Right in the early online casino days, Malta has directly established itself as a leader in gambling licensing. Since 2001, companies have been able to apply for a casino licence in Malta. But what really is Malta’s role as a leader in gambling licensing? What does Malta mean for the online casino world? We dove in and found out exactly what Malta means for online casinos worldwide.
Malta definitely invented the casino licence
By now, an online casino in Malta is still the way to go. Yet there was a time when online casinos were not legalised at all. Malta was the first to take the lead in this. They saw an opportunity to regulate a market that was still completely open. This allowed them to enter a market about which relatively little was known. In the beginning, casino licensing was really in its infancy. There was still little regulation. The licence was purely an image that a company could get for a fee. Since then, the licence has evolved and become a yardstick for other countries. For example in the Netherlands, casino games from software providers are regulated with an MGA license.
Communication with other countries for legalising online casinos
From Malta, there is close contact with other countries on legalising online casinos. Countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France cooperate with Malta in this regard. They definitely see Malta as a beacon when it comes to legalisation. Thus, they also inform each other about online casinos that are on the black market. For instance, because they have broken various laws or defrauded players. In this, Malta is a guiding light. If a casino has gone over the line in Malta, the chances of it ever getting a license in other European countries are pretty slim.
Joint approach to combat money laundering at online casinos
Both Malta and other EU countries also legalise online casinos, of course, to combat money laundering. They try to collect data from players who gamble at them. They also look at the origin of the money. For large sums from EUR 2,000 onwards, investigations are carried out in Malta. This happens not only in Malta but also in other countries. EU countries thus work together to jointly tackle money laundering. By taking a joint approach, countries try to prevent money laundering in other online casinos. Malta has always been the leader in this. They were one of the first countries in Europe with an approach against money laundering.
Live casinos still run from Malta
Most online casinos also operate live casinos that run from Malta. Malta still has a leading role when it comes to legalising live games. This means that most live casino studios are also based in Malta. This is also overseen by the MGA. Every day, players from all over the world play in a live casino based in Malta. This does show how important the role still is.
Malta continues to set an example in the coming years
Even the Netherlands regularly calls in its help when it comes to legalising casinos. Malta really has an exemplary role in this and also shows other countries how to tackle problems. Their licensee register at Mga.org.mt is always up to date. Similarly, online casinos that run casinos under a fake license are regularly shut down. This is one of the things they tackle at the MGA. A casino accused in this is also immediately labelled. This is immediately communicated to other licensees in Europe. In this, they really set an example. Because quite a few online casinos are registered in Malta, they know how to set the right example for years to come.
Disclaimer: Players must be 18 years + to partake in any gambling, betting or casino activity. Players are urged to seek help if they require it. Players play at their own risk.