malta overhauled its gaming regime and enacted a new body of iGaming laws, meant to be future-proof, catering for the complexity of the industry while nonetheless promoting its further development and introducing numerous initiatives.
One such initiative that the new regime provides for is a formal recognition procedure of foreign licenses, in particular EU and EEA licences. Before the enactment of the new law in August 2018, EU and EEA licences were in principle recognised. However, no proper procedure was provided for. The new law provides for such procedure and the conditions for the recognition of a foreign iGaming licence.
Country Highlights
EU: Member of the EU since 2004 |
REGULATOR: Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) |
CURRENCY: Euro |
SYSTEMS: Cloud ready and Crypto Friendly |
GAMING JURISDICTION: Largest in the EU |
I-GAMING LAW: 1st in the EU |
Legal Basis
All gambling activities in Malta are regulated by the Gaming Act of 2018 which grants power to the Malta Gaming Authority to issue licenses for both land-based and remote gambling activities. The Act consolidated all previous laws and regulations and provided for an overhaul in the licensing system reducing the various classification of licences to two: Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B).
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) recognises iGaming licences issued in other EU/EEA jurisdictions in line with European Treaty principles. Licensed companies are allowed to operate in Malta provided that they notify the MGA and obtain a recognition notice. The procedure is mainly regulated by the Malta Gaming Authorisations Regulations (subsidiary legislation 583.05) issued under the Malta Gaming Act 2018.
Whilst the recognised licensee itself is not regulated by the MGA and the full rights and obligations emanating from the jurisdiction of where the licence was originally issued continue to apply, a recognised licence in Malta has the same effect as an authorisation issued by the MGA for the purpose of providing a gaming service, gaming supply, key function, or any other authorisation in or from Malta. The recognition therefore, legitimises the operations of the licensee in and from Malta.
Benefits
- Cost Effective EU License Recognition Short Time Period
- 5% Gaming Tax on Malta Resident Players
- Technology and Game Neutral Regulations
- Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies Friendly
Eligibility
- Operational and Valid EU/EEA Licence
- Games to be Offered Covered by Licence
- Application for Recognition with MGA
- Payment of Yearly Recognition Notice Fee
Process & Timeline
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