Malta Gaming Authority Issues Warning On Illegal Sites
The Malta Gaming Authority has cracked down on illegal gambling sites in the country, by explicitly naming these illegal operators and warning consumers about spending their money on these sites.
Malta Gaming Authority has been especially vigilant following recent scrutiny involving the FATF. ©Thomas Lefebvre/Unsplash
In a notice posted on their official website, the Malta Gaming Authority listed the names of 18 operators running such illegal websites. The full list of these illegal gambling sites in Malta is as below.
- 24casino1.bet
- 24pokies.com
- 24pokies1.com
- 24pokies2.com
- 24pokies3.com
- 24pokies4.com
- 24pokies5.com
- 24pokies6.com
- 4crownscasino.com
- 4crownscasino1.com
- casinowin.bet
- maximalwins.com
- olympusplay.com
- thepokies.net
- jbgame-99.com
- jbac001.org
- jbac888.com
- blogjb3919.com
Some of the domains in the notice are owned by the same operator, and not every operator has its base in Malta. For instance, 4 Crowns Casino has its operator based in the Netherlands, while 24 Pokies is an Australian online casino.
The Malta Gaming Authority cited consumer protection as the reason for issuing the notice, clearly outlining how gambling on unlicensed websites exposes consumers to the various risks associated with transacting with unregulated entities.
“These entities are not duly authorized by the MGA to provide a gaming service to any person in Malta, as is necessitated by virtue of Regulation 3 of the Gaming Authorisations Regulations (S.L. 583.05). Hence, the entities operating the above websites are in contravention of the aforementioned regulation, and of Article 13 of the Gaming Act (Chapter 583 of the Laws of Malta).”
Check for MGA licenses, regulator tells public
The notice elaborated on the risks of gambling on these illegal gambling websites, by citing the robustness of the country’s regulatory frameworks – and how operators aren’t duty-bound to protect consumer interests when they don’t follow the rules. To quote the notice on this subject:
“The gaming regulatory framework obliges authorized persons to comply with strict legal requirements in the interest of consumers. The activities of unlicensed entities are unregulated and do not provide the necessary safeguards delineated by virtue of the framework, making transactions with such entities risky for consumers.”
Apart from highlighting the importance of the country’s regulatory framework, the authority advised the public to verify that the gambling operator of their choosing is legally bound by the Malta Gaming Authority’s strict legal requirements for running online gambling.
In order to help the public with verifying the credentials of gambling websites in Malta, the authority advised consumers to visit the list of officially licensed gaming entities.
Larger steps towards player protection
It would appear that the notice on illegal gambling sites in Malta is a part of the Malta Gaming Authority’s newest strides towards player protection. After having canceled seven licenses in 2021, the authority has taken steps to ensure that operators play by the rules.
The biggest step that the Malta Gaming Authority has taken with regard to player protection, is starting a closed consultation with MGA licensed casinos in the country. This closed consultation takes gambling operators into confidence as the country attempts to strengthen its player protection framework with a slew of amendments to the Player Protection Directive.
One of the most important aspects of the upcoming amendments, is reemphasising the importance of every casino’s obligations with regard to responsible gaming. Notably, the amendments will introduce the “five markers of harm” – a barometer for casino operators to identify the signs of a gambling problem – the authority said.
“As a first step, the amendments being proposed that are subject to the ongoing closed consultation delve into, inter alia, the licensees’ obligations regarding their responsible gaming policies and procedures and the introduction of five (5) markers of harm that must be considered by licensees when determining effective measures and processes to detect and address problem gambling. Provisions relating to real-money reinforcement and staff training have also been included in the proposed amendments.”
MGA’s vigilance following FATF greylisting
The Malta Gaming Authority has seen a slew of reforms after the country was greylisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – a global money laundering watchdog – in June 2021.
While the country initially stated their displeasure towards the move, they have also taken on the onus to implement reforms. The reforms were largely seen as successful, with the FATF eventually voting to remove Malta from the list.
While the FATF greylisting was a major red flag for gambling operators looking to set up operations in the country, the speed with which the country has implemented reforms should inspire confidence in the gambling industry.
