Malta will implement "detailed" responsible gaming regulations

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has launched a consultation to provide "detailed player safety rules for licensees."

Last week, the regulator launched a "closed consultation" on "licensees' obligations regarding their responsible gaming policies and procedures, as well as the introduction of five markers of harm that licensees must consider when determining effective measures and processes to detect and address problem gambling."

This comes after a review of its player protection policy by "an expert in the sector," as well as MGA research and the work of its Responsible Gaming Unit, according to the company.

The consultation has not yet been published on the MGA website's closed consultations area. MGA licensees will have until October 14 to comment to the suggestions, which will take the shape of changes to the Malta Player Protection Directive.

Because the document is a closed consultation, only MGA licensees are permitted to respond.

Furthermore, the MGA reminded licensees that they must prepare an agreed-upon processes report that specifies their protocols for holding player cash and prospective winnings.

The MGA announced in its annual report this month that it cancelled only seven licences in 2021 and issued no licence suspensions, a decrease from 14 cancellations and three suspensions in 2020.

Instead, the agency levied additional fines throughout the year.

Malta was also included to the Financial Action Task Force's "grey list" for jurisdictions with potential inadequacies in some money laundering procedures in 2021. It was, however, taken from the list early this year.

By fLEXI tEAM