Malta Gaming Authority in 2024: 17 New Licenses and €306,000 in Fines

^{Pictured: Charles Mizzi, CEO of MGA}

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has published its 2024 annual performance report on its official website.

According to the report, MGA received 28 new license applications in 2024 and granted 17 of them. The regulator also processed 12 renewal requests from operators whose licenses were due to expire during the same period. 

Throughout the year, the authority carried out 13 full compliance audits and 116 desk-based reviews to ensure operators met regulatory and tax obligations. Additionally, nearly 1,200 integrity checks were conducted on key individuals overseeing licensed gambling businesses. On-site inspections were also widespread, with more than 9,000 checks carried out at land-based gaming venues (including casinos, bingo halls, and lottery retail points).

As a result of these efforts, the MGA issued 35 formal warnings and imposed 25 administrative penalties totaling €306,250. The regulator also reached three regulatory settlements worth a combined €61,522.

Two licenses were suspended and eight were revoked. In the area of financial crime compliance, 43 inspections focused specifically on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT), leading to fines totaling just under €185,000.

The authority also reported receiving 244 suspicious betting alerts from licensed operators and shared data on 247 suspicious cases with international partners. Over the year, MGA was involved in 30 investigations across different jurisdictions.

“As the gaming sector continues to evolve, the MGA remains committed to anticipating challenges and upholding the standards that have made Malta a trusted jurisdiction,” said MGA CEO Charles Mizzi in a statement accompanying the report.

Previously, we reported that a Maltese court ruled in favor of local licensees, allowing them not to comply with Austrian court decisions.