Best Online Casinos Licensed by MGA in Malta (2026)

Information about MGA casinos

When it comes to online casinos, you should always keep in mind that choosing a reputable and safe site to play at is crucial. The question is, how do you spot a reliable online casino?

Fair and secure online casinos are characterized by high-quality customer service, fast and reliable payouts, and other key factors. To ensure such an approach from an online casino, several globally recognized organizations issue certifications that verify the casino's adherence to high industry standards.

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is one of the leading bodies that hands out these certifications. Numerous online casinos aim to acquire a Malta license to demonstrate their transparency and integrirty, as well as to operate in countries in which online casinos must possess it.

This page will show you how to find the best Malta-licensed casinos out there by using Casino Guru's rating and review system. You will also find out what the MGA does and what its license entails.

The Malta Gaming Authority license

The Malta Gaming Authority is Malta's gaming control board and was created in 2001 to cater to the growing online casino industry. With many countries failing to regulate, or even recognize, gambling sites, it was one of the first authorities to offer legislation to offshore casinos, providing official regulations and the guarantee of a safe environment for players.

Many companies have applied for the license, seeing it as a way of validating their activity and attracting new players as a result. By 2017, the online gambling sector generated over 12% of Malta's GDP, according to a KPMG report, with 270 gaming operators under its jurisdiction.

As well as online casinos, the MGA regulates land-based gambling on the island, so local casinos, slot machines, betting offices and lotteries also fall under its control. The authority keeps a comprehensive register of all licensees on its website, which it updates whenever there is a change.

To deal with such a wide network of legislation, the authority is divided into different entities:

• An Executive Management Committee, overseeing the authority's major functions
• An Audit Committee that takes care of corporate government and ensures fair accounting
• A Supervisory Council responsible for MGA's regulatory objectives, and reviewing and updating them when necessary
• A Fit and Proper Committee which decides who qualifies for a license by analyzing previous conduct.

The Authority is known for its strictness, which is why the license is so coveted in the gaming industry. Any business applying for it need to adhere to a series of specific regulations, which we summarize in the next section.

The terms of the MGA license

The MGA license is based on its holders following the regulatory framework in line with the Malta Gaming Act of 2018 (Chapter 583), and is generally the same for both land-based and online applicants, with some exceptions.

The parent tier is the Act itself, which recognizes gaming as an activity and the MGA as the regulatory authority. The license is granted via a Maltese government concession upon the company meeting the criteria below:

Regulations

• Eligibility – The owners of the betting company are subject to a strict fit and proper test which ensures that they are suitable to offer gambling business in line with Maltese law.
• Application procedure – typically lasting between four to six months, in which time the MGA will examine whether the applicant has a strong business strategy, completes all regulatory requirements and has the required infrastructure.
• Cost – a ten-year license normally costs between €30,000 and €50,000, but this excludes functionary and salary costs. It might also increase for complex applications.
• Changes in corporate control – if the company changes owners during the license term, then they must repeat the process.

Once the license is obtained, then there are operational requirements they must meet, such as having each game approved by the MGA and strictly forbidding underage gambling.

Restrictions

While the above-mentioned is valid for all MGA casinos, one thing that differs based on the nature of the entity are the restrictions established by the license.

For example, brick-and-mortar casinos are subject to specific distance restrictions. A land-based venue must be located at least 75 meters away from schools and places of worship such as churches, and 50 meters from other gambling venues.

Inside, MGA casinos are allowed to keep a maximum of one gaming device per two square meters and cannot operate more than ten devices in total.

However, online operators are obliged to make sure they pay out winnings promptly to the users. On top of that, they must protect their players and promote their products in complete adherence to MGA guidelines.

It's important to note that the license may also be subject to directives during the license term. In cases of important legislative changes, license holders are expected to update any relevant aspect of their business to keep in line with Maltese regulation.

Types of games

The MGA classifies the games it covers into four categories—although some games may contain elements of more than one—and govern them accordingly.

• Type one – games of chance determined by a random number generator, so all slots games, lottery games, virtual sports games and other RNG-based online casino games such as roulette, blackjack and poker played against the house.
• Type two – games of chance but with outcomes that are not generated by a random number generator but by an external event, i.e. sports betting.
• Type three – games of chance in which the operator generates revenue by taking a commission based on the stakes or prize, such as bingo and other commission-based games.
• Type four – controlled skill games.

Making a complaint via the MGA

If you feel badly treated by an MGA gaming authority casino then you shouldn't suffer in silence. To start with, contact the casino directly to file a complaint. If that doesn't work, it's best to submit a complaint via an ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) service or via our complaint resolution center. In cases where neither of these actions are successful and you still want to pursue action, you can submit a complaint to the Authority directly and they will decide whether to take action on your behalf.

To do this, you simply go directly to the MGA website and fill out a form specifying your complaint. The form comes with a privacy policy explaining your rights and how they are protected under MGA rules.

Costs and maintenance of MGA license

Apart from the non-refundable application fee that costs €5,000, the MGA license holders are required to pay registration, taxes, and annual fees to keep it.

The Malta Gaming Authority license is issued for five years. The annual fees are €25,000, and taxes are held at the rate of 5% of the revenue. Additionally, operators need to pay for other services as well. These will cost them around €12,000 on average.

Benefits of playing at MGA licensed casinos

As we already mentioned, to make sure they have a positive gambling experience, you should consider the site's safety above all when choosing an online casino. And MGA casinos, as well as sites with other reputable licenses, allow for just that.

Apart from prioritizing safety, MGA casinos ensure fair play. The license oversees each casino's approach to technology and makes sure that RNGs are used to draw random results in games like online slots. This way, you can be sure that the game's outcome is not manipulated and is based purely on luck.

Another benefit is that MGA licensed casinos also provide 24/7 customer support, ensuring players can get help when needed. Assistance is readily available to players, offering guidance, and protection.

How we review MGA online casinos

Our team of experts reviews all online casinos, including MGA casinos, and gives them a rating out of ten called the Safety Index based on various criteria. The most important ones include:

• User complaints – Players' complaints give out a clear signal that the site treats them badly. This is a strong factor that influences the Safety Index.
• Size of the casino – The bigger the casino, the higher the chance it will pay out player's winnings without running into issues.

How to find the best MGA casino

Now that you know which factors we consider when reviewing Malta Gaming Authority casinos, you know what to look at when choosing one to play at. Luckily, you don't have to scroll endlessly to find the top MGA casino that has a high Safety Index and meets all your preferences. This is where Casino Guru can help you.

To find the best MGA online casino for you, you can use our sorting and filtering system. Above the MGA casino list, you will find tabs. Select the 'Recommended' tab if you want to see the licensed sites that our team considers to be the most impressive.

The 'Newly opened' tab will display the most recently added Malta licensed casinos. If you want to see all MGA casinos, select the 'All' option. Finally, the 'Big brands' will show you the list of the biggest ones on the market.

Additionally, you can fine-tune your search by using our filters. In the 'Popular Filters' section, you'll find options such as 'Mobile-friendly casinos', that will show you the MGA casinos that contain games available for mobile play. You can also filter MGA casinos by the games they offer, game providers, or payment methods like PayPal, Paysafe, VISA, or even crypto casinos.

Finally, you can choose the way in which the MGA licensed casinos are ordered. To do that, explore the drop-down menu that includes options such as 'Recommended', 'Highest Safety Index', and more.

MGA casino bonuses

When choosing an MGA online casino, many players consider the variety and value of the bonuses it offers. Casino bonuses are free money or free spins that are given to players to play with.

There are more types of casino bonuses, but perhaps the most important distinction of these is that of no deposit and deposit bonuses. Players are usually given no deposit bonuses upon registration, and as their name suggests, they are free money people can wager without making deposits.

On the other hand, deposit bonuses are usually calculated as a certain percentage of how much a person deposits. Simply put, players get something extra to play with on top of their own money.

You can search for MGA casino bonuses in our section dedicated to casino bonuses. Initially, you will see all the bonuses available. To look specifically for the ones you can play with at MGA licensed casinos, tick the 'Malta (MGA)' box under the 'Licensing Authority' filter.

Of course, you can further use the filters and sorts available to fine-tune your search. View only certain types of casino bonuses, display casino bonuses for new or existing players, or set a bonus amount and value range.