SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Rush Gaming Limited has been ordered to cease operations by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) with immediate effect.
Under the Gaming Compliance and Enforcement Regulations, the company is no longer an MGA licensee holder and therefore must halt all of its B2C gaming operations in the country, which include services like online casino and fixed-odd betting, among others.
However, MGA has also asked Rush Gaming to maintain open access to all registered player accounts on its portfolio, including the Fansbet.com and Onebet.com websites, so that all outstanding refunds can be processed and returned to players in line with local regulations.
No specific details have been shared by the regulator in terms of what exactly Rush Gaming has done to breach its regulatory obligations, but the company could challenge the decision if it decides to follow up with an appeal.
The latest development follows MGA’s recent strategy of ramping up efforts to create a safer international gambling environment, having renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Alderney Gambling Control Commission earlier this month.
There have also been shifts at the top level of the MGA, with the regulator’s current and outgoing CEO Carl Brincat stepping down at the end of January to be replaced by industry veteran Charles Mizzi, who will continue Brincat’s vision of making Malta a ‘reputable and desirable residency’ for global investors.
