MGA licensed casinos

Validating a casino's MGA licence as a player

As we're all aware, the Malta Gaming Authority is a reputable licensing body that goes above and beyond to make sure its licensees operate within the set standards.

However, the online gambling industry isn't immune to fraudsters and scammers who sometimes attempt to counterfeit MGA licences.

While these occurrences are rare, we strongly advise validating a casino’s licence before committing. This precautionary measure can help you steer clear of potential scams and avoid becoming a victim. Besides, licences expire, and operators may fail to renew them.

You can effectively validate a casino's licence through its URL or domain name. You ask how? Every website has its unique domain name, which is uncompromisable. As such, scammers can counterfeit a whole casino platform, including the games, but they cannot fake the domain name or the address.

In most cases, they usually create a fake similar address but with a differentiating symbol.

For example, let's say the address of a legit MGA-licensed casino is https://www.n2casino.com. Scammers often create almost matching domain options like https://www.n2-casino.com, https://www.n2casinos.com and https://www.n2casino.org.

This is pretty hard for players easily swayed by bonus offers or the promise of instant withdrawals.

To avoid that, here is how to go about this validation process stepwise.

Check the casino URL

Visit the casino platform whose licence you are about to validate. On your browser, you can clearly see the address. Copy the domain name. For instance, if the address of the casino is www.n2casino.com, then the domain name is the last part: n2casino.com.

Visit the Malta Gaming Authority's official website

This is where everything is determined. Scroll to the licence verification section. You will notice a URL search box where you are prompted to enter the domain name. Enter the domain name you just copied and then click the corresponding search button.

Results

There are two possible outcomes. You get a match, meaning that the casino in question is licensed and registered in the MGA’s database. No results found, meaning that the gambling site in question is neither licensed nor registered by the MGA. If you get the match, you will have successfully validated the licence.

Player protection in MGA online casinos

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) terms responsible gambling as a collective responsibility shared between players, casino operators, and the regulator. In line with this, the body mandates its licensed operators to refrain from entertaining the following

• Wagers on winnings
• Chasing losses
• Underage gambling
• Continuous gameplay
• Overspending.

Also, in accordance with the Player Protection Directive 2 of 2018, MGA casinos must do the following

• Display licence details in the footer of their website.
• Post a clear sign stating that underage gambling is prohibited.
• Display a kite mark.
• Include a dedicated, responsible gaming tab on their platform, with a message emphasising the dangers of uncontrolled gambling.
• Ensure that the responsible gaming tab contains comprehensive resources and guidelines, presented in a clear and understandable manner for players.

The regulator also obliges licensees to include the following responsible gambling features/tools on their websites.

• Self-exclusion: This feature enables players to set gambling breaks once they note things are getting out of hand. The breaks are of definite timeframes. i.e. 24 hours, 48 hours or even a week or a month.
• Gaming limits and reality checks: This tool tracks time spent on a gaming platform to prevent players from overplaying

Here are other limits imposed on MGA casinos in line with the Player Protection Directive (Directive 2 of 2018).

• Deposit Limits
• Wagering Limits
• Time Limits or Session Limits
• Loss Limits

Dispute resolution

In December 2018, the Malta Gaming Authority issued an Alternative Dispute Resolution directive to see players amicably solve disputes with operators. This directive lays out the procedures for resolving disputes in compliance with the Gaming Player Protection Regulations (SL583.08 of the Laws of Malta).

It also mandates every licensee to incorporate a clear and concise ADR policy on their website, with which players should agree to the terms. A direct link to an online dispute resolution entity should also be accessible to players.

In the event of a dispute, players can simply click the provided link to involve the ADR in the resolution process. The operator is also obligated to inform the MGA about the ADR entity utilised and to provide updates on the progress of dispute resolution.

Keep in mind that disputes and complaints are two distinct terminologies, as per the MGA. Dispute is better defined as a disagreement between a casino player and the operator. Complaint, on the other hand, is any reported unlawful, unfair aspect of an operator by a player.
We touch more on complaints below.

How to file a complaint against an MGA-licensed casino

On its official website, the MGA explicitly advises resolving issues with the casino operator before lodging a complaint with them. However, this is merely a recommendation. You can file a complaint directly without prior resolution attempts with the casino.

As for us, we recommend following the MGA guidelines. Therefore, we advise you to start by attempting to resolve the matter with the gambling site operator. This will often take a few hours, as opposed to filing the complaint directly with the MGA, which in most cases takes days to weeks.

If that doesn’t work, you get in touch with the licensing body. To lodge a complaint directly to the MGA, head over to the official website. While there, navigate to the complaints section and fill out the easy-to-understand form on the page, then click submission. Alternatively, send your complaint via email foi.mga@mga.org.mt.

Whichever way you choose, be sure to provide your full name as registered in the casino and then thoroughly explain the complaint in detail. If feasible, attach copies of evidence as proof of the alleged unlawful act. After submission, sit back, relax and wait for the response.

The regulator will thoroughly review your complaint, conduct an investigation, and decide on the appropriate course of action. This may involve reaching an amicable resolution with the casino, issuing a warning, imposing a fine, or revoking the operator's licence permanently.

MGA Compared to Other iGaming Licences

Hands down. The MGA is one of the best, most reliable gambling regulators globally. But how does it compare with other bodies like the UKGC, Curacao and Kahnawake Gaming Commission? Let’s see.

UKGC

This authority licences casinos and oversees gambling operations in the UK. Together with the MGA, they enjoy the monopoly of being the most prestigious, respected and reputable gambling authorities within the EU.

Getting a UKGC licence is an uphill task, just like the licence of its counterpart, the MGA. Here are some of the steps you will have to pass through during the application process.

• Register a limited company in the UK
• Craft and present business plan for review
• Draft or fill out the UKGC licensing application form
• Then, review policies, procedures, and many more

UKGC's licence application processing usually takes up to 16 weeks. The MGA on the other hand often takes up to 6 months. So you can clearly note that both licences take a while to process. There is also a significant non-refundable application fee charged by both regulators.

You will also have to bear with their tiresome and somehow repetitive procedures. Ultimately, only reliable and trustworthy operators are granted the licences.

Curacao eGaming Authority

Popular among casinos globally, this authority licences and regulates gambling activities in the Dutch Caribbean territory of Curacao.

Unlike the UKGC and the MGA, Curacao makes things easy for casino operators. Its licence is the easiest to obtain, with only a few less strict regulatory measures in place. Safe to say, the authority focuses on the basics.

A Curacao eGaming licence is often out within a few weeks after application. Unlike the MGA permit, which is costly to apply for and maintain, that of Curacao is affordable. There are fewer hurdles for casinos, that’s why you see many of these recent brands bearing this licence.

Despite this licence’s extreme popularity, players often feel safer when playing at MGA-licensed casinos. They perceive Curacao regulations as somewhat lenient, potentially allowing for the operation of non-player-friendly practices.

Nevertheless, with the recent amendments, Curacao eGaming aims to change this narrative and reassure players of maximum safety when gambling on their licensed platforms.

Kahnawake Gaming Commission

This is another reliable gambling licence worth comparing with the MGA. It basically regulates gambling activities in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawáke, Canada.

This licence perfectly suits startups. Just like the MGA, its regulations are super stringent, ensuring that only qualified, reliable and trustworthy casino companies are granted the permit. The licence often takes 4 to 8 weeks to process. Quite a short time compared to the MGA’s 6-month duration.

And of course, just like the MGA you will have to break the bank to apply and maintain a Kahnawake licence.
Here is a comparison table summarising all that: