Malta Gaming Authority Casinos (MGA) – Safe iGaming Sites & Player Guide

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has a reputation for putting players’ interests first thanks to its well-planned regulatory framework. Software providers must produce RNG certificates and operators must follow strict financial guidelines. Thanks to its strict rules, many experienced players consider online gambling featuring an MGA logo safe to play at.

• Affiliate Disclosure: If you connect with any of these online casinos via the table above, we may earn a small one-time commission. We use the proceeds to provide more content, including up-to-date news as well as updating our casino reviews and bonuses reguarly.

How to Check a Casino is Licensed by the MGA

The easiest way to verify if an online casino holds a Malta Gaming Authority license is to use the official MGA Licensee Register page. You can search for operators and also search for supply companies such as software providers operating under the MGA gambling framework.

There will also be an MGA emblem in the footer of the casino, which you can click on. However, some sites fake this emblem, so we’ve provided a surefire step-by-step process so you can 100% confirm the casino holds a valid MGA licensing certificate.

Step 1: Find The Name of The Casino’s Operator

You will find the operator in the footer of the casino or the T&Cs.

Step 2: Open the Licensee Register page

Use the ‘Licensee Name’ drop-down to find the operator.

Step 3: Check the Status

Check the status statistics ‘Licensed’

Step 4: Compare it with the MGA emblem in the casino’s footer

For good measure, you can select the MGA logo in the footer.

Useful Resource: If you want to dive deeper, you can also find sites that use a fake MGA logo that have been blacklisted by the MGA. You’ll find this information directly on the official MGA website on its Unauthorised URLs webpage.

Why Choose an MGA Online Casino?

Any online casino whose operator holds a Malta Gaming Authority licensing certificate is considered safe and player-focused. The reason is that the rules of the Maltese licensing authorities’ online gambling framework are stringent. The system in place reduces the risk of operators running their operation into debt.

1. Less Risk of Casino Bankruptcy and Fund Segregation (Protecting your balance)

There are several rules in place to make sure that your balance is as safe as possible.

• Operators must segregate player balances into separate bank accounts from their day-to-day operation.

• In 2025, the MGA brought in a rule to reduce operator bankruptcy and insolvency by preventing operators from running their operations with negative equity.

We have a dedicated guide with access to resources on the MGA website, so you can see how the licensing authority’s rules help to protection your fund – How the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) Protects Players’ Money.

2. Mandatory Responsible Gambling Tools (Allows you to maintain control)

All operators must include several key responsible tools under their members’ account profiles. These tools allow players to set limits to avoid over-gambling and self-exclude or choose to cool off from real money gambling to prevent tilting. The great thing about MGA online casinos and sports books is that you can guarantee you will have these responsible gambling options available to you.

You can find out more about how to use these tools via our Casinoplusbonus responsible gambling software guide.

3. Player Support (Gives you a voice to escalate complaints)

One of the perks of the MGA licensing authority is ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution’ (ADR). Unlike some online gambling authorities that require operators to partner with an approved third-party ADR service for complaints escalation, the MGA has a dedicated complaints team.

With that said, gambling sites can also offer ADR partner service. Those that the MGA has approved include eCORGRA, ADR Group and iBAS. If you are still not satisfied with ADR service, you can contact the MGA directly.

For more information about how to make a complaint about an online casino, the Casinoplusbonus team has a dedicated set of guides via our How to Submit a Complaint Against Casinos.

4. Certified RNG Checks & RTP Checks (Fair and random game results)

Every software provider that supplies an online casino holding an MGA licensing certificate must produce a certified RNG (Random Number Generator) certificate. RNGs are a piece of code that ensures game results are fair and random.  The MGA also requires online casinos to provide regular RTP (Return to Player) reports, proving that games are not rigged. For live casino software providers, the RTP reports are a key indicator that the studio is operating fairly and in accordance with the rules.

If you are unsure as to what an RNG is, you can read our guide to Random Number Generators to brush up on your online casino knowledge.

How the MGA Distributes Licensing Certificates

The MGA issues two types of licenses to ensure you receive a fully comprehensive and fair online gambling experience. They cover Business-to-Business (B2B) entities and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) operators. The software providers and aggregator platforms

Online Gambling Operator Licensing Certificates (B2C)

Online gambling platforms must obtain one or more Gaming Service Licensing certificates, which have four types to permit online casinos and sportsbooks to provide their services to players remotely.

• Type 1 – Designed for games of chance that use a random number generator (RNG), such as online slots and virtual table games.

• Type 2 – Applies to games of chance that depend on real-world event outcomes, most notably sports betting.

• Type 3 – Covers peer-to-peer gaming formats, including poker rooms, bingo halls, and betting exchanges.

• Type 4 – Intended for software providers and platforms offering controlled skill games.

Software Provider & Licensing Certificates (B2B)

• Critical Gaming Supply Licensing: This is for B2B entities, namely aggregator platforms that supply casinos or sportsbooks with their backend and front-end (client-facing) platform where you gamble.

Additionally, all software providers that supply games to MGA online casinos must obtain B2B licensing approval. These licensing services allow companies to provide essential gaming services, including software provision and systems management.

• Critical Gaming Supply Licence Type B: This is a special licensing certificate that grants permission to companies to manage core game elements, such as outcome determination and risk management engines.

Each licence type serves a specific purpose, ensuring that every participant in the Maltese gambling ecosystem is properly regulated and compliant.

Good news because it seems that we have a guide for everything if you want to read deeper into how the iGaming industry operates. For B2C operators and B2B aggregators, we have a guide covering Operators Vs Aggregators to help you understand the difference between the two.

Five More Reasons MGA Online Gambling Sites are Considered Safe

To polish off this guide to why the MGA’s online gambling framework has gained a reputation for safe and secure online gambling, five more important components are definitely worth mentioning.

• Terms & Conditions: The MGA has a strict rule that the terms and conditions on the website are legally binding. Therefore, if a bonus displays lower wagering requirements, but the wagering requirements are higher when you claim it, you will win a dispute if you raise one. This falls under the Player Protection Directive (Directive 2/2018).

• Player Privacy: All gambling websites must utilise proper technology and IT security to comply with EU data privacy laws and GDPR Guidelines for B2C licensees. The rules fall under the MGA’s ESG Code of Good Practice (2023), which includes providing employees with GDPR and data privacy training.

• Security: All websites must be secured with SSL-TLS quality encryption. For all online gambling sites, you can check this by confirming the website’s URL has an HTTPS prefix and padlock symbol.

• KYC Checks: All MGA-licensed online gambling operations must perform mandatory Know Your Customer (KYC) verification to confirm player identity, age and country of residence. The checks help to prevent underage gambling, identity fraud and bonus abuse. KYC procedures are enforced under the Player Protection Directive and are also referenced in the MGA’s guidelines on operational compliance.

• AML Checks: Operators must comply with Malta’s Prevention of Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism Regulations (PMLFTR), as well as the FIAU’s Implementing Procedures. This anti-money laundering framework ensures casinos cannot be used for illegal financial activity.

Countries MGA Casinos Support

From the six English-speaking countries we cover here on Casinoplusbonus, the MGA supports players from five!

Ireland

Canada

New Zealand

India

South Africa

You can choose the image relevant to your country and find more online casinos operating under the Malta Gaming Authority as well as alternative licensing watchdogs such as the Curacao Gaming Control Board or Anjouan Licensing Authority.

Comparing MGA With Alternative Licensing Authorities

We can compare the Malta Gaming Authority with other online gambling watchdogs available to players from Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, India and South Africa. You will also find alternative licensing authorities regulate online casinos and sports betting platforms that accept players from all five countries mentioned. We’ve picked two of the most popular and made a few comparisons.

MGA Vs Curacao GCB

The Curacao Gaming Control Board licenses thousands of online casinos and sportsbooks. To put a finer point on it, the MGA is so strict that only around 350 gambling sites are operating under its framework. However, there is one key factor that makes Curacao iGaming platforms popular, and that is their reputation for support for crypto gambling sites.

MGA Vs Anjouan

The Anjouan licensing authority is similar to the Curacao GCB, but does not quite have the same reputation. Like Curacao, it has thousands of online casinos and sportsbooks operating under its licensing system and is known for its crypto-friendly framework. However, it’s not rated as highly as the MGA or the Curacao GCB online gambling authorities.

Malta Gaming Authority Information & History

• MGA Website: mga.org.mt
• Address: Building SCM 02-03, Level 4, SmartCity Malta, Ricasoli SCM 1001
• Phone: +35625469000
• Check Licencees: Licensee Register (To check that operators or software providers hold an MGA licensing certificate)
• Fake Licensing: Unauthorised URLs (A list of the MGA updates regularly to call out online gambling platforms using its logo with no licensing certificate)
• Social Media: Facebook / X / Linkedin / Instagram

A Brief History of the MGA

Malta was the first EU state to regulate iGaming, paving the way for countries like the UK, Italy, Spain, and later Ontario, Canada. Want the full story of how Malta became an iGaming powerhouse? Read our history guide to the Malta Gaming Authority, where we explain its history, global influence, and why players still consider MGA casinos the safest choice.

• 2001: Malta recognizes the potential of remote gambling and passes laws covering internet play.

• 2004: Framework expands into a comprehensive licensing system for operators.

• 2015: The Lotteries and Gaming Authority rebrands to the Malta Gaming Authority, reflecting its global reach.

Want a full MGA history guide?

(We have you covered)

Malta Gaming Authority History

Are Online Casinos Operating Under The MGA Licensing Framework Safe?

Yes. The Malta Gaming Authority has strict guidelines in place to ensure online casinos follow strict rules that are in place to protect your interests. The licensing system is not set up to give online casino operators an advantage over the players. In fact, the MGA has gone above and beyond as a gambling watchdog, as there are many online gambling operators that avoid applying for MGA licensing certificates. That’s a good thing!

If an operator is put off by the MGA for being too strict, that says a lot for the player protection framework put in place. It is also why the Malta Gaming Authority is considered one of the most trustworthy licensing authorities out there. It could relax its rules and make more money through licensing applications, but it doesn’t. For you as a player, that’s a major plus! The only downside I would say is that I have never seen an MGA online gambling platform offer cryptocurrency gaming, which is available, but to date, I have not seen a casino under the MGA framework offer crypto deposits.

FAQs

Which countries does the Malta Gaming Authority licensing framework cover?

The Republic of Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, India, South Africa and a number of South American, EU and African countries. A pro tip from experience is to always check the iGaming or sports betting platform’s T&Cs and check the list of restricted countries to see if you are eligible to sign up and play for real money.

How does the MGA protect my sports book or casino balance?

The MGA cannot fully guarantee you will get your money back if an online gambling platform goes into administration. However, it has a financial checking system in place that ensures assets are worth more than the operator’s liabilities, and liabilities include your player balance. While recovery of funds in insolvency depends on the operator’s situation, MGA regulation improves your chances compared to unlicensed platforms.

Which MGA online casino is rated as the best?

We cannot definitively say which online casino operating under the Malta Gaming Authority is best. Here at Casinoplusbonus, we have rated 21Casino as the best from our expert review, but our opinion is purely objective. The best iGaming or sports betting platform is ultimately a matter of personal choice.

How do I know an online gambling platform is not faking its MGA licensing certificate?

The good news is that there is a ‘Licensee Register’ page on the MGA website that is available to the public. You can verify the legitimacy of B2B – Critical Supply and B2C – Gaming Service licenses by selecting the operator’s name under ‘Licensee Name’. From here, you will be able to find out if status of the operator’s licensing certificate or if you do not find the operator’s name listed, it is likely a fake MGA casino.