Since its inception in 2004, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has always been at the forefront of embracing technological advancements within its regulatory scope. This was also possible due to the legislator’s intentional principle of keeping its main gaming legislation ‘technology neutral’. Malta’s latest move focuses on the use of AI in regulated on-line gaming, with the MGA and the Malta Digital Innovation Authority jointly announcing at the SBC Malta Conference held last April, Malta’s intent to roll out a voluntary AI Gaming Charter on the Ethical and Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence.
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future consideration for gaming operators. It is already embedded in day-to-day operations across fraud detection, responsible gambling tools, customer service chatbots, marketing personalisation, and compliance monitoring. The technology is delivering real tangible outputs. The question the MGA is now asking is not whether operators should use AI, but how they should use it – within a context of games evolution, responsible gaming responsibilities, data protection obligations, ethical considerations and list goes on.
At the SBC Malta conference the representatives of the MGA and of the MDIA described the upcoming Charter as “voluntary and principles-based”, with the MGA further elaborating that it will be “designed to complement existing legal frameworks, including the EU Artificial Intelligence Act”, while providing sector-specific guidance tailored to the operational realities of gaming. Crucially, during the SBC Conference, the MGA was clear that adherence to the Charter will not constitute a regulatory obligation.
One of the most encouraging aspects of this initiative is how it is being developed. MGA’s approach seems to be projected towards stakeholder inclusion in the design of the Charter itself, with the MGA CEO, Charles Mizzi in an interview with iGaming Business stating that the MGA will be engaging with the industry as through collaboration “a shared picture of how AI is transforming gaming today and where it is heading “ can support “regulatory expectations to evolve in step with real-world practice”. On the 8th of May 2026, the MGA officially announced the launch of a targeted consultation process, and thus it is anticipated that the Charter itself will not emerge from a regulator working in isolation.
The MGA's collaborative approach deserves recognition for two reasons.
First, the voluntary nature of the Charter gives operators room to engage constructively. Rather than having principles imposed top-down, the consultation process is an opportunity to shape guidance that reflects operational realities.
Second, alignment with the EU AI Act is inevitable for any operator of scale. The EU AI Act introduces a risk-based approach to AI regulation with real obligations for providers and deployers of AI systems. Having sector-specific guidance from the MGA — that maps intelligently onto that framework — gives licensees a head start in understanding how those obligations translate to gaming operations specifically.
Malta built its reputation by getting ahead of the curve. The AI Gaming Charter is an invitation for the industry to do the same.
For any additional information or assistance, please contact us at info@gtg.com.mt
Author: Mr Reuben Portanier, Advisory Partner (Gaming, M&A and Capital Markets), GTG