Malta Gaming Authority warns users about false gaming licenses claims

15 2 minutes read

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has warned consumers against false claims on gambling licences.

The MGA has published a notice warning consumers of a list of sites claiming to have connections to, or false licenses from, the authority. The organization stressed that any reference to the MGA or gaming licenses said to be issued by the MGA from the listed websites is “false and misleading”.

The sites concerned are:

Instant-connect.co.uk
pangagames.com
Casino1bet.online
palmsbet1.com
Flexport.com
casino-europa.eu

Any links to or claims of licenses from the MGA from any of the above sites should be excluded. This most likely means that they are running gambling services in the country illegally.

“The MGA would like to remind consumers not to use services provided by any entity unless they are satisfied that the entity concerned is authorized to provide such services by the MGA,” reads the statement from the gambling authority. “The gaming regulatory framework requires licensed persons to comply with strict legal requirements for the benefit of consumers.

“The activities of unlicensed entities are unregulated and do not provide the necessary safeguards specified by the framework, making transactions with these entities risky for consumers.”

The MGA has also shared a list of licensed entities for consumers to browse here.

This comes after we reported on Filipino online casino PLove, which claimed to be licensed by the Maltese authority. The MGA said in a press release that it had “no contact” with the site, beyond the usual warnings it sees about unlicensed operators.

Malta’s regulatory body denied any connection to PHLove. Credit: B.H. Love/MGA

But when we searched the public lists and databases of each commission, we couldn’t find any evidence that PLove was licensed by any of them. Following our report, Philippine watchdog PAGCOR said it had begun investigating the site. However, at the time of writing, the site still claims to be licensed by the authorities.

A section of PLove's website calls for regulation by multiple authorities, including PAGCOR, the Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission and Gaming Curacao, with their logos displayed below the text. — PLove promotes itself in accordance with the regulations of several international gaming bodies. Credit: B.H. Love

Why is it important to use licensed operators?

Gamblers should always take every step possible to ensure they use licensed operators to protect themselves and others. Illegal gambling operators do not have to take the same regulatory steps to protect users from gambling-related harm, or to protect any funds they hold for users.

This can leave gamblers vulnerable to theft, fraud, or any number of related crimes. It may also result in the loss of personal information or financial data in some cases.

ReadWrite has reached out to the MGA for comment.

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The post Malta Gaming Authority warns users of bogus gaming license claims appeared first on ReadWrite.

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2025-10-31 17:20:00

15 2 minutes read