What is Malta Gaming Authority?
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is Malta's gambling regulator, founded in 2001 as the Lotteries and Gaming Authority and a major licensing hub for online gambling companies.
Malta became the first EU member state to license online gambling in 2004. The authority was renamed the Malta Gaming Authority in 2015, and the Gaming Act 2018 created its current framework, with a single B2C licence and a B2B licence covering different game types.
Many international operators and suppliers hold MGA licences and base staff in Malta. An MGA licence allows operation in Malta and is often used as a base for serving other markets, which is legally contested in countries that require a local licence.
Malta's Bill 55, passed in 2023, sought to shield MGA licensees from enforcement of foreign court judgments related to lawful activity under Maltese law, a move that drew criticism in other EU states and remains contested.