Mozzartbet Group, a Serbian iGaming company, has announced that it will cease operations under its Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) licence as of October 1, 2026. The company plans to shut down its Mozzart.com brand and its affiliate program, redirecting its resources to markets where it holds domestic licences.
This decision marks a significant shift for one of the leading brands in the Balkans, removing it from the roster of MGA-endorsed operators in the region. This trend aligns with a broader movement seen over the past two years, where several companies in grey markets have made similar decisions. While a Maltese permit allows access to markets where operators might be tolerated, a local licence provides a welcome entry point into domestic markets, which are increasingly important as regulatory enforcement becomes stricter.
Mozzartbet has held its licence in Malta since 2019, and it is the second operator this month to announce it will stop operating under MGA's authority, citing the inefficacy of the licence. The primary motivation appears to be a focus on domestic markets where the company has established a strong presence. Founded in 2001 in Belgrade, Mozzartbet operates in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, North Macedonia, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria, with those operations remaining unaffected by this change.
In countries like Serbia, Croatia, and Romania, Mozzart has received domestic licences and is subject to local tax laws. Over nearly two decades, the brand has developed a robust retail chain within these markets. The Mozzart.com platform, under a Maltese licence, competes with locally licensed brands in these countries while facing higher regulatory risks.
Recently, the MGA updated its list of unauthorised websites, identifying 11 URLs not holding a licence. The authority clarified that this list is unrelated to the investigation involving those websites identified in August 2026.
