A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) covers gaming complaints and player protection cases that cross both remits, the MGA announced on 23 October 2026. Under the MGA and MCCAA MoU, players are to be directed to the authority responsible.
What the MGA and MCCAA MoU covers
According to the MGA’s announcement of the agreement, the MoU applies to consumer concerns, complaints and disputes in the gaming sector where the work of the two authorities overlaps.
It gives the MGA and MCCAA a formal basis for working together, keeping each other informed and exchanging relevant information. Any such exchange is subject to “applicable legal and regulatory requirements”, the MGA said.
With agreed channels in place, each authority should find it easier to identify the right course of action on a case, give consumers better guidance and send players to the body that can deal with their complaint.
What changes for licensees
The MoU is a cooperation agreement between two public authorities, not new legislation or a rule change for MGA licensees. It sets a framework for coordination, communication and information exchange in line with the legal and regulatory requirements that already apply.
The main effect is on complaint routing. A player whose complaint touches both gaming regulation and general consumer law should be directed to the authority responsible for that issue, and the two regulators can pass relevant information between them on the case.
The two authorities’ view
The MGA’s chief executive tied the agreement to gaps between regulators:
“Effective player protection requires more than strong regulatory frameworks. It also depends on authorities working together, sharing expertise and ensuring that consumers do not fall through the gaps between their respective remits. This agreement strengthens our ability to do just that, reinforcing our commitment to a regulatory environment where player interests remain firmly at the forefront,” Charles Mizzi, Chief Executive Officer of the MGA, said.
The MCCAA’s head said the two bodies already worked together before the signing:
“The protection of consumers remains at the heart of our work. This agreement formalises an already constructive relationship between the MCCAA and the MGA and provides a clear framework for cooperation that will help ensure that consumer concerns arising within the gaming sector are addressed efficiently and effectively,” Carmen Ciantar, Executive Chairperson of the MCCAA, said.
Malta context
The MCCAA is Malta’s competition and consumer affairs authority; the MGA licenses and supervises gaming operators. TGE’s profile Malta the Home of iGaming covers how the island built its licensing base.
The MoU comes in the same month as Malta’s overhaul of gambling VAT and gaming tax, which applies from October 2026. Earlier coverage of the regulator is on TGE’s MGA tag page.
Source: Malta Gaming Authority
