The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is the regulator for gaming in Malta, an EU member state. It licenses online casinos under the Gaming Act (Chapter 583 of the Laws of Malta), which took effect in 2018, and a set of regulations that include the Player Protection Regulations. An MGA licence is generally regarded as a stricter regime than the offshore licences seen at most casinos that accept Australians.

For Australians the practical point is different: MGA-licensed brands usually do not accept players from Australia, and a casino that does serve Australians under an MGA licence is still breaching the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. None of the 49 casinos reviewed on BetsAuthority lists an MGA licence.

How MGA Licensing Works

Element	Detail
Regulator	Malta Gaming Authority
Primary law	Gaming Act (Cap. 583), in force since 2018
Operator licence	B2C gaming service licence
Supplier licence	B2B licences for game and platform suppliers
Licence number format	Usually shown as MGA/B2C/number/year
Player tools on the regulator’s site	Licensee register, complaint lodgement, safer gambling information, list of unauthorised entities

Complaints Versus Disputes

The MGA draws a formal line between two things, set out in its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Directive of 3 December 2018:

Type	Definition	Where it goes
Dispute	A disagreement between a player and the MGA B2C licensee with which the player is registered (for example, an unpaid withdrawal)	The ADR entity named by the licensee
Complaint	A report that any aspect of a licensee’s service is unlawful, or not safe, fair or transparent	The MGA’s Player Support Unit

Since 1 April 2019 the Player Support Unit no longer examines the merits of individual disputes. B2C licensees must make their complaint procedure and ADR referral process readily available under regulations 13 and 14 of the Player Protection Regulations, and they must refer players to the ADR entity rather than to the MGA. Licensees also send monthly reports of disputes referred to ADR, which the Player Support Unit reviews.

Why MGA-Licensed Casinos Usually Exclude Australia

• Providing online casino games to people in Australia is prohibited by the Interactive Gambling Act, whatever the operator’s licence.
• ACMA can publish formal warnings naming the operating company, seek penalties and block domains. For a group that also holds licences in regulated markets, a breach finding in one country is a compliance risk in others.
• As a result, Australia commonly appears in the restricted-countries list of MGA-licensed brands’ terms.

If an MGA-licensed site does accept your registration from Australia, check its terms. Opening an account from a restricted country is a typical ground for closing the account and voiding winnings. Hiding your location to get around that restriction carries the same risk; see VPNs and online casinos.

How to Verify an MGA Licence

1. Find the licence number in the casino footer or terms (format MGA/B2C/…).
2. Search the company name or licence number on the MGA licensee register.
3. Confirm the licence status is active and covers B2C gaming services.
4. Compare the licensed company with the company named in the casino’s terms.
5. Check the MGA’s list of unauthorised entities; some sites copy the MGA logo without holding a licence.

The same process for other regulators is on how to check a casino licence.

Signs of a False MGA Claim

Because the MGA is well known, its name and logo are sometimes used by sites without a licence. Warning signs:

• the logo is a static image that does not link to the MGA register;
• no licence number is shown, or the number does not follow the MGA/B2C/number/year pattern;
• the licence number exists but belongs to a different company from the one named in the terms;
• the site accepts Australian players while claiming an MGA licence for the same brand that lists Australia as restricted elsewhere;
• the brand or company appears on the MGA’s list of unauthorised entities.

If you find a false claim, the MGA accepts reports through its complaint form, and ACMA accepts complaints about any casino offering services to Australians.

MGA Compared With Licences Seen at Casinos That Accept Australians

Feature	MGA	Curaçao (CGA)	Anjouan	Tobique
Jurisdiction	Malta (EU)	Curaçao	Union of the Comoros	Tobique First Nation, Canada
Mandatory ADR route	Yes, since December 2018	Yes, under the LOK framework	Authorised ADR providers listed	Complaints via validation page
Usually accepts Australians	No	Common	Common	Common
Licensed in Australia	No	No	No	No

Detailed explainers: Curaçao, Anjouan, Tobique and Kahnawake.

What This Means When You Compare Casinos

• A stronger overseas licence improves the complaint route, but none of these licences gives you Australian legal protection.
• Because MGA brands rarely accept Australians, the realistic comparison for most Australian players is between offshore licences. Our rating method scores licence and trust at 20% of the overall rating and looks at how the operator behaves, not only the licence name.
• For a broader set of warning signs, see how to spot a scam casino.

This guide is part of our online gambling in Australia section, which covers the law, licences, complaints and player protections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gambling is for adults 18+ only. If gambling is causing you harm, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858.