Malta regulator to launch unified self-exclusion regime for all licence holders

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The Malta Gaming Authority is to implement a unified self-exclusion system for all its online gaming licensees, the regulator has announced.

As it stands, remote gaming operators licensed by the MGA are already obliged to offer self-exclusion tools but an excluded player can still access the services of other operators.

“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,” said Heathcliff Farrugia, chief executive officer at the MGA.

“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 regulator said it was also considering opening up the system for subscription on a voluntary basis to operators licensed in other jurisdictions.

In a statement, the MGA said: “The [authority] 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 [blockchain].

“Such technology has the potential to provide an ideal platform for this system due to its inherent characteristics of immutability and decentralisation,” the MGA said.

A public consultation will follow before a call for requests for the technical development and implementation of the solution.