The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) recently announced that, in accordance with the latest revised EU regulations, it will abolish Article 13 of its "Alternative Dispute Resolution Directive" (Directive No. 5 of 2018). This change will officially take effect on July 20, 2025, and involves all consumer-facing (B2C) licensed operators.
This adjustment stems from the European Commission's adoption of the **(EU) 2024/3228 regulation**, which officially repeals the existing **(EU) No 524/2013** regulation and discontinues the operation of the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform. The original platform had provided an official channel for EU consumers to handle cross-border commercial disputes, but with the implementation of the new regulation, the platform will also be closed.
Therefore, the MGA requires all B2C licensees to remove all references to the ODR platform from their terms of service and any consumer-facing materials. This move aims to avoid user confusion and ensure that the information conveyed is in compliance with current EU regulations.
The MGA states that licensees need to complete updates before the deadline to avoid compliance violations and ensure accurate and timely information on rights and dispute resolution mechanisms for players. The regulatory body also advises operators to consult the latest EU regulations to clarify whether there are other new or retained obligations.
It is worth noting that according to the MGA's latest 2024 Annual Report, the authority issued 25 administrative fines and revoked 8 licenses last year, demonstrating its continued efforts to enhance compliance supervision. Additionally, in 2024, it handled over 3,300 player complaints and issued 17 new licenses.
The MGA report also shows that its total annual revenue reached 84.1 million euros (approximately 90.3 million US dollars), with an increase in operating surplus. This regulatory update is also seen as another step by the MGA in strengthening legal consistency and enhancing market transparency.
