Certainty of your business
Malta has perhaps the most experience with both casino regulation and casinos per se within the EU.
Malta is therefore known to be reliable in this area. The LGA, the Lotteries and Gaming Authority, was the gaming authority until 2015. This has changed into the MGA, the Maltese Gaming Authority, as of 2015. They issue licenses to both game developers and providers, in cases where they are entitled to do so.
Stay safe
The moment you plan to gamble, it is crucial to take a good look at the casino’s license. Especially if it is a foreign or online casino. When you gamble somewhere that does not have a casino license, you are doing something criminal. Each country differs in the extent to which they are licensed to provide casino games.
Malta’s history
Malta is a special place when it comes to casinos and the iGame industry. The island may be small, but the amount of casino opportunities is certainly there. The reason for this is Malta’s history. In 1974, Malta became an independent republic. Thirty years later, it would become a member of the European Union. In the same year, in 2004, it also immediately received new regulations on casinos and gambling. This made Malta the first European state to have laws on such matters.
You can imagine why Malta has such a vibrant casino scene. But there’s also something else behind it. Malta has never benefited from exportable goods and has never had a trade surplus. As a result, they had to look for another source that would provide economic growth. As a tourist resort, the establishment of a bustling casino industry was therefore very effective.
Types of licenses
What you need to pay attention to is the fact that licenses are only valid for five years. After that a new one has to be applied for. Another thing to watch out for is that there are four types of licenses. For example, the fact that a casino can legally offer poker games does not mean that the same casino can hold a lottery.
The four different licenses issued in Malta:
Malta Gaming Authority
Building SCM 02-03, Level 4,
SmartCity,
Ricasoli SCM1001,
Malta
Phone number: +356 2546 9000
Online Gambling
Something that has grown tremendously in recent years is the online casino industry. On the one hand, this ensures that you have access to many more casinos, and that from your living room. On the other hand, there are a lot more risks involved. Each country has a different reputation when it comes to issuing casino licenses. To play at an online casino in the Netherlands you need to choose a casino that is in possession of a Dutch license.