The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is the regulator for gaming companies licensed in Malta. Many casinos that serve players in Europe and in other markets hold an MGA licence. If a casino says it is “licensed in Malta”, the MGA’s own registers are where you confirm it.
This page explains what the MGA licenses, how big its licence estate is, what it publishes for players, and what it can and cannot do if you have a problem. It is general information, not legal advice. An MGA licence does not mean a casino can legally serve players in every country, so check the law where you live. Content is for adults aged 18 or over.
What the MGA does
The MGA licenses gaming businesses based in Malta, sets the rules they must follow, and takes enforcement action when they do not. Its website has a Player Hub with a licensee register, a complaint form, safer-gambling information, a self-barring page and a list of unauthorised URLs. It also publishes an enforcement register.
The size of the licence estate
At the end of December 2025 the MGA had 302 licensed companies holding 311 gaming licences, covering both online and land-based activities (Malta Gaming Authority Annual Report 2025, Malta Gaming Authority, p. 23).
That count includes land-based licences and licences issued to suppliers, so it is not the number of MGA-licensed online casinos. It tells you the order of magnitude of the register, no more.
Player funds
The MGA’s annual report says licensed B2C operators must hold enough funds to cover all player and jackpot balances. The MGA received 1,757 monthly player-funds reports for 2025 (Malta Gaming Authority Annual Report 2025, p. 48).
For you, that means your balance should be backed by the operator’s own funds under the rules. We found no state guarantee scheme described in the report, so withdraw winnings you do not intend to play with rather than leaving large balances at any casino.
How to check an MGA licence
The MGA’s home page presents a Licensee Register that you can search by licensee name, authorisation status, URL or gaming service. Our steps:
- Get the company name and licence number from the casino’s terms. Look for a number in the form MGA/CRP/000/0000 and a company number such as C 59314.
- Search the licensee register on mga.org.mt for the company name or the website address (read 2026-10-28).
- Match the company, number and website. The licensee should match the operator named in the terms. The URL you are on should be listed.
- Check the authorisation status. Only an authorised company is licensed to run games.
- Check the gaming services. The register lets you filter by gaming service, which tells you what the licence covers.
- Check the enforcement register. It lists suspensions, cancellations and other actions by year.
Two examples
These come from the operators’ own terms and from the register as we read it on 26 October 2026. They are examples of how to read a licence, not rankings.
| Brand | Licensee | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeoVegas | LeoVegas Gaming plc, C 59314 | MGA/CRP/237/2013 | Footer states the corporate group licence was issued on 1 August 2018 for Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 gaming services |
| Videoslots | Videoslots Limited, C 49090 | MGA/CRP/258/2014 | Terms state the corporate group licence was issued on 19 May 2020; the register lists Type 1 and 2 |
Videoslots Sports Limited, a separate company, is covered by MGA/CRP/258/2014/02. That is why the legal name matters as much as the brand name: a brand’s casino and its sportsbook can sit under different companies and different licence references, so a number that matches the sportsbook entity does not prove the casino entity. Always match the company that your terms name for casino play. See our LeoVegas and Videoslots reviews.
The unauthorised URL list
The MGA also publishes a list of URLs where it says it has no connection with the site. It states that any reference on those domains to the MGA or to a licence said to be issued by it is “false and misleading”. On 28 October 2026 the page carried notices dated as recently as 7 October 2026. If a site displays an MGA logo but you cannot find it on the licensee register, check that list too.
The enforcement register
The enforcement register shows what the MGA has done to licensees, filtered by year. For example, a notice dated 16 September 2026 records that the MGA suspended the authorisation of Condor Malta Limited, so that it was no longer authorised to carry out any gaming operations but had to keep players’ account access for visibility. A 2025 notice records the cancellation of an authorisation for Oddsfly Limited after the operator did not respond to a notice within the period given.
Read these notices as what they are: official records of action on a named company. They are a good reason to check the register before you deposit, and again if a casino you use is acting oddly.
What the MGA can help with
Player complaints
The MGA runs a form for players who want to complain about an MGA-licensed operator. It states that:
- It reviews cases submitted in English or Maltese.
- It strongly recommends that you first try to resolve your dispute directly with the operator’s support and management.
- It reserves the right to ask for identification, and it will reject complaints with fictitious details or abusive language.
The page is Lodge a Complaint, Malta Gaming Authority (read 2026-10-28).
How many players use it? The MGA received 3,643 requests for assistance from players in 2025 and resolved 3,718, which includes cases carried over from 2024 (Malta Gaming Authority Annual Report 2025, p. 48). We do not give an outcome rate, because the figures we use do not break one out.
Our step-by-step route, with evidence to keep and the order of escalation, is in how to complain about an online casino. We also show how the MGA route differs from the UK and Curaçao ones in Curaçao vs MGA vs UKGC.
Consumer cooperation
On 23 October 2026 the MGA announced a Memorandum of Understanding with Malta’s Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) to enhance cooperation on player protection. It was too new for us to say what it changes for players.
Self-barring
The MGA’s self-barring page describes self-exclusion as a tool that blocks access to the gaming website you excluded yourself from. Exclusions can be definite or indefinite, and you can extend a definite one. During an exclusion, funds on your account are not forfeited and can still be withdrawn, and the MGA advises withdrawing any remaining funds when you request it. Exclusion with one operator does not by itself stop you being offered gambling elsewhere, so use the limits and tools on every site you use. Our self-exclusion guide explains the limits, and our responsible gaming page lists support.
When one brand has two licences
Some brands hold both an MGA licence and a UK licence, each for a different market. LeoVegas and Videoslots both do. In that case your protections depend on which entity runs the site you play on, which usually depends on the country you register from. Check the terms for the operator named, then look that company up on the matching register: the MGA’s for the Maltese entity, the Gambling Commission’s for the British one. Our UKGC register guide shows how the second check looks, and how to check a gambling licence covers the general method. If the two answers do not agree with what the casino says, contact support and keep a record of what you were told.
What an MGA licence does not tell you
- It does not set bonus terms. Wagering requirements, game weighting and payout limits are in the casino’s own terms. Read them and use our wagering calculator.
- It does not guarantee payout speed. Verification checks can delay a withdrawal at any licensed casino. See our KYC guide.
- It may not cover your country. A casino can hold an MGA licence and still block players from some countries. Brand terms list restricted territories. LeoVegas, for example, lists several jurisdictions it does not serve in its own terms, and we apply our own market rules on top.
- It does not replace the UK licence in Great Britain. A casino serving British players needs a Gambling Commission licence. See the UK Gambling Commission.
Fees
We do not give MGA licence fee figures on this page, because we have not verified the current fee schedule from a recent official source.
Summary
- The MGA is Malta’s gaming regulator. At the end of December 2025 it had 302 licensed companies holding 311 licences.
- Check the licensee register, the enforcement register and the unauthorised URL list on mga.org.mt.
- Operators must hold enough funds to cover player and jackpot balances; the MGA received 3,643 player requests for assistance in 2025.
- Complain to the operator first, then use the MGA form.