Casino.net has released an extensive analysis discussing how players can confirm the authenticity of an online casino's claims regarding having a Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) license. Dominic Pines, who focuses on the Malta market for the site, highlights that players should not solely rely on license badges, numbers, and regulatory logos often found in website footers.
Pines emphasizes that verification should start with the operator’s URL and current authorization status listed in the MGA’s public licensee register. "A license badge in a footer proves someone put an image in a footer. That is the whole of what it proves," Pines stated.
The MGA manages a searchable public register where players can verify information such as the licensee's name, authorization status, URL, and the type of gaming services provided. Pines points out that checking the URL directly is crucial, as a legitimate company name may not correspond to a specific website covered by the necessary authorization. He explained, "You go to the register and you start from the URL, not from the name."
Pines recommends verifying three essential elements together: the license number, website URL, and the current authorization status. If any of these elements do not match, he urges players to seek additional verification before endorsing the operator.
The issue has gained significance following an MGA notice from July 2026, which warned of websites impersonating licensed operators. The notice disclosed that the regulator had found sites misleading consumers into thinking they were MGA-licensed or authorized under Malta’s Gaming Act. The MGA flagged certain URLs as having no affiliation with the Authority, labeling claims of MGA licenses on those sites as false and misleading.
Pines argues this case illustrates the inadequacy of relying on copied logos or license numbers to confirm regulatory status.
Casino.net utilizes license status as a criterion for evaluating operators in its Malta market coverage. According to Pines, every operator featured on the Malta page must possess an active MGA license to qualify. Subsequently, these operators are evaluated in areas such as account setup, game offerings, withdrawal processes, and customer support. "The register decides whether an operator can be considered at all, and the testing decides where it lands," Pines remarked.
This evaluation process is ongoing; casino.net maintains that regulatory status is a dynamic aspect requiring regular updates, as licenses can expire, ownership can change, and domains can be transferred.
Pines asserts that the broader gaming industry should aim for clearer communication regarding regulatory status. Instead of merely declaring that an operator is 'licensed and regulated,' he suggests that sources should specify the jurisdiction, authorization, and verifiable information backing such claims. "A regulator that publishes the fakes is giving you a verification tool. A regulator that says nothing is not thereby cleaner, it is just quieter," he concluded.
