Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) Explained for NZ Players

Who doesn’t love online casino gaming? Each online platform needs licensing and regulations to operate smoothly and safely, however the question remains; who authorises this? To answer this question, among many others, I have researched one of the biggest names in the eGaming licensing sector:

MGA, or the Malta Gaming Authority; an ever-popular company that is well-known amongst the New Zealand gambling community. 

What is the Malta Gaming Authority?

The Malta Gaming Authority, or better known as MGA, is one of the safest and most trustworthy eGaming companies across the world. This European-based business operates in both land-based and online casinos, ensuring integrity and fairness is upheld by all sites under this jurisdiction. MGA is the main regulatory body for all gambling and gaming-related activities within Malta, and provides a range of jurisdiction and regulations for companies across New Zealand and the globe. 

Benefits of MGA for Kiwis Playing Online Pokies in New Zealand

MGA has a range of benefits that put them above any other jurisdiction company, and I have conveniently listed some of these benefits below:

Globally Renowned

As mentioned, MGA is renowned by casino goers all over the world. Their most prominent fan-based is within New Zealand, with many popular casinos under their regulations, providing an immense amount of games for players like me.

Reputable and Trustworthy

Based on comments and reviews, MGA is one of the most trustworthy eGaming licensors on the market. Their jurisdiction and rules do not bend for anyone, resulting in immense confidence from casino platforms and players everywhere.

Decades of Experience

MGA opened their doors in early 2001, providing services for online casino sites for over 20 years. This amount of experience, along with their trusted licensing practices, makes them one of the most qualified companies in the iGaming industry.

Player Protection

Any casino site that displays the MGA licensing logo on its platform provides an immediate sense of trust and safety to any online casino player, me included! Player data, such as personal information and financial details, is kept safe from third parties and hackers, allowing one of the most protected experiences to date. 

MGA Services

MGA offers a range of services for both gamers and companies within the iGaming sector, assisting both parties in keeping up with iGaming news and events from this company. I have provided a concise list below of their main services offered:

Annual Reporting

MGA provides comprehensive reports and financial statements from audits annually for each financial year. According to a report summary, these reports outline activities and summarise the actions MGA took part in throughout the year. Within the report, key events and endeavours are highlighted to show their importance, along with any updates regarding iGaming within Malta.

Gambling Licenses

Gambling licenses are not handed to just anyone, which is why MGA takes it upon themselves to provide the correct licensing to specific authorised casinos. The jurisdiction and licensing given depends on the intention of the site; for example, betting and online casino games require separate licensing, so if a company wants to provide both then they need to receive two different licenses from MGA.

iGaming Company Support

iGaming companies can receive support and cooperation from MGA for verification tools, player identification strategies, and standardised audits of online casino sites, games, and fairness. MGA also offers technical assistance to help with activity monitoring and implementation of restrictions for players to avoid cheating and bias. 

Activity Monitoring

Just like companies do with players, MGA monitors the companies’ activity to ensure compliance with the MGA regulations to reduce cheating and fraudulent behaviour. Any platform who does anything against these guidelines has immediate revocation of their license to ensure legality, security, and effectiveness for players.

Player Protection

Similar to the security measures in place to ensure legality of companies, MGA provides a range of additional restriction measures for gamers. An example of this is the ‘self-exclusion’ option that many sites have; this reduces the time and money a player can spend at a gambling site to ensure responsible gambling is employed.

Top 5 MGA-Licensed Online Casinos in New Zealand

MGA has a plethora of online casinos under their jurisdiction, but how can you choose the best ones? To help fellow Kiwi players with this, I have provided an easy list below of the top 5 best MGA-licensed casinos below:  

Conclusion

MGA has a great amount of trust put into them by online sites and players, and it is easy to see why this is. Their range of respectable services, thousands of trusted reviews from players and companies alike, and their list of popular and secure casinos under their belt makes it hard not to love them!

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