What is MGA license?

B2C or B2B - which license fits your business?

The MGA framework has two main licensing routes. A Gaming Service Licence (B2C) is for businesses offering or operating gaming services directly to players - for example, an online casino or sportsbook. A Critical Gaming Supply Licence (B2B) is for businesses supplying and managing certain critical elements of gaming operations, including specified gaming systems, software and control systems. For B2C operators, the MGA divides gaming activities into four Game Types: Type 1, casino and other games played against the house where the outcome is determined by a random generator, including roulette, blackjack, baccarat and certain lotteries; Type 2, fixed-odds betting, including live betting; Type 3, commission-based and peer-to-peer models where the operator is not exposed to gaming risk, including betting exchanges and certain poker and bingo models; and Type 4, controlled skill games. These are not four separate licenses. A Gaming Service Licence can cover more than one Game Type and gaming vertical, subject to the relevant MGA approvals.

What do you need to apply?

An MGA license application involves a detailed assessment of both the business and the people behind it. An applicant must be an entity established in the EU or EEA and meet the applicable financial and regulatory requirements. Depending on the license and business model, the process may include corporate and ownership documentation; a fit-and-proper assessment of shareholders, UBOs and key persons; a detailed business plan and financial projections; minimum issued and paid-up share capital; AML and player verification procedures; responsible gaming policies and controls; appointment and approval of required key functions; gaming and technical documentation; and system review and, where required, an independent system audit. Different rules apply where multiple Game Types are approved. Already have a suitable EU or EEA company? You can start with the licensing process only.

What does an MGA license cover?

A Gaming Service Licence provides the regulatory basis for carrying out the gaming activities approved under the license in accordance with the Maltese regulatory framework, and depending on your approved setup one B2C license may cover multiple gaming verticals and Game Types. A Critical Gaming Supply Licence covers specified B2B activities involving critical gaming supplies, such as certain gaming systems, software and control systems. But an MGA license does not automatically give you access to every European market. Gaming regulation is not fully harmonised across Europe: individual countries may require a separate national license, restrict offshore or cross-border gaming, or impose additional requirements on operators targeting players in their territory. Banks, payment providers, game suppliers and other commercial partners also make their own onboarding decisions - holding an MGA license may be relevant to those assessments, but it does not guarantee access to a particular bank, provider, supplier or market.

A more comprehensive regulatory setup

Malta is designed for businesses prepared for a more developed regulatory and compliance framework. The application involves regulatory, financial, operational and technical review, and licensed businesses remain subject to ongoing reporting and compliance requirements. For the right business, that framework can provide a strong foundation for building a mature and scalable gaming operation. Your license should also work with the rest of your setup - your company, target markets, technology, compliance and payments. OnScale helps you bring those pieces together around where your business is today and where you want to grow next.

Frequently asked questions