This is not a light requirement, as any casino online MGA caught violating these laws risks massive fines and a possible licence suspension. Holding a Maltese licence became a sign of security and respect, mostly because the authority observes strict processes in order to grant licences, while also obliging its online casinos to comply with anti-money laundering laws, as required by Malta’s Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU). With online gambling still a relatively new phenomenon at the time, the MGA was one of the first to create official legislation and a regulated structure for online players.Īs other countries dragged their feet in this regard, casinos licensed by the MGA offered the safest sites for players who wanted to play real-money games with complete peace of mind.
MGA casinos first came into being in 2001 ¹, when the Malta Gaming Authority – to give it its full name – was created precisely to regulate the online casino industry.
The Malta Gaming Authority logo (Source: Malta Gaming Authority) What Is the Malta Gaming Authority?
