The first step towards obtaining a gaming licence is setting up the company. BDO can assist with setting up a tax efficient system for carrying out gaming operations from Malta. Our corporate and legal departments will assist and guide you with all the documentation required for the incorporation of a company. BDO Malta is an end to end solutions provider and, thus, in a position to provide all the services required by a gaming entity in order to fulfil and maintain the statutory obligations under Maltese company law.
 

Duration of the MGA license process

Provided that all the necessary documentation and information is provided to the Authority, the process leading to the Gaming licence takes approximately twelve to sixteen weeks. The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) classifies an application process into four different stages, these being:
 

1. Fit and proper and business plan review

• This review will assess all information related to the people involved in the financing and management of the company, including all key individuals as well as the business viability of the operation to ensure that the applicant is fit and proper to conduct gaming business;
• Probity investigations with other national and international regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies will be conducted.

 

2. Funding Review

• This includes assessing the source of funds of the applicant and the source of wealth of the ultimate beneficial owners and other persons lending/investing funds to be used for the purpose of the operation.

3. Business planning & operating policies & procedures review

• This includes in-depth financial analysis of the applicant’s business plan, viability and funding; the applicant’s business plan is required to have a detailed forecast of the operation, inclusive of marketing and distribution strategies, an HR plan and growth targets.
• This process includes examining incorporation documents, the games, the business processes related to conducting the games, the rules, terms, conditions, policies, procedures and technical documentation of the gaming and control system.

  

4. Technical set-up review and system audit 

• Review of the technical documentation of the gaming and control system.

Once all previous stages are successfully completed, the MGA will inform the applicant that the application was successful and will invite the applicant to implement the system onto a technical environment in preparation to go live. The applicant will be allowed 60 days to complete this technical roll-out, after which the application will be considered as cancelled and subject to re-application. At any stage within those 60 days, the applicant may appoint a Service Provider approved by the MGA to carry out a system audit. The systems audit will verify the live environment against the proposed application.

At this stage the MGA expects minimal deviation from the application. If there are significant changes to the gaming system, the applicant will have to re-apply by filing a new application.

On successful completion of the certification process, the Authority issues a ten-year licence.
 

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