The MGA has called on market representatives to participate in pan-European consultations. The sessions are dedicated to fundamental anti-money laundering (AML) principles and their tech aspects.
The Maltese authority emphasised that active engagement and professional feedback would help shape better regulatory reforms. These shifts will be based on the industry’s operational realities, rather than generalised assessments.
Major Areas Affected by the Discussed Standards
The EU’s AMLA is currently consulting on updating 3 sets of technical and oversight norms for businesses, including gaming projects.
The proposed changes cover several key compliance fields:
- organising customer due diligence;
- defining lower thresholds for verification;
- identifying unregistered business relationships;
- detecting both 1-off and interconnected transactions.
Following the consultations, the revealed deficiencies and innovation gaps are planned to be documented in a separate report. The results will then be shared across the EU members.
Maltese Regulator’s Position
The MGA fully supports the initiative. The authority’s representatives believe that meaningful engagement at the earliest stages is a fundamental factor in establishing a sound legal framework. The lawful basis and technical compliance standards must be consistent with practice and scope all industry risks.
As the region continues its transition to more harmonised rules, the consultation phase offers licensees a valuable opportunity to become familiar with proposed measures in advance. They can also submit ideas and arguments to enhance business security and combat fraud across both the digital and physical segments.
Key Notions About the AMLA
The organisation began operations in 2024. Its primary task is to oversee the implementation of the Union’s AML Directive. The body is also responsible for strengthening centralised control and coordinating interactions between regulators across EU countries.
The goal of the current consultations is to refine the tech standards and obtain the views of stakeholders not involved in the previous discussions organised by the European Banking Authority. The session addressing due diligence issues was closed on March 9th. Nevertheless, proposals on other amendments are being accepted until May 8th, 2026.
iGaming: Sector with Higher Money-Laundering Risks
Industry representatives have long expressed concern about tightening AML controls. These sentiments are confirmed by the latest recommendation from the Isle of Man, a jurisdiction often compared to Malta and considered one of the largest European gambling hubs.
Findings of the island’s National Risk Assessment:
- The online casino sector is classified as having a medium-to-high level of involvement in money laundering.
- The ground segment received a medium-to-low rate, explained by the niche’s smaller scale and lower transaction volumes compared to the digital vertical.
The program’s experts name several reasons for such results:
- shell companies that conceal the ownership and control of gambling businesses;
- platforms exploited by organised crime groups, particularly from East and Southeast Asia;
- fake or stolen personal information to access services.
Artificial intelligence technologies pose an additional threat to the industry. A report by the international organisation FATF notes that fraudsters are increasingly manipulating AI tools. Criminals create deepfakes, mask their identities, and automate illegal schemes.
Referring to the assessment, the island’s GSC emphasised that they understand the concerns of market players amid growing uncertainty across various jurisdictions. Work is already underway to boost oversight and cooperation among all the parties. The report should help maintain stability and global trust in the local gambling sector and strengthen the financial crime-combating system.
At the Casino Market studio, you can learn more about the situation in key regions and order assistance with quickly entering them. Our specialists offer franchises, turnkey packages, and other formats.
The expert team offers technological and legal solutions for rapid project launches and expansion in regulated jurisdictions. For instance, we can help you successfully undergo casino licensing in Malta and launch a startup in European countries. To gain access to cutting-edge technologies and strategies, feel free to contact us.
Have questions or want to order services?
Contact our consultants:
- e-mail: manager@casino-market.com
- feedback form.
Check the information used to contact us carefully. It is necessary for your safety.
Fraudsters can use contacts that look like ours to scam customers. Therefore, we ask you to enter only the addresses that are indicated on our official website.
Be careful! Our team is not responsible for the activities of persons using similar contact details.
