MGA Sets Regulatory Priorities for 2025 With Enhanced Oversight

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has revealed its 2025 supervisory priorities, emphasizing a refined risk-based approach and a stronger focus on compliance engagement with licensees. The updated strategy is outlined in the document Regulatory Oversight: Supervisory Engagement Efforts 2025 [pdf] , which details how the Authority intends to streamline regulatory interventions while fostering a culture of compliance.

Strengthening Risk-Based Supervision

A key aspect of the MGA’s 2025 strategy is its commitment to a risk-based regulatory framework, ensuring that supervisory efforts are concentrated on areas posing the highest risks to the gaming industry. This allows the Authority to direct its resources efficiently while reducing unnecessary burdens on operators that maintain strong compliance measures.

By taking a more data-driven and outcome-focused approach, the MGA aims to enhance its ability to anticipate regulatory challenges, implement targeted interventions, and improve oversight effectiveness. This model ensures that compliance efforts remain proportional to the level of risk posed by different gaming operations.

Expanding Licensee Engagement

One of the MGA’s primary goals for 2025 is to deepen its engagement with operators. The Authority plans to achieve this by increasing direct communication with licensees through industry consultations, supervisory meetings, and thematic reviews. These initiatives will provide operators with a clearer understanding of compliance expectations and help them align their internal policies with regulatory standards.

The MGA will also introduce new assessment measures to evaluate the effectiveness of its interventions, ensuring that regulatory oversight is both practical and beneficial to the industry. Gathering data on compliance trends and supervisory actions will enable the Authority to refine its approach and maintain regulatory efficiency.

Key Areas of Focus for 2025

The MGA has outlined several critical focus areas for the upcoming year:

• IT and Operational Resilience – Ensuring that operators maintain robust IT infrastructures and cybersecurity measures to mitigate risks and maintain uninterrupted service.
• Governance Assurance – Strengthening governance structures within gaming entities by assessing the effectiveness of key function holders and their regulatory responsibilities.
• Player Protection and Responsible Gambling – Enhancing oversight of responsible gambling policies, particularly self-exclusion mechanisms and interventions for problem gambling.
• Sports Betting Integrity – Increasing scrutiny on betting markets, especially in local football, to detect and prevent suspicious betting activity.

A More Transparent and Proactive Regulatory Environment

The MGA’s updated approach signals a more transparent and engaged regulatory framework, where licensees are expected to actively participate in compliance initiatives. Operators must ensure their governance policies align with MGA standards and that they respond promptly to any regulatory concerns.

By prioritizing risk-based interventions and fostering industry-wide collaboration, the MGA aims to create a gaming environment that is both secure and sustainable. This refined regulatory strategy reinforces the Authority’s commitment to maintaining high standards while adapting to the evolving needs of the gaming sector.

Source:Malta Gaming Authority Revamps Regulatory Strategy for 2025, World Casino Directory, February 24, 2025.