Malta Strengthens Consumer Protection: MGA and MCCAA Sign New Cooperation Agreement

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is taking new steps to enhance consumer protection in the digital age. In a formal signing ceremony, the MGA and the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) launched a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This document forms the basis for significantly closer bilateral cooperation on player protection issues and general consumer affairs within the Maltese gaming sector. The goal is to untangle the often complex overlaps between gaming law and general consumer protection, providing citizens with a clear point of contact.

This move comes at a time when Malta is under international scrutiny. While local authorities are optimizing internal structures for complaint procedures, pressure from the European Commission is mounting. Nevertheless, officials in Valletta emphasize that the internal coherence of regulatory bodies is key to a secure market. The new agreement stipulates that both organizations will adopt a coordinated approach to managing consumer inquiries and disputes to ensure that no complaint remains unaddressed due to jurisdictional questions.

Numbers and facts

The agreement creates a structured framework for communication and the secure exchange of relevant information in compliance with legal standards. Charles Mizzi, CEO of the MGA, and Carmen Ciantar, Executive Chairperson of the MCCAA, highlighted that cooperation is essential to prevent players from falling through the gaps between different authorities.

"Effective player protection requires more than strong regulatory frameworks. It also depends on authorities working together, sharing expertise and ensuring that consumers do not fall through the gaps between their respective remits." - Charles Mizzi, CEO of the MGA

Parallel to this new partnership, there are significant changes for MGA-licensed operators. By July 20, 2025, all B2C providers must update their terms and conditions. Due to EU Regulation 2024/3228, the EU's previous Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform will be discontinued. The MGA has already announced that it will revoke Article 13 of Directive 5 of 2018 (Alternative Dispute Resolution Directive). Operators must therefore remove all references to the ODR platform from their user documents to avoid misinformation and confusion among customers.

Background

The situation in Malta is not only characterized by internal authority cooperation. The European Commission sent a formal letter of notice to the Maltese government in June. The reason is the controversial Article 56A of the Maltese Gaming Act, introduced in 2023. This article is intended to protect Maltese providers from lawsuits in other EU countries. Malta argues that the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) guarantees the freedom to provide services. However, the Commission sees this as a violation of the principle of mutual trust in the administration of justice.

This legal situation is causing particular resentment in Germany and Austria. Many players have sued for losses at Maltese providers in the past. While German courts often rule in favor of the players, Malta refuses to enforce these judgments, citing Article 56A. The MGA defends this stance, stating that unjustified restrictions on market access contradict EU law. The deadline for Malta to respond to the European Commission is two months from June, which massively increases the pressure on the island nation.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, the situation remains complicated, but the direction is clear. Anyone wishing to play legally and securely in Germany should exclusively use offers listed on the whitelist of the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL). These providers are subject to the strict State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). This means: a monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros via the LUGAS system, a stake limit of a maximum of 1 euro per spin on virtual slots, and connection to the OASIS lockout file. The cooperation in Malta primarily affects players registered with MGA-licensed providers. Since these are considered illegal in Germany without a GGL license, the new Maltese complaint channels often offer no effective legal protection under German law. While MGA protection applies in Malta, it does not replace the strict German requirements for player protection and addiction prevention.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

German casinos with a GGL license benefit indirectly from the unrest in Malta. While Malta disputes the recognition of judgments with the European Commission, German licenses offer legal clarity. In Germany, there are clear ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) procedures that are not affected by the discontinuation of the EU ODR platform in a way that endangers basic legal certainty. Operators in Germany do not have to rely on Maltese protection articles but operate within a closed legal system. The strict controls by the GGL ensure that player complaints are processed directly according to German standards. For providers, this means higher compliance costs but also a massive trust bonus compared to Malta casinos, which are often entangled in legal gray areas.