Licensees have been encouraged to offer feedback regarding the Malta Gaming Authority’s (MGA) suggested changes, which aim to “strengthen and clarify” the country’s current Player Protection Directive.
“This framework will support the Authority’s initiatives moving forward and shall facilitate the Authority’s plans to continuously improve the player protection framework,” commented the MGA.
The proposed amendments subject to consultation include licensees’ obligations per their responsible gaming policies and procedures, as well as the introduction of five “markers of harm.”
If adopted, licensees would have to consider these markers when formulating measures to detect and address problem gambling.
Other provisions are also up for consultation, including ones that relate to real-money reinforcement and staff training. Ultimately, the MGA intends to publish detailed player protection guidelines for licensees.
It remarked: “The Authority is in the process of conducting detailed research and garnering expert experience to serve as the foundation for the eventual publication of such guidelines.”
To this end, the amendments are based on a review of the Player Protection Directive supposedly carried out by “an expert in the field,” alongside the MGA’s own research and experience.
Meanwhile, the consultation, which will run until 14 October, is intended to give licensees an opportunity to provide comments. Malta’s current Player Protection Directive came into force in 2018.