Enhancing Player’s Protection in the Gaming Industry

Malta raises the bar for responsible gaming standards

Malta has grown into a global hub for online gambling businesses. Betsson, Tipico and Betfai are among the companies headquartered on the island. The MGA first established regulations for remote gaming in 2004 and an MGA license is widely considered a gold standard for trustworthy and reputable online gaming. MGA-licensed operators adhere to strict regulations and guidelines promoting safety, transparency and responsible gambling practices. These include offering players unified self-exclusion tools, deposit or wagering limits, reality checks and transaction monitoring.

The most recent updates to the MGA Player Protection Directive oblige gaming operators licensed in Malta to implement procedures that strengthen player protections against gambling related harms.¹ The new directive took effect in January 2024 and puts the onus on gaming operators to employ traceable processes to increase visibility into player behaviors and automate monitoring of player risk profiles. The revised directive reinforces responsible gaming expectations tied to age limits and product type played and outlines requirements for five Markers of Harm that must be monitored:

• Transactions: The amount and frequency of deposits and, or wagers
• Payments: The use of multiple payment methods
• Reversals: The reversal of withdrawals pending
• Communication: Communication-based indicators such as increased player complaints and bonuses
• Responsible Gambling Tools: Use of responsible gaming tools

MGA license holders are also encouraged to employ mechanisms to help pinpoint additional player risk factors when determining the existence of gambling problems, including:

• The number of declined or failed deposits
• Late-night play and any increase in late-night play
• The player’s age
• Average daily stake
• Reinvesting ‘big wins’
• Proximity of deposit attempts to payday
• Increase in the number/variety of games played
• Number of deposits during gaming sessions
• Customer only utilizes ‘no-deposit bonuses’ for gameplay

The guidelines also update expectations for employee training around processes supporting responsible gaming procedures and the requirements for maintaining clearly documented procedures for fairly managing complaints and disputes.

The MGA’s revised directive dovetails with the European Gaming and Betting Association’s efforts to develop a European standard on Markers of Harm. This is a positive development as regulatory oversight of the gaming industry is currently localized across in Europe and the UK – adding a layer of complexity for operators to contend against. Many European governments are reassessing and updating gambling regulatory frameworks to reflect the impacts of remote gaming on player safety and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-terrorist financing (CTF) risks. This forward regulatory momentum includes expected amendments to the UK Gambling Act of 2005.²

Answering rapid industry transformation with technology and risk intelligence

The ability to optimize business performance and meet escalating regulatory expectations is becoming a competitive differentiator in the gaming space. The stakes are higher than ever as the industry navigates continued transformation on all fronts from players, regulators and shareholders. Enhancing player protections while effectively aligning with regulatory obligations may introduce operations burdens or add unnecessary friction into player experiences. Non-compliance opens the potential for reputational damage, expensive penalties or license revocation.

Gaming operators need tools to build and maintain a comprehensive and current player view. Automating player profiling processes with the right combination of technology and risk insights enables operators to:

• Easily execute compliance and responsible gaming checks
• Quickly respond to new regulatory expectations
• Proactively recognize life events that may impact a player’s standing or financial stability
• Efficiently scale into new markets or regions

“Increasing risk transparency and decision efficiency goes so far in protecting both the operator and the overall player experience,” says Adam Doyle, head of gaming at LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, “Leveling up technology and risk intelligence creates optimal operator performance outcomes and raises player safety.” Selecting tools built with comprehensive data coverage that offer a high degree of configurability can help gaming operators:

• Tailor intelligence to support their specific risk appetite or player profile
• Agilely adjust protocols to align with changing regulatory frameworks
• Understand transaction risk in real time
• Reduce manual workloads
• Minimize unnecessary friction for players across the gaming life cycle

The MGA’s actions in raising responsible gaming standards are part of universal shift toward mandating safer gaming environments and proactively identifying the most vulnerable and at-risk players upfront. The right combination of technology and risk intelligence positions gaming operators to prioritize gaming safety and strengthen AML and CTF compliance without sacrificing seamless and engaging interactions for their best players.

LexisNexis® Risk Solutions enables global gaming operators to responsibly protect player safety while perfecting entertaining gaming experiences. Contact us to learn more about our industry-trusted gaming solutions.

1. Player Protection - Malta Gaming Authority (mga.org.mt)
2. Blog - Gambling Act Review implementation update (gamblingcommission.gov.uk)