Controlled Gaming Premises

A Controlled Gaming Premises authorisation is required for any premises that intend to offer, host or operate one or more Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs). These premises need to be operated by a licensed B2C Licensee, whereby the licensee needs to obtain relevant approvals for every premise/s that the Licensee intends to operate from. The Gaming Premises Regulations deal with physical player interfaces within dedicated premises, having access controls and self-exclusion mechanisms, together with limitations on the locations thereof. These premises do not include premises that are offered by virtue of a government concession or premises offering solely tombola games.

In accordance with the Gaming Premises Regulations, in order for premises to be approved as Controlled Gaming Premises, the relevant Planning Authority permit for the appropriate class must be issued. In anticipation of having to file such an application with the Planning Authority, a prospective applicant may request from the Malta Gaming Authority a certificate to the effect that it does not, prima facie, object to such premises being used as Controlled Gaming Premises.

Once the Planning Authority issues the relevant permit, the applicant would then need to forward the relevant paperwork to the Malta Gaming Authority to be reviewed, and the issuance of the Controlled Gaming Premises Certificate.

Similar to other physical premises, Controlled Gaming Premises are subject to the scrutiny of the MGA’s inspectors, who are present within the physical premises on a frequent basis in order to ensure that the games are run fairly and according to law.

Once a licence is awarded, several ‘gaming verticals’, meaning categories of products that require specific safeguards per vertical, can be offered under the same licence. These verticals require prior approval, in order to ensure that they are offered in a manner which adheres to law and to the regulatory objectives, owing to their differing characteristics and the distinction between these product categories. For the sake of clarity, the different verticals are grouped into Gaming Types, and the Compliance Contribution as well as the minimum share capital requirements are calculated per Game Type.