Malta Gaming Authority Suspends Three Operators

Bet Service Group and World-of-bets.eu had their licenses revoked and Betixx was suspended “until further notice” by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the small Mediterranean nation’s gaming regulator.

Three operators’ clients and customers have been advised to get in touch with MGA in regards to any eventual outstanding payments that remain to be processed.

There were no definite reasons given behind this decision to suspend their licensees, as MGA refused to comment on breaches of law made or any other aspect of these cases, “so as not to compromise any investigations that may need to be undertaken by authorities.”

Trio’s End of the Road

Concerning payment issues, players that need to have their funds withdrawn should send their full name, address, date of birth, telephone number, a copy of their port or ID, casino name, a description of their request and a screenshot of funds balance.

Not very long ago, MGA took similar actions against BTM Entertainment who got suspended…

…with the regulation breach crackdown leading them to Bet Service Group, who initially only got their license suspended, but after the regulator’s quick revision, they were instructed to cease all gaming operations, publish a visible notice on their main Gamenet brand’s website and sites that lets visitors know of their license being revoked.

World-of-bets was also ordered to immediately terminate all operations after being given a notice identical to that of Bet Service. Likewise, all websites under their umbrella will have to publish an article informing the public of Malta’s suspension.

For the time being, Betixx is off the hook at least in the sense that it will not need terminate its business in Malta:

The sports betting operator’s license has been temporarily suspended as they’ve been barred from conducting all operations or accepting any new customers and deposits. Betixx will be submitting requested documentation and data that will help with MGA’s further investigation.

Habits, Crypto and Authorization

Of much different fortunes were Red Tiger Gaming and 2013-founded provider, BF Games, who have recently acquired their B2B online licenses by the Maltese authority.

This January, the long-awaited Sandbox Framework programme officially begun – it will enable the country’s licensees to begin adopting Bitcoin and other virtual assets and adding them to their respective sites’ payment options.

The framework’s guidelines are devised as a part of “strategic mission to keep MGA at the forefront of gaming regulation whilst embracing innovation.”

December’s report on Malta residents’ habits, general stances and behavior related to gambling revealed that approximately 1-2% of population is manifesting problem gambling-related issues (within Europe’s average), about 2.6% of household income is spent in gambling on average and that 53 percent of the entire population has been at least once in their life involved in gambling with real money.

Source:

“Malta regulator cracks down on trio of licensees”, igamingbusiness.com, February 18, 2019.