The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has amended the provisions of its Player Protection Directive, which now require the monitoring of ‘harm’ indicators and the creation of procedures to detect and resolve cases of problems with gambling addiction.
Under the new rules, operators will be required to employ effective measures and processes to identify those most at risk of betting problems. This should be achieved using analytical tools or behavior monitoring systems, as well as trained staff.
Once the likelihood of gambling problems has been detected by the licensee, he must take the appropriate steps to resolve the case, or else prevent the situation from escalating into something more serious.
The MGA specifies that metrics must include, at a minimum, the amount and frequency of deposits, the use of multiple payment methods, and the reversal of withdrawals pending processing. In addition to these financial measures, licensees should also monitor other indicators such as increased user complaints and the use of responsible gaming tools.
team training
As well as ensuring that MGA licensees regularly observe player behavior and finances, the new rules also include new standards for team building when dealing with situations where intervention may be necessary.
“B2C licensees must ensure that employees dealing with matters relating to responsible gaming and player interaction in general are adequately and routinely trained in the relevant safe gaming procedures,” the directive states.
The rules elaborate that officials must be trained to look for players who show signs of agitation, distress, intimidation, aggression or other behavior that may be the result of suffering game-related ‘harm’.
Clarity with the bettor
Another aspect of licenses concerns a variety of technical features that must be integrated into the online platform to remind players that they are playing for real money. Subsequently, the MGA states that a player’s account balance must be visible at all times.
The authority also outlines that users must have “the ability to access six-month gaming history, including, but not limited to, data relating to the player’s total wins and losses, amounts of money deposited and amounts withdrawn.”
There should also be a pop-up message that gives players the opportunity to set an alert at certain intervals when playing titles that utilize an “auto-spin” feature.
“B2C licensees offering their service via remote means must, with respect to ‘repeating’ betting titles played against the house, the outcome of which is determined by a random generator, offer players the ability to set an alert at certain time intervals via a pop-up message.”
MGA reports record number of players in Malta
This month the MGA reported that the number of players from licensed gambling sites in Malta reached a new record in the 1st half of 2022.
“The resilience of Malta’s gaming industry during these difficult times is largely attributed to its ability to remain flexible and adapt to change, whilst being supported by the MGA’s ongoing efforts to ensure that Malta remains a competitive and reputable jurisdiction of establishment,” the MGA said.
