itstargetnews
The Malta Gaming Authority has warned consumers that four gambling sites are operating without a licence, despite claims to the contrary.
The Malta Gaming Authority has issued a warning that the following sites do not have a legal gambling license in Malta:
- https://www.slotvocalnocasheu.vip
- https://www.joypang-0907.com/
- http://www.nobet177.com/
- https://www.playxfortuna.com/
“Any reference to the MGA and/or gaming license purporting to be issued by the Maltese Authority, as stated on the above websites, is false and misleading,” said the MGA in a statement on its website. “MGA would like to remind consumers not to use services provided by an entity unless they are sure that the entity in question is authorized to provide MGA services.
“The gaming regulatory framework obliges authorized persons to comply with strict legal requirements for the interests of consumers. The activities of unlicensed entities are not regulated and do not provide the necessary protections outlined by the virtue of the framework, which makes transactions with such entities risky for consumers.”
Penalties for unlicensed gambling in Malta
Operators can face severe penalties for offering gambling services without a license in Malta, including fines ranging from €10,000 to €500,000 for initial offenses and up to five years in prison for first-time offenders.
Repeat offenses increase penalties rapidly, with potential fines of up to €1,000,000 and imprisonment of up to six years for those found to be operating illegally on multiple occasions. The MGA can also seize operators’ assets, including equipment, supplies, and money used in or derived from illegal operations.
The MGA can also impose administrative fines on those found guilty, instead of pursuing immediate criminal prosecution, especially if a settlement is reached out of court, with these fines reaching up to €500,000 per violation or up to €5,000 per day for continued non-compliance.
The MGA appears to be closely monitoring unlicensed operators, who issue many warnings about a number of sites on twice last year.
Featured image: Pexels
The post The Malta Gaming Authority has warned about four unlicensed gambling sites first appeared in ReadWrite.
