UK players have access to a tonne of online casinos. Not only can players access sites licenced with the UKGC, but they are also able to get access to sites that are licenced in Malta as well. The Malta Gaming Authority is actually on par with the UKGC in terms of the high quality it demands from any site that holds one of their licences. These MGA licenced casinos can now be found everywhere providing a whole lot more in the way of choices for players.
In fact, the MGA was one of the first licencing bodies to start licencing casino sites online. These casino sites are safe and secure, available to many different regions of the world, not just to those in Malta. The Malta licensed casinos are actually one of the more popular go-to sites for players within the EU as well. In recent years, many big-name casino brands have also made the transition to Malta so the list of top casinos from this jurisdiction only continues to grow.
- MGA is one of the first licences for online casinos
- MGA offers top security sites
- EU and UK players can join
However, with this growing number of Malta Gaming Authority casinos, it can be hard for players to know where to begin in choosing the right site to play at. As such, there are many different things to consider when looking at MGA casinos, and these will be covered throughout our Malta casino guide. We have also compiled a list of some of the best sites available from Malta and what they offer, so keep reading to find out all there is to know about these sites.
Are Malta Casinos non-UK casinos?
The non-UK casinos are referred to as the casinos who are open to UK-players without a UK-license. Before you could come across Malta-licensed casinos which was open to UK-players (without UK license) but today it is very rare. Most of these gambling sites are based in Curacao and not Malta.
If there are Malta-casinos opening up with a non-UK license, you can be sure to find them here.
The Malta-casinos without license in the UK also provides slot machines which are not on Gamstop, which is a benefit to some and a disadvantage to others. Read more on our page about slots not on Gamstop before signing up to a non-Gamstop casino.
How we rate the best Malta Casinos
When it comes to creating our final list of the best casinos Malta has to offer, we take a number of different factors into consideration. Players can, of course, go out on their own to find the best sites, but our recommended list makes it even easier. We take a look at a range of features such as the licencing, security and trustworthiness of the site to ensure that players are able to access fair and responsible gaming options when playing at one of these sites.
On top of this, we also take a look at the game selection and the software the site uses. This is important as players are always looking for a large range of games as well as those that offer the best qualities. We also take into account the accessibility of Malta online casinos looking to see if their design is conducive to easy navigation and whether the site is available on mobile devices. Some of the other aspects we consider when creating our top Malta casinos list include:
- Payment options
- Bonuses
- Support
Licencing options for the MGA
The MGA gaming licence is, as we mentioned, one of the best in the world. This is because it has a number of very important roles when monitoring online sites. One of the first of which is protecting minors. This licence makes sure that no underage gambling can occur. Alongside this, this licence also monitors and licences software providers as well as the casino operators. In this way, it can make sure that all games are kept fair so that there is no bias on either side.
The MGA also strongly enforces player protection especially when it comes to player rights. As such they make it easy for players to get in contact when they have an issue with casinos, providing a direct channel through which players can make a complaint. It also means they will revoke licences if casinos don’t meet the criteria. The licence is a huge advocate of responsible gaming which we will cover in detail later. Finally, it makes sure that online gambling has a positive impact on the development of businesses and companies that reside in Malta.
Structure of the MGA
As the MGA works with important gaming laws, the organisation is actually split into a number of different sections to cater to all the different aspects of the licence. For instance, there’s a board of governors who determine strategic development. In addition to this, there are a number of different committees whose jobs are varied across different departments including auditing, reviewing regulatory objectives, and ensuring that the operator is actually a proper fit for receiving one of the licences. With so many different people involved, it’s clear to see why this licence is successful.
Getting a licence
The process of getting a licence is a bit complicated, which is why any casino with this licence must actually be worth its salt. There are many steps applicants must go through, one of which is actually choosing the licence type. There are four different licence types, though the most common one for operators is a Class 1. Once the operator has decided on the licence type they will then need to submit all the required information which includes a series of audits, a business plan, system review and even a compliance review.
Games and software
MGA licences don’t just cover the operators, but also the game providers themselves. This means that players can enjoy a safe playing environment here too. Malta casinos are able to offer players a huge number of games due to this and many of them are from some of the top providers in the industry. As the MGA has the player at heart, this means that it’s not just any old provider that gets a licence. In fact, these strict regulations ensure that players are not subjected to things such as pirated games when playing online.
Not only are there a number of different providers available to players such as Microgaming and Play ‘N GO, but this means that the games available to players are impressive too. Players can enjoy a wealth of games that range from slots and virtual table games right through to live casino games. The latter option is thanks to Evolution Gaming and NetEnt, both of whom are also licenced with MGA. Players at Malta Casinos can, therefore, enjoy a number of hugely popular games, all in a safe environment. These include:
- Rainbow Riches
- Starburst
- Book of Dead
Are MGA casinos safe?
As we’ve already outlined above, MGA licenced casinos are required to jump through a number of stringent hoops in order to get the licence. This already should give an indication of how reliable these casino sites are. Amid a long list of other criteria, any casino that is licenced with the MGA is required to undergo regular auditing and checks. This is possibly one of the main reasons this licence is considered the gold standard (alongside the UKGC) when it comes to the online casino jurisdictions.
However, the MGA stands out in the security provisions it has in place. For instance, all players protected through UKGC licences take this even further than MGA. The licence also covers anti-money laundering practices. In the past, there were some issues in this area, but recently the jurisdiction has cleaned all of this up. The jurisdiction also has a good reputation, better than some of the other licences such as Curacao. The licence is also available to countries around the world so that more players can enjoy a quality gaming experience.
Payment options a Malta casinos
Another important part of online gaming is actually the payment methods. This is often the part where fraudulent activities can occur. Either with the casino using unsecure payment options, or simply by not actually honouring any payments and refusing to give players their winnings. However, with an MGA licence, many of these issues are mitigated making it safer for players to enjoy their time online. In addition to this, due to the strict licencing, casinos usually will only have reputable payment providers on hand for any transactions.
Because of this, players can enjoy smooth and speedy transactions without having to worry that these won’t get processed. There are a number of top, recognisable payment options available at Malta casinos. These include the usual options such as credit and debit card payments, the ability to make direct bank transfers and, of course, a range of prepaid card and e-wallet options. However, some options aren’t available. For instance, UK players will be disappointed to note that PayPal is not an option at MGA licenced sites.
- Skrill
- Neteller
- Visa
- Mastercard
- ecoPayz
Pros and cons of Malta casinos
We have gone through all the main aspects of Malta casinos and the licences they hold. However, there are some pros and cons with regards to using these sites. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages to be found here, which players will still need to be aware of before making that final decision on whether or not they should join one of these sites, particularly as a UK player that also has access to the UK licenced casino sites, which offer even more in some areas.
In fact, this is one of the major downsides of the Malta casino right from the start. Unless the casino is licenced with the UKGC as well as the MGA, UK players are not actually able to access the site at all. Only with this combination are they able to enjoy the perks and benefits that come alongside this licence. This is a bit of a downer for many, especially for players who are looking for something other than UK sites. While it is possible to get around such restrictions, its not recommended.
Pros of the MGA
There are many pros to this licence. For one the gaming laws for this licence are constantly updated. This means that players are always exposed to the very best options. In addition to this, GDPR is kept at high levels so that any player data that is given to the site is treated with the highest levels of protection. The licence is also recognised on a global scale within and outside of the EU. Finally, the licence itself is seen as a vote of confidence in iGaming circles.
Cons of the MGA
Apart from the main downside that UK players can’t access these sites, there are not actually so many downsides left for this licence. However, the big one, and the reason why UK players can’t join, is that the licence lacks strong advertising rules. This goes against rules set out by the UKGC causing this difficulty across the different jurisdictions. Finally, there isn’t so much protection for vulnerable players. Despite having restrictions in place for minors and ensuring there are fair and responsible gaming practices in place, the UKGC still does it better.
Responsible gaming at Malta casinos
One of the things UK players will notice when they check out a Malta casino is that there will be a seal from a third-party organisation that is involved with problem gambling. There are a number of these organisations and these include the likes of GamCare, Gamblers Anonymous, and so on. These organisations put in a lot of effort to ensure that Malta casino players are able to use self-exclusion tools and the maintenance of a database. They also offer other tools to aid problem players.
However, while they do have these rules in place, they do not enforce them to quite the same extent as the UKGC does. In the UKGC, a casino that does not register with Gamstop actually risks having its licence suspended. This is not the same with Malta casinos. However, in recent years, the MGA has been turning its focus more toward this area of gaming, pushing its responsible gaming rules to ever-higher levels. The organisation has even created a foundation dedicated to educating players about gambling problems.
Final thoughts on Malta Casinos
Malta casinos offer players a tonne of different options when it comes to the actual gaming platform. As these sites have had to go through some pretty strict hoops to get the licence, players are able to relax when they play these games knowing that they’re in a safe gaming environment. In fact, just by having this licence, a Malta casino is already head and shoulders above the vast majority of casino sites. On top of the licencing, these casinos also offer many other features to players.
These features include a great selection of games, top quality bonuses and a number of secure payment options. All of this is wrapped in that delightfully high level of security so that players know they won’t get cheated. And even then, if something goes wrong, the MGA is right on hand to accept direct player complaints about a casino. Really the only downside here is that UK players can’t access Malta only casinos, they need to have the UKGC licence too. Check out our full list of top Malta casinos to find one that suits.