Malta Gaming Authority cancels three gambling licenses over unpaid fees

The Malta Gaming Authority announced Tuesday the cancellation of three authorizations to operate gambling, corresponding to brands Morpheus Games, M-Hub Gaming, and eGaming Lab. The permits were canceled over the failure to pay their license fees.

The businesses were provided with a twenty-day time period within which they had the right to show cause why the Authority should not proceed with the enforcement measure. However, the licensees failed to make their submissions within the stipulated time period.

In light of the above, the Malta regulator is canceling the gaming authorizations, which the MGA deemed “the most appropriate measure” in consideration of the failures. In the case of eGaming Lab, the business failed to make licensing payments with a total of €50,083 ($52,600) currently owed to the regulator. 

As for Morpheus Games, the business also failed to make payments to the regulator, owing €80,775 ($83,337) to the Authority. The MGA did not disclose the amount due from M-Hub Gaming. The business was struck off as defunct last year.

The companies are being mandated to remove, with immediate effect, any reference to the Authority and the authorization they were previously given. The businesses have the right to file an appeal before an Administrative Review Tribunal within 20 days from the date of publication of the cancellation.

The move to terminate the three licenses comes despite the regulator’s commitment to issue more warnings and administrative penalties instead of cancellations. The Authority canceled fewer licenses during 2021 than in 2020, as it seeks to move towards “leaner and more efficient processes to remove unnecessary bureaucracy.”

The Maltese gaming authority is also exploring new regulations, and has recently opened a closed consultation with relevant stakeholders on a proposed new policy on the use of Innovative Technology Arrangements (ITAs) and the acceptance of virtual financial assets (VFAs), and virtual tokens.