MGA Orders 4 Online Gaming Licensees to Cease Operations

The Maltese Gaming Authority promised it would protect online gamblers with a heavy hand, and is proving it means business. In seven days, the regulator revoked or suspended four online gambling licenses, ordering the owners to “cease operations immediately”.Malta Means Business: 4 Online Gambling Licenses Revoked in 7 Days

After decades of circumspect behavior in the global iGaming industry, a few regulatory bodies are taking the protection of players more serious than ever before. If you’ve followed internet gaming news at all in the last few years, you probably guessed the UK is one of them. The other is the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA); the only other international regulatory body to mimic the UK’s bar-setting example so closely.

After thoroughly revamping its remote betting guidelines last year, the MGA promised its plethora of licensees that they mean business. Operators received plenty of notice as to what would and would not be acceptable practices come 2019. It was a classic case of “shape up or ship out”, and now that the regulator has had time to examine the bulk of its licensees, the heavy hand of justice is coming down with a clenched fist.

MGA Suspends 2 Online Gambling Licenses, Revokes 2 More in 7 Days

In just seven days time, the Maltese authority pulled the rug out from under four of its formerly licensed online gambling operators. The first two revocations were published on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, informing the public that Morpheus Games (MT) and Betixx Limited have both been ordered to cease all operations “indefinitely”.

Morpheus Games & Betixx Limited Licenses Suspended

An exact reason for the suspension of MT and Betixx Ltd licenses has not been provided. What we do know is that both companies are suffering from similar violations. Each has been ordered to, “indefinitely suspend all gaming operations, cease to register new players or accept any deposits on the Licence and to submit all data and documentation requested by the Authority.

Clearly there is some missing information from their files. If MGA does not receive the documents they’re looking for soon, and in correct order, odds are their suspended licenses will turn to revocations.

Notice to MT Players: Members of Lottoz or any other MT-owned gambling websites who have an outstanding account balance are advised to contact the MGA asap. Click here for instructions.

Notice to Betixx Players: Members of the Betixx Online Sportsbook who have an outstanding account balance are also advised to contact the MGA asap. Click here for instructions.

World-of-Bets Ltd & Bet Service Group Ltd Licenses Revoked

Again, no reason for the revocation of these licenses has not yet been provided, but the Malta Gaming Authority is blatantly incensed beyond recovery by two of its former licensees. They include World-of-bets.eu Limited and Bet Services Group Limited.

Public notice of their license revocation states they’ve each been “directed to proceed with the cancellation process of the Authorisation, and to suspend all gaming operations with immediate effect,” and to establish a visible notice on corresponding website/s “informing all players that the Authorisation has been cancelled.

World-of-bets.eu, who had been a remote licensee of the MGA since 2008, received its notice on February 15, 2019, and immediately cooperated with MGA requirements. Bet Services Group, responsible for the GameBet online sportsbook, received its notice on February 18, 2019, and at time of writing (appx 3pm EST, Feb. 25, 2019), continues to operate its website under false pretense of an MGA license.

Notice to World-of-bet.eu Players: Again, members of the former online gambling licensee with an outstanding account balance are asked to contact the MGA immediately. Click here for instructions.

Notice to Bet Services Group Players: The same goes for members of the GameBet online sportsbook. Players with an outstanding account balance need to contact the MGA asap. Click here for instructions.

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  • Trevor Hallsey

    Passionate webmaster, devoted card game enthusiast, and proud son of the Great White North. With over a decade of iGaming experience, Trevor has launched numerous web portals to share his passion for game theory and all things Canadian gaming. With this site, he acts as a fact checker and mostly writes at the intersection of gaming and finance. He aims to offer statistical insights and unique information that you might see lacking in similar sites.

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