The United Kingdom Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) are two of the foremost regulatory bodies in the field of online gambling. Over the last few years they have been promulgating stricter rules and policies. The objective is not to make things unnecessarily difficult for online casino operators, but to make the activity safer and secure for the players. Both the Gambling Commission and the MGA have announced new regulations that players should take note of.

The new rules from the Gambling Commission concern the way online gaming operators advertise products and services. They will come into effect from 31 October 2018. The requirements have been framed after a process of open consultation with the industry. There are curbs in place for ads that may appeal to minors, or may induce compulsive gambling, or may glamorise the activity. There are also curbs against sending spam marketing emails and texts. No player is likely to object to these curbs, because they are in the long term interest of society at large. Many online casinos have already given effect to these rules. For example, you will not see video slots based on children’s stories or super heroes at the visitors’ web site, which minors may purposely or inadvertently access. These will be accessible only after logging in. However, there are operators that have not adhered to the spirit of these policies. The Gambling Commission has found that the existing penalties and punishments are not strong enough deterrents. The new rules will make it easier for the Commission to take more punitive action quickly. The new rules will also apply in the case of operators placing unreasonable restrictions on withdrawals and not providing quick and transparent complaints processes.

The new Gaming Act, approved by Maltese Parliament, came into force on August 1. It has undergone scrutiny as required by the European Union. The MGA will no longer have a merely supervisory role, but also an enforcement role. The licensees of the MGA will now have to comply with the new Act and this will ensure that they are more attuned to player interests. There has been a focus on measures against money laundering and terrorism financing. But online casino players would be more affected by the enhanced consumer protection standards and responsible gaming measures. The field of online gaming is developing rapidly. The new Gaming Act will give the MGA greater flexibility in adapting to new demands placed on it.