This article features an exclusive interview with an iGaming expert Jaser Davari who was an integral part of the online gambling industry for years. He talks about the potential that Malta Gaming Authority licensed casinos possess. The interview tackles the future of MGA casinos as a gaming hub of excellence. 

We know that not every company can get a license from the Malta Gaming Authority. How legit is the MGA license, and are the efforts done in order to get this worth it?  

A regulated framework is necessary for having a safe online gambling experience. The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is one of the most reputed regulators out there. MGA regulates sports betting, land-based casinos, online gambling, fantasy sports, and lottery games for many business-to-business and business-to-customer services. 

MGA is known worldwide for its strict rules and regulations, so casinos with MGA licenses have a good reputation in the online gambling industry. These regulations are actually beneficial for player protection. MGA works effectively in preventing gambling addiction and protecting players against criminal activities. The Malta Gaming Authority constantly monitors and updates online gambling laws. 

Moreover, the MGA licensing application process is clear and quick. The Malta Gaming Authority is a reputable and established regulator in the iGaming industry. So, if you are making efforts in order to get one, then it’s completely worth it. 

Lately, many new regulators have emerged across Europe with a possibility that a few companies may shift their operations to other jurisdictions. Will it impact the MGA in any way? 

Well, this may also work as an opportunity for the Malta Gaming Authority to collaborate with other regulators. For example – In 2019, the MGA signed an MoU with the Swedish Gambling Authority. This type of collaboration can help in sharing industry-related knowledge and discuss best practices. Moreover, MGA casinos have continued to grow and add value to their platforms. 

Malta was one of the first European Union member states to regulate online gambling. The Malta Gaming Authority has set up a transparent and reputable licensing process.  

Several new forms of gaming, such as fantasy sports and eSports, have emerged in the past few years. What is the MGA casinos’ stand for this? 

Some MGA casinos are already regulating the betting on eSports. The Malta Gaming Authority has provided its license to many eSports platforms. MGA makes sure that the regulatory intervention does not go beyond what is needed to ensure a fair gaming experience to players. Also, eSports and fantasy sports can be an exciting area for the growth of MGA casinos. 

Responsible gaming is important to the future of the gambling industry. What does the future of responsible gaming look like from an MGA perspective? 

MGA casinos keep improving their regulatory framework and its implementation. Furthermore, the MGA itself conducts specialized audits to check whether the MGA-licensed casinos fulfill the responsible gambling regulations. MGA casinos take a proactive approach to ensure that no one on their site is a problem gambler. If they find any player at risk of developing a problem, they assist the player to play responsibly. Sometimes, MGA casinos even seek out the best ways to achieve this objective.    

The Malta Gaming Authority is doing everything to live by its reputation. MGA is not avoiding its regulatory practices to attract more companies. By far, MGA is one of the most trusted gambling authorities in the market. 

This was a great insight, Mr. Jaser Davari. But what can you say on what makes MGA licenses so popular? 

Well, thank you. Talking about MGA licenses, these are considered to be top-notch in the gambling industry. Although European states are introducing their country-level regulations over gambling, Malta Gaming Authority still holds a prominent position in the market. Also, if we compare the MGA license to other alternative licenses such as; Curacao and Kahnawake licenses, the MGA license is the most reputable in all. 

Due to higher taxes, many operators do not find MGA licenses as their first choice. However, the stable regulatory framework, anti-money laundering practices, and steps taken for player protection make MGA licenses worth any amount and effort. On the other hand, players mostly prefer to gamble at MGA-licensed casinos. Knowing that the operator must have gone through the process of due diligence for its licensing, players can easily trust MGA casinos. 

What are your views about the future of casinos licensed under the Malta Gaming Authority? 

Predicting the future of any company or authority in this fast-changing gambling industry is not easy. What looks certain is that the setting up of country-level regulations in European countries may impact MGA to some extent. However, the number of jurisdictions without any country-level regulation would not decrease so easily. And, operators always have a choice to choose a well-respected regulator. So, as long as MGA maintains its excellent regulatory practices, operators will keep trusting it for its licenses. Currently, many MGA casino businesses are expanding globally and are well-known for their legitimacy. 

This was the major discussion we had with Mr. Jaser Davari, the iGaming expert. We hope you got to learn more about MGA casinos and what role they will play.