Malta Gaming Authority to reform Gaming Legal Framework

The MGA has gone ahead and published a White Paper proposing major reforms on Malta’s Gaming Legal Framework. According to this revision the MGA aims to completely overhaul the existing legislation and replace it with singular primary Act of Parliament entitled “Gaming Act”.

In addition, it concludes a subsidiary legislation, which horizontally covers the main areas of regulation. There will also be a series of directives and guidelines issued by the MGA, as the single regulator of this sector.

The proposed framework gives MGA the power to be more flexible in its decision-making, decrease unnecessary regulatory burdens, strengthen supervision on the higher risk profile areas, take responsible gaming measures and also enhance consumer protection standards.

These proposals reflect the experience which the MGA has garnered from years of experience regulating the iGaming sector.

MGA proposed changes:

• The current multi-license system will be replaced by two types of licenses, the B2C (Business to Consumer) and B2B (Business to Business) covering different types of activities.
• The prescriptive regulatory will be more objective than excessively prescriptive as it is now.
• The MGA’s oversight and power will be increased.
• New and more effective processes for criminal and administrative justice will be introduced.
• Player protection framework will become stronger by formalizing the MGA’s Player Support Unit mediatory role.
• Taxation will get into one flow with two main layers.
• B2B licenses will be excluded from gaming tax. This will increase Malta’s competitiveness as a hub for these services providers.