Malta

Description:
Malta was the first EU member state to fully regulate online gambling operators. It started in 2000 with the Public Lotto Ordinance. Then in 2004 it released the Remote Gaming Regulations. On March 2005, the Lotteries and Gaming Authority launched the Malta Remote Gaming Council, which serves as an ongoing discussion forum between all stakeholders, ISP providers, legal and financial representatives in the Malta remote gaming industry. The Remote Gaming Regulations establish that a licensee shall keep players` funds in a clients` account held with a credit institution approved by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority and separated from the licensee`s own funds.
However, the Playbanks fiasco has proved such measures totally useless as players have been waiting to receive their funds since December 2006. Meanwhile, the LGA seems to be more concerned on the quantity rather than the quality of its licensed operators. Bookmakers Review believes the Authority's aim should be to regulate rather than license operators.

Licensing authority:
Lotteries and Gaming Authority

Website:
http://www.lga.org.mt

Contact:
complaints@lga.org.mt

Resources:
Malta Remote Gaming Council
Remote Gaming Regulations 2004