MGA opens consultation on Player Protections Directive  

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has launched a ‘closed consultation’ seeking feedback from licensees on proposed amendments to its ‘Player Protection Directive’. 

Feedback is required to strengthen and clarify the MGA’s current player protection framework as an essential directive of the Authority’s work and oversight regulating online gambling services.

Completed research will be made available in the “eventual publication of detailed player protection guidelines for Licensees”. 

“The Authority is in the process of conducting detailed research and garnering expert experience to serve as the foundation for the eventual publication of such guidelines.”

The MGA requires feedback on licensees’ obligations related to the five markers of harm that must be considered by licensees when determining effective measures and processes to detect and address problem gambling.

The consultation will further include feedback on provisions related to real-money enforcements and staff training that have been included by the amendments.

Key sections of the Player Protection Directive are to be reviewed by policy experts and as an MGA requisite following its own research and “experience garnered through the Responsible Gaming Unit’s audits and familiarisation visits”.

The consultation period shall run until 14 October 2022, providing licensees the opportunity to issue feedback on MGA player protection directives.

Last month, the MGA published its 2021 Annual Report, which saw the regulator outline its tougher regulatory approach on monitoring the AML duties of licensed operators and registered Malta businesses.