Key points:
- 15 new gaming licences issued, down from 2022
- Enforcement action increased
- Collaborated on 22 investigations related to sport
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has published its 2023 annual report, highlighting its work, while providing insights into the land-based and online gaming industries in Malta.
For the financial year ending 31 December 2023, the MGA received 24 applications for new gaming licences, issuing 15, with 13 applications either rejected or withdrawn.
This figure continues a downward trend in recent years, with 46 gaming licences issued in 2021 and 31 issued in 2022.
Related to gaming operations, 49 websites were found to have misleading references to the authority, with 23 instances where the information was not removed following notification. Similarly, in its action to safeguard players and promote responsible gambling, 4,483 players were helped who requested assistance.
Looking at enforcement action, 20 warnings were made by the MGA in 2023, which is up from the ten made in 2022, while suspended licences totalled nine and cancelled licences totalled 11.
Good to know: The MGA and the Gambling Commission last month agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
In its efforts to protect integrity, the authority received 255 suspicious betting reports from licensees and other interested parties, while 22 investigations were carried out around the world on manipulation of sports competitions or breaches in sport rules, which the MGA assisted with.
Further to this, the MGA sent 42 requests and received 77 requests for international collaboration, with most of these being related to background checks.
Commenting on the report, MGA CEO Charles Mizzi said: “It is not a coincidence that the theme for the Annual Report is ‘sustainability’. The MGA’s ability to strike the right balance between allowing the industry to thrive and grow in a sustainable manner, while also protecting consumers, is key to Malta’s continued success.”
In other news from the authority, the MGA last week awarded its inaugural Enviromental, Social and Governance (ESG) Code Approval Seal to 14 licensed operators in the online gaming sector.
