MGA to launch self-exclusion system

The gaming authority from Malta has detailed its plans to launch a unified system for companies that hold licences in the country.

Malta.- The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has revealed an ambitious project that is set to lead to the implementation of a unified self-exclusion system for all its Remote Gaming licensees. The news come after the Parliament voted the third reading of the new Gaming Act.

While remote gaming operators licenced by the MGA are obliged to offer self-exclusion tools to their players, there is currently no unified system in place. The gaming authority said that it was aware of that and that it is committed to working towards a system that will give players the possibility to self-exclude across all licenced gaming channels, be it land-based or remote.

Heathcliff Farrugia, Chief Executive Officer at the MGA, said: “The protection of players is at the heart of the MGA’s regulatory agenda, and this project further underlines our resolve to ensure that players have the necessary tools to engage in gaming services responsibly. Over the years we have witnessed efforts from gaming operators to implement various responsible gaming measures, and thus we strongly believe that the unified self-exclusion system will be well received by the industry and consumers alike.”

The MGA will also evaluate the possibility of opening up the system for subscription on a voluntary basis to operators licensed in other jurisdictions; always ensuring a robust protection of data, in line with the GDPR.

“The MGA is conscious that the implementation of such a system requires careful and considered analysis in order to ascertain that the solution design will meet the intended objectives. To this end, the Authority shall assess the suitability of a range of technical solutions for such a system over the coming weeks, including the possibility of leveraging Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). Such technology has the potential to provide an ideal platform for this system due to its inherent characteristics of immutability and decentralisation,” said the MGA.